Lin, W, Meng, Q orcid.org/0000-0002-6708-5585, Li, J et al. (2 more authors) (2021) The effect of highly inhomogeneous biphasic properties on mechanical behaviour of articular cartilage. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 206. 106122. ISSN 0169-2607
Abstract
Background and objective
Investigating the biomechanics of cartilage could help to understand the unique load-bearing property of the cartilage and optimize the scaffold design in tissue-engineering. It is important to model the cartilage as a highly inhomogeneous fibril-reinforced biphasic material to represent its complex composition and structure. The depth-dependent and strain-dependent properties of the cartilage would also play an important role in its mechanical behaviour. However, the differences in representing the cartilage as a highly inhomogeneous model or as simplified models still remain unclear. Hence, in this study, a highly inhomogeneous fibril-reinforced biphasic cartilage model considering both the depth-dependent and strain-dependent properties was constructed; the effect of highly inhomogeneous properties on the mechanical behaviour of articular cartilage was investigated.
Methods
A finite element model of the cartilage was developed based on a flat-ended indentation test. Compressive forces were applied to four various inhomogeneous layered models through a porous indenter (Model 1: nine layers with strain-dependent permeability; Model 2: three layers with strain-dependent permeability; Model 3: single layer with strain-dependent permeability; Model 4: nine layers with constant permeability).
Results
Models 1 and 2 provided similar results with less than 3% difference in the peak effective stress, contact pressure, fluid pressure as well as fluid support ratio. However, Model 1 to Model 3 differed in stress and strain distribution patterns along depth over prolonged loads, which may provide an important insight into the highly inhomogeneous depth-dependent properties of cartilage. In addition, Model 1 with strain-dependent permeability demonstrated an enhanced capability on fluid pressurisation as compared with Model 4 which had constant permeability.
Conclusions
A highly inhomogeneous fibril-reinforced biphasic model considering both depth-dependent and strain-dependent properties was developed in this study, in order to illustrate the effect of highly inhomogeneous properties on the mechanical behaviour of the articular cartilage. The number of layers in the models with depth-dependent properties should be selected according to the research questions and clinical demands. The model with strain-dependent permeability offers an enhanced capability on fluid pressurisation. In future studies, the proposed model could be adopted in cell-models to provide more in-depth information or in tissue-engineering to optimize the depth-dependent scaffold structure.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of an article published in Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Finite element; Articular cartilage; Inhomogeneous; Biphasic; Strain-dependent; Depth-dependent; Layered model |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Mechanical Engineering (Leeds) > Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (iMBE) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 06 Jul 2021 11:16 |
Last Modified: | 22 Apr 2022 00:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106122 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:175797 |