Figure 1.
(a) The sensor-insole with its internal structure and key dimensions (w: hexagonal element width, t: wall thickness, h: insole thickness) made visible. The design of the samples comprising seven hexagonal elements which were used for mechanical testing is also shown (inset). (b) The mechanical response of the hexagonal thin-wall elements. The parameters that were used to describe the mechanical behaviour of the samples are noted on the graph. Pmax: the maximum pressure before the total collapse of the thin-wall elements. Pbuckling, dbuckling: the transition between elastic behaviour and buckling [22,23]. K: equivalent stiffness was assessed by the force that is needed to compress the insole by 1 mm.