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Smoothed Finite Element Methods for Nonlinear Solid Mechanics Problems: 2D and 3D Case Studies
(2016)
The Smoothed Finite Element Method (SFEM) is presented as an edge-based and a facebased techniques for 2D and 3D boundary value problems, respectively. SFEMs avoid shortcomings of the standard Finite Element Method (FEM) with lower order elements such as overly stiff behavior, poor stress solution, and locking effects. Based on the idea of averaging spatially the standard strain field of the FEM over so-called smoothing domains SFEM calculates the stiffness matrix for the same number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) as those of the FEM. However, the SFEMs significantly improve accuracy and convergence even for distorted meshes and/or nearly incompressible materials.
Numerical results of the SFEMs for a cardiac tissue membrane (thin plate inflation) and an artery (tension of 3D tube) show clearly their advantageous properties in improving accuracy particularly for the distorted meshes and avoiding shear locking effects.
Postural and metabolic benefits of using a forearm support walker in older adults with impairments
(2019)
Influence of refrigerated storage on tensile mechanical properties of porcine liver and spleen
(2015)
Reconstructive surgery and tissue replacements like ureters or bladders reconstruction have been recently studied, taking into account growth and remodelling of cells since living cells are capable of growing, adapting, remodelling or degrading and restoring in order to deform and respond to stimuli. Hence, shapes of ureters or bladders and their microstructure change during growth and these changes strongly depend on external stimuli such as training. We present the mechanical stimulation of smooth muscle cells in a tubular fibrin-PVDFA scaffold and the modelling of the growth of tissue by stimuli. To this end, mechanotransduction was performed with a kyphoplasty balloon catheter that was guided through the lumen of the tubular structure. The bursting pressure was examined to compare the stability of the incubated tissue constructs. The results showed the significant changes on tissues with training by increasing the burst pressure as a characteristic mechanical property and the smooth muscle cells were more oriented with uniformly higher density. Besides, the computational growth models also exhibited the accurate tendencies of growth of the cells under different external stimuli. Such models may lead to design standards for the better layered tissue structure in reconstructing of tubular organs characterized as composite materials such as intestines, ureters and arteries.
Sensitivity of and Influences on the Reliability of an HTR-Module Primary Circuit Pressure Boundary
(1993)
Plate osteosynthesis of displaced proximal phalangeal neck fractures of the hand allows early mobilization due to a stable internal fixation. Nevertheless, joint stiffness—because of soft tissue irritation—represents a common complication leading to high complication rates. Del Pinal et al. recently reported promising clinical results for a new, minimally invasive fixation technique with a cannulated headless intramedullary compression screw. Hence, the aim of this study was to compare plate fixation of proximal phalangeal neck fractures to less two less invasive techniques: Crossed k-wire fixation and intramedullary screw fixation. We hypothesized that these fixation techniques provide inferior stability when compared to plate osteosynthesis.
A new in vitro tool to investigate cardiac contractility under physiological mechanical conditions
(2019)
Abstracts of the ACHEMA 2000 - International Meeting on Chemical Engineering, Environmental Protection and Biotechnology, May 22 - 27, 2000. Frankfurt am Main. Achema 2000 : special edition / Linde. [Ed.: Linde AG. Red.: Volker R. Leski]. - Wiesbaden : Linde AG, 2000. - 56 p. : Ill., . - pp: 79 - 81
Biomechanical simulation of different prosthetic meshes for repairing uterine/vaginal vault prolapse
(2017)
The deformation and damage laws of non-homogeneous irregular structural planes in rocks are the basis for studying the stability of rock engineering. To investigate the damage characteristics of rock containing non-parallel fissures, uniaxial compression tests and numerical simulations were conducted on sandstone specimens containing three non-parallel fissures inclined at 0°, 45° and 90° in this study. The characteristics of crack initiation and crack evolution of fissures with different inclinations were analyzed. A constitutive model for the discontinuous fractures of fissured sandstone was proposed. The results show that the fracture behaviors of fissured sandstone specimens are discontinuous. The stress–strain curves are non-smooth and can be divided into nonlinear crack closure stage, linear elastic stage, plastic stage and brittle failure stage, of which the plastic stage contains discontinuous stress drops. During the uniaxial compression test, the middle or ends of 0° fissures were the first to crack compared to 45° and 90° fissures. The end with small distance between 0° and 45° fissures cracked first, and the end with large distance cracked later. After the final failure, 0° fissures in all specimens were fractured, while 45° and 90° fissures were not necessarily fractured. Numerical simulation results show that the concentration of compressive stress at the tips of 0°, 45° and 90° fissures, as well as the concentration of tensile stress on both sides, decreased with the increase of the inclination angle. A constitutive model for the discontinuous fractures of fissured sandstone specimens was derived by combining the logistic model and damage mechanic theory. This model can well describe the discontinuous drops of stress and agrees well with the whole processes of the stress–strain curves of the fissured sandstone specimens.
