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Research paper
Dublin 4, Ireland
b Room 228, Engineering Building, University College Dublin, School of Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Belfield,
Dublin 4, Ireland
A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T
Article history: Mechanical testing and modelling of a material for biomedical applications have to be
Received 4 August 2008 based on conditions representative of the application of interest. In this work, an ether-
Received in revised form based polyurethane elastomer is used to build mock arteries. The aim is to study the
16 March 2009 behaviour of arteries under pulsatile loading conditions and how that behaviour changes
Accepted 30 March 2009 with the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Polyurethane elastomers are
Published online 8 April 2009 widely used as biomaterials, e.g. in tube form for bypasses and catheters. However, their
mechanical behaviour has not been extensively characterised. This work establishes the
variations in the behaviour of polyurethane elastomer with temperature, humidity and
strain rate and also reports planar and equibiaxial tension, relaxation, creep and cyclic
test results, providing a comprehensive characterisation of the material. Test results are
used to determine the properties of the polyurethane elastomer and in the selection
of a representative material model for future simulations of arterial behaviour and the
development of atherosclerosis. The results show that the behaviour of the elastomer
is significantly dependent on both humidity and temperature, with Youngs modulus of
7.4 MPa, 5.3 MPa and 4.7 MPa under dry-room temperature, wet-room temperature and wet
at 37 C conditions, respectively. The elastomer also exhibits rate-dependent viscoelastic
behaviour. Yeohs hyperelastic material model provided the best fit to the entire range
of experimental data. The Neo-Hookean model provides a good fit at small strain but
significantly diverges at large strains. Nevertheless, in applications where deformations are
relatively small, i.e. below 15%, the Neo-Hookean model can be used.
c 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Gunatillake et al., 2003). They were first proposed for use as Loose
biomaterials in 1967 by Boretos and Pierce (1967). Their fibrous
Epithelial connective
superior mechanical properties and blood compatibility have Cells tissue VSMCs
favored their use and development as biomaterials, partic-
Elastin
ularly as components of implanted devices (Lamba et al.,
ECs
1997). Polyurethane elastomers offer superior mechanical
properties over silicone elastomers, particularly in relation
to tear and abrasion, and flex-fatigue life (Wiggins et al.,
2003). The chemical composition of these elastomers offers
substantial opportunities to synthetic polymer chemists to
tailor the structures to meet specific requirements. Generally
polyurethanes offer good compatibility with tissue and
blood, with a good resistance to mechanical degradation.
Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers are a class of linear
Fig. 1 Arterial wall composition.
segmented copolymers characterised by the presence of ure-
thane (carbamate) groups. They are prepared from three com-
ponents: a diisocyanate, a macrodiol, and a chain extender
(Gunatillake et al., 2003), and can be categorised into two ma- arteries. Material tests included uniaxial tests under varying
jor groups depending on the macrodiol used i.e. ester-based temperature, humidity and strain rates, planar and equibiax-
or ether-based polyurethanes (Knoerr and Hoffmann, 2001; ial tension, relaxation, creep and cyclic tests on specimens
Recker, 2001). Extensive research and development has re- made of polyurethane elastomer. Cyclic tests were performed
sulted in polyurethanes with excellent biostability, exhibiting to establish viscoelastic properties of the elastomer relevant
a combination of good mechanical properties and biocom- for pulsatile pressure loading of mock arteries. Static and dy-
patibility. Polyurethanes used in chronic implants are subject namic flow tests on polyurethane tubular specimens repre-
to hostile in vivo conditions which can lead to their failure senting mock arteries, which are discussed in detail in Quinn
(Stokes and McVenes, 1995; Wiggins et al., 2003; Thoma, 1987; (2009), were also performed.
