In the design of the mechanical loading platform EQUicycler, do deformable silicon posts make contact with a fixed plate while in the unstrained position?

In the design of the mechanical loading platform EQUicycler, the statement that deformable silicon posts make contact with a fixed plate while in the unstrained position is false.

The reason this statement is correct is that, in a typical mechanical loading system, deformable components, like silicon posts, are designed to be unloaded or at rest without any external forces applied. This configuration ensures that when the system is not under strain, the silicon posts remain separated from the fixed plate. This separation is essential in mechanical loading applications, as it allows for proper measurement and application of stress or strain to the tissue engineering scaffolds or samples being tested.

When the silicon posts are deformed under load, they then come into contact with the fixed plate. This mechanism is central to the intended function of the equipment, providing a controlled environment in which to simulate physiological loading conditions, without any undesired pre-load acting on the system when it is in its unstrained state.