Abstract
In this study, to find out the physiological reaction of the human body and the sensation of comfort when people are wearing sportswear which is made of waterproof breathable fabrics under general environmental conditions (temperature : $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, humidity : $60{\pm}5%RH$, air current : 0.1 m/sec) and rainy environmental conditions (temperature : $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, humidity : $60{\pm}5%RH$, air current : 0.1 m/sec, rainfall : 250 1/hr), we made an experiment with sportswear in an artificial climate chamber and studied the thermal physiological response and subjective sensation. Mean skin temperature of the subjects was low and had a big range of fluctuation in rainy environmental conditions of two condition. Temperature started to increase at the beginning of the exercise, reached the maximum at the 2nd level of the exercise and then started to decline. Rectal temperature showed a slighter increase and bigger range of fluctuation in general conditions than in rainy conditions. Except clothing micro climate in rainy conditions, temperature and humidity and their range of fluctuation around back were higher than those around chest. Humidity was high and had wide range of fluctuation in general conditions. Heart rate was 4.4 beats/min higher in general conditions. In subjective test on rainy conditions, the feeling of discomfort increased due to the raindrops fallen on the skin. Unlike that in general conditions, cold sensation increased and humidity sensation reached to the peak after the exercise. In wearing sportswear made of shape memory breathable waterproof fabric, controlling function over a small amount of heat and water was distinctive while it turned out to be not so comfortable over a large amount of heat and water. Through this, the limitation of shape memory breathable waterproof fabric was recognised.