Observation of Changes Deriving on the Surface of Polymer Materials Imitating Biological Structures - Presentation of the Method

Objective: This study aimed to develop a measurement system to investigate the mechanical behavior of materials under applied force. The system was designed to evaluate the relationship between displacement and applied force and to analyze material deformation. Methods: The measurement system comprised two high-resolution cameras, a robotic arm, and programmed sensors, all mounted on a custom-designed support structure. The components were selected based on a thorough review of the literature and the specific requirements for material testing. During the experiments, the system induced controlled deflection in the central region of the specimen. Surface deformation was tracked using custom-developed software, which reconstructed a 3-D model of the material based on specific tracking points. The displacement data were then used to generate a force-displacement curve. Hysteresis fields were computed to further analyze the material’s mechanical response. Results: The system successfully reconstructed accurate 3-D surface models of the specimens during mechanical deformation. Force-displacement curves generated from the measurements provided detailed insights into the mechanical properties of the materials. The analysis of the hysteresis fields revealed deviations from expected behavior, offering information on the material’s response to applied force. Conclusions: The measurement system proved to be an effective tool for characterizing material behavior under applied force. Its ability to integrate precise hardware with custom software allowed for accurate 3-D modeling and reliable force-displacement analysis. The results demonstrated the system’s applicability in material research and quality control. Future work may focus on extending its capabilities to a broader range of materials and testing conditions.