Abstract :
[en] This paper proposes a proof of concept application of a biphasic constitutive
model to identify the mechanical properties of in vivo human skin under
extension. Although poromechanics theory has been extensively used to model
other soft biological tissues, only a few studies have been published for skin,
and most have been limited to ex vivo or in silico conditions. However, in vivo
procedures are crucial to determine the subject-specific properties at
different body sites. This study focuses on cyclic uni-axial extension of the
upper arm skin, using unpublished data collected by Chambert et al. Our
analysis shows that a two-layer finite element model allows representing all
relevant features of the observed mechanical response to the imposed external
loading, which was composed, in this contribution, of four
loading-sustaining-unloading cycles. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between
the calibrated model and the measured Force-time response was 8.84e-3 N. Our
biphasic model represents a preliminary step toward investigating the
mechanical conditions responsible for the onset of injury. It allows for the
analysis of changes in Interstitial Fluid (IF) pressure, flow, and osmotic
pressure, in addition to the mechanical fields. Future work will focus on the
interaction of multiple biochemical factors and the complex network of
regulatory signals.
