Journal of biomechanical engineering
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A finite difference heat transfer model has been developed to predict the Safe Touch Temperatures (STT) for plates made of different materials. SST can be defined as the highest temperature at which no pain is felt when the surface is touched for a long enough period to allow safe handling of the equipment. The criterion used to quantify damage is the "damage function" that was originally proposed by Henriques and Moritz. ⋯ It is found that the material properties, namely thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity, and the plate thickness ratio are the three most important parameters. These three parameters account for a range of STT from 56 degrees C-100 degrees C with thick metals at the low end and thin metals and plastics in the high range. This method represents a significant improvement over existing standard practices.