A new constitutive model for hydration-dependent mechanical properties in biological soft tissues and hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: It is challenging to noninvasively determine the mechanical properties of biological soft tissues in vivo. In this study, based on the biphasic theory and the transport models, a new constitutive model for hydration-dependent mechanical properties in hydrated soft materials was derived: HA = An(1-fϕ)(fϕ)2-n/2(2-fϕ), where HA(=λ+2 μ) is the aggregate modulus, ϕ(f) is the volume fraction of fluid (i.e., hydration), A and n (>2) are two parameters related to the transport properties of the biphasic materials. A linear model for hydration-dependent shear modulus in the literature was verified for hydrogels. The effects of tissue hydration on mechanical properties (aggregate modulus and Poisson's ratio) were investigated. It was found that the value of Poisson's ratio was very sensitive to the

SUBMITTER: Gao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4163069 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature