Quantifying Tactile Perception of Fabrics Using Both Frictional and Acoustic Methods

Area of Science:

• Tribology
• Sensory Science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Skin friction is crucial for the tactile perception of formulated products like cosmetics and coatings.
• Understanding the link between tribological properties and tactile perception is essential for product development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for acquiring acoustic emission (AE) signals during human finger sliding.
• To correlate AE signals and frictional characteristics with tactile perception of various substrates.
• To evaluate the potential of AE signals as a standalone or complementary method for sensory analysis.

Main Methods:

• Human finger sliding experiments were conducted on fabric and non-fabric substrates.
• Frictional forces were measured using a force plate.
• Acoustic emission (AE) signals generated during sliding were acquired.
• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to correlate AE, friction, and sensory data.

Main Results:

• Planar solid substrates were distinguishable based on friction alone.
• Coefficient of Friction (CoF) values did not significantly differentiate fabric materials.
• Acoustic emission (AE) signals successfully differentiated fabric substrates.
• AE analysis showed potential for complementary or standalone tactile perception assessment.

Conclusions:

• Acoustic emission (AE) provides valuable data for differentiating fabric textures, complementing traditional friction measurements.
• The developed AE-based method shows promise for objective tactile sensory evaluation.
• This approach offers a versatile tool for the analysis of material surface interactions and perceived texture.