Thermographic Estimation of the Effective Heat Exchange Area Between a Subject and Substrate

Abstract

Two classic methods have been used for evaluating the area of heat exchange between a subject and substrate. Kelly et al^l proposed to measure the animal-floor contact area by simply drawing the animal’s contour. Grommers et al² photographed, from the underside, the subject reclining on a transparent ‘perspex’ panel. The contact area was then determined by planimetry. Neither of these methods allows direct estimation of the area of heat exchange because it is impossible to define the proportion of contour area which exchanges heat. Furthermore, Grommers’ method assumes that heat is exchanged by conduction only.