Numerical Simulation of Heat and Moisture Transfer in Protective Clothing Under Extreme Environmental Conditions: Effect of Fabric Properties

Abstract

Protective clothing made from polymer-based fabrics is vital for safeguarding workers exposed to extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperatures and humidity. This study presents a numerical simulation of coupled heat and moisture transfer through textile systems composed of synthetic polymers like polyester, nylon, and polyurethane. A multilayer model was developed to evaluate thermal and moisture transport between the skin, fabric layers, and ambient environment. Fabrics were modeled as porous media, and microclimate dynamics were simulated using convective and vapor transport equations to capture realistic thermo-physiological responses. Key material properties including fabric thickness, thermal conductivity, specific heat, porosity, and moisture regain were varied to analyze their influence on thermal insulation and moisture management. Results showed that fabric thickness and initial moisture content significantly enhance thermal resistance and sweat evaporation. The role of microclimate thickness and airflow direction was also examined, revealing that perpendicular airflow improves heat and vapor removal more effectively than parallel flow, particularly in larger air gaps where natural convection dominates. Advanced Janus-structured fabrics with asymmetric wettability exhibited superior performance in unidirectional moisture transport and radiative cooling, contributing to improved thermal-moisture regulation. These findings highlight the critical role of polymer selection and fabric design in optimizing protective clothing performance. This work provides valuable insight for the virtual development of high-performance garments tailored for industrial and harsh environmental applications.