Measuring Thermal Behavior of Rubber Sole by Cyclic Compression for Prediction of Foot Temperature

Abstract

This study had been conducted to predict foot temperature and to understand thermal behavior of rubber sole under cyclic compression. Three EVA samples of different compression characteristics were used in this study. In cyclic compression experiment, temperature changes of EVA samples were measured. As a result, temperature elevation of EVA16 was higher than other samples. In the stepping experiment, temperature changes of foot and EVA were measured. As a result, EVA08 and EVA16 showed different temperatures change tendency. Through two experiments, EVA of high tanδ showed high temperature elevation. Numerical simulation for predicting of foot temperature was built by consideration of the internal heat generation of EVA. As a result, numerical simulation qualitatively agreed with the stepping experiment. So numerical simulation in this study could show tendency of foot temperature elevation by EVA of different tanδ. However, temperature in numerical simulation was slightly higher than measured temperature. Result of numerical simulation in this study was indicated the need to consider radiation of foot and EVA.