About the project
In this project, the PhD student will be responsible for the implementation of novel techniques into a design template tool for protective equipment such as military clothing. Interaction between varying face/body shapes will include surface shape modelling and finite element analysis. The techniques to be implemented will include a combined bench test and computational model to evaluate the boundaries between the end user and protective equipment, creating a means to define goodness of fit across a range of devices.
The PhD project will provide the scope for efficient manufacture and fitting of devices. We will co-design a new set of protective equipment which aim to be fully-integrated, taking into account donning, doffing and practical application. This will be conducted in collaboration with partners in the army and equipment suppliers.
Further information on THERMOSENSELAB and the Skin Health Research Group can be found here:
To support the rapid advance of protective equipment such as technical clothing, there is a need for improving the understanding of how these devices fit a range of individuals and protect them, across a wide range of user variability in body sizes and shapes, across dimensions including gender and ethnicity. You will optimise the design and materials of the devices e.g. shape and size of protective equipment, material interfaces with the skin, etc. You will develop high-fidelity tools to capture these end user needs, working with the team to create population-based models of face/body shape to optimise protective device/garment designs.
