This study found that soldiers should balance loads, avoiding load placement on the non-dominant side front torso, thus minimising mobility restriction and potential injury risk. Implications for armour vest design modifications can also be found in the results.
Reflecting two ways of impacting a garment sizing system-by modifying the body sizing table, and by modifying the ease amounts added (at bust and hip only), 4 garment sizing systems presenting the combinations of a standard (ASTM D5585-95R01) or a modified body sizing table, each with constant or size-dependent ease amounts across sizes, were compared by testing their relative (as opposed to absolute) performance in fit tests with 81 study participants. Test garments (princess style jackets), sizes 2-16, were manufactured for each system (32 garments). Each participant was photographed in the best-fitting size garment from each system. Three fit experts ranked the 4 garments by fit for each study participant. Statistical analysis indicated better overall performance of systems based on size-dependent ease (but not within each size group) and of the modified table (significantly better for participants with small hip-bust drop and not significantly for participants with large drop).
More than 60,000 firefighters’ injuries were reported by the National Fire Protection Association in the U.S. in 2019. Inadequate protection by bunker gear could be a reason for most of the injuries. Firefighters repeatedly encounter thermal hazards due to their job responsibilities. Degradation could occur on bunker gear fabric during thermal exposure. It has been found that the presence of moisture affects performance as well, which may come from wearers’ sweat. Proper evaluation of the tensile strength of the fabrics used in bunker gear could provide information essential for maintenance the overall integrity of the gear. An evaluation of the tensile strength of fabrics when exposed to 10, 15, and 20 kW/m2 radiant heat flux in the presence of moisture is reported. In each fabric system, a total of sixty-four different samples were prepared for four different types of fabric and four levels of moisture which were exposed to three different radiant heat flux for five minutes. Heat flux and moisture levels have significant impact on tensile strength. The effect of moisture on tensile strength in a three-layered fabric system is higher than that for a single layer fabric. An understanding of the impact of heat and moisture on fabric strength has been achieved.
Three-dimensional body scanning technology was used to analyze fit of women's pants and to measure garment ease at various locations. Special test pants constructed with adjustable Velcro sections were used to provide custom fit for each study participant. Twenty-four subjects, ages 35 to 55, represented three body shape groups (straight, medium, curvy) determined by the hip-to-waist circumferences ratio, and four size groups covering Misses size range 4 to 16. Scans of a subject wearing minimal clothing and of the same subject wearing the test pant, adjusted by the researchers for best fit in a standing position, were compared. The differences between the pant and body scans (ease) were determined for circumference, slice area, surface area, and volume measurements at various locations and analyzed for size and shape dependence. Decrease in percent ease differences with increasing size was observed for several variables; no clear dependence on shape was found. Size dependences were used to propose a way of pattern grading with grade intervals variable by size and body location.
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