Anti-G suit inflation rate requirements.
Relaxed +Gz rapid-onset tolerances were measured on the human-use centrifuge at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, using male research subjects with and without inflated anti-G suits. Tolerance at 6 G.s-1 onset rates were 0.2-0.3 G lower than those measured with 1 G.s-1 onset rates, thus suggesting the existence of another relaxed G tolerance measurement called very high onset G. Baroceptor effect was considered the reason for this difference. Delays of a mean of 3.3 s in inflating the anti-G suit did not change relaxed G tolerances at 6 G.s-1 onset rates; however, with a 4.2-s mean delay, light-loss tolerance criteria occurred sooner during the G exposure. Tolerances to 7 G with 6 G.s-1 onset rates, during which the subjects had to perform the anti-G straining maneuver (AGSM), required a mean delay of 2.8 s in six subjects before a noticeable change in light-loss criteria occurred--a mean delay of 2.0 s resulted in no change in light-loss criteria from zero delay control inflation rates. These results clearly indicate that the inflation of the anti-G suit can be delayed by at least 1 s without compromising anti-G suit protection.
Burton
R R
RR
Crew Technology Division, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas 78235-5301.
D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D006112:Gravitation; D005676:Gravity Suits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors