A Structural Model For Simulating the Mechanical Response of Fingertip to Tactile Stimuli

TL;DR

This study develops a finite element model to simulate the biomechanical response of the fingertip during tactile stimulation, aiding in the design of tactile devices by predicting stress, strain, and neural responses.

Contribution

A novel 2D finite element model incorporating anatomical finger structures to simulate tactile biomechanics and predict neural responses during indentation tests.

Findings

Skin experiences significant strain energy away from indenter

Model predictions align with experimental data on neural responses

Stress and deformation fields characterized during indentation

Abstract

Response of the mechanoreceptors underlying the skin is greatly affected by its mechanical properties. Knowledge of this response is essential in designing artificial tactile devices such as minimally invasive tools and tactile displays. The purpose of present research is to simulate the biomechanics of tactile sensation during indentation tests. A two-dimensional finite element model has been used for the analysis incorporating the essential anatomical structures of a finger (i.e., skin, subcutaneous tissue, bone, and nail). The skin and subcutaneous tissue are assumed to be hyperelastic and viscoelastic. We obtained the stress, strain and deformation fields in indentation tests. It was noted that the skin away from the indenter was experiencing considerable amount of strain energy density. Also, the response of SAI afferents could be predicted from the proposed model. These results were in agreement with the results mentioned in other published experimental data.