Background:
Additional stabilization of the “comma sign” in anterosuperior rotator cuff repair has been proposed to provide biomechanical benefits regarding stability of the repair.
Purpose:
This in vitro investigation aimed to investigate the influence of a comma sign–directed reconstruction technique for anterosuperior rotator cuff tears on the primary stability of the subscapularis tendon repair.
Study Design:
Controlled laboratory study.
Methods:
A total of 18 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were used in this study. Anterosuperior rotator cuff tears (complete full-thickness tear of the supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons) were created, and supraspinatus repair was performed with a standard suture bridge technique. The subscapularis was repaired with either a (1) single-row or (2) comma sign technique. A high-resolution 3D camera system was used to analyze 3-mm and 5-mm gap formation at the subscapularis tendon-bone interface upon incremental cyclic loading. Moreover, the ultimate failure load of the repair was recorded. A Mann-Whitney test was used to assess significant differences between the 2 groups.
Results:
The comma sign repair withstood significantly more loading cycles than the single-row repair until 3-mm and 5-mm gap formation occurred (P≤ .047). The ultimate failure load did not reveal any significant differences when the 2 techniques were compared (P = .596).
Conclusion:
The results of this study show that additional stabilization of the comma sign enhanced the primary stability of subscapularis tendon repair in anterosuperior rotator cuff tears. Although this stabilization did not seem to influence the ultimate failure load, it effectively decreased the micromotion at the tendon-bone interface during cyclic loading.
Clinical Relevance:
The proposed technique for stabilization of the comma sign has shown superior biomechanical properties in comparison with a single-row repair and might thus improve tendon healing. Further clinical research will be necessary to determine its influence on the functional outcome.
We present an electromechanically coupled computational model for the investigation of a thin cardiac tissue construct consisting of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial, ventricular and sinoatrial cardiomyocytes. The mechanical and electrophysiological parts of the finite element model, as well as their coupling are explained in detail. The model is implemented in the open source finite element code Code_Aster and is employed for the simulation of a thin circular membrane deflected by a monolayer of autonomously beating, circular, thin cardiac tissue. Two cardio-active drugs, S-Bay K8644 and veratridine, are applied in experiments and simulations and are investigated with respect to their chronotropic effects on the tissue. These results demonstrate the potential of coupled micro- and macroscopic electromechanical models of cardiac tissue to be adapted to experimental results at the cellular level. Further model improvements are discussed taking into account experimentally measurable quantities that can easily be extracted from the obtained experimental results. The goal is to estimate the potential to adapt the presented model to sample specific cell cultures.
The discovery of human induced pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed from somatic cells [1] and their ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) has provided a robust platform for drug screening [2]. Drug screenings are essential in the development of new components, particularly for evaluating the potential of drugs to induce life-threatening pro-arrhythmias. Between 1988 and 2009, 14 drugs have been removed from the market for this reason [3]. The microelectrode array (MEA) technique is a robust tool for drug screening as it detects the field potentials (FPs) for the entire cell culture. Furthermore, the propagation of the field potential can be examined on an electrode basis. To analyze MEA measurements in detail, we have developed an open-source tool.
