Elasticity “mini-project” Homework

Investigation:

Figure 1: Typical Stress-Strain curve for

Figure 1: Stress-Strain curve for Tendons for
Tendons and Ligaments [1]
Comparison [2]
Data Analysis and Interpretation:

Figure 1 shows a typical stress-strain curve for tendons and ligaments that provides a response (strain) of
the fibres in the tendons when stress (force per unit area) is applied on them. When the stress is increased
from zero to up to a point where the strain is only 2%, the relationship between the stress and strain is a
curve indicated by the “toe region”. We know that the fibres have distinctive wavy form as indicated in the
graph. During this 2% deformation in the fibres, the fibres are in the wavy form, thus called crimped fibres.
When the stress on the fibres is further increased, the graph shows a linear region up to 4% or 5%. This
linear region means that the deformation in the fibres of tendons is proportional to the stress applied on it.
It can be further simplified by taking into account the fact that during this linear region, if stress is doubled,
the corresponding response (strain) of the fibres will be doubled. For example if the stain is 2% initially, on
doubling the stress on the tendon, the strain will then be 4%. However, beyond 4%, the fibres begin to
break on a microscopic level. That means up to this point, the tearing is not prominent. Beyond a strain of 8-
10%, macroscopic failure occurs, while further stretch causes tendon rupture. Figure 2 is for comparison
from another study that shows a similar stress-strain curve for tendons and ligaments (toe region up to 2%
strain, linear region up to 4% strain, microscopic failure beyond 4%, macroscopic failure up to 8% and
tendon rupture for greater than 8% strain.
Conceptual Modeling:
A typical soft tissue stress–strain curve, such as the one shown in Figure 1, features a toe area where the tendon
is stressed up to 2%. The stretching-out of the crimp-pattern of the contributing fibres is represented in this toe
area. Collagen fibres lose their crimp pattern at the linear portion of the stress-strain curve, where the tendon is
stretched less than 4%. The Young modulus of the tendon is defined as the slope of this linear area. To simplify it
further, it can be defined as the ratio of stress to strain in that linear region. The elastic modulus is of the order of
the stresses, implying that deformations are on the order of 100%. This linear region represents the elastic
region, that means during this region when the stresses are removed, the fibres will move back to their initial
state (initial deformation). The fibres remain elastic up to 4% strain in the fibres. Hooke’s Law states that the
strain is directly proportional to stresses applied on a body with a condition that the body is in its elastic limit.
For this case, the elastic limit is the point where the strain is 4%. The corresponding stress (i.e., the maximum
stress that the fiber can withstand without crossing this elastic limit) is known as Yield Strength. The area under
the curve of this elastic region shows the resilience of the fibres. This quantity (i.e., area) is usually referred to as
Modulus of Resilience. However, beyond this elastic region, when the stresses are increased, the fibres show an
increase in the strain, but this region is neither elastic nor linear. Rather, this is known as the plastic region where
on removing the stresses, the fibers do not move back to their initial state. The area under the curve of plastic
region is known as the Toughness of the fibers. Microscopic tearing of tendon fibres happens when the tendon is
stretched more than 4%. Macroscopic failure occurs at a strain of 8-10%, whereas greater stretch induces tendon
rupture. The Ultimate Stress and Strain are the stress and strain corresponding to rupture (i.e., the maximum
stress that the fibers can bear and the corresponding strain)
Algebraic Modeling:
In figure 1, we have the following data:
• Stress (on y-axis)
• Strain (on x-axis)
Similarly, in figure 2, we have the same data for comparison. The stress is in the units of MPa (M𝑒𝑔𝑎 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙 or
106 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙) and the strain has no units. Strain is expressed in terms of percentage.
Since, we have the data on stress and strain, the Young’s Modulus can be estimated for this scenario. Thus, the
measurable quantity that we are interested in this scenario is the Young’s Modulus which is related to stress and
strain by the following equation:

𝜎
𝑌=
𝜀
Here,
Y is the Young’s Modulus in the units of MPa
𝜎 is the stress in the units of MPa
𝜀 is the strain that has no units
Quantitative Analysis:
We know that the slope of linear region gives the Young’s Modulus. Here, the data points on y-axis are not given
but they can be estimated. At 2% strain, the stress is approximately 2 𝑀𝑃𝑎 and at 4% strain, the stress is
approximately 4 𝑀𝑃𝑎. Therefore,
𝒚𝟐 − 𝒚𝟏
𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆 =
𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙𝟏

(𝟒 − 𝟐) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒆 = 𝒀 ≈ ≈ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑴𝑷𝒂
(𝟒 − 𝟐)

This value found in literature is about 92 𝑀𝑃𝑎 [3]. The calculated value is close to the value found in literature.
Thus, the calculations are accurate. This suggests that tendons and ligaments are strong. The ultimate stress and
strain can be directly obtained from the graph in figure 1.

𝑼𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 = 𝟐𝟒 − 𝟏𝟏𝟐 𝑴𝑷𝒂

𝑼𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏 = 𝟖 − 𝟏𝟎 %
References:
[1] https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Typical-stress-strain-curve-and-schematization-of-the-behavior-of-the-
collagen-fibers_fig2_328248931

[2] https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Typical-stress-strain-curve-for-tendons-and-ligaments_fig4_328496314

[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0021929068900389