Fingertip recovery time depending on viscoelasticity

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the recovery time of human-fingertip’s mechanical properties after indentations cycles. To determine the influencing parameters, three indentation velocities, five recovery times and three subjects were tested. During each experiment, the fingertip of participant was driven against a flat surface, while indentation displacement and velocity were controlled. The results show not only the indentation forces values increase depending on the indentation velocity increment, but also they decrease depending on the number of cycles. While the fingertip recovery depends on the time, but not on the indentation velocity. Finally the recovery time was determined: in 5 min the fingertip restored 99.6% of the initial mechanical properties.