The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Contribution of tissue composition and structure to mechanical response of articular cartilage under different loading geometries and strain rates

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

Mechanical function of articular cartilage in joints between articulating bones is dependent on the composition and structure of the tissue. The mechanical properties of articular cartilage are traditionally tested in compression using one of the three loading geometries, i.e., confined compression, unconfined compression or indentation. The aim of this study was to utilize a composition-based finite element model in combination with a fractional factorial design to determine the importance of different cartilage constituents in the mechanical response of the tissue, and to compare the importance of the tissue constituents with different loading geometries and loading rates. The evaluated parameters included water and collagen fraction as well as fixed charge density on cartilage surface and their slope over the tissue thickness. The thicknesses of superficial and middle zones, as based on the collagen orientation, were also included in the evaluated parameters. A three-level resolution V fractional factorial design was used. The model results showed that inhomogeneous composition plays only a minor role in indentation, though that role becomes more significant in confined compression and unconfined compression. In contrast, the collagen architecture and content had a more profound role in indentation than with two other loading geometries. These differences in the mechanical role of composition and structure between the loading geometries were emphasized at higher loading rates. These findings highlight how the results from mechanical tests of articular cartilage under different loading conditions are dependent upon tissue composition and structure.

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

237-245

Publication/Series

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology

Volume

9

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Mechanical Engineering

Keywords

  • Fibril-reinforced
  • Fractional factorial design
  • Articular cartilage
  • Collagen
  • Fixed charge density
  • Finite element analysis

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1617-7940