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have shown to be promising in disease studies and drug screenings [1]. Cardiomyocytes derived from hiPSCs have been extensively investigated using patch-clamping and optical methods to compare their electromechanical behaviour relative to fully matured adult cells. Mathematical models can be used for translating findings on hiPSCCMs to adult cells [2] or to better understand the mechanisms of various ion channels when a drug is applied [3,4]. Paci et al. (2013) [3] developed the first model of hiPSC-CMs, which they later refined based on new data [3]. The model is based on iCells® (Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Inc. (FCDI), Madison WI, USA) but major differences among several cell lines and even within a single cell line have been found and motivate an approach for creating sample-specific models. We have developed an optimisation algorithm that parameterises the conductances (in S/F=Siemens/Farad) of the latest Paci et al. model (2018) [5] using current-voltage data obtained in individual patch-clamp experiments derived from an automated patch clamp system (Patchliner, Nanion Technologies GmbH, Munich).
Upper and lower bound theorems of limit analyses have been presented in part I of the paper. Part II starts with the finite element discretization of these theorems and demonstrates how both can be combined in a primal–dual optimization problem. This recently proposed numerical method is used to guide the development of a new class of closed-form limit loads for circumferential defects, which show that only large defects contribute to plastic collapse with a rapid loss of strength with increasing crack sizes. The formulae are compared with primal–dual FEM limit analyses and with burst tests. Even closer predictions are obtained with iterative limit load solutions for the von Mises yield function and for the Tresca yield function. Pressure loading of the faces of interior cracks in thick pipes reduces the collapse load of circumferential defects more than for axial flaws. Axial defects have been treated in part I of the paper.
The connective tissues such as tendons contain an extracellular matrix (ECM) comprising collagen fibrils scattered within the ground substance. These fibrils are instrumental in lending mechanical stability to tissues. Unfortunately, our understanding of how collagen fibrils reinforce the ECM remains limited, with no direct experimental evidence substantiating current theories. Earlier theoretical studies on collagen fibril reinforcement in the ECM have relied predominantly on the assumption of uniform cylindrical fibers, which is inadequate for modelling collagen fibrils, which possessed tapered ends. Recently, Topçu and colleagues published a paper in the International Journal of Solids and Structures, presenting a generalized shear-lag theory for the transfer of elastic stress between the matrix and fibers with tapered ends. This paper is a positive step towards comprehending the mechanics of the ECM and makes a valuable contribution to formulating a complete theory of collagen fibril reinforcement in the ECM.
Direct methods comprising limit and shakedown analysis is a branch of computational mechanics. It plays a significant role in mechanical and civil engineering design. The concept of direct method aims to determinate the ultimate load bearing capacity of structures beyond the elastic range. For practical problems, the direct methods lead to nonlinear convex optimization problems with a large number of variables and onstraints. If strength and loading are random quantities, the problem of shakedown analysis is considered as stochastic programming. This paper presents a method so called chance constrained programming, an effective method of stochastic programming, to solve shakedown analysis problem under random condition of strength. In this our investigation, the loading is deterministic, the strength is distributed as normal or lognormal variables.
Extension fractures are typical for the deformation under low or no confining pressure. They can be explained by a phenomenological extension strain failure criterion. In the past, a simple empirical criterion for fracture initiation in brittle rock has been developed. In this article, it is shown that the simple extension strain criterion makes unrealistic strength predictions in biaxial compression and tension. To overcome this major limitation, a new extension strain criterion is proposed by adding a weighted principal shear component to the simple criterion. The shear weight is chosen, such that the enriched extension strain criterion represents the same failure surface as the Mohr–Coulomb (MC) criterion. Thus, the MC criterion has been derived as an extension strain criterion predicting extension failure modes, which are unexpected in the classical understanding of the failure of cohesive-frictional materials. In progressive damage of rock, the most likely fracture direction is orthogonal to the maximum extension strain leading to dilatancy. The enriched extension strain criterion is proposed as a threshold surface for crack initiation CI and crack damage CD and as a failure surface at peak stress CP. Different from compressive loading, tensile loading requires only a limited number of critical cracks to cause failure. Therefore, for tensile stresses, the failure criteria must be modified somehow, possibly by a cut-off corresponding to the CI stress. Examples show that the enriched extension strain criterion predicts much lower volumes of damaged rock mass compared to the simple extension strain criterion.
