Variable stiffness rheological model for interrelating creep and stress relaxation in ligaments
by M.M. Reda Taha, S. Neidigk, A. Noureldin
International Journal of Experimental and Computational Biomechanics (IJECB), Vol. 1, No. 1, 2009

Abstract: Creep and stress relaxation are two fundamental operational principles of joints that are significant for joint laxity. Modelling and relating creep and stress relaxation of ligaments is important if synthetic grafts (e.g., artificial ligaments) are to be developed and used for reconstructive surgery. This article discusses the use of rheological models to simulate creep and stress relaxation of ligaments. Modelling is performed using theory of linear viscoelasticity. Using principles of system identification, the parameters of constant and variable stiffness rheological models are determined considering experimentally measured stress relaxation of the medial collateral ligaments (MCL). The models are then tested to predict experimentally measured creep of the MCL. The proposed method proves the need to consider collagen fibre recruitment to interrelate creep and stress relaxation of ligaments. The results show that a rheological model with variable stiffness is capable of predicting creep from experimentally measured stress relaxation with a reasonable accuracy.

Online publication date: Fri, 30-Jan-2009

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Experimental and Computational Biomechanics (IJECB):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com