Finite Difference Method Simulation on Effect of Blood Perfusion on Temperature Distribution of Female Human Skin

Slamet Wahyudi

doi:10.21776/mechta.2022.003.01.4

Abstract

Bioheat transfer is a combination of heat transfer and biology process comprising of transfer of heat from human living tissue to the environment. This study aims to estimate the temperature distribution of female human’s skin. In this study, effect of varied blood perfusions of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 kg/s.m3 on bioheat transfer of female human skin, which was modeled into four layers, was simulated. To address this issue, one-dimensional unsteady state finite difference method was applied in this study. Result of this study informed that the finite difference method can be used to solve the bioheat transfer equation and to estimate temperature distribution of different skin layers of female human. In this study, blood perfusion affects temperature distribution in the four layers of unstable women's skin. The highest blood perfusion of 3 kg/s.m3 resulted in more homogeny temperature distribution of different skin layers. This circumstance occurred since higher blood perfusion increases heat transfer between blood and skin layers.

Highlights

Bioengineering is a combination of two science, i.e. engineering and biomedical that can apply various kinds of science and technologies to address medical challenges to and improve the health conditions for particular groups of people
This study aims to estimate the temperature distribution of female human’s skin
Result of this study informed that the finite difference method can be used to solve the bioheat transfer equation and to estimate temperature distribution of different skin layers of female human

Summary

Introduction

Bioheat transfer involves heat exchange from human living tissue to the environment. This process includes blood flow, organ systems and the thermal response of body tissues to the environment [1]. Accounted for about 15% of the total body weight of an adult human, there are 3 layers of human skin, i.e. epidermis, dermis and fat-filled tissue [2]. Heat loss through skin occurs since heat is circulated through the blood vessels which transfer heat to all human living tissues. Blood perfusion, influences the heat transfer process from human skin to the environment. Oltulu et al [4] investigated six parts of human body, i.e. chest, scalp, stomach, back, palms, and soles of the feet and concluded that the chest has the thickest layer of skin, i.e. 0.0004626 m. The scalp has the thinnest layer of skin tissue, i.e. 0.0002108 m

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Conclusion