Prosthetic textile implants of different shapes, sizes and polymers are used to correct the apical prolapse after hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). The selection of the implant before or during minimally invasive surgery depends on the patient’s anatomical defect, intended function after reconstruction and most importantly the surgeon’s preference. Weakness or damage of the supporting tissues during childbirth, menopause or previous pelvic surgeries may put females in higher risk of prolapse. Numerical simulations of reconstructed pelvic floor with weakened tissues and organ supported by textile product models: DynaMesh®-PRS soft, DynaMesh®-PRP soft and DynaMesh®-CESA from FEG Textiletechnik mbH, Germany are compared.
Background/Aims: Common systems for the quantification of cellular contraction rely on animal-based models, complex experimental setups or indirect approaches. The herein presented CellDrum technology for testing mechanical tension of cellular monolayers and thin tissue constructs has the potential to scale-up mechanical testing towards medium-throughput analyses. Using hiPS-Cardiac Myocytes (hiPS-CMs) it represents a new perspective of drug testing and brings us closer to personalized drug medication. Methods: In the present study, monolayers of self-beating hiPS-CMs were grown on ultra-thin circular silicone membranes and deflect under the weight of the culture medium. Rhythmic contractions of the hiPS-CMs induced variations of the membrane deflection. The recorded contraction-relaxation-cycles were analyzed with respect to their amplitudes, durations, time integrals and frequencies. Besides unstimulated force and tensile stress, we investigated the effects of agonists and antagonists acting on Ca²⁺ channels (S-Bay K8644/verapamil) and Na⁺ channels (veratridine/lidocaine). Results: The measured data and simulations for pharmacologically unstimulated contraction resembled findings in native human heart tissue, while the pharmacological dose-response curves were highly accurate and consistent with reference data. Conclusion: We conclude that the combination of the CellDrum with hiPS-CMs offers a fast, facile and precise system for pharmacological, toxicological studies and offers new preclinical basic research potential.
When confining pressure is low or absent, extensional fractures are typical, with fractures occurring on unloaded planes in rock. These “paradox” fractures can be explained by a phenomenological extension strain failure criterion. In the past, a simple empirical criterion for fracture initiation in brittle rock has been developed. But this criterion makes unrealistic strength predictions in biaxial compression and tension. A new extension strain criterion overcomes this limitation by adding a weighted principal shear component. The weight is chosen, such that the enriched extension strain criterion represents the same failure surface as the Mohr–Coulomb (MC) criterion. Thus, the MC criterion has been derived as an extension strain criterion predicting failure modes, which are unexpected in the understanding of the failure of cohesive-frictional materials. In progressive damage of rock, the most likely fracture direction is orthogonal to the maximum extension strain. The enriched extension strain criterion is proposed as a threshold surface for crack initiation CI and crack damage CD and as a failure surface at peak P. Examples show that the enriched extension strain criterion predicts much lower volumes of damaged rock mass compared to the simple extension strain criterion.
The porosity of surgical meshes makes them flexible for large elastic deformation and establishes the healing conditions of good tissue in growth. The biomechanic modeling of orthotropic and compressible materials requires new materials models and simulstaneoaus fit of deformation in the load direction as well as trannsversely to to load. This nonlinear modeling can be achieved by an optical deformation measurement. At the same time the full field deformation measurement allows the dermination of the change of porosity with deformation. Also the socalled effective porosity, which has been defined to asses the tisssue interatcion with the mesh implants, can be determined from the global deformation of the surgical meshes.
Limit Analysis of Defects
(2000)