The mechanical properties of excised strips of human skin were investigated in the initial high compliant phase. The specimens showed preconditioning on repeated load cycling. The preconditioned specimen displayed a reproducible response, and a region of linear load-extension behaviour. The value of the tensile modulus and Poisson's ratio, both referred to the dimensions of the preconditioned specimens, are reported and the tissues shown to be anisotropic. Stress relaxation tests showed the properties of the tissues to be time dependent.
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