Effects of unsteady thermal stimulus from contact surface on thermal comfort

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of an unsteady thermal stimulus from the contact surface on thermal sensation. Subjective tests were conducted in a climate chamber. The air temperature in the chamber was set at three different conditions to affect the initial skin temperature. After adapting to the thermal condition, subjects made contact with a small device by using the sole of the foot to receive a thermal stimulus. We set three levels for the rate of temperature change (with both increases and decreases) by using the device. Subjects rated contact thermal sensation and contact thermal comfort while receiving the thermal stimulus. As a result, we found out that subjects become more sensitive to hotness and coolness as the rate of temperature change increases. However, the effect of the rate of temperature change on contact thermal sensation decreased depending on the initial skin temperature.