Parameter identification problem in bimaterial human skin and sensitivity analysis : Uncertainties in biomechanics of skin

The proposed paper concerns the prediction of the numerical response of a biomechanical structure submitted to an unknown external loading state. The methodology is based on homogeneous and then heterogeneous structures such as healthy or pathological cutaneous tissues that can be mechanically tested in vivo under a patchy knowledge of boundary conditions. Experimental data corresponding to the extension of a piece of skin located between two pads with displacement enslavement, represent input data to the numerical model. Data are reaction force on one pad and displacement field between the two pads and all around. The numerical model consists of a representation of the bi-material domain geometry with neo-hookean behaviors. The boundary conditions and loadings of the experimental extension test are imposed. The materials parameters have been identified by inverse method starting from a constrained cost function minimizing the difference between the calculated displacements field and experimental displacements field obtained by digital image correlation and taking into account the reaction force as a constraint. An analysis of the model sensitivity to material parameters is presented.