Abstract
A multiscale methodology has been developed for modeling mechanical behavior of collagen fiber networks. The methodology addresses scale separation between the macroscopic, tissue-level scale and the microscopic, fiber-level scale. A three-dimensional, Galerkin finite-element model has been employed for the macroscopic scale, while the tissue microstructure is represented as a three-dimensional fibrillar network. The model was applied to a rectangular slab in uniaxial extension. A heterogeneous microstructure resulted in a non-uniform deformation field, and Poisson's ratio varied for networks with different alignments. The model was also specified and compared to published data relating microstructure to macroscopic behavior of collagen gels.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2981-2990 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering |
| Volume | 196 |
| Issue number | 31-32 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 15 2007 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (1 R01 EB005813-01). Simulations were made possible by a resources grant from the University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute.
Keywords
- Collagen networks
- Mechanical properties
- Multiscale modeling
- Tissue engineering