Objective
The project has resulted in a Comfort Model which defines the relative importance of the comfort parameters of a shoe insock. It shows the interaction between friction and shear absorptive capacity of the insock and indicates the relevance of shoe fit, surface texture, cosseting, sweat management and other properties.
A Manual has been produced which indicates the choice of insock properties relating to the end-use of the footwear. This can be used by shoe manufacturers and suppliers of insock materials to develop products with optimum underfoot comfort.
New test procedures have been devised to evaluate the comfort properties of insocks in the laboratory, including friction and shear. A procedure for quantifying the underfoot comfort properties of a shoe has been developed and evaluated.
The project has significantly increased the state of knowledge about the role of insocks in footwear comfort and well as defining areas for further research.
This project aims to develop guidelines on the optimum frictional performance requirements of insocks to enable designs of higher quality products for a range of niche markets. It will generate a methodology for evaluating insock materials and guidelines on a selection of materials for specific end uses. It is expected that the eventual wearers will benefit from improved foot health (less blisters and soreness), comfort and performance.
the technology to measure local shear forces under the bare foot has only recently become available. The problem now is one of developing techniques to apply the technology to accurately measure and quantify the physical parameters, including thermo-physiological conditions, affecting friction inside the shoe. The relationship between foot-hose friction and hose-shoe friction needs to be determined. The biomechanical demands on different footwear types e.g. walking, sports, etc., also need to be considered. the results have then to be related to physiological effects on the skin and wearer perception of comfort and foor security.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
NN16 9JH Kettering
United Kingdom