Substrate-dependent cell elasticity measured by optical tweezers indentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yousafzai, Muhammad S.; Ndoye, Fatou; Coceano, Giovanna; Niemela, Joseph; Bonin, Serena; Scoles, Giacinto; Cojoc, Dan

2016-01-01

In the last decade, cell elasticity has been widely investigated as a potential label free indicator for cellular alteration in different diseases, cancer included. Cell elasticity can be locally measured by pulling membrane tethers, stretching or indenting the cell using optical tweezers. In this paper, we propose a simple approach to perform cell indentation at pN forces by axially moving the cell against a trapped microbead. The elastic modulus is calculated using the Hertz-model. Besides the axial component, the setup also allows us to examine the lateral cell-bead interaction. This technique has been applied to measure the local elasticity of HBL-100 cells, an immortalized human cell line, originally derived from the milk of a woman with no evidence of breast cancer lesions. In addition, we have studied the influence of substrate stiffness on cell elasticity by performing experiments on cells cultured on two substrates, bare and collagen-coated, having different stiffness. The mean value of the cell elastic modulus measured during indentation was 26±9 Pa for the bare substrate, while for the collagen-coated substrate it diminished to 19±7 Pa. The same trend was obtained for the elastic modulus measured during the retraction of the cell: 23±10 Pa and 13±7 Pa, respectively. These results show the cells adapt their stiffness to that of the substrate and demonstrate the potential of this setup for low-force probing of modifications to cell mechanics induced by the surrounding environment (e.g. extracellular matrix or other cells).

Relationships between acoustic variables and different measures of stiffness in standing Pinus taeda trees

Treesearch

Christian R. Mora; Laurence R. Schimleck; Fikret Isik; Jerry M. Mahon Jr.; Alexander Clark III; Richard F. Daniels

2009-01-01

Acoustic tools are increasingly used to estimate standing-tree (dynamic) stiffness; however, such techniques overestimate static stiffness, the standard measurement for determining modulus of elasticity (MOE) of wood. This study aimed to identify correction methods for standing-tree estimates making dynamic and static stiffness comparable. Sixty Pinus taeda L...

[Assessment of plantar fasciitis using shear wave elastography].

PubMed

Zhang, Lining; Wan, Wenbo; Zhang, Lihai; Xiao, Hongyu; Luo, Yukun; Fei, Xiang; Zheng, Zhixin; Tang, Peifu

2014-02-01

To assess the stiffness and thickness of the plantar fascia using shear wave elastography (SWE) in healthy volunteers of different ages and in patients with plantar fasciitis. The bilateral feet of 30 healthy volunteers and 23 patients with plantar fasciitis were examined with SWE. The plantar fascia thickness and elasticity modulus value were measured at the insertion of the calcaneus and at 1 cm from the insertion. The elderly volunteers had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness measured using conventional ultrasound (P=0.005) and a significantly lower elasticity modulus value than the young volunteers (P=0.000). The patients with fasciitis had a significantly greater plantar fascia thickness (P=0.001) and a lower elasticity modulus value than the elderly volunteers (P=0.000). The elasticity modulus value was significantly lower at the calcaneus insertion than at 1 cm from the insertion in patients with fasciitis (P=0.000) but showed no significantly difference between the two points in the elderly or young volunteers (P=0.172, P=0.126). SWE allows quantitative assessment of the stiffness of the plantar fascia, which decreases with aging and in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Mapping of elasticity and damping in an α + β titanium alloy through atomic force acoustic microscopy

PubMed Central

Phani, M Kalyan; Kumar, Anish; Jayakumar, T; Samwer, Konrad

2015-01-01

Summary The distribution of elastic stiffness and damping of individual phases in an α + β titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) measured by using atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM) is reported in the present study. The real and imaginary parts of the contact stiffness k * are obtained from the contact-resonance spectra and by using these two quantities, the maps of local elastic stiffness and the damping factor are derived. The evaluation of the data is based on the mass distribution of the cantilever with damped flexural modes. The cantilever dynamics model considering damping, which was proposed recently, has been used for mapping of indentation modulus and damping of different phases in a metallic structural material. The study indicated that in a Ti-6Al-4V alloy the metastable β phase has the minimum modulus and the maximum damping followed by α′- and α-phases. Volume fractions of the individual phases were determined by using a commercial material property evaluation software and were validated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) studies on one of the heat-treated samples. The volume fractions of the phases and the modulus measured through AFAM are used to derive average modulus of the bulk sample which is correlated with the bulk elastic properties obtained by ultrasonic velocity measurements. The average modulus of the specimens estimated by AFAM technique is found to be within 5% of that obtained by ultrasonic velocity measurements. The effect of heat treatments on the ultrasonic attenuation in the bulk sample could also be understood based on the damping measurements on individual phases using AFAM. PMID:25977847

Mapping of elasticity and damping in an α + β titanium alloy through atomic force acoustic microscopy.

PubMed

Phani, M Kalyan; Kumar, Anish; Jayakumar, T; Arnold, Walter; Samwer, Konrad

2015-01-01

The distribution of elastic stiffness and damping of individual phases in an α + β titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) measured by using atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM) is reported in the present study. The real and imaginary parts of the contact stiffness k (*) are obtained from the contact-resonance spectra and by using these two quantities, the maps of local elastic stiffness and the damping factor are derived. The evaluation of the data is based on the mass distribution of the cantilever with damped flexural modes. The cantilever dynamics model considering damping, which was proposed recently, has been used for mapping of indentation modulus and damping of different phases in a metallic structural material. The study indicated that in a Ti-6Al-4V alloy the metastable β phase has the minimum modulus and the maximum damping followed by α'- and α-phases. Volume fractions of the individual phases were determined by using a commercial material property evaluation software and were validated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) studies on one of the heat-treated samples. The volume fractions of the phases and the modulus measured through AFAM are used to derive average modulus of the bulk sample which is correlated with the bulk elastic properties obtained by ultrasonic velocity measurements. The average modulus of the specimens estimated by AFAM technique is found to be within 5% of that obtained by ultrasonic velocity measurements. The effect of heat treatments on the ultrasonic attenuation in the bulk sample could also be understood based on the damping measurements on individual phases using AFAM.

Stress wave velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity of yellow-poplar ranging from 100 to 10 percent moisture content

Treesearch

Jody D. Gray; Shawn T. Grushecky; James P. Armstrong

2008-01-01

Moisture content has a significant impact on mechanical properties of wood. In recent years, stress wave velocity has been used as an in situ and non-destructive method for determining the stiffness of wooden elements. The objective of this study was to determine what effect moisture content has on stress wave velocity and dynamic modulus of elasticity. Results...

Elastic energy distribution in bi-material lithosphere: implications for shear zone formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

So, B.; Yuen, D. A.

2013-12-01

Shear instability in the lithosphere can cause mechanical rupturing such as slab detachment and deep focus earthquake. Recent studies reported that bi-material interface, which refers to sharp elastic modulus contrast, plays an important role in triggering the instability [So and Yuen et al., 2012, GJI]. In present study, we performed two-dimensional numerical simulations to investigate the distribution of thermal-mechanical energy within the bi-material lithosphere. Under the far-field constant compression exerted on the domain, a larger elastic energy is accumulated into the compliant part than stiff medium. For instance, the compliant part has two times greater elastic energy density than surrounding stiff part, when the elastic modulus contrast between two different parts is five. Although these elastic energies in both parts are conversed into thermal energies after plastic yielding, denser elastic energy in the compliant is released more efficiently. This leads to efficient strength weakening and the subsequent ductile shear zone in the compliant part. We propose that strong shear heating occurs in lithosphere with the bi-material interface due to locally non-uniform distribution of the energy around the interface.

