RadHand™ Testing System

TPACC developed a powerful new tool for measuring the protective performance of whole gloves and glove interface when exposed to a radiant heat source. The development of the RadHand™ Testing System required advances in instrument technology including development of a water-cooled anthropometric manikin hand form. The instrumented hand is capable of surviving long duration radiant exposures. RadHand™ is also automated with flexible fingers that allow a glove to be tested as an open hand, in a flexed position, cycled between the open and flexed configurations.

The RadHand™ Testing System consists of a right hand form, mounted in front of four radiant panels. Each panel is independently controlled and configured to produce an average radiant exposure of 8.4 kW/m² (0.2 cal/cm²sec) across the surface of the hand form.

RadHand™ is fitted with ten heat flux sensors located on the back of the hand (dorsal) and wrist. Heat flux readings from the sensors are translated to predict skin burn injury. This is done using the PyroMan™ burn translation model, modified to account for differences in skin thickness found on the back of the hand.

RadHand™ test results are graphically displayed to show percent second and third degree burn injury prediction as well as the total. The spatial distribution of predicted burn injury on the back side of the hand and wrist areas is also depicted.