Development of a model for evaluating chair's performance to minimize the discomfort of dampness

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K12512
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90010:Design-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Nagano Kazuo 京都府立大学, 生命環境科学研究科, 教授 (90322297)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 椅子座面 / 荷重 / 接触面湿度 / むれ感

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, contact surface humidity (physical quantity) and feeling of dampness (psychological quantity) were measured on the seat surface when seated on a chair, for three different seat upholstery fabrics and three different seat shapes, and it was shown that dampness was not felt when the surface humidity at the back thigh, which is in contact with the seat surface, was less than 20 hPa. Apart from this, the seat surface humidity was measured by placing sandbags, not people, on the seat after spraying water on the surface, and three indicators of moisture transfer characteristics were defined from the behavior of the humidity. Since these three indicators were significantly correlated with the surface humidity at the back thigh, these three indicators were found to be useful in predicting and evaluating the water vapor that creates discomfort while seated.

Free Research Field

生活環境学、温熱環境学、生気象学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で考案した椅子座面の湿度性能の評価方法なら、繊維・クッションなどの異なる素材が複数層をなす座面全体を対象に、荷重で素材内の空隙が押しつぶされた状態で評価できる。ISOやJISで規格化されている吸・透湿性能に関する方法にこれらを考慮したものはなく、実際の使用時に近い状態を評価できる新手法は意義深いと考えられる。
椅子デザイナーや座面素材の開発メーカーは、試作品をこの新手法で評価すれば、着席時の接触面湿度を予測できる。その湿度が20hPa未満であれば着席者はむれを感じないことから、経験や勘ではなく客観的なこの基準に依拠して、むれにくい椅子を設計・開発できるようになると期待される。