When moisture is present in clothing (like sweat), the thermal and evaporative resistance of the clothing system can be reduced. This means that a person will begin to feel cold as the sweat evaporates more quickly (due to lower evaporative resistance) and draws more energy (heat) away from the body. They will also feel cold because more heat can escape through the clothing layer due to a lower thermal resistance (R-value). For clothing designers who use simulation to begin vetting their clothing systems, a simulation model that considers the storage of liquid water and diffusion of water vapor within the layers is imperative. The designers won’t be able to simulate accurate thermal predictions without simulating how moisture will affect the clothing.
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