The present paper describes a physical model that estimates the globe and the natural wet bulb temperatures from the main parameters generally recorded at meteorological weather stations, in order to predict the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) heat stress index for outdoor environments. The model is supported by a thermal analysis of the globe and the natural wet bulb temperature sensors. The results of simultaneous measurements of the WBGT and climatological parameters (solar radiation, wind velocity, humidity, etc.) are presented and used to validate the model. The final comparison between calculated and measured values shows a good agreement with the experimental data, with a maximum absolute deviation of 2.8% for the globe temperature and 2.6% for the natural wet bulb temperature and the WBGT index. The model is applied to the design reference year for Coimbra, Portugal, in order to illustrate its preventative capabilities from a practical point of view. The results clearly show that during the summer there is a critical daily period (1200-1600 hours, local standard time) during which people working outdoors should not be allowed to perform their normal activities.

The present work is dedicated to the analysis of dry heat exchanges as measured by a thermal manikin placed in still air. We believe that the understanding of some fundamental aspects governing fluid flow and heat transfer around three-dimensional bodies such as human beings deserves appropriate attention. This should be of great significance for improving physiological models concerned with thermal exposures. The potential interest of such work can be directed towards quite distinct targets such as working conditions, sports, the military, or healthcare personnel and patients. In the present study, we made use of a climate chamber and an articulated thermal manikin of the Pernille type, with 16 body parts. The most common occidental postures (standing, sitting and lying) were studied. In order to separate heat losses due to radiation and convection, the radiative heat losses of the manikin were significantly reduced by means of a shiny aluminium coating, which was carefully applied to the artificial skin. The air temperature within the test chamber was varied between 13 degrees C and 29 degrees C. The corresponding mean differences between the skin and the operative temperatures changed from 3.8 degrees C up to 15.8 degrees C. The whole-body heat transfer coefficients by radiation and convection for both standing and sitting postures are in good agreement with those in the published literature. The lying posture appears to be more efficient for losing heat by convection. This is confirmed when the heat losses of each individual part are considered. The proposed correlations for the whole body suggest that natural convection is mainly laminar.

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