Roger Barker

Roger L. Barker is a Professor in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science at North Carolina State University and Director of TPACC.  He is internationally recognized for his work in the field of thermal protective clothing and comfort and heat stress in clothing systems.  Barker has published many technical papers on the subject of the effects of intense heat exposures on fabric materials including exposures to flash fire, molten metal, hot surface contact and radiant energy.  He was Chairman of the 1984 ASTM International Symposium on the Performance of Protective Clothing.  He is an active participant in several committees of the National Fire Protection Association, which are involved in the development of standards for the performance of protective clothing.  Barker holds B. S. and M. S. Degrees in physics from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D., in Textile and Polymer Science from Clemson University.  He has positions at Cornell and at Clemson Universities.  His industrial experience includes work as a physicist in spun bonded fabrics research.

Research

Thermal protective performance of textile fabrics and clothing, heat transfer mechanisms in intense heat exposures. Fabric and clothing flammability, materials response and testing methodologies.

Comfort properties of textile clothing and materials, heat and moisture transfer in textile structures, objective measurement of fabric hand.

Industrial analysis of thermal and mechanical properties of textile fabrics. Textile measurement technologies, instrumented manikins. Assessment of human sensory and physiological response to clothing comfort.

Academic Degrees

• B.S. Physics, University of Tennessee,
• M.S. Physics, University of Tennessee,
• Ph.D. Textile and Polymer Science, Clemson University,

Publications

Analysis of air gap volume in structural firefighter turnout suit constructions in relation to heat loss

McQuerry, M., DenHartog, E., & Barker, R. (2018), TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL, 88(21), 2475–2484. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517517723024

Functional design and evaluation of structural firefighter turnout suits for improved thermal comfort: Thermal manikin and physiological modeling

McQuerry, M., Barker, R., & DenHartog, E. (2018), Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 36(3), 165–179. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887302x18757348

Impact of reinforcements on heat stress in structural firefighter turnout suits

McQuerry, M., DenHartog, E., & Barker, R. (2018), JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE, 109(10), 1367–1373. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2018.1423881

Relationship between novel design modifications and heat stress relief in structural firefighters' protective clothing

McQuerry, M., Barker, R., & DenHartog, E. (2018). Relationship between novel design modifications and heat stress relief in structural firefighters’ protective clothing. Applied Ergonomics, 70, 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2018.03.004,

The influence of designs of protective uniforms on firefighters' performance during moderate physical exercises

Ciesielska-Wrobel, I., DenHartog, E., & Barker, R. (2018). The influence of designs of protective uniforms on firefighters’ performance during moderate physical exercises. TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL, 88(17), 1979–1991. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517517715084,

Comparative studies on standard and new test methods for evaluating the effects of structural firefighting gloves on hand dexterity

Barker, R. L., Ross, K. A., Andrews, J., & Deaton, A. S. (2017), Textile Research Journal, 87(3), 270–284. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517516629143

Effect of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on heat loss in structural firefighter turnout suits

McQuerry, M., DenHartog, E., & Barker, R. (2017), AATCC Journal of Research, 4(5), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.14504/ajr.4.5.1

Evaluating turnout composite layering strategies for reducing thermal burden in structural firefighter protective clothing systems

McQuerry, M., DenHartog, E., & Barker, R. (2017), Textile Research Journal, 87(10), 1217–1225. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517516651101

Measuring the effects of structural turnout suits on firefighter range of motion and comfort

Ciesielska-Wrobel, I., DenHartog, E., & Barker, R. (2017), Ergonomics, 60(7), 997–1007. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2016.1229044

Advanced layering system and design for the increased thermal protection of wildland fire shelters

Nagavalli, A., Hummel, A., Akyildiz, H. I., Morton-Aslanis, J., & Barker, R. (2016), In American society for testing and materials special technical (Vol. 1593, pp. 102–116).

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Organizations

• National Fire Protection Association

Teaching

• TMS 211 - Introduction to Fiber Science ,
• TMS 471 - Textile Materials Design ,
• TE530 - Functional Textiles Protection and Comfort ,