Deformation micromechanisms of collagen fibrils under uniaxial tension.

ABSTRACT: Collagen, an essential building block of connective tissues, possesses useful mechanical properties due to its hierarchical structure. However, little is known about the mechanical properties of collagen fibril, an intermediate structure between the collagen molecule and connective tissue. Here, we report the results of systematic molecular dynamics simulations to probe the mechanical response of initially unflawed finite size collagen fibrils subjected to uniaxial tension. The observed deformation mechanisms, associated with rupture and sliding of tropocollagen molecules, are strongly influenced by fibril length, width and cross-linking density. Fibrils containing more than approximately 10 molecules along their length and across their width behave as representative volume elements and ex

SUBMITTER: Tang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2874230 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature