Pioneering Experimental Exploration of an in-situ Characterization of the Shearing Stress-Strain Mechanism of Human Plantar Soft Tissue

Abstract

Abstract Aiming to characterize the material mechanism of biological soft tissue, which is intensively studied in biomechanics, however the in-situ method is very difficult whereas the sample preparation from living body for classical tests is almost impossible, we have designed and manufactured a dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)-like device to achieve the in-situ and in-vivo stress-strain test for living plantar tissue. A series of pioneering tests of horizontal shearing on the heel of five volunteers are reported, with the reference of tests on mimic foot model made by silicon rubber, standard silicon rubber brick sample, and finite elementary analysis. Beside certifying the device and method are practical, interesting phenomena are observed implying great potentials of the invention in future research.