Preliminary investigation and comparative assessment of thermo-mechanical performance of PCM-enhanced silicone liners

Excess heat accumulation and elevated interface pressures cause discomfort and skin complications for transfemoral prosthesis users. This study investigates the thermo-mechanical behavior of silicone liners reinforced with microencapsulated phase change material (PCM) at 5%, 10%, and 15% volume fractions (Si-5PCM, Si-10PCM, Si-15PCM), using a coupled 3D finite element model with multiscale homogenization. Results show the silicone liner reached the highest temperature (∼36°C) and highest coupled contact pressure (183.4 kPa), while Si-15PCM maintained the lowest temperature (∼34.6°C) with smaller pressure and shear-stress increases. Low-fraction PCM liners thus reduce heat-induced mechanical amplification, offering a more stable, skin-friendly prosthetic interface.