Nanoscale stiffness of individual dendritic molecules and their aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsukruk, Vladimir V.; Shulha, Hennady; Zhai, Xiaowen

2003-02-01

We demonstrate that carefully designed micromapping of the surface stiffness with nanoscale resolution could reveal quantitative data on the elastic properties of compliant, dendritic organic molecules with nanoparticulate dimensions below 3 nm. Much higher elastic modulus was observed for individual, fourth generation dendritic molecules due to their more shape persistent conformation. Large, reversible, elastic deformation is a distinct characteristic of the nanomechanical response observed for individual dendritic molecules. Such a "rubbery" response could be an indication of spatial constraints imposed on vitrification of dendritic molecules tethered to the functionalized interface. Surprisingly, an increased stiffness was also found for the third generation dendritic molecules within long aggregates.

High elastic modulus nanopowder reinforced resin composites for dental applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yijun

2007-12-01

Dental restorations account for more than $3 billion dollars a year on the market. Among them, all-ceramic dental crowns draw more and more attention and their popularity has risen because of their superior aesthetics and biocompatibility. However, their relatively high failure rate and labor-intensive fabrication procedure still limit their application. In this thesis, a new family of high elastic modulus nanopowder reinforced resin composites and their mechanical properties are studied. Materials with higher elastic modulus, such as alumina and diamond, are used to replace the routine filler material, silica, in dental resin composites to achieve the desired properties. This class of composites is developed to serve (1) as a high stiffness support to all-ceramic crowns and (2) as a means of joining independently fabricated crown core and veneer layers. Most of the work focuses on nano-sized Al2O3 (average particle size 47 nm) reinforcement in a polymeric matrix with 50:50 Bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA): triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) monomers. Surfactants, silanizing agents and primers are examined to obtain higher filler levels and enhance the bonding between filler and matrix. Silane agents work best. The elastic modulus of a 57.5 vol% alumina/resin composite is 31.5 GPa compared to current commercial resin composites with elastic modulus <15 GPa. Chemical additives can also effectively raise the hardness to as much as 1.34 GPa. Besides>alumina, diamond/resin composites are studied. An elastic modulus of about 45 GPa is obtained for a 57 vol% diamond/resin composite. Our results indicate that with a generally monodispersed nano-sized high modulus filler, relatively high elastic modulus resin-based composite cements are possible. Time-dependent behavior of our resin composites is also investigated. This is valuable for understanding the behavior of our material and possible fatigue testing in the future. Our results indicate that with effective coupling agents and higher filler loading, viscous flow can be greatly decreased due to the attenuation of mobility of polymer chains. Complementary studies indicate that our resin composites are promising for the proposed applications as a stiff support to all-ceramic crowns.

Multiphoton photochemical crosslinking-based fabrication of protein micropatterns with controllable mechanical properties for single cell traction force measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Ming Hui; Huang, Nan; Zhang, Wei; Zhou, Zhuo Long; Ngan, Alfonso Hing Wan; Du, Yanan; Chan, Barbara Pui

2016-01-01

Engineering 3D microstructures with predetermined properties is critical for stem cell niche studies. We have developed a multiphoton femtosecond laser-based 3D printing platform, which generates complex protein microstructures in minutes. Here, we used the platform to test a series of fabrication and reagent parameters in precisely controlling the mechanical properties of protein micropillars. Atomic force microscopy was utilized to measure the reduced elastic modulus of the micropillars, and transmission electron microscopy was used to visualize the porosity of the structures. The reduced elastic modulus of the micropillars associated positively and linearly with the scanning power. On the other hand, the porosity and pore size of the micropillars associated inversely and linearly with the scanning power and reagent concentrations. While keeping the elastic modulus constant, the stiffness of the micropillars was controlled by varying their height. Subsequently, the single cell traction forces of rabbit chondrocytes, human dermal fibroblasts, human mesenchymal stem cells, and bovine nucleus pulposus cells (bNPCs) were successfully measured by culturing the cells on micropillar arrays of different stiffness. Our results showed that the traction forces of all groups showed positive relationship with stiffness, and that the chondrocytes and bNPCs generated the highest and lowest traction forces, respectively.

Effect of Bending Stiffness of the Electroactive Polymer Element on the Performance of a Hybrid Actuator System (HYBAS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xu, Tian-Bing; Su, Ji; Jiang, Xiaoning; Rehrig, Paul W.; Zhang, Shujun; Shrout, Thomas R.; Zhang, Qiming

2006-01-01

An electroactive polymer (EAP)-ceramic hybrid actuation system (HYBAS) was developed recently at NASA Langley Research Center. This paper focuses on the effect of the bending stiffness of the EAP component on the performance of a HYBAS, in which the actuation of the EAP element can match the theoretical prediction at various length/thickness ratios for a constant elastic modulus of the EAP component. The effects on the bending stiffness of the elastic modulus and length/thickness ratio of the EAP component were studied. A critical bending stiffness to keep the actuation of the EAP element suitable for a rigid beam theory-based modeling was found for electron irradiated P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer. For example, the agreement of experimental data and theoretical modeling for a HYBAS with the length/thickness ratio of EAP element at 375 times is demonstrated. However, the beam based theoretical modeling becomes invalid (i.e., the profile of the HYBAS movement does not follow the prediction of theoretical modeling) when the bending stiffness is lower than a critical value.

Temperature dependent elastic properties of γ-phase U – 8 wt% Mo

DOE PAGES

Steiner, M. A.; Garlea, E.; Creasy, J.; ...

2017-12-28

Polycrystalline elastic moduli and stiffness tensor components of γ-phase U – 8 wt% Mo have been determined by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy in the temperature range of 25-650°C. The ambient temperature elastic properties are compared to results measured via other experimental methods and show reasonable agreement, though there is considerable variation of these properties within the literature at both the U – 8 wt% Mo composition and as a function of Mo concentration. The Young’s modulus of U – 8 wt% Mo measured in this study decreases steadily with temperature at a rate that is slower than trends previously observed atmore » similar Mo concentrations, though the difference is not statistically significant. This first measurement of the temperature dependent elastic stiffness tensor of a polycrystalline U-Mo alloy clarifies that the behavior of the Young’s modulus is due to a strongly weakening C 11 polycrystalline stiffness tensor component, along with milder decreases in C 12 and C 44. The unique partially auxetic properties recently predicted for singlecrystalline U-Mo are discussed in regard to their possible impact on the polycrystalline behavior of the alloy.« less

Temperature dependent elastic properties of γ-phase U – 8 wt% Mo

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Steiner, M. A.; Garlea, E.; Creasy, J.

Polycrystalline elastic moduli and stiffness tensor components of γ-phase U – 8 wt% Mo have been determined by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy in the temperature range of 25-650°C. The ambient temperature elastic properties are compared to results measured via other experimental methods and show reasonable agreement, though there is considerable variation of these properties within the literature at both the U – 8 wt% Mo composition and as a function of Mo concentration. The Young’s modulus of U – 8 wt% Mo measured in this study decreases steadily with temperature at a rate that is slower than trends previously observed atmore » similar Mo concentrations, though the difference is not statistically significant. This first measurement of the temperature dependent elastic stiffness tensor of a polycrystalline U-Mo alloy clarifies that the behavior of the Young’s modulus is due to a strongly weakening C 11 polycrystalline stiffness tensor component, along with milder decreases in C 12 and C 44. The unique partially auxetic properties recently predicted for singlecrystalline U-Mo are discussed in regard to their possible impact on the polycrystalline behavior of the alloy.« less

Variable stiffness torsion springs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alhorn, Dean C.; Polites, Michael E.

1994-05-01

In a torsion spring the spring action is a result of the relationships between the torque applied in twisting the spring, the angle through which the torsion spring twists, and the modulus of elasticity of the spring material in shear. Torsion springs employed industrially have been strips, rods, or bars, generally termed shafts, capabable of being flexed by twisting their axes. They rely on the variations in shearing forces to furnish an internal restoring torque. In the torsion springs herein the restoring torque is external and therefore independent of the shearing modulus of elasticity of the torsion spring shaft. Also provided herein is a variable stiffness torsion spring. This torsion spring can be so adjusted as to have a given spring constant. Such variable stiffness torsion springs are extremely useful in gimballed payloads such as sensors, telescopes, and electronic devices on such platforms as a space shuttle or a space station.

Variable stiffness torsion springs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alhorn, Dean C. (Inventor); Polites, Michael E. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

In a torsion spring the spring action is a result of the relationships between the torque applied in twisting the spring, the angle through which the torsion spring twists, and the modulus of elasticity of the spring material in shear. Torsion springs employed industrially have been strips, rods, or bars, generally termed shafts, capabable of being flexed by twisting their axes. They rely on the variations in shearing forces to furnish an internal restoring torque. In the torsion springs herein the restoring torque is external and therefore independent of the shearing modulus of elasticity of the torsion spring shaft. Also provided herein is a variable stiffness torsion spring. This torsion spring can be so adjusted as to have a given spring constant. Such variable stiffness torsion springs are extremely useful in gimballed payloads such as sensors, telescopes, and electronic devices on such platforms as a space shuttle or a space station.

Variable stiffness torsion springs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alhorn, Dean C.; Polites, Michael E.

1995-08-01

In a torsion spring the spring action is a result of the relationships between the torque applied in twisting the spring, the angle through which the torsion spring twists, and the modulus of elasticity of the spring material in shear. Torsion springs employed industrially have been strips, rods, or bars, generally termed shafts, capabable of being flexed by twisting their axes. They rely on the variations in shearing forces to furnish an internal restoring torque. In the torsion springs herein the restoring torque is external and therefore independent of the shearing modulus of elasticity of the torsion spring shaft. Also provided herein is a variable stiffness torsion spring. This torsion spring can be so adjusted as to have a given spring constant. Such variable stiffness torsion springs are extremely useful in gimballed payloads such as sensors, telescopes, and electronic devices on such platforms as a space shuttle or a space station.

Variable stiffness torsion springs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alhorn, Dean C. (Inventor); Polites, Michael E. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

In a torsion spring the spring action is a result of the relationships between the torque applied in twisting the spring, the angle through which the torsion spring twists, and the modulus of elasticity of the spring material in shear. Torsion springs employed industrially have been strips, rods, or bars, generally termed shafts, capabable of being flexed by twisting their axes. They rely on the variations in shearing forces to furnish an internal restoring torque. In the torsion springs herein the restoring torque is external and therefore independent of the shearing modulus of elasticity of the torsion spring shaft. Also provided herein is a variable stiffness torsion spring. This torsion spring can be so adjusted as to have a given spring constant. Such variable stiffness torsion springs are extremely useful in gimballed payloads such as sensors, telescopes, and electronic devices on such platforms as a space shuttle or a space station.

Intermittent, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for only eight weeks reduces arterial stiffness: evaluation by measurement of stiffness parameter and pressure-strain elastic modulus by use of ultrasonic echo tracking.

PubMed

Tanaka, Midori; Sugawara, Motoaki; Ogasawara, Yasuo; Izumi, Tadafumi; Niki, Kiyomi; Kajiya, Fumihiko

2013-04-01

Aerobic exercise has been reported to be associated with reduced arterial stiffness. However, the intensity, duration, and frequency of aerobic exercise required to improve arterial stiffness have not been established. In addition, most reports base their conclusions on changes in pulse wave velocity, which is an indirect index of arterial stiffness. We studied the effects of short-term, intermittent, moderate-intensity exercise training on arterial stiffness based on measurements of the stiffness parameter (β) and pressure-strain elastic modulus (E p), which are direct indices of regional arterial stiffness. A total of 25 young healthy volunteers (18 men) were recruited. By use of ultrasonic diagnostic equipment we measured β and E p of the carotid artery before and after 8 weeks of exercise training. After exercise training, systolic pressure (P s), diastolic pressure (P d), pulse pressure, systolic arterial diameter (D s), and diastolic arterial diameter (D d) did not change significantly. However, the pulsatile change in diameter ((D s - D d)/D d) increased significantly, and β and E p decreased significantly. For healthy young subjects, β and E p were reduced by intermittent, moderate-intensity exercise training for only 8 weeks.

Effects of annealing and additions on dynamic mechanical properties of SnSb quenched alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Bediwi, A. B.

2004-08-01

The elastic modulus, internal friction and stiffness values of quenched SnSb bearing alloy have been evaluated using the dynamic resonance technique. Annealing for 2 and 4 h at 120, 140 and 160degreesC caused variations in the elastic modulus. internal friction and stiffness values. This is due to structural changes in the SnSb matrix during isothermal annealing such as coarsening in the phases (Sn, Sb or intermetallic compounds), recrystallization and stress relief. In addition, adding a small amount (1 wt.%) of Cu or Ag improved the bearing mechanical properties of the SnSb bearing alloy. The SnSbCu1 alloy has the best bearing mechanical properties with thermo-mechanical stability for long time at high temperature.

Hooke's Law and the Stiffness of a Plastic Spoon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pestka, Kenneth A.; Warren, Cori

2012-11-01

The study of elastic properties of solids is essential to both physics and engineering. Finding simple, easy-to-visualize examples to demonstrate these concepts is often difficult. In a previous article written by one of us (KAPII), a simple method for determining Youngs modulus using marshmallows was given. In this article we will illustrate another method to explore elastic properties of everyday materials. This experiment uses a common plastic spoon exposed to a transverse force in order to determine the stiffness constant, yield point, and rupture point of the plastic spoon. In addition, much like the "Youngs Modulus of a Marshmallow" activity, this experiment visually demonstrates Hooke's law, is fun and easy to perform, and leaves a lasting impression on the students.

Modeling stiffness loss in boron/aluminum below the fatigue limit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, W. S.