Schmidt and Stotts, 1998; Zhao et al., 1990, 1991; Wu et al., Although polyurethane elastomers are widely used
1992; Schubert et al., 1995, 1997). biomaterials, their mechanical behaviour has never been
In the current work, an ether-based polyurethane extensively characterised. The material properties of the
elastomer supplied by Renier Technology Ltd (UK) is elastomers are usually measured in uniaxial tension only,
under dry-room temperature and at low strain rates (Diaconu
used for mock arteries, representing large arteries. Like
et al., 2006; Pathiraja et al., 1996; Diaconu and Dorohoi, 2005).
most biological materials, the arterial wall has a very
This work establishes the variations in the behaviour of an
complex mechanical behaviour. It exhibits strong mechanical
ether-based polyurethane elastomer with different loading
anisotropy, nonlinear stressstrain behaviour, viscoelasticity
conditions (as stated in the preceding paragraph), providing
and poroelasticity (Julia et al., 1966; LItalien et al., 1994).
a comprehensive characterisation of polyurethane elastomer.
Its stressstrain behaviour is also dependent on local
This work is part of a study looking at the role of
hemodynamics and shear stress (Stphanie and Alain, 1998;
hemodynamic shear stress in atherosclerosis, by accurately
Glagov, 1994; Barbee et al., 1994; Tronc et al., 1996), age and
predicting the distribution and rate of change of wall shear
inactivity (Vaitkevicius et al., 1993; Kelly et al., 1989; Avolio
stress in various arterial geometries (straight and branched
et al., 1985), pathological infections (David et al., 2002) and
mock arteries) and establishing the role of arterial flexibility
high blood pressure (Avolio et al., 1985), and varies widely
on wall shear stress.
along the arterial tree (Mangell et al., 1996). The arterial
wall is composed of elastin, vascular smooth muscle cells
(VSMC) and connective tissues (Fig. 1). Inside, the wall is 2. Test methods
covered by a monolayer of endothelial cells and epithelial
cells form its exterior. Due to the complex structure and Material tests performed on polyurethane elastomer spec-
behaviour, it is extremely difficult to find a material with imens included uniaxial, planar and equibiaxial tension,
similar mechanical behaviour to arteries or to model it by a stress relaxation, creep and cyclic loading. The test specimens
single hyperelastic material model. Although the properties were of different geometries (Fig. 2), according to the test be-
of polyurethane elastomer differ from those of the arteries, ing performed.
it was chosen because of its good biocompatibility and
viscoelastic properties, and for its wide use in vascular grafts 2.1. Uniaxial tension
(Szycher, 1998; Gunatillake et al., 2003), making it a preferred
material for mock arteries in this work. Uniaxial tension tests were performed using dumbbell
Since constitutive material models cannot entirely de- shaped specimens (Fig. 2(a)). These tests can be divided into
scribe the stressstrain behaviour of the material under all three groups, according to the strain rates employed i.e. low
possible loading conditions, material tests were selected (<1/s), intermediate (between 1/s and 100/s) and high (>100/s)
based on loading conditions which were considered appro- strain rate uniaxial tension tests.
priate for the application of interest. These were chosen to Low strain rate tests were performed under three different
be representative of the in vivo loading conditions of large conditions; dry-room temperature, wet-room temperature
J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162 53
0.5
a b c 30
5 10 5
Y
31
X 15 7.5
Z
7
Fig. 2 Specimen geometries for (a) uniaxial tension, cyclic, stress relaxation and creep, (b) planar tension and (c) biaxial
tension tests. All dimensions are in mm.
Striker
Striker
Fixed part, attached
to the base support
Moving
parts
Base support
and wet at 37 C, on a standard Instron machine. A laser Under high strain rate tests (Fig. 4), a swinging pendulum
extensometer was used for a non-contact measurement was used to load the specimens. When the pendulum striker
of strains. This is important when measuring strains of hits the block, a tensile stress pulse is generated in the
soft materials as any strain measurement involving contact incident bar. A dumbbell shaped cylindrical fracture piece
could affect the stiffness of the specimen. An environmental made of Perspex (2.5 mm in diameter) breaks on impact, thus,
chamber, equipped with a thermostatically controlled heater, preventing multiple pulses being generated. The amplitude of
was used to maintain a constant test temperature (e.g. 37 C the generated pulse is equal to stress required to break the
for wet at 37 C condition) for the duration of the test. For fracture piece, which in this case corresponds to a stress of
the wet tests, the specimens were submerged in water at the
1.4 MPa and 57 MPa in the incident bar and fracture piece,
set temperature for one hour prior to testing, and remained
respectively. In this way the amplitude of the incident pulse
submerged for the duration of the test.
