Developing appropriate mathematical models for biological soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and menisci is challenging. Stress-strain behavior of these tissues is known to be continuous and characterized by an exponential toe region followed by a linear elastic region. The conventional curve-fitting technique applies a linear curve to the elastic region followed by a separate exponential curve to the toe region. However, this technique does not enforce continuity at the transition between the two regions leading to inaccuracies in the material model. In this work, a Continuous Method is developed to fit both the exponential and linear regions simultaneously, which ensures continuity between regions. Using both methods, three cases were evaluated: idealized data generated mathematically, noisy idealized data produced by adding random noise to the idealized data, and measured data obtained experimentally. In all three cases, the Continuous Method performed superiorly to the conventional technique, producing smaller errors between the model and data and also eliminating discontinuities at the transition between regions. Improved material models may lead to better predictions of nonlinear biological tissues’ behavior resulting in improved the accuracy for a large array of models and computational analyses used to predict clinical outcomes.
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July 2011
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A Continuous Method to Compute Model Parameters for Soft Biological Materials
Martin L. Tanaka,
Martin L. Tanaka
Department of Engineering and Technology, Western Carolina University
, Cullowhee, NC
28723
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Charles A. Weisenbach,
Charles A. Weisenbach
Department of Biology,
Clarkson University
, Potsdam, NY
13699
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Mark Carl Miller,
Mark Carl Miller
Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory
, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
15212
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Laurel Kuxhaus
Laurel Kuxhaus
Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering,
Clarkson University
, Potsdam, NY
13699 e-mail:
Search for other works by this author on:
Martin L. Tanaka
Department of Engineering and Technology, Western Carolina University
, Cullowhee, NC
28723
Charles A. Weisenbach
Department of Biology,
Clarkson University
, Potsdam, NY
13699
Mark Carl Miller
Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory
, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
15212
Laurel Kuxhaus
Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering,
Clarkson University
, Potsdam, NY
13699 e-mail: J Biomech Eng. Jul 2011, 133(7): 074502 (7 pages)
Published Online: July 22, 2011
Article history
Received:
March 7, 2011
Revised:
May 25, 2011
Posted:
June 13, 2011
Published:
July 22, 2011
Online:
July 22, 2011
Citation
Tanaka, M. L., Weisenbach, C. A., Carl Miller, M., and Kuxhaus, L. (July 22, 2011). "A Continuous Method to Compute Model Parameters for Soft Biological Materials." ASME. J Biomech Eng. July 2011; 133(7): 074502. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4004412
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