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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
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Published on: April 21, 2023
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Measuring contact area in a sliding human finger-pad contact
1The Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Summary
This study investigated human finger-pad contact areas on surfaces. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed that real contact area increases with load and dynamic friction, enhancing skin friction understanding.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Tribology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Understanding skin friction is crucial for various applications, including touch interfaces and prosthetics.
- Investigating the contact area between human finger-pads and surfaces provides insights into frictional behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To further understand skin frictional behavior by examining the contact area between human finger-pads and flat surfaces.
- To compare different measurement techniques for analyzing macro- and micro-scale contact areas.
Main Methods:
- Measured static and dynamic contact areas (macro- and micro-scales) using ink printing, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and Digital Image Correlation (DIC).
Main Results:
- Static contact area increased with load, following a piecewise linear correlation for finger-pads on paper.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) proved effective for micro-scale analysis of real contact area.
- Apparent contact area decreased over time during the static-to-dynamic transition, while real contact area increased.
Conclusions:
- The findings enhance the analysis of finger-pad and surface interactions.
- This research improves the fundamental understanding of skin friction mechanisms.
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