can be controlled by varying the diameter of the fracture piece
Intermediate and high strain rate uniaxial tests were
(Shim et al., 2001). The generated tensile pulse propagates
performed under dry-room temperature conditions only, due
through the incident bar into the specimen. At the bar-
to the current experimental limitations. An instrumented
specimen interface, part of this pulse is transmitted into the
drop-weight tester (Fig. 3) and split Hopkinson pressure bar
in tension (Fig. 4) were used for intermediate and high strain specimen and propagates through the transmitter bar as a
rate uniaxial tests, respectively. tensile pulse. The rest of the pulse reflects into the incident
For intermediate strain rate tests, load measurements bar as a compressive pulse. The transmitted and reflected
were achieved with a calibrated strain gage, while specimen pulses are recorded by the transmitter and incident strain
strains were obtained from the displacement of the striker gages, respectively.
(Fig. 3), with the zero position defined as the point of initial Specimen stress (t) and strain (t) are obtained from the
contact between the striker and the impact plate. transmitted and reflected strain signals, respectively, using
54 J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162
Block Incident bar Specimen 600 kPa and 1 MPa (Riley et al., 1992). Taking for instance the
Transmitter bar pressure waveform in the carotid artery (Fig. 5(a)) (Augst et al.,
2007), strain rates, h = d pd/2Eb /dt, in the artery can be
Fracture piece estimated as shown in Fig. 5(b) (assuming that the arterys
clamps internal diameter d = 10 mm, thickness b = 1 mm and
Youngs modulus E = 800 kPa. p is the pressure). Therefore,
the maximum strain rates in arteries can be assumed to be
about 1/s. However, strain rates of up to 175/s were used in the
Strain gage
amplifier and Oscilloscope Computer design of the uniaxial tension tests in order to fully establish
Pendulam Conditioner the strain rate behaviour of the elastomer, although this may
not be particularly necessary for the current study.
Specimen
2.3. Uniaxial stress relaxation and creep
Incident bar Incident Transmitter Transmitter bar
strain gauge strain gauge Creep tests were performed by holding a specimen at a
Fracture piece
constant tensile stress and measuring the resulting strain
as a function of time. Similarly, relaxation tests were
Fig. 4 Schematic of the high strain rate test on a split
performed by holding a specimen at a constant tensile strain
Hopkinson pressure bar in tension.
and measuring the resulting stress as a function of time.
Stress (for creep tests) and strain (for relaxation tests) were
the classical Kolsky analysis given by automatically controlled by use of QMAT Materials Testing
and Analysis Software.
A
(t) = E b t (t) , (1a) Two stress magnitudes, 0.44 MPa and 1.136 MPa, were used
As
for creep tests and four strain magnitudes, 5%, 6.5%, 8% and
2Cb t
Z
10%, for stress relaxation tests. Five specimens were tested
(t) = r (t)dt, (1b)
ls 0 at each stress or strain magnitude. Material stress relaxation
where Ab and As are the bar and specimen cross-sectional and creep were allowed for 2000 s in each case.
