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Methodology to predict core body temperature, cardiac output, and stroke volume for firefighters using a 3D whole body model

Zachariah, Swarup Alex
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439310929

Abstract Details

2015, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Mechanical Engineering.
Firefighters experience significant levels of physical exertion and heat load during fire-fighting activities. During such activities, an increase in metabolism and surroundings with higher temperature leads to elevated heat levels in the human body. Firefighters, whose bodies are exposed to increased heat stress, could suffer from a number of health concerns while in the field, including unconsciousness and cardiac arrest. Due to the risk of physiological and health consequences, early identification and mitigation of heat stress is critical for sustaining fire-fighting operations. The strain on the human body because of heat stress can be determined by using wearable or by ingesting temperature monitoring devices. However, these devices need constant replacement and are not universally preferred since one needs to either wear or ingest it. Therefore, there is a need for a computational model to identify the risk to firefighters caused by heat stress, while minimizing the dependence on the use of measurement devices. The hypothesis of this research was that the heat-induced stress in firefighters can be quantified by determining their core body temperature, cardiac output, and stroke volume by using a computational whole body model. The computational model utilized two equations simultaneously: 1) the Pennes’ bioheat equation to evaluate the temperature distribution in the body and 2) an energy balance equation to determine the change in the blood temperature in relation to the tissue temperature during a sequence of the firefighting activity. The inputs for the model comprised of the heart rate time series, details of the firefighting suit, geometry, and physiological details of three firefighters. The firefighting data assessed in this study had periodic work and rest periods. Core body temperature obtained from the model was verified with the experimental variation of core body temperature over time. Initially, the whole body model was validated by evaluating the computational model for: 1) cooling during cold water immersion of the human body in water temperatures of 18.5, 10 and 0 °C and 2) heating of the human body at walking intensities of 0.9, 1.2 and 1.8 m/s for 30 minutes. The decrease in computed core body temperature during cold water immersion for a water temperature of 18.5 °C was within 2 % of the results calculated from Wissler’s whole body model. During exercise with sweating, core body temperature was regulated within 0.25 °C of its steady state value of 37.23 °C. The results obtained for the firefighters were: 1) using available data and realistic assumptions, the error between experimental and numerical values of the core body temperature was less than 3%; 2) the calculated cardiac output varied between 4.8 and 21.4 lit/min that is within the physiological range; and 3) the calculated stroke volume varied between 0.06 and 0.12 lit/beat. Utilizing the results of the computational model, the heat stress can be quantified for firefighters during the firefighting training drills.
Rupak Banerjee, Ph.D P.E. (Committee Chair)
Amit Bhattacharya, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
J. Kim, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
98 p.
Mechanics
Heat stress; firefighters; core body temperature; human body model; computational model

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zachariah, S. A. (2015). Methodology to predict core body temperature, cardiac output, and stroke volume for firefighters using a 3D whole body model [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439310929

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zachariah, Swarup. Methodology to predict core body temperature, cardiac output, and stroke volume for firefighters using a 3D whole body model. 2015. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439310929.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zachariah, Swarup. "Methodology to predict core body temperature, cardiac output, and stroke volume for firefighters using a 3D whole body model." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1439310929

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1439310929
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.