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Finite Element Implementation of Structural Constitutive Models

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Structure-Based Mechanics of Tissues and Organs

Abstract

It is well established that the highly nonlinear and anisotropic mechanical behaviors of soft tissues are an emergent behavior of the underlying tissue microstructure. Numerical solutions form the cornerstone in the application of constitutive models in contemporary biomechanics. Herein, a structural constitutive model into a finite element framework specialized for membrane tissues. Multiple deformation modes were simulated, including strip biaxial, planar biaxial with two attachment methods, and membrane inflation. Detailed comparisons with experimental data were undertaken to insure faithful simulations of both the macro-level stress–strain insights into adaptations of the fiber architecture under stress, such as fiber reorientation and fiber recruitment. Results indicated a high degree of fidelity and demonstrated interesting microstructural adaptions to stress and the important role of the underlying tissue matrix.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this work was supported by FDA contract HHSF223201111595P and NIH/NHLBI Grant NHLBI R01 HL108330 and R01 HL119297-01.

Conflict of Interests

The authors have no conflict of interests to report in this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 201 East 24th Street, ACES 5.438, 1 University Station, C0200, Austin, TX, 78712-0027, USA

    Michael S. Sacks

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  1. Michael S. Sacks
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Correspondence to Michael S. Sacks .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. California Medical Innovations Institute , INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, USA

    Ghassan S. Kassab

  2. Institute for Computational Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin Institute for Computational Engineering, PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, USA

    Michael S. Sacks

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Sacks, M.S. (2016). Finite Element Implementation of Structural Constitutive Models. In: Kassab, G., Sacks, M. (eds) Structure-Based Mechanics of Tissues and Organs. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7630-7_17

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