Dataset – Contact evolution of dry and hydrated fingertips at initial touch

Pressing the fingertips into surfaces causes skin deformations that enable humans to
grip objects and sense their physical properties. This process involves intricate finger
geometry, non-uniform tissue properties, and moisture, complicating the underlying
contact mechanics. Here we explore the initial contact evolution of dry and hydrated
fingers to isolate the roles of governing physical factors. Two participants gradually
pressed an index finger on a glass surface under three moisture conditions: dry, water-
hydrated, and glycerin-hydrated. Gross and real contact area were optically measured
over time, revealing that glycerin hydration produced strikingly higher real contact area,
while gross contact area was similar for all conditions. To elucidate the causes for this
phenomenon, we investigated the combined effects of tissue elasticity, skin-surface
friction, and fingerprint ridges on contact area using simulation. Our analyses show the
dominant influence of elastic modulus over friction and an unusual contact
phenomenon, which we call friction-induced hinging.