Multidimensional outline of experimental techniques for human skin tribology: a scoping review

Abstract

Human skin tribology involves the study of friction behaviour of skin, with other materials in contact. Numerous studies have been conducted based both on the simulations and experimentations for the tribological investigations. Present study reports key experimental findings post year 2000 in which human skin (in vivo) is taken as test specimen. This review study highlights the latest technologies and trends that is in practice for tribological investigations on the human skin. For the selection of articles, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique is adapted. Articles were screened out using various inclusion and exclusion criteria. Classifications were made based on the site of investigations viz. fingertip (22%), finger pad (36%), volar forearm (32%), and other regions (10%) as the anatomical regions. Study concludes that the maximum investigations have been performed on fabric/ textile followed by polymers, metals, plastics, and many others. Shearing has come up as the prominent factor for the erosion of soft surfaces. Study concludes the stick- slip friction to be the foremost contributor to the adhesion friction.