Elastic Properties of Chicken and Other
Skin Types
Name: Rachel Howitt
Class: BE 210
The purpose of this experiment is to determine and compare elastic properties of varying skin types from a single organism, namely, chicken. Young’s (elastic) modulus of skin from legs, wings, and breast will be determined using an Instron 4444 testing machine. The proposed hypothesis is that Young’s modulus of chicken skin at each of the three locations will be significantly different (p < 0.05) from one another. If significant differences are found, it will also be possible to order the skin based from least to greatest modulus.
This experiment will impart knowledge of Instron usage, and determination of stress and strain according to given equations from force and displacement. Educational goals include ability to apply statistical operations such as ANOVA and t-tests. The experiment will be performed using chicken skin since it is easily obtained and approved for use by undergraduates. However, students should also gain awareness of how (and if) skin’s mechanical properties differ between organisms, in addition to differing by location.