1982-01-01

Boron/aluminum can develop significant internal matrix cracking when fatigued. These matrix cracks can result in a 40 percent secant modulus loss in some laminates, even when fatigued below the fatigue limit. It is shown that the same amount of fatigue damage will develop during stress or strain-controlled tests. Stacking sequence has little influence on secant modulus loss. The secant modulus loss in unidirectional composites is small, whereas the losses are substantial in laminates containing off-axis plies. A simple analysis is presented that predicts unnotched laminate secant modulus loss due to fatigue. The analysis is based upon the elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of the fiber and matrix, fiber volume fraction, fiber orientations, and the cyclic-hardened yield stress of the matrix material. Excellent agreement was achieved between model predictions and experimental results. With this model, designers can project the material stiffness loss for design load or strain levels and assess the feasibility of its use in stiffness-critical parts.

Passive stiffness of the gastrocnemius muscle in athletes with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Hussain, A W; Onambele, G L; Williams, A G; Morse, C I

2013-09-01

The passive properties of the muscle-tendon unit are regularly assessed in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). However, no information is available on the passive properties of adult muscle, and whether any differences exist between the paretic and control muscles. Eleven ambulant male athletes with spastic hemiplegic CP (21.2 ± 3.0 years) and controls without neurological impairment (age = 21.8 ± 2.2 years) completed two and one passive stretch session, respectively. During each session, the ankle was passively dorsiflexed until end range of motion (ROM), whilst recording passive ankle angle, torque and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) myotendinous junction (MTJ) displacement. In addition, GM cross-sectional area (CSA) and length were measured. Subsequently, in vivo stress and strain were determined to calculate elastic modulus. Passive stiffness, MTJ displacement and ROM of the paretic GM were not different from the control muscles. However, the elastic modulus of the paretic GM was two times stiffer than the control GM muscles. In conclusion, athletes with CP exhibit absolute passive muscle stiffness similar to the controls; however, the elastic modulus of the CP muscle was significantly greater. Therefore, throughout the same ROM a smaller GM CSA in CP athletes has to dissipate larger relative torque compared to the control muscles, consequently causing the muscle to elongate to the same extent as the non-paretic muscle under stretch.

Elastic properties and fracture strength of quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, T. L.

1977-01-01

A research program is described which was devised to determine experimentally the elastic properties in tension and bending of quasi-isotropic laminates made from high-modulus graphite fiber and epoxy. Four laminate configurations were investigated, and determinations were made of the tensile modulus, Poisson's ratio, bending stiffness, fracture strength, and fracture strain. The measured properties are compared with those predicted by laminate theory, reasons for scatter in the experimental data are discussed, and the effect of fiber misalignment on predicted elastic tensile properties is examined. The results strongly suggest that fiber misalignment in combination with variation in fiber volume content is responsible for the scatter in both elastic constants and fracture strength.

Shear elastic modulus estimation from indentation and SDUV on gelatin phantoms

PubMed Central

Amador, Carolina; Urban, Matthew W.; Chen, Shigao; Chen, Qingshan; An, Kai-Nan; Greenleaf, James F.

2011-01-01

Tissue mechanical properties such as elasticity are linked to tissue pathology state. Several groups have proposed shear wave propagation speed to quantify tissue mechanical properties. It is well known that biological tissues are viscoelastic materials; therefore velocity dispersion resulting from material viscoelasticity is expected. A method called Shearwave Dispersion Ultrasound Vibrometry (SDUV) can be used to quantify tissue viscoelasticity by measuring dispersion of shear wave propagation speed. However, there is not a gold standard method for validation. In this study we present an independent validation method of shear elastic modulus estimation by SDUV in 3 gelatin phantoms of differing stiffness. In addition, the indentation measurements are compared to estimates of elasticity derived from shear wave group velocities. The shear elastic moduli from indentation were 1.16, 3.40 and 5.6 kPa for a 7, 10 and 15% gelatin phantom respectively. SDUV measurements were 1.61, 3.57 and 5.37 kPa for the gelatin phantoms respectively. Shear elastic moduli derived from shear wave group velocities were 1.78, 5.2 and 7.18 kPa for the gelatin phantoms respectively. The shear elastic modulus estimated from the SDUV, matched the elastic modulus measured by indentation. On the other hand, shear elastic modulus estimated by group velocity did not agree with indentation test estimations. These results suggest that shear elastic modulus estimation by group velocity will be bias when the medium being investigated is dispersive. Therefore a rheological model should be used in order to estimate mechanical properties of viscoelastic materials. PMID:21317078

Quantitative photoacoustic elastography of Young's modulus in humans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hai, Pengfei; Zhou, Yong; Gong, Lei; Wang, Lihong V.

2017-03-01

Elastography can noninvasively map the elasticity distribution of biological tissue, which is often altered in pathological states. In this work, we report quantitative photoacoustic elastography (QPAE), capable of measuring Young's modulus of human tissue in vivo. By combining photoacoustic elastography with a stress sensor having known stress-strain behavior, QPAE can simultaneously measure strain and stress, from which Young's modulus is calculated. We first applied QPAE to quantify the Young's modulus of tissue-mimicking agar phantoms with different concentrations. The measured values fitted well with both the empirical expectations based on the agar concentrations and those measured in independent standard compression tests. We then demonstrated the feasibility of QPAE by measuring the Young's modulus of human skeletal muscle in vivo. The data showed a linear relationship between muscle stiffness and loading. The results proved that QPAE can noninvasively quantify the absolute elasticity of biological tissue, thus enabling longitudinal imaging of tissue elasticity. QPAE can be exploited for both preclinical biomechanics studies and clinical applications.

Elastic and thermal expansion asymmetry in dense molecular materials.

PubMed

Burg, Joseph A; Dauskardt, Reinhold H

2016-09-01

The elastic modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion are fundamental properties of elastically stiff molecular materials and are assumed to be the same (symmetric) under both tension and compression loading. We show that molecular materials can have a marked asymmetric elastic modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion that are inherently related to terminal chemical groups that limit molecular network connectivity. In compression, terminal groups sterically interact to stiffen the network, whereas in tension they interact less and disconnect the network. The existence of asymmetric elastic and thermal expansion behaviour has fundamental implications for computational approaches to molecular materials modelling and practical implications on the thermomechanical strains and associated elastic stresses. We develop a design space to control the degree of elastic asymmetry in molecular materials, a vital step towards understanding their integration into device technologies.

Ultrasound Shear Wave Simulation of Breast Tumor Using Nonlinear Tissue Elasticity

PubMed Central

Park, Dae Woo

2016-01-01

Shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) can assess the elasticity of tissues, but the shear modulus estimated in SWEI is often less sensitive to a subtle change of the stiffness that produces only small mechanical contrast to the background tissues. Because most soft tissues exhibit mechanical nonlinearity that differs in tissue types, mechanical contrast can be enhanced if the tissues are compressed. In this study, a finite element- (FE-) based simulation was performed for a breast tissue model, which consists of a circular (D: 10 mm, hard) tumor and surrounding tissue (soft). The SWEI was performed with 0% to 30% compression of the breast tissue model. The shear modulus of the tumor exhibited noticeably high nonlinearity compared to soft background tissue above 10% overall applied compression. As a result, the elastic modulus contrast of the tumor to the surrounding tissue was increased from 0.46 at 0% compression to 1.45 at 30% compression. PMID:27293476

Effect of Salicylate on the Elasticity, Bending Stiffness, and Strength of SOPC Membranes

PubMed Central

Zhou, Yong; Raphael, Robert M.

2005-01-01

Salicylate is a small amphiphilic molecule which has diverse effects on membranes and membrane-mediated processes. We have utilized micropipette aspiration of giant unilamellar vesicles to determine salicylate's effects on lecithin membrane elasticity, bending rigidity, and strength. Salicylate effectively reduces the apparent area compressibility modulus and bending modulus of membranes in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations above 1 mM, but does not greatly alter the actual elastic compressibility modulus at the maximal tested concentration of 10 mM. The effect of salicylate on membrane strength was investigated using dynamic tension spectroscopy, which revealed that salicylate increases the frequency of spontaneous defect formation and lowers the energy barrier for unstable hole formation. The mechanical and dynamic tension experiments are consistent and support a picture in which salicylate disrupts membrane stability by decreasing membrane stiffness and membrane thickness. The tension-dependent partitioning of salicylate was utilized to calculate the molecular volume of salicylate in the membrane. The free energy of transfer for salicylate insertion into the membrane and the corresponding partition coefficient were also estimated, and indicated favorable salicylate-membrane interactions. The mechanical changes induced by salicylate may affect several biological processes, especially those associated with membrane curvature and permeability. PMID:15951377

The elastic stability, bifurcation and ideal strength of gold under hydrostatic stress: an ab initio calculation.

PubMed

Wang, Hao; Li, Mo

2009-11-11

In this paper, we employ an ab initio density functional theory calculation to investigate the elastic stability of face-centered cubic Au under hydrostatic deformation. We identify the elastic stiffness constant B(ijkl) as the coefficient in the stress-strain relation for an arbitrary deformed state, and use it to test the stability condition. We show that this criterion bears the same physics as that proposed earlier by Frenkel and Orowan and agrees with the Born-Hill criterion. The results from those two approaches agree well with each other. We show that the stability limit, or instability, of the perfect Au crystal under hydrostatic expansion is not associated with the bulk stiffness modulus as predicted in the previous work; rather it is caused by a shear instability associated with the vanishing rhombohedral shear stiffness modulus. The deviation of the deformation mode from the primary hydrostatic loading path signals a bifurcation or symmetry breaking in the ideal crystal. The corresponding ideal hydrostatic strength for Au is 19.2 GPa at the Lagrangian expansion strain of ∼0.06. In the case of compression, Au remains stable over the entire pressure range in our calculation.

Mechanical properties of human articular disk and its influence on TMJ loading studied with the finite element method.

PubMed

Tanaka, E; Sasaki, A; Tahmina, K; Yamaguchi, K; Mori, Y; Tanne, K

2001-03-01

The present study was designed to investigate the elastic modulus of human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk under tension and its influences on TMJ loading. Seven human TMJ disks served as specimens. Continuous tensile stress was applied to each specimen, and the elastic moduli of human TMJ disks were calculated at 2% strain. Furthermore, using a three-dimensional finite element model of the mandible including the TMJ, changes in the TMJ stresses during clenching were evaluated in association of varying elastic moduli of the articular disk determined by the tensile tests. The elastic moduli at 2% strain varied from 27.1 to 65.2 MPa with a mean of 47.1 MPa. A significant correlation was found between the elastic moduli and age (P < 0.01). On the surface of condyle, compressive stress in the anterior area and tensile stress in the posterior area increased when the elastic moduli of the TMJ disk was varied from 25 to 65 MPa. In the TMJ disk, shear stresses in all the areas became larger with greater stiffness. In conclusion, it is shown that the elastic modulus of human TMJ disk is increased with age and that higher stiffness of the disk exerts substantial influences on mechanical loading for the TMJ structures.

Stiffness and shrinkage of green and dry joists

Treesearch

Lyman W. Wood; Lawrence A. Soltis

1964-01-01

This report gives information on the edgewise modulus of elasticity, stiffness, and shrinkage of 360 joists in three species, three grades, and two sizes, each species obtained from two sources. Each joist was evaluated nondestructively at four moisture content values ranging from the green condition to about 11 percent. Information is also given on specific gravity,...

Biomechanics of isolated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit cuticles: the role of the cutin matrix and polysaccharides.

PubMed

López-Casado, Gloria; Matas, Antonio J; Domínguez, Eva; Cuartero, Jesús; Heredia, Antonio

2007-01-01

The mechanical characteristics of the cuticular membrane (CM), a complex composite biopolymer basically composed of a cutin matrix, waxes, and hydrolysable polysaccharides, have been described previously. The biomechanical behaviour and quantitative contribution of cutin and polysaccharides have been investigated here using as experimental material mature green and red ripe tomato fruits. Treatment of isolated CM with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride in pyridine allowed the selective elimination of polysaccharides attached to or incrusted into the cutin matrix. Cutin samples showed a drastic decrease in elastic modulus and stiffness (up to 92%) compared with CM, which clearly indicates that polysaccharides incorporated into the cutin matrix are responsible for the elastic modulus, stiffness, and the linear elastic behaviour of the whole cuticle. Reciprocally, the viscoelastic behaviour of CM (low elastic modulus and high strain values) can be assigned to the cutin. These results applied both to mature green and red ripe CM. Cutin elastic modulus, independently of the degree of temperature and hydration, was always significantly higher for the ripe than for the green samples while strain was lower; the amount of phenolics in the cutin network are the main candidates to explain the increased rigidity from mature green to red ripe cutin. The polysaccharide families isolated from CM were pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, the main polymers associated with the plant cell wall. The three types of polysaccharides were present in similar amounts in CM from mature green and red ripe tomatoes. Physical techniques such as X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the polysaccharide fibres were mainly randomly oriented. A tomato fruit CM scenario at the supramolecular level that could explain the observed CM biomechanical properties is presented and discussed.

Development of Space Station strut design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, R. R.; Bluck, R. M.; Holmes, A. M. C.; Kural, M. H.

1986-01-01

Candidate Space Station struts exhibiting high stiffness (38-40 msi modulus of elasticity) were manufactured and experimentally evaluated. One and two inch diameter aluminum-clad evaluation specimens were manufactured using a unique dry fiber resin injection process. Preliminary tests were performed on strut elements having 80 percent high-modulus graphite epoxy and 20 percent aluminum. Performed tests included modulus of elasticity, thermal cycling, and coefficient of thermal expansion. The paper describes the design approach, including an analytical assessment of strut thermal deformation behavior. The major thrust of this paper is the manufacturing process which produces aluminum-clad struts with precisely controlled properties which can be fine-tuned after fabrication. An impact test and evaluation procedure for evaluating toughness is described.

Assessment of a virtual functional prototyping process for the rapid manufacture of passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthoses.

