Triaxial Characterization of Kidney Tissue Mechanics: Design and Validation of a Benchmark Testing System for Soft Tissue in Biomedical Applications

Kidney tissue exhibits complex, viscoelastic properties that make mechanical characterization both challenging and essential for advancing organ biomechanics and the design of soft-tissue-mimicking materials. To address limitations of traditional uniaxial testing, we developed a custom triaxial mechanical testing system capable of applying tension, compression, shear, and relaxation within a single standardized setup. Our design integrates three independent motors, a triaxial load cell, and a LabVIEW-based control interface, enabling synchronized force-displacement data collection across multiple axes. We are validating uniaxial outputs against a commercial Instron machine and literature data to ensure accuracy and repeatability. Ultimately, our goal is to establish a benchmark protocol for soft tissue testing and support the development of clot-based tissue mimics for preclinical applications.