Change in Rate Sensitivity of Skin Tissue Induced by Thermal Damage

Characterization of the thermomechanical behaviour of skin tissue is of great importance and can contribute to a variety of medical applications. However, there have been limitations to the studies addressing the heat induced thermal denaturation (thermal damage) dependent mechanical properties of skin tissue. In this paper, experimental study has been carried out to characterize the thermal damage induced change in rate sensitivity of skin compressive behaviour. The results show that the stiffness of skin tissue decreases with increasing thermal damage degree and strain rate sensitivity is observed at different damage levels, due mainly to hydration changes.