PubMed

Schrank, Elisa S; Hitch, Lester; Wallace, Kevin; Moore, Richard; Stanhope, Steven J

2013-10-01

Passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthosis (PD-AFO) bending stiffness is a key functional characteristic for achieving enhanced gait function. However, current orthosis customization methods inhibit objective premanufacture tuning of the PD-AFO bending stiffness, making optimization of orthosis function challenging. We have developed a novel virtual functional prototyping (VFP) process, which harnesses the strengths of computer aided design (CAD) model parameterization and finite element analysis, to quantitatively tune and predict the functional characteristics of a PD-AFO, which is rapidly manufactured via fused deposition modeling (FDM). The purpose of this study was to assess the VFP process for PD-AFO bending stiffness. A PD-AFO CAD model was customized for a healthy subject and tuned to four bending stiffness values via VFP. Two sets of each tuned model were fabricated via FDM using medical-grade polycarbonate (PC-ISO). Dimensional accuracy of the fabricated orthoses was excellent (average 0.51 ± 0.39 mm). Manufacturing precision ranged from 0.0 to 0.74 Nm/deg (average 0.30 ± 0.36 Nm/deg). Bending stiffness prediction accuracy was within 1 Nm/deg using the manufacturer provided PC-ISO elastic modulus (average 0.48 ± 0.35 Nm/deg). Using an experimentally derived PC-ISO elastic modulus improved the optimized bending stiffness prediction accuracy (average 0.29 ± 0.57 Nm/deg). Robustness of the derived modulus was tested by carrying out the VFP process for a disparate subject, tuning the PD-AFO model to five bending stiffness values. For this disparate subject, bending stiffness prediction accuracy was strong (average 0.20 ± 0.14 Nm/deg). Overall, the VFP process had excellent dimensional accuracy, good manufacturing precision, and strong prediction accuracy with the derived modulus. Implementing VFP as part of our PD-AFO customization and manufacturing framework, which also includes fit customization, provides a novel and powerful method to predictably tune and precisely manufacture orthoses with objectively customized fit and functional characteristics.

Effects of the 3D bone-to-implant contact and bone stiffness on the initial stability of a dental implant: micro-CT and resonance frequency analyses.

PubMed

Hsu, J T; Huang, H L; Tsai, M T; Wu, A Y J; Tu, M G; Fuh, L J

2013-02-01

This study investigated the effects of bone stiffness (elastic modulus) and three-dimensional (3D) bone-to-implant contact ratio (BIC%) on the primary stabilities of dental implants using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and resonance frequency analyses. Artificial sawbone models with five values of elastic modulus (137, 123, 47.5, 22, and 12.4 MPa) comprising two types of trabecular structure (solid-rigid and cellular-rigid) were investigated for initial implant stability quotient (ISQ), measured using the wireless Osstell resonance frequency analyzer. Bone specimens were attached to 2 mm fibre-filled epoxy sheets mimicking the cortical shell. ISQ was measured after placing a dental implant into the bone specimen. Each bone specimen with an implant was subjected to micro-CT scanning to calculate the 3D BIC% values. The similarity of the cellular type of artificial bone to the trabecular structure might make it more appropriate for obtaining accurate values of primary implant stability than solid-bone blocks. For the cellular-rigid bone models, the ISQ increased with the elastic modulus of cancellous bone. The regression correlation coefficient was 0.96 for correlations of the ISQ with the elasticity of cancellous bone and with the 3D BIC%. The initial implant stability was moderately positively correlated with the elasticity of cancellous bone and with the 3D BIC%. Copyright © 2012 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantification of change in vocal fold tissue stiffness relative to depth of artificial damage.

PubMed

Rohlfs, Anna-Katharina; Schmolke, Sebastian; Clauditz, Till; Hess, Markus; Müller, Frank; Püschel, Klaus; Roemer, Frank W; Schumacher, Udo; Goodyer, Eric

2017-10-01

To quantify changes in the biomechanical properties of human excised vocal folds with defined artificial damage. The linear skin rheometer (LSR) was used to obtain a series of rheological measurements of shear modulus from the surface of 30 human cadaver vocal folds. The tissue samples were initially measured in a native condition and then following varying intensities of thermal damage. Histological examination of each vocal fold was used to determine the depth of artificial alteration. The measured changes in stiffness were correlated with the depth of cell damage. For vocal folds in a pre-damage state the shear modulus values ranged from 537 Pa to 1,651 Pa (female) and from 583 Pa to 1,193 Pa (male). With increasing depth of damage from the intermediate layer of the lamina propria (LP), tissue stiffness increased consistently (compared with native values) following application of thermal damage to the vocal folds. The measurement showed an increase of tissue stiffness when the depth of tissue damage was extending from the intermediate LP layer downwards. Changes in the elastic characteristics of human vocal fold tissue following damage at defined depths were demonstrated in an in vitro experiment. In future, reproducible in vivo measurements of elastic vocal fold tissue alterations may enable phonosurgeons to infer the extent of subepithelial damage from changes in surface elasticity.

Bending strength of water-soaked glued laminated beams

Treesearch

Ronald W. Wolfe; Russell C. Moody

1978-01-01

The effects of water soaking on the bending strength and stiffness of laminated timber were determined by deriving wet-dry ratios for these properties. Values for these ratios, when compared to currently recommended wet use factors, confirm the value now used for modulus of rupture. For modulus of elasticity, the reduction due to water soaking was found to be less than...

Relationship between tendon stiffness and failure: a metaanalysis

PubMed Central

LaCroix, Andrew S.; Duenwald-Kuehl, Sarah E.; Lakes, Roderic S.

2013-01-01

Tendon is a highly specialized, hierarchical tissue designed to transfer forces from muscle to bone; complex viscoelastic and anisotropic behaviors have been extensively characterized for specific subsets of tendons. Reported mechanical data consistently show a pseudoelastic, stress-vs.-strain behavior with a linear slope after an initial toe region. Many studies report a linear, elastic modulus, or Young's modulus (hereafter called elastic modulus) and ultimate stress for their tendon specimens. Individually, these studies are unable to provide a broader, interstudy understanding of tendon mechanical behavior. Herein we present a metaanalysis of pooled mechanical data from a representative sample of tendons from different species. These data include healthy tendons and those altered by injury and healing, genetic modification, allograft preparation, mechanical environment, and age. Fifty studies were selected and analyzed. Despite a wide range of mechanical properties between and within species, elastic modulus and ultimate stress are highly correlated (R2 = 0.785), suggesting that tendon failure is highly strain-dependent. Furthermore, this relationship was observed to be predictable over controlled ranges of elastic moduli, as would be typical of any individual species. With the knowledge gained through this metaanalysis, noninvasive tools could measure elastic modulus in vivo and reasonably predict ultimate stress (or structural compromise) for diseased or injured tendon. PMID:23599401

The value of quantitative shear wave elastography in differentiating the cervical lymph nodes in patients with thyroid nodules.

PubMed

You, Jun; Chen, Juan; Xiang, Feixiang; Song, Yue; Khamis, Simai; Lu, Chengfa; Lv, Qing; Zhang, Yanrong; Xie, Mingxing

2018-04-01

This study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic performance of quantitative shear wave elastography (SWE) in differentiating metastatic cervical lymph nodes from benign nodes in patients with thyroid nodules. One hundred and forty-one cervical lymph nodes from 39 patients with thyroid nodules that were diagnosed as papillary thyroid cancer had been imaged with SWE. The shear elasticity modulus, which indicates the stiffness of the lymph nodes, was measured in terms of maximum shear elasticity modulus (maxSM), minimum shear elasticity modulus (minSM), mean shear elasticity modulus (meanSM), and standard deviation (SD) of the shear elasticity modulus. All the patients underwent thyroid surgery, 50 of the suspicious lymph nodes were resected, and 91 lymph nodes were followed up for 6 months. The maxSM value, minSM value, meanSM value, and SD value of the metastatic lymph nodes were significantly higher than those of the benign nodes. The area under the curve of the maxSM value, minSM value, meanSM value, and SD value were 0.918, 0.606, 0.865, and 0.915, respectively. SWE can differentiate metastasis from benign cervical lymph nodes in patients with thyroid nodules, and the maxSM, meanSM, and SD may be valuable quantitative indicators for characterizing cervical lymph nodes.

