A new method for computing the uniaxial modulus of articular cartilages using modified inhomogeneous triphasic model

It is well known that subtle changes in structure and tissue composition of articular cartilage can lead to its degeneration. The present paper puts forward a modified layered inhomogeneous triphasic model with four parameters based on the inhomogeneous triphasic model proposed by Narmoneva et al. Incorporating a piecewise fitting optimization criterion, the new model was used to obtain the uniaxial modulus Ha, and predict swelling pattern for the articular cartilage based on ultrasound-measured swelling strain data. The results show that the new method can be used to provide more accurate estimation on the uniaxial modulus than the inhomogeneous triphasic model with three parameters and the homogeneous mode, and predict effectively the swell- ing strains of highly nonuniform distribution of degenerated articular cartilages. This study can provide supplementary information for exploring mechanical and material properties of the cartilage, and thus be helpful for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis-related diseases.     

Hyperelastic modeling of location-dependent human distal femoral cartilage mechanics

Knee articular cartilage exhibits complex mechanical behavior, even under high strain rates, which poses a challenge to developing accurate and efficient cartilage models. In particular, the tissue׳s stress–strain response is non-linear and the stiffness of the response is location-dependent. Hyperelastic models such as those of Alan Gent and others have increasingly found use in soft tissue biomechanics. Recently, a hyperelastic statistical chain network model representing the transverse isotropy of the collagen matrix in the superficial tangential zone has been developed. The model successfully simulated the 100% strain/s unconfined compression response of human proximal tibial cartilage. Moreover, spatial variations in the tangent modulus to the nominal stress–strain curve taken at 10% strain were reflected in the variability of a single parameter of the model. Given the success of the model, we desired to determine whether these outcomes are equally applicable to healthy human distal femoral cartilage so that a complete model of tibiofemoral joint cartilage can be developed. The transversely isotropic model was employed along with two other hyperelastic chain network models to determine which model best simulated unconfined compression data for healthy distal femoral cartilage. The transversely isotropic model fit the data excellently (R²=0.999). The model was subsequently simplified to depend on a single parameter and reapplied to the dataset. The modified model maintained an excellent fit to the data (R²=0.999), and its single parameter varied in a statistically similar regional pattern (p<0.05) to the experimentally-obtained elastic modulus of the tissue. Outcomes suggest that this model is suitable for modeling the spatially-varying, non-linear mechanics of healthy human distal femoral cartilage. Implementation of this constitutive relation within computational models of the knee will provide novel insight into the relationship between joint mechanics, cartilage loading, and knee osteoarthritis development.     

Effects of Environmental Degradation on Flexural Failure Strength of Fiber Reinforced Composites

Fiber-reinforced composite laminates are often used in harsh environments that may affect their long-term durability as well as residual strength. In general, environmental degradation is observed as matrix cracking and erosion that leads to deterioration of matrix-dominated properties. In this work, cross-ply laminates of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy were subjected to environmental degradation using controlled ultraviolet radiation (UV) and moisture condensation and the post-exposure mechanical properties were evaluated through elastic modulus and failure strength measurements. Additionally, both degraded and undegraded were subjected to cyclic fatigue loading to investigate possible synergistic effects between environmental degradation and mechanical fatigue. Experimental results show that the degradation results in reduced failure strength. Greater effects of degradation are observed when the materials are tested under flexural as opposed to uniaxial loading. Based on strength measurements and scanning electron microscopy, we identified various damage modes resulting from exposure to UV radiation and moisture condensation, and cyclic loading. The principal mechanisms that lead to reduction in mechanical properties are the loss of fiber confinement due to matrix erosion, due to UV radiation and moisture condensation, and weakened/cracked ply interfaces due to mechanical fatigue. An empirical relationship was established to quantify the specific influence of different damage mechanisms and to clarify the effects of various degradation conditions.     

A Constitutive Model for Swelling Pressure and Volumetric Behavior of Highly-Hydrated Connective Tissue

The fluid pressure within water-filled connective tissues such as cartilage, intervertebral disk and cornea facilitates a vital part of their functionality. Cartilage and intervertebral disk must resist compressive loading, and even the cornea uses fluid pressure loading to form its precise refractive geometry. The fluid pressure is composed of hydrostatic and swelling pressure components, with the latter deriving primarily from osmotic forces associated with ion concentrations. The tissues, like electrolyte gels in general, have a strong tendency to absorb water and swell. The goal of this work is to formulate an in vivo tissue theory from first principles and to arrive at the simplest possible model which captures the essential features of tissue charge effects and swelling behavior. The Gibbs free energy of the tissue, including elastic, hydrostatic, and electrostatic components, is characterized and equilibrium thermodynamics is employed to find explicit constitutive equations for the tissue osmotic pressure and osmotic compressibility over a unit cell. It is shown that the osmotic compressibility essentially defines the tissue macroscopic pressure-volume relationship at equilibrium. To illustrate the theory in detail, the human cornea is taken as a model tissue, and it is shown how the nanometer features of the glycosaminoglycan charge distribution can be modeled within the proposed theory. The cornea model is further extended to include the effects of the pump-leak hydration control mechanism based on active ion and passive water transport across the corneal endothelium. The model has been implemented in a standard finite element code and is shown to be capable of reproducing fundamental in vitro swelling experiments, including massive swelling, and typical in vivo swelling observed in disease states such as Fuch’s dystophy.     

