A novel in-situ dynamic mechanical analysis for human plantar soft tissue: The device design, definition of characteristics, test protocol, and preliminary results

Longyan Wu; Ran Huang; Lisheng Tang; Xinyi Ning; Jun Zhu; Xin Ma

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29986

A novel in-situ dynamic mechanical analysis for human plantar soft tissue: The device design, definition of characteristics, test protocol, and preliminary results

Heliyon. 2024 Apr 20;10(9):e29986. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29986. eCollection 2024 May 15.

Authors

Longyan Wu¹, Ran Huang^{1

2

3}, Lisheng Tang³, Xinyi Ning¹, Jun Zhu², Xin Ma^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Academy for Engineering and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
² Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, 322000, China.
³ Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Taizhou Institute of Zhejiang University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, China.
⁴ Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200233, China.

Abstract

The in-situ mechanical characterization of elastomers is not highly regarded due to the existence of a well-established set of sample-based standard tests for research and industry. However, there are certain situations or materials, like biological soft tissue, where an in-situ approach is necessary due to the impossibility of sampling from a living body. We have developed a dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)-like device to approach in-vivo and in-situ multidimensional stress-strain properties of human plantar soft tissues. This work elucidates the operational mechanism of the novel measurement, with the definition of a new set of moduli, test standardization and protocol. Exploratory results of a volunteer's living plantar, silica rubber samples are presented with well preciseness and consistence as expected.

Keywords: Biomechanical characterization; Dynamic mechanical analysis; In-situ; In-vivo; Plantar soft tissue.