Impact of Physiological Characteristics on Thermal Comfort of Cycling Helmet

Research on helmet thermal comfort is crucial for optimizing helmet design and enhancing cyclists' acceptance of helmets. However, existing studies often neglect the impact of cyclists' physiological characteristics on scalp heat dissipation details. To address this gap, a sweating thermal mannequin head was developed to investigate the effects of physiological factors, including hair, sweating, and variations in head pitch angle, on scalp heat dissipation at typical cycling speeds. The findings reveal that hair obstructs airflow within the helmet, resulting in local thermal discomfort at the back of the scalp and potentially altering the optimal pitch angle for helmet thermal performance. Moreover, sweating amplifies the temperature differences between local”hot spots” and”cold spots” on the scalp, with the majority of heat loss attributed to sweat evaporation. Additionally, adjusting the pitch angle can better align the ventilation holes with the airflow, thereby enhancing thermal comfort at both the front and back of the scalp.