areas respectively, t is the transmitted strain signal, r is the
reflected strain signal, ls is the specimen gage length and Cb 2.4. Uniaxial cyclic tests
is the wave speed through the bar (i.e. Cb = (E/)0.5 ). The
material used for the incident and transmitter bars was a Under uniaxial cyclic loading, the loading of the specimens
Glass Filled Nylon 66 with a Youngs modulus E = 13.2 GPa, was periodically repeated over 10 cycles. The loading function
density = 1460 kg/m3 , and diameter D = 16 mm. was either force (stress) or displacement (strain), which
Ten specimens were tested at each strain rate for the low repeatedly took the form of Eq. (2). Constant triangular
rate uniaxial tests and five specimens at each strain rate for stress or strain cycles were applied, while the other quantity
the intermediate and high rate uniaxial tests. (strain or stress) was allowed to vary according to material
behaviour (Sandor, 1972). The experimental set-up is similar
to uniaxial tension tests and dumbbell shaped specimens
2.2. Choice of maximum loading rate
(Fig. 2(a)) were used. Four specimens were tested with either
stress or strain as a loading function, making a total of
A maximum strain rate for the tests was chosen as the upper
eight specimens. Tests were performed at a loading rate of
limit of the range of strain rates experienced by arteries in
10 mm/min (corresponding to a strain rate of 0.013/s), under
vivo. Strain rates in arteries can be estimated analytically,
dry-room temperature conditions.
numerically or experimentally if the pressure waveform and
(
arterial wall properties are known. The average Youngs t; 0 t T/2
(t), (t) = a , (2)
modulus for the arterial wall is reported to range between T t T/2 t T
1
a b
16000
Hoop Strain rate (/s)
0.6
Pressure (Pa)
14000
0.2
12000 0.2
10000 0.6
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Time (s) Time (s)
Fig. 5 Numerical estimation of strain rates in the carotid artery. (a) Pressure waveform and (b) hoop strain rates.
J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162 55
a b
Cross head Cross head
displacement
Load Cell
Specimen
P1 P2
Fig. 6 Biaxial (a) experimental set-up and (b) schematic drawing of experimental set-up.
where a is the loading rate (strain or stress per unit time) 3. Hyperelastic material models
and T is the period of the triangular function.
For isotropic hyperelastic materials, the strain-energy func-
2.5. Planar tension tion W can be defined in terms of strain invariants
Ii i = 1, 2, 3 or principal stretches i i = 1, 2, 3 i.e.
Cruciform type specimens (Fig. 2(c)) were used for equibiaxial 4. Results
tension tests. The experimental set-up is as shown in Fig. 6.
The material was loaded in both directions, at a constant The results of the material tests show the behaviour
strain rate of 0.013/s, in such a way that the stretches in the of the ether-based polyurethane elastomer tested to be
two loading directions are identical i.e. 1 = 2 . This was highly dependent on temperature and humidity, as shown
achieved by using a system of pulleys shown in Fig. 6(b). The in Fig. 7(a). The elastomer significantly softens with
specimen deformation, F, and stress, ij , states are increase in temperature and humidity levels, with Youngs
modulus of 7.4 MPa, 5.3 MPa and 4.7 MPa for dry-
0 0 11 0 0 room temperature, wet-room temperature and wet at
F = 0 0 and ij = 0 22 0 . (4)
37 C conditions, respectively. These results agree with
0 0 2 0 0 0 the reported observations that polyurethane-based medical
Load measurements were achieved with the load cell while invasive devices soften significantly within minutes of
specimen strains were obtained from the displacement insertion into a human body, resulting in reduced patient
of the cross head. Tests were conducted under dry-room discomfort and risk of vascular trauma (Tilak, 2001). The
temperature condition, and stress and strain were measured reported Youngs modulus of polyurethane elastomer at dry-
in one direction only. room temperature varies widely depending on elastomer
2 mm diameter nylon strings with a Youngs modulus of composition, with values of 3.6 MPa (Diaconu and Dorohoi,
3.9 GPa were used as connecting strings (Fig. 6(b)). Considering 2005), 13.1 MPa (Diaconu et al., 2006), and 14.688.8 MPa
that the maximum load for the tests is in the range of (Pathiraja et al., 1996). All the stresses and strains presented
2030 N, deformations in the nylon strings are expected to in the plots in this paper refer to the engineering stress and
be insignificant. strain, respectively.
