Manned Evaluation of a Prototype Composite Cold Water Diving Garment Using Liquids and Superinsulation Aerogel Materials

摘要

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) OOC tasked Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) to assess the effectiveness of an experimental composite cold water diving garment developed in a partnership among Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, TX), Duke University (Durham, NC), and Aspen Systems (Marlborough, MA) under the sponsorship of the Office of Naval Research (ONR).1 The objective of this assessment was to quantify physical and psychological characteristics of divers wearing materials recently developed to enhance thermal protection in cold water. This proof of concept study was designed to determine whether incorporating a composite liner in a thermal undergarment containing superinsulation aerogel materials inside commercial dry suits could significantly enhance the divers' thermal performances.