Using two scaling exponents to describe the mechanical properties of swollen elastomers

We study the ability of two scaling exponents to describe the mechanical properties of swollen elastomers. Swelling effects on the Young's modulus and osmotic pressure of swollen elastomers at equilibrium swelling are investigated using literature data and the Flory–Rehner free energy function. An extended model is developed by introducing two scaling exponents into elastic strain energy functions that are separated into deviatoric and volumetric components. This extended model satisfactorily reproduces the two different swelling effects, and also predicts swelling-induced rupture. The predicted tendency readily explains experimental observations well, i.e., swelling-induced rupture occurs when small extensions are applied in good solvents, and elucidates the mechanism of swelling-induced rupture of elastomers.     

高低温加载对大理岩力学特性影响的试验研究

许多工程（如采矿、隧道掘进、地热开采等）都涉及到岩石损伤及破碎问题．传统的岩石损伤破碎技术，如爆破法、水射流法、机械掘进法等均面临着一系列问题，利用岩石的热损伤性质辅助机械破岩有望实现安全、高效破岩的目的．大理岩是一种典型的硬岩，常见许多工程之中，因此本文以大理岩为研究对象，首先将均质性较好的大理岩试样加热至不同温度(20~1000 °C)后放入液氮中进行急速冷处理，然后对其进行了系列的物理力学性质测试．试验结果表明：处理后密度、纵波波速、抗拉强度、单轴抗压强度(UCS)和弹性模量整体上都随温度的上升而下降；当加热温度在100 °C之前，大理岩表现出一定的热硬化现象，即随着温度升高，其UCS、纵波波速以及弹性变形模量均增大；UCS变化的阈值温度为400 °C左右，一旦温度超过400 °C，UCS迅速下降，其速率达到了9 MPa/100 °C，当温度超过500 °C弹性模量迅速下降，其速率达到7.00 GPa/100 °C，表明岩样抵抗变形能力减弱．整体上，热加载降低了大理岩的脆性，使其在单轴作用下的破坏模式由脆性破坏逐渐转化为弹塑性破坏．     

聚乙烯醇水凝胶的生物摩擦学研究进展

介绍了聚乙烯醇水凝胶的制备方法及其物理化学性能,评述了润滑介质、摩擦配副、摩擦运动方式、水凝胶自身特性及载荷和基体材料性质等对聚乙烯醇水凝胶生物摩擦磨损性能的影响,指出今后应加强对多因素协同作用下水凝胶磨损机理、关节运动模拟系统、关节滑液的主要组分润滑协同效应及其润滑机理的研究.     

FE analysis of the in-plane mechanical properties of a novel Voronoi-type lattice with positive and negative Poisson’s ratio configurations

This work presents a novel formulation for a Voronoi-type cellular material with in-plane anisotropic behaviour, showing global positive and negative Poisson’s ratio effects under uniaxial tensile loading. The effects of the cell geometry and relative density over the global stiffness, equivalent in-plane Poisson’s ratios and shear modulus of the Voronoi-type structure are evaluated with a parametric analysis. Empirical formulas are identified to reproduce the mechanical trends of the equivalent homogeneous orthotropic material representing the Voronoi-type structure and its geometry parameters.     

Biomechanics in cartilage tissue engineering

关节软骨是关节表面具有弹性的承重组织, 其结构复杂, 由固体相和液体相组成. 固体相包括胶原纤维、蛋白多糖等, 属纤维增强型复合结构; 液体相包括水、电解质等.关节软骨提供了一个低磨损和低摩擦的光滑界面, 起缓冲振动和传递载荷等支撑作用. 由于膝关节承受的运动量大、应力高, 关节软骨损伤在临床上较为常见. 但软骨内没有血管, 代谢缓慢, 其损伤后难以实现自我修复. 组织工程从理论上建立了一种治疗软骨缺损的理想方法, 但尚未成为临床上常规的治疗选择. 如何获得结构和功能相匹配, 同时适用于临床治疗的工程软骨, 至今仍是亟需解决的问题.在体外构建功能化工程软骨, 关键在于运用生物反应器对组织施加合适的力学载荷: 首先保证工程软骨复合体内信号分子、营养和废物的有效运输; 其次对支架内种子细胞产生特定的力学刺激; 同时促进细胞外基质结构与功能的适应性发展.本文对力学载荷在软骨组织工程构建中的应用进展加以综述: 按照作用于组织层面的力学载荷传递所需的介质属性, 将其分为液体介导、固体介导和其他媒质介导三种类型, 重点关注不同载荷对工程软骨功能化构建的作用和效果; 分析讨论软骨组织工程构建中存在的关键生物力学问题; 总结和展望软骨组织工程未来的发展趋势.软骨组织工程体外培养需要考虑力学载荷和生化刺激的耦合作用; 在合适的生化条件下进行滚动、滑动和压缩复合加载, 将有利于工程软骨的体外功能化构建.