Journal of Northeastern University(Natural Science) ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (11): 154-162.DOI: 10.12068/j.issn.1005-3026.2025.20240209

• Resources & Civil Engineering • Previous Articles    

Experimental Study on Physiological and Subjective Thermal Responses of Different Age Groups Under Stepwise Temperature Changes

Xiao-meng SI1, Jiu-hong ZHANG1(), Jiang AN1, Ming-xiao MA2   

  1. 1.School of Resources & Civil Engineering,Northeastern University,Shenyang 110819,China
    2.School of Automation Science & Electrical Engineering,Beihang University,Beijing 100191,China.
  • Received:2024-11-08 Online:2025-11-15 Published:2026-02-07
  • Contact: Jiu-hong ZHANG

Abstract:

Taking Shenyang shopping malls as the research subject, this study investigated the temporal variations in physiological parameters and subjective evaluations among different age groups under stepwise temperature changes during moderate activity. A total of 60 participants were recruited. The experiment involved cold exposure at -12 ℃ and indoor exposures at 18 ℃ and 24 ℃. Participants underwent three successive phases for experimental research: hot, cold, and hot exposure. The results show that it takes approximately 18 minutes for the human body to reach a new physiological steady state after cold exposure, with children demonstrating quicker recovery time. Blood pressure varies significantly under stepwise temperature changes, with the variation range in the children group approximately 2.5 times that of the middle-aged group. LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency) shows significant differences among different age groups. The LF/HF value is significantly influenced by different age groups and environmental temperature conditions and can be used as a potential indicator for evaluating thermal comfort of the human body under various environmental conditions.

Key words: stepwise temperature change, age group, physiological parameter, thermal comfort, thermal sensation

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