56 J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162
a b
2 8
Stress (MPa)
Stress (MPa)
1.5 6
1 4
Dry-room Temperature Uniaxial Tension
0.5 2
Wet-room Temperature Planar Tension
Wet-37 deg C Biaxial Tension
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Strain (%) Strain (%)
Fig. 7 (a) Stressstrain behaviour of polyurethane rubber under different test conditions and (b) uniaxial, planar and
equibiaxial tension stressstrain behaviour of the rubber under dry-room temperature condition, and at a strain rate of
0.013/s.
shown in Fig. 11, showing the loading phase and part of the
1.5 unloading phase, for the strain rates of 137.5/s and 175/s. The
0.013/s unloading curve does not follow the same path as the loading
1 curve, probably due to the interference in the transmitted
0.13/s
signal (Fig. 10(c)) caused by the re-reflected waves (resulting
0.026/s
0.5 in 2nd stage loading of the specimen). The materials Youngs
0.39/s
modulus at these strain rates are 12 MPa and 13.5 MPa, for
0.65/s
137.5/s and 175/s strain rates, respectively. Fig. 12 presents the
0
0 10 20 30 40 change in the stiffness of the polyurethane elastomer with
Strain (%) increase in strain rate. Youngs modulus linearly increases
with the strain rate at a rate of 0.034 MPa per strain rate.
Fig. 8 Strain rate dependency of polyurethane rubber at
Viscoelastic properties of polyurethane elastomer were
low strain rates.
determined from stress relaxation and creep tests by fitting a
3-term Prony series to the relaxation and creep data. Fig. 13
Fig. 7(b) shows the stressstrain behaviour of the presents the relaxation and creep data, and the calculated
polyurethane elastomer under uniaxial, planar and equibiax- relaxation and creep compliance for different strain and
ial tension, for a strain rate of 0.013/s and under dry-room stress magnitudes, respectively. At 2000 s, the material can
temperature condition. Fig. 8 shows the elastomers strain be considered stabilised (when the material modulus reaches
rate dependency at low strain rates (<1/s). Under these condi- a steady-state value) since the difference in the stress at 500 s
tions, the elastomer shows minimal strain rate dependency. and 2000 s is less than 2% (Fig. 14(a)). The materials relaxed
Intermediate strain rate uniaxial tension test results are modulus is determined by plotting the relaxed data at 2000 s
presented in Fig. 9, for three different strain rates. Under against the strains (Fig. 13(e)). This value is 6.5 MPa, and is 12%
this range of strain rates, the polyurethane elastomer shows lower than the initial or unrelaxed modulus. The relaxation
moderate strain rate sensitivity, with a Youngs modulus of modulus E(t) and creep compliance J(t) functions, determined
8 MPa, 9.5 MPa and 10.5 MPa for strain rates of 29.4/s, 58.8/s by fitting the Prony series to the relaxation data (Fig. 14(a)) and
and 88.2/s, respectively. There is significant scatter in the creep data (Fig. 14(b)), respectively, are given by
results of the tests at 88.2/s, above 30% strain (Fig. 9(c)). This h
E(t) = 6.5 1 + 0.023et/12 + 0.08et/98
is probably due to the inaccuracy in conducting these tests as
i
the impact speed increases. However, for strains below 20%, + 0.034et/1600 MPa (9a)
the results are very repeatable for all three strain rates. h
Fig. 10 presents high rate test results for a strain rate of J(t) = 0.155 1 0.035et/142.5 0.055et/17.45
137.5/s. The incident and reflected strain signals, recorded by i
+ 0.04et/1.07 MPa1 . (9b)
the incident strain gage, are shown in Fig. 10(a), while the
