The mechanics of buckling fiber in relation to fabric‐evoked prickliness: a theory model of single fiber prickling human skin

Abstract

The simple Euler model of buckling of a slender rod has been commonly used to explain the mechanics in relation to the buckling of fabric‐evoked prickliness. Unfortunately, few works have paid attention to its applicability into the buckling behavior of fiber prickling human skin to evoke prickliness, though the friction between the fiber end and the skin and the firmness of a fiber end held in fabric (denoted as elastic stiffness) are considered to be among the main factors for fabric‐evoked prickliness. To model the mechanics of buckling of a fiber in relation to fabric‐evoked prickliness, the fiber–skin friction, the elastic stiffness, and the initial inclined angle of the fiber are introduced into the simple Euler model of buckling of a slender rod. Then, a sensitivity analysis is performed on these three factors to observe their role in the buckling behavior of a fiber. The results demonstrate that the fiber–skin friction and the elastic stiffness have a significant effect on the buckling behavior of fiber end prickling skin and the stimulus intensity to skin. Additionally, the fiber with an initial inclined angle can exert compression force on skin above the average force threshold of nociceptors responsible for fabric‐evoked prickliness, and the force size depends on the fiber property and its end‐restraint intensity. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the assumption of a fixed‐hinged boundary of the fiber end prickling human skin. In this sense, a developed fiber–skin coupling model provides a good modeling for the buckling behavior of fiber end pricking human skin.