Energy dissipation in mammalian collagen fibrils: Cyclic strain-induced damping, toughening, and strengthening.

ABSTRACT: As the fundamental structural protein in mammals, collagen transmits cyclic forces that are necessary for the mechanical function of tissues, such as bone and tendon. Although the tissue-level mechanical behavior of collagenous tissues is well understood, the response of collagen at the nanometer length scales to cyclical loading remains elusive. To address this major gap, we cyclically stretched individual reconstituted collagen fibrils, with average diameter of 145 ± 42 nm, to small and large strains in the partially hydrated conditions of 60% relative humidity. It is shown that cyclical loading results in large steady-state hysteresis that is reached immediately after the first loading cycle, followed thereafter by limited accumulation of inelastic strain and constant initial elastic mo

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6510236 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature