Session: 07-05-01: Biomedical Devices, Sensors, and Actuators

Paper Number: 192805

Biomechanical Analysis of Multilayered Artificial Nail Systems: A Survey-Informed Finite Element Approach 

Artificial nail systems have become widely used cosmetic products, particularly among younger consumers. From a mechanics perspective, these systems function as small-scale multilayer bonded structures attached directly to the human body. The structural integrity of the assembly depends on the load transfer and deformation compatibility among multiple layers, including the artificial nail tip, adhesive layer, natural nail plate, and supporting nail bed. During normal daily activities, artificial nails have frequently been subjected to external loads such as impact, snagging, compression, and localized contact. These loading events may produce stress concentrations and interfacial traction leading to local cracking, interfacial debonding, partial lifting, or complete detachment. Such failures not only reduce the durability of the cosmetic system but may also increase the risk of damage to the underlying natural nail plate. Despite the widespread use of artificial nails, the mechanical failure behavior of these multilayer systems under various loading conditions has not been systematically investigated from a structural mechanics perspective.

This study has investigated the interfacial debonding mechanisms of an artificial nail sandwich structure subjected to various external loading conditions using finite element analysis (FEA). A three-dimensional layered finite element model was developed to represent the artificial nail assembly. The model consisted of five primary components: the artificial nail tip, builder gel layer, natural nail plate, keratin interlocking adhesive band, and the compliant nail bed support. This layered configuration has preserved the essential structural and interfacial characteristics of the real system while maintaining computational feasibility. Both implicit and explicit simulations were implemented in ANSYS Workbench to evaluate the mechanical response of the multilayer structure under various loading conditions.

The numerical simulations focused on stress redistribution, local bending amplification, interfacial traction evolution, and the initiation of damage at critical bonded interfaces. Potential debonding locations and dominant failure pathways within the multilayer assembly were identified through the analysis. In addition, representative material systems for the artificial nail tip, including thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and selected hybrid combinations, were examined to evaluate their influence on structural performance.

A parametric sensitivity study was also conducted to quantify the influence of key geometric and material parameters on interfacial stability. The parameters investigated included layer stiffness, thickness distribution, attachment length, and substrate compliance. The results have demonstrated how variations in these parameters affect stress transfer, bending deformation, and the likelihood of interfacial debonding.

The present study has provided a mechanics-based framework for understanding load-induced detachment in artificial nail systems and has identified the dominant variables governing interfacial failure in multilayer cosmetic attachments. The findings may offer engineering guidance for improving material selection, layer configuration, and attachment reliability in artificial nail products. More broadly, the proposed modeling strategy may also be extended to other small-scale multilayer bonded structures subjected to mechanical loadings.

Presenting Author: Lezhi Zhao Northeast Agricultural University

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Hui Shen’s research interests have focused on biomaterials, biomechanics, and medical device engineering.

Authors:

Lezhi Zhao Northeast Agricultural University
Carter Betts Ohio Northern University
Arilanto Ramanase Ohio Northern University
Guang Yang China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University
Hui Shen Ohio Northern University