Pekemekanikk

Pekemekanikk is a Norwegian term used to describe the study of the mechanical principles behind poking, tapping, and finger-based interactions with objects and devices. The field focuses on how finger forces, contact geometry, and material response combine to produce motion, deformation, and sensory signals. It encompasses aspects of kinematics, dynamics, and contact mechanics, with attention to the transient nature of brief presses and taps.

Key concepts within pekemekanikk include contact mechanics, force transmission through surfaces, impulse and momentum transfer, and the resulting material deformation. The interaction often involves nonlinear materials, friction, wear, and hysteresis, as well as the generation of tactile feedback through tactile sensors or haptic actuators. The study may address both macro-scale interactions, such as touchscreen buttons, and micro-scale interactions, such as tactile surfaces and micro-actuators.

Methods commonly employed in pekemekanikk combine experimental measurements and computational modeling. Experimental work may use force sensors, pressure maps, high-speed cameras, and digital image correlation to quantify contact forces and deformations. Modeling approaches can include rigid-body dynamics, finite element analysis for contact problems, and simplified lumped-parameter models to capture impulse responses.

Applications of pekemekanikk appear in product design for human–machine interfaces, such as keyboards, touchpads, and haptic devices; in robotics and prosthetics for more natural finger interactions; and in biomimetic research exploring how natural fingers interact with varied materials. The term is primarily used in Norwegian-language contexts and may overlap with broader fields like contact mechanics, tactile sensing, and haptics. See also contact mechanics, tactile sensing, and haptic technology.