A finite element model of burn injury in blood-perfused skin.

The burn process resulting from the application of a hot, cylindrical source to the skin surface was modeled using the finite element technique. A rotationally symmetric 125-element mesh was defined within the tissue beneath and outlying to an applied heating disk. The disk temperature and duration of contact were varied, respectively, between 50 and 100 degrees C for up to 30 s. Natural convection with ambient air was assumed for areas of skin surface not in direct contact with the disk. The simulated thermal history was used in a damage integral model to calculate the extent and severity of injury in the radial and axial dimensions.