transmitted strain signals (recorded by the transmitted strain The averaged uniaxial cyclic test results (for eight
gage) are presented in Fig. 10(b). The noise in the transmitted specimens) are shown in Fig. 15, with stress as a loading
signal is significant because of the high amplification used, function (Fig. 15(a)) and strain as a loading function
owing to the small signal amplitude. The averaged results are (Fig. 15(b)). The results show that the behaviour of the
shown in Fig. 10(c), and the reflected and transmitted strain polyurethane elastomer under cyclic loading exhibits creep
signals in Fig. 10(d). The time in Fig. 10(d) is the relative time, and stress relaxation behaviours similar to those observed
J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162 57
a 8 b 10
6 8
Stress (MPa)
Stress (MPa)
6
4 Specimen 1 Specimen 1
Specimen 2 4 Specimen 2
2 Specimen 3 Specimen 3
2 Specimen 4
Specimen 4
Specimen 5 Specimen 5
0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100
Strain (%) Strain (%)
c 10 d
4
8
Stress (MPa)
Stress (MPa)
3
6
Specimen 1 2
4
Specimen 2 29.4 /s
Specimen 3 1 58.8 /s
2
Specimen 4
88.2 /s
Specimen 5 0
0
0 10 20 30 40
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strain (%) Strain (%)
Fig. 9 Intermediate strain rate uniaxial test results for (a) 29.4/s, (b) 58.8/s, (c) 88.2/s strain rates and (d) the average
stressstrain behaviour of polyurethane rubber at different strain rates.
a b
Specimen 1 3.5E06
1.5E03 Specimen 2
Specimen 3
Specimen 4
5.0E04 Specimen 5 2.0E06
Strain
Strain
5.0E04 5.0E07
1.5E03 1.0E06
0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 0.0008 0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 0.0008 0.0011
Times (s) Time (s)
c d 0.0E+00 1.0E06
SG1
Reflected Strain Signal (Strain)
3.5E06
1.5E03
Transmitted Strain Signal
SG2
8.0E07
5.0E04
SG1 (Strain)
SG2 (Strain)
2.0E06 6.0E07
(Strain)
5.0E04
4.0E07
5.0E07 1.0E03
5.0E04
Reflected 2.0E07
2nd stage specimen loading Transmitted
1.5E03 1.0E06 1.5E03 0.0E+00
0.0E+00 5.0E05 1.0E04 1.5E04
0.0001 0.0002 0.0005 0.0008 0.0011
Times (s) Times (s)
Fig. 10 (a) Strain signals recorded by the incident and (b) transmitter strain gages, (c) the averaged strain signals and (d)
reflected and transmitted strain signals, at a strain rate of 137.5/s.
under static conditions or monotonic loading (Fig. 13). When creep as it deforms, which follows the same pattern as the
stress is applied as a loading function, the material undergoes creep data at 0.44 MPa constant stress (Fig. 15(a)). Similarly,
58 J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162
a 0.8 b 7.6
Stress (MPa)
7.2
0.6 6.5% strain 6.5% strain
7
0.5 8% Strain 8% Strain
6.8
0.4 6.6
10% Strain 10% Strain
0.3 6.4
0 500 1000 1500 2000 0 500 1000 1500 2000
Time (s) Time (s)
0.2 0.16
c d
0.145
0.08
0.14
0.33MPa 0.33MPa
0.04 Stress 0.135 Stress
0 0.13
0 500 1000 1500 2000 0 500 1000 1500 2000
Time (s) Time (s)
e 0.8
Stress (MPa)
0.6
0.4 y = 0.065x
0.2
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Strain (%)
Fig. 13 Viscoelastic behaviour of polyurethane rubber under dry-room temperature condition: (a) relaxation data and (b)
relaxation modulus at different strain magnitudes, (c) creep data and (d) creep compliance at different stress magnitudes
and (e) relaxed modulus.
a 0.16 b 7.6
Relaxation Modulus (MPa)
Analytical
Creep Compliance (MPa1)
0.145 7
0.14 6.8
Experimental
0.135 6.6
Analytical
0.13 6.4
0 500 1000 1500 2000 0 500 1000 1500 2000
Time (s) Time (s)
Fig. 14 Viscoelastic properties of polyurethane rubber: (a) Creep compliance, (b) Relaxation modulus.
elastomer is seen to be highly dependent on humidity and that seen under monotonic loading. Most importantly, under
temperature. cyclic loading, steady-state behaviour was observed just
The polyurethane elastomer was also found to exhibit after 10 loading cycles. This means that the material
significant viscoelastic behaviour. Stress relaxation and creep properties measured under monotonic loading can be used
behaviour under cyclic loading also compares well with to model the behaviour of the elastomer under cyclic
60 J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162
a 35 b 40
2.4 1.8 Strain
Strain
30
25 2
1.4
Stress (MPa)
Stress (MPa)
Strain (%)
1.6 20
Strain (%)
Stess
Creep data
15 (0.44 MPa)
1.2 1
10
0.8
5 0.6 Relaxation
Stress 0
0.4 data (6.5%
Strain)
5 0 10 0.2
0 200 400 0 100 200 300 400
Time Time (s)
Fig. 15 Cyclic tests results under dry-room temperature condition; (a) material creep, with stress as the loading function,
and (b) material stress relaxation, with strain as a loading function.
a 8
Material Parameters: b 8 Material Parameters:
= 2.5 MPa C10 = 1.24, C 01 = 0.01 MPa
2
Stress (MPa)
Stress (MPa)
6 R = 0.957 6 2
R = 0.96
4 4
Experimental data
2 Experimental data 2
2-term Mooney Rivlin
Neo-Hookean
0 0
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Stretch Stretch
c Material Parameters:
d Material Parameters:
8 8
C10 = 1.24, C01 = 0.01, MPa
Stress (MPa)
6 6
R2 = 0.973 2
R = 0.989
4 4
Experimental data
2 2 Experimental data
3-term Mooney Rivlin Ogden
0 0
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Stretch Stretch
2
Stress (MPa)
6 2
R = 0.995 6 R = 0.966
4 4
Fig. 16 Comparison between experimental data and the predictions of hyperelastic material models for (a) Neo-Hookean,
(b) 2-term Mooney Rivlin, (c) 3-term Mooney Rivlin, (d) Ogden, (e) Yeoh and (f) ArrudaBoyce material models.
loading, assuming that the material has reached steady- (6.5 MPa) less than the initial modulus (7.4 MPa). Although
state conditions (i.e. after the first 10 loading cycles in this creep and relaxation tests could not conducted at wet-room
case). The relaxed modulus at dry-room temperature was 12% temperature and wet at 37 C, the same trend in material
J O U R N A L O F T H E M E C H A N I C A L B E H AV I O R O F B I O M E D I C A L M AT E R I A L S 3 (2010) 5162 61
relaxation may be reasonably assumed. Future work will 2-term Mooney Rivlin: W = C10 I1 3 + C01 I2 3 .
clarify this. A 3-term Prony series was sufficient to model the
3-term Mooney Rivlin: W = C10 I1 3 + C01 I2 3 +
elastomers viscoelastic behaviour (Fig. 14).
C11 I1 3 I2 3 .
The elastomer also exhibits 10% anisotropy and its Poisson P Ci i
ratio ranged between 0.450.5 (Kanyanta, 2009). In the current ArrudaBoyce: W = 2i2
I1 3i , where C1 = 12 , C2 =
L
study, 10% anisotropy is deemed insignificant and Poissons 1 , C = 11 , C = 19 , C = 519 .
20 3 1050 4 7050 5 673750
ratio is treated to be close enough to 0.5. Therefore, the P3 i
elastomer is assumed to be an isotropic, incompressible Yeoh: W = i=1 Ci I1 3 .
material, and standard isotropic, incompressible hyperelastic Ogden: W = ni=1 i 1i + 2i + 3i 3 ,
P
n = 3.
i
material models are used to describe its behaviour. Yeohs
model (1993) was found to be the best representative material
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