Confinement Effect on Material Properties of RC Beams Under Flexure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulkarni, Sumant; Shiyekar, Mukund Ramchandra; Shiyekar, Sandip Mukund

2017-12-01

In structural analysis, especially in indeterminate structures, it becomes essential to know the material and geometrical properties of members. The codal provisions recommend elastic properties of concrete and steel and these are fairly accurate enough. The stress-strain curve for concrete cylinder or a cube specimen is plotted. The slope of this curve is modulus of elasticity of plain concrete. Another method of determining modulus of elasticity of concrete is by flexural test of a beam specimen. The modulus of elasticity most commonly used for concrete is secant modulus. The modulus of elasticity of steel is obtained by performing a tension test of steel bar. While performing analysis by any software for high rise building, cross area of plain concrete is taken into consideration whereas effects of reinforcement bars and concrete confined by stirrups are neglected. Present aim of study is to determine elastic properties of reinforced cement concrete beam. Two important stiffness properties such as AE and EI play important role in analysis of high rise RCC building idealized as plane frame. The experimental program consists of testing of beams (model size 150 × 150 × 700 mm) with percentage of reinforcement varying from 0.54 to 1.63% which commensurate with existing Codal provisions of IS:456-2000 for flexural member. The effect of confinement is considered in this study. The experimental results are verified by using 3D finite element techniques.

Effects of fabric anisotropy on elastic shear modulus of granular soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Bo; Zeng, Xiangwu

2014-06-01

The fabric anisotropy of a granular soil deposit can strongly influence its engineering properties and behavior. This paper presents the results of a novel experimental study designed to examine the effects of fabric anisotropy on smallstrain stiffness and its evolution with loading on the elastic shear modulus of granular materials under a K 0 condition. Two primary categories of fabric anisotropy, i.e., deposition-induced and particle shape-induced, are investigated. Toyoura sand deposits with relative densities of 40% and 80% were prepared using deposition angles oriented at 0° and 90°. Piezoelectric transducers were used to obtain the elastic shear modulus in the vertical and horizontal directions ( G vh and G hh). The measurements indicate distinct differences in the values of G with respect to the different deposition angles. Particle shapeinduced fabric anisotropy was examined using four selected sands. It was concluded that sphericity is a controlling factor dominating the small-strain stiffness of granular materials. The degree of fabric anisotropy proves to be a good indicatorin the characterization of stress-induced fabric evolution during loading and unloading stress cycles. The experimental data were used to calibrate an existing micromechanical model, which was able to represent the behavior of the granular material and the degree of fabric anisotropy reasonably well.

AFM nanoscale indentation in air of polymeric and hybrid materials with highly different stiffness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suriano, Raffaella; Credi, Caterina; Levi, Marinella; Turri, Stefano

2014-08-01

In this study, nanomechanical properties of a variety of polymeric materials was investigated by means of AFM. In particular, selecting different AFM probes, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bulk samples, sol-gel hybrid thin films and hydrated hyaluronic acid hydrogels were indented in air to determine the elastic modulus. The force-distance curves and the indentation data were found to be greatly affected by the cantilever stiffness and by tip geometry. AFM indentation tests show that the choice of the cantilever spring constant and of tip shape is crucially influenced by elastic properties of samples. When adhesion-dominated interactions occur between the tip and the surface of samples, force-displacement curves reveal that a suitable functionalization of AFM probes allows the control of such interactions and the extraction of Young' modulus from AFM curves that would be otherwise unfeasible. By applying different mathematical models depending on AFM probes and materials under investigation, the values of Young's modulus were obtained and compared to those measured by rheological and dynamic mechanical analysis or to literature data. Our results show that a wide range of elastic moduli (10 kPa-10 GPa) can be determined by AFM in good agreement with those measured by conventional macroscopic measurements.

Optimizing finite element predictions of local subchondral bone structural stiffness using neural network-derived density-modulus relationships for proximal tibial subchondral cortical and trabecular bone.

PubMed

Nazemi, S Majid; Amini, Morteza; Kontulainen, Saija A; Milner, Jaques S; Holdsworth, David W; Masri, Bassam A; Wilson, David R; Johnston, James D

2017-01-01

Quantitative computed tomography based subject-specific finite element modeling has potential to clarify the role of subchondral bone alterations in knee osteoarthritis initiation, progression, and pain. However, it is unclear what density-modulus equation(s) should be applied with subchondral cortical and subchondral trabecular bone when constructing finite element models of the tibia. Using a novel approach applying neural networks, optimization, and back-calculation against in situ experimental testing results, the objective of this study was to identify subchondral-specific equations that optimized finite element predictions of local structural stiffness at the proximal tibial subchondral surface. Thirteen proximal tibial compartments were imaged via quantitative computed tomography. Imaged bone mineral density was converted to elastic moduli using multiple density-modulus equations (93 total variations) then mapped to corresponding finite element models. For each variation, root mean squared error was calculated between finite element prediction and in situ measured stiffness at 47 indentation sites. Resulting errors were used to train an artificial neural network, which provided an unlimited number of model variations, with corresponding error, for predicting stiffness at the subchondral bone surface. Nelder-Mead optimization was used to identify optimum density-modulus equations for predicting stiffness. Finite element modeling predicted 81% of experimental stiffness variance (with 10.5% error) using optimized equations for subchondral cortical and trabecular bone differentiated with a 0.5g/cm 3 density. In comparison with published density-modulus relationships, optimized equations offered improved predictions of local subchondral structural stiffness. Further research is needed with anisotropy inclusion, a smaller voxel size and de-blurring algorithms to improve predictions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear effects in thermal stress analysis of a solid propellant rocket motor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Francis, E. C.; Peeters, R. L.; Murch, S. A.

1976-01-01

Direct characterization procedures were used to determine the relaxation modulus as a function of time, temperature, and state of strain. Using the quasi-elastic method of linearviscoelasticity, these properties were employed in a finite element computer code to analyze a thick-walled, nonlinear viscoelastic cylinder in the state of plane strain bonded to a thin (but stiff) elastic casing and subjected to slow thermal cooling. The viscoelastic solution is then expressed as a sequence of elastic finite element solutions. The strain-dependent character of the relaxation modulus is included by replacing the single relaxation curve used in the linear viscoelastic theory by a family of relaxation functions obtained at various strain levels. These functions may be regarded as a collection of stress histories or responses to specific loads (in this case, step strains) with which the cooldown solution is made to agree by iterations on the modulus and strain level.

Primate lens capsule elasticity assessed using Atomic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

Ziebarth, Noël M.; Arrieta, Esdras; Feuer, William J.; Moy, Vincent T.; Manns, Fabrice; Parel, Jean-Marie

2011-01-01

The purpose of this project is to measure the elasticity of the human and non-human primate lens capsule at the microscopic scale using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Elasticity measurements were performed using AFM on the excised anterior lens capsule from 9 cynomolgus monkey (5.9–8.0 years), 8 hamadryas baboon (2.8–10.1 years), and 18 human lenses (33–79 years). Anterior capsule specimens were obtained by performing a 5mm continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and collecting the resulting disk of capsular tissue. To remove the lens epithelial cells the specimen was soaked in 0.1% trypsin and 0.02% EDTA for five minutes, washed, and placed on a Petri dish and immersed in DMEM. Elasticity measurements of the capsule were performed with a laboratory-built AFM system custom designed for force measurements of ophthalmic tissues. The capsular specimens were probed with an AFM cantilever tip to produce force-indentation curves for each specimen. Young’s modulus was calculated from the force-indentation curves using the model of Sneddon for a conical indenter. Young’s modulus of elasticity was 20.1–131kPa for the human lens capsule, 9.19–117kPa for the cynomolgus lens capsule, and 13.1–62.4kPa for the baboon lens capsule. Young’s modulus increased significantly with age in humans (p=0.03). The age range of the monkey and baboon samples was not sufficient to justify an analysis of age dependence. The capsule elasticity of young humans (<45 years) was not statistically different from that of the monkey and baboon. In humans, there is an increase in lens capsule stiffness at the microscale that could be responsible for an increase in lens capsule bulk stiffness. PMID:21420953

The interplay between mechanics and stability of viral cages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernando-Pérez, Mercedes; Pascual, Elena; Aznar, María; Ionel, Alina; Castón, José R.; Luque, Antoni; Carrascosa, José L.; Reguera, David; de Pablo, Pedro J.

2014-02-01

The stability and strength of viral nanoparticles are crucial to fulfill the functions required through the viral cycle as well as using capsids for biomedical and nanotechnological applications. The mechanical properties of viral shells obtained through Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and continuum elasticity theory, such as stiffness or Young's modulus, have been interpreted very often in terms of stability. However, viruses are normally subjected to chemical rather than to mechanical aggression. Thus, a correct interpretation of mechanics in terms of stability requires an adequate linkage between the ability of viral cages to support chemical and mechanical stresses. Here we study the mechanical fragility and chemical stability of bacteriophage T7 in two different maturation states: the early proheads and the final mature capsids. Using chemical stress experiments we show that proheads are less stable than final mature capsids. Still, both particles present similar anisotropic stiffness, indicating that a continuum elasticity description in terms of Young's modulus is not an adequate measure of viral stability. In combination with a computational coarse-grained model we demonstrate that mechanical anisotropy of T7 emerges out of the discrete nature of the proheads and empty capsids. Even though they present the same stiffness, proheads break earlier and have fractures ten times larger than mature capsids, in agreement with chemical stability, thus demonstrating that fragility rather than stiffness is a better indicator of viral cages' stability.The stability and strength of viral nanoparticles are crucial to fulfill the functions required through the viral cycle as well as using capsids for biomedical and nanotechnological applications. The mechanical properties of viral shells obtained through Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and continuum elasticity theory, such as stiffness or Young's modulus, have been interpreted very often in terms of stability. However, viruses are normally subjected to chemical rather than to mechanical aggression. Thus, a correct interpretation of mechanics in terms of stability requires an adequate linkage between the ability of viral cages to support chemical and mechanical stresses. Here we study the mechanical fragility and chemical stability of bacteriophage T7 in two different maturation states: the early proheads and the final mature capsids. Using chemical stress experiments we show that proheads are less stable than final mature capsids. Still, both particles present similar anisotropic stiffness, indicating that a continuum elasticity description in terms of Young's modulus is not an adequate measure of viral stability. In combination with a computational coarse-grained model we demonstrate that mechanical anisotropy of T7 emerges out of the discrete nature of the proheads and empty capsids. Even though they present the same stiffness, proheads break earlier and have fractures ten times larger than mature capsids, in agreement with chemical stability, thus demonstrating that fragility rather than stiffness is a better indicator of viral cages' stability. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Purification of T7 proheads and capsids, coarse-grained simulations of the indentation of T7 empty capsids, Finite Element (FE) simulations, and justification of the anisotropic stiffness based on structural information. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr05763a

Buckling of a stiff thin film on an elastic graded compliant substrate.

PubMed

Chen, Zhou; Chen, Weiqiu; Song, Jizhou

2017-12-01

The buckling of a stiff film on a compliant substrate has attracted much attention due to its wide applications such as thin-film metrology, surface patterning and stretchable electronics. An analytical model is established for the buckling of a stiff thin film on a semi-infinite elastic graded compliant substrate subjected to in-plane compression. The critical compressive strain and buckling wavelength for the sinusoidal mode are obtained analytically for the case with the substrate modulus decaying exponentially. The rigorous finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to validate the analytical model and investigate the postbuckling behaviour of the system. The critical buckling strain for the period-doubling mode is obtained numerically. The influences of various material parameters on the results are investigated. These results are helpful to provide physical insights on the buckling of elastic graded substrate-supported thin film.

Buckling of a stiff thin film on an elastic graded compliant substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhou; Chen, Weiqiu; Song, Jizhou

2017-12-01

The buckling of a stiff film on a compliant substrate has attracted much attention due to its wide applications such as thin-film metrology, surface patterning and stretchable electronics. An analytical model is established for the buckling of a stiff thin film on a semi-infinite elastic graded compliant substrate subjected to in-plane compression. The critical compressive strain and buckling wavelength for the sinusoidal mode are obtained analytically for the case with the substrate modulus decaying exponentially. The rigorous finite element analysis (FEA) is performed to validate the analytical model and investigate the postbuckling behaviour of the system. The critical buckling strain for the period-doubling mode is obtained numerically. The influences of various material parameters on the results are investigated. These results are helpful to provide physical insights on the buckling of elastic graded substrate-supported thin film.

Design of Strain-Limiting Substrate Materials for Stretchable and Flexible Electronics

PubMed Central

Ma, Yinji; Jang, Kyung-In; Wang, Liang; Jung, Han Na; Kwak, Jean Won; Xue, Yeguang; Chen, Hang; Yang, Yiyuan; Shi, Dawei; Feng, Xue

2017-01-01

Recently developed classes of electronics for biomedical applications exploit substrates that offer low elastic modulus and high stretchability, to allow intimate, mechanically biocompatible integration with soft biological tissues. A challenge is that such substrates do not generally offer protection of the electronics from high peak strains that can occur upon large-scale deformation, thereby creating a potential for device failure. The results presented here establish a simple route to compliant substrates with strain-limiting mechanics based on approaches that complement those of recently described alternatives. Here, a thin film or mesh of a high modulus material transferred onto a prestrained compliant substrate transforms into wrinkled geometry upon release of the prestrain. The structure formed by this process offers a low elastic modulus at small strain due to the small effective stiffness of the wrinkled film or mesh; it has a high tangent modulus (e.g., >1000 times the elastic modulus) at large strain, as the wrinkles disappear and the film/mesh returns to a flat geometry. This bilinear stress–strain behavior has an extremely sharp transition point, defined by the magnitude of the prestrain. A theoretical model yields analytical expressions for the elastic and tangent moduli and the transition strain of the bilinear stress–strain relation, with quantitative correspondence to finite element analysis and experiments. PMID:29033714

Design of Strain-Limiting Substrate Materials for Stretchable and Flexible Electronics.

PubMed

Ma, Yinji; Jang, Kyung-In; Wang, Liang; Jung, Han Na; Kwak, Jean Won; Xue, Yeguang; Chen, Hang; Yang, Yiyuan; Shi, Dawei; Feng, Xue; Rogers, John A; Huang, Yonggang

2016-08-02

Recently developed classes of electronics for biomedical applications