Indentation Experiments
Indentation Experiments - Related Videos
08:21
Quantitative Hardness Measurement by Instrumented AFM-indentation
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Cited by 6 •
2016
This experimental protocol describes how atomic force microscopy can be used to measure hardness at the true nanometer scale and to detect single atomistic plasticity events.
07:07
Biomechanical Characterization of Human Soft Tissues Using Indentation and Tensile Testing
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Cited by 123 •
2016
Tissue biomechanics is important for maintaining cell shape and function and for determining phenotype. This report demonstrates non-destructive mechanical protocols for characterizing elastic and viscoelastic properties of human soft tissues, which can be directly applied to tissue-engineered substrates to allow a close matching of engineered materials to native tissue.
11:19
Characterizing Multiscale Mechanical Properties of Brain Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Impact Indentation, and Rheometry
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Cited by 34 •
2016
We present a set of techniques to characterize the viscoelastic mechanical properties of brain at the micro-, meso-, and macro-scales.
02:44
Impact Indentation for Assessing the Mechanical Properties of a Mouse Brain Tissue
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2025
Source: Canovic, E. P., et. al., Characterizing Multiscale Mechanical Properties of Brain Tissue Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Impact Indentation, and Rheometry. J. Vis. Exp. (2016)The video demonstrates using impact indentation to measure the mechanical properties of a hydrated mouse brain tissue, including stiffness, energy dissipation, and damping, through probe displacement and velocity analysis.
07:57
Viscoelastic Characterization of Soft Tissue-Mimicking Gelatin Phantoms using Indentation and Magnetic Resonance Elastography
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Cited by 4 •
2022
This article presents a demonstration and summary of protocols of making gelatin phantoms that mimic soft tissues, and the corresponding viscoelastic characterization using indentation and magnetic resonance elastography.
FAQs
Interpretation starts with the relationship between the applied input and the sample’s response. A steeper or more resistant force-displacement response indicates greater resistance to deformation, while the curve can also reveal how the sample recovers after loading. This lets investigators extract quantitative information about stiffness, hardness, and time-dependent viscoelastic behavior rather than relying on qualitative impressions.
Time is essential when the sample is viscoelastic. Its response may depend not only on how far the probe moves or how much force is applied, but also on what happens during and after loading. Tracking deformation and recovery over time helps distinguish immediate resistance from time-dependent behavior, which is important when comparing biological samples or engineered materials with different mechanical responses.
Micro- and nanoindentation make it possible to characterize small biological or engineered samples. In bioengineering, these approaches assess cells, tissues, hydrogels, and biomaterials, helping investigators obtain mechanical measurements suited to specimens that differ greatly in size and composition. The resulting data support direct comparison of mechanical behavior across these sample types.
Testing under conditions that approximate a sample’s intended environment makes the measured mechanics more relevant to its real function. This consideration matters for cells, tissues, hydrogels, and biomaterials because the same specimen may be interpreted differently when assessed outside the context in which it is meant to operate. Environmental relevance strengthens comparisons and design decisions.
A basic workflow begins by selecting a sample and an indenter, then controlling either the applied force or the probe displacement. The probe is driven into the sample while the instrument records the corresponding response. Investigators then examine the force-displacement curve, including deformation and recovery behavior, to quantify mechanical properties appropriate to the study.
Mechanical measurements become biologically informative when they are related to how cells and tissues function or respond. Indentation data can help investigators examine links between sample mechanics and cell behavior, tissue function, or disease-related changes. This connection moves the test beyond material ranking and supports bioengineering studies of biological performance.
Quantitative measurements of stiffness, hardness, and viscoelastic behavior give designers mechanical targets for engineered materials. In regenerative medicine, those measurements help evaluate whether a material has relevant mechanical characteristics for its intended role. For medical devices, the same information supports material selection and comparison by connecting mechanical performance with application requirements.
Comparing force-displacement responses across samples can identify differences in resistance to deformation and recovery behavior. In bioengineering, those differences may be examined alongside disease-related changes in tissues or cells, helping researchers relate altered mechanics to biological condition. The value lies in a quantitative comparison of mechanical behavior rather than a purely descriptive assessment.