Quantification of mechanical behavior of rat tail under compression

The development of vibration-induced finger disorders is likely associated with combined static and dynamic responses of the fingers to vibration exposure. To study the mechanisms of these disorders, a new rat-tail model has been established to mimic the finger pressure and vibration exposures. However, the mechanical behavior of the tail during compression needs to be better understood to improve the model and its applications. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the static and time-dependent force responses of the rat tail during compression. Compression tests were conducted on male Sprague-Dawley cadaver rat tails using a micromechanical testing system at three deformation velocities and three deformation magnitudes. Contact-width, and the time-histories of force and deformation were measured. Additionally, force-relaxation tests were conducted and a Prony series was used to model the force-relaxation behavior of the tail.