BIOE 3200

Biomechanics
 Define viscoelastic stress/strain and time –
dependent relationships, and compare for
different materials
 Define viscoelastic behaviors (creep and
stress relaxation) and compare for different
biologic materials (muscle, ligament,
tendon, cartilage)
 Identify tissue structures and components
that contribute and/or explain viscoelastic
properties for different biologic materials
 Examples:
◦ Instant deformation under load
◦ Deformation is recovered

 σ=Eε
 Not instantaneous deformation
 Deformation not recovered

 σ=μἐ
 Viscoelastic = viscous + elastic behavior
◦ Instantaneous and delayed deformation
◦ Some deformation is recovered, some is not
 Time-dependent behavior
 Difference in creep behavior
of rubber band and
electrical tape demonstrates
the concept
Weights (apply
constant force)

Rubber band

Electrical tape
 Force gauge (like a Electrical tape
fish scale) applies
constant
displacement, Rubber band
measures resulting
load

Force gauge
(apply constant
displacement)
 All biological tissues exhibit viscoelastic
behaviors (hysteresis, creep, stress relaxation)
◦ Elastin fibers
◦ Collagen
◦ Smooth Muscle
 Different tissues contain different amounts or
fractions of collagen and elastic fibers resulting
in different mechanical properties
◦ Tendon
◦ Ligament
◦ Intestinal wall
 Different tissues contain different amounts
or fractions of collagen and elastic fibers
resulting in different mechanical properties
(tendon, ligament, arteries)
 Triple-helical structure stabilized by
hydrogen bonds (see Fig 1.8 in
textbook)
 Individual fibers surrounded by gel-
like ground substance (mainly water)
◦ Combination results in viscoelastic
behavior
 Fibers are crimped; crimp
stretches out under load
From http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/22189/InTech-
Biomechanics_and_modeling_of_skeletal_soft_tissues.pdf
 Elastin + microfibrillar
proteins = elastin fibers
 Behave like rubber
◦ Low modulus (lower than
collagen)
◦ Elastic behavior: very extensible
and reversible deformation even
under high strains
 Found in
◦ Blood vessels
◦ Lungs
◦ Skin From
http://helpfromthedoctor.com/blog/20
10/07/27/what-is-a-protein/
From
http://www.astarmathsandphysics.com/a_level_physics_notes/medical_physics/a_
level_physics_notes_medical_physics_stress_and_strain_in_blood_vessels.html