Theoretical analysis of thermomechanical response for biological skin tissues

This study provides an analytical investigation of the thermomechanical behavior of biological skin tissue subjected to harmonic thermal loading within the framework of four thermoelastic theories. The four employed thermoelastic theories, namely the classical dynamic coupled theory (CDC), the Lord-Shulman (LS) theory, the dual-phase-lag (DPL) theory, and the nonlocal dual-phase-lag (NLDPL) theory, are utilised to represent various heat conduction mechanisms. The governing equations are derived for skin tissues and solved using the normal mode technique in conjunction with an eigenvalue approach. Numerical simulations are conducted to analyze the distributions of temperature, displacement, and stress fields, with the results illustrated through two- and three-dimensional graphical representations. The effects of angular frequency and the nonlocal parameter on the thermomechanical response are examined in detail. A comparative evaluation of the four thermoelastic theories (CDC, LS, DPL, and NLDPL) highlights their respective capabilities under harmonic heating conditions. The findings offer valuable insights into the behavior of skin tissues under varying conditions. These results may significantly contribute to the advancement of treatments such as hyperthermia therapy and laser surgery, thereby potentially improving patient care.