Planar biaxial tension remains a critical loading modality for fibrous soft tissue and is widely used to characterize tissue mechanical response, evaluate treatments, develop constitutive formulas, and obtain material properties for use in finite element studies. Although the application of tension on all edges of the test specimen represents the in situ environment, there remains a need to address the interpretation of experimental results. Unlike uniaxial tension, in biaxial tension the applied forces at the loading clamps do not transmit fully to the region of interest (ROI), which may lead to improper material characterization if not accounted for. In this study, we reviewed the tensile biaxial literature over the last ten years, noting experimental and analysis challenges. In response to these challenges, we used finite element simulations to quantify load transmission from the clamps to the ROI in biaxial tension and to formulate a correction factor that can be used to determine ROI stresses. Additionally, the impact of sample geometry, material anisotropy, and tissue orientation on the correction factor were determined. Large stress concentrations were evident in both square and cruciform geometries and for all levels of anisotropy. In general, stress concentrations were greater for the square geometry than the cruciform geometry. For both square and cruciform geometries, materials with fibers aligned parallel to the loading axes reduced stress concentrations compared to the isotropic tissue, resulting in more of the applied load being transferred to the ROI. In contrast, fiber-reinforced specimens oriented such that the fibers aligned at an angle to the loading axes produced very large stress concentrations across the clamps and shielding in the ROI. A correction factor technique was introduced that can be used to calculate the stresses in the ROI from the measured experimental loads at the clamps. Application of a correction factor to experimental biaxial results may lead to more accurate representation of the mechanical response of fibrous soft tissue.
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229 Towne Building, 220 South 33rd Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19104
125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
Suite 2400, Building B, 30 Hope Drive,
Hershey, PA 17033
125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
e-mail: delliott@udel.edu
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February 2013
Research-Article
Biaxial Tension of Fibrous Tissue: Using Finite Element Methods to Address Experimental Challenges Arising From Boundary Conditions and Anisotropy
Nathan T. Jacobs,
229 Towne Building, 220 South 33rd Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Nathan T. Jacobs
Department of Mechanical Engineering
and Applied Mechanics
,University of Pennsylvania
,229 Towne Building, 220 South 33rd Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Daniel H. Cortes,
125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
Daniel H. Cortes
Biomedical Engineering Program
,University of Delaware
,125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
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Edward J. Vresilovic,
Suite 2400, Building B, 30 Hope Drive,
Hershey, PA 17033
Edward J. Vresilovic
Penn State Hershey Bone and Joint Institute
,Pennsylvania State University
,Suite 2400, Building B, 30 Hope Drive,
Hershey, PA 17033
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Dawn M. Elliott
125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
e-mail: delliott@udel.edu
Dawn M. Elliott
1
Biomedical Engineering Program
,University of Delaware
,125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
e-mail: delliott@udel.edu
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
Nathan T. Jacobs
Department of Mechanical Engineering
and Applied Mechanics
,University of Pennsylvania
,229 Towne Building, 220 South 33rd Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Daniel H. Cortes
Biomedical Engineering Program
,University of Delaware
,125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
Edward J. Vresilovic
Penn State Hershey Bone and Joint Institute
,Pennsylvania State University
,Suite 2400, Building B, 30 Hope Drive,
Hershey, PA 17033
Dawn M. Elliott
Biomedical Engineering Program
,University of Delaware
,125 E. Delaware Ave.,
Newark, DE 19716
e-mail: delliott@udel.edu
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Bioengineering Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. Manuscript received November 12, 2012; final manuscript received January 15, 2013; accepted manuscript posted January 29, 2013; published online February 11, 2013. Editor: Victor H. Barocas.
J Biomech Eng. Feb 2013, 135(2): 021004 (10 pages)
Published Online: February 11, 2013
Article history
Received:
November 12, 2012
Revision Received:
January 15, 2013
Accepted:
November 29, 2013
Citation
Jacobs, N. T., Cortes, D. H., Vresilovic, E. J., and Elliott, D. M. (February 11, 2013). "Biaxial Tension of Fibrous Tissue: Using Finite Element Methods to Address Experimental Challenges Arising From Boundary Conditions and Anisotropy." ASME. J Biomech Eng. February 2013; 135(2): 021004. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023503
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