Effects of Elastic Modulus on Single Fiber Uniaxial Deformation
Loading...
Date
2011-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Tissue engineering offers reductions in both mortality and morbidity of tissue recipients as well as the possibility of a vast pool of implantable tissues. Regrettably, use of engineered tissue is limited by mechanical properties that are insufficient compared to native tissues. A promising avenue to improve this deficiency is mechanical stimulation. Mechanical stimulation, such as the introduction of a cyclical load during tissue formation, is a multi-step process beginning with the translation of scaffold material properties into scaffold micro-deformation. The present study explored this relationship by characterizing the effect of scaffold elastic modulus and initial fiber geometry on scaffold micro-deformation. Finite element modeling was utilized to simulate three geometrically identical sets of 100 unique fiber shapes, with differing elastic moduli of 10 MPa, 100 MPa, and 1000 MPa. Fibers were then strained to 20% strain via ABAQUS, finite element software. Normalized force curves during the straining process, as well as fiber geometry characterized via sine Fourier series and tortuosity, were calculated for each fiber set at 0 and 20% strain. Single fiber deformation appeared to be independent of fiber modulus. This study also indicated that amplitudes of fiber Fourier coefficients reduce proportionally during uniaxial extension, revealing a 75±7% reduction in wavelength amplitude from 0 to 20% strain in all fiber sets. By further defining the role of scaffold mechanics in mechanical stimulation, it is projected that this research will provide a platform for rapid optimization of external environment for tissue growth.
Description
Undergraduate Research Scholarship
Keywords
Finite element modeling, Tissue engineering, Fourier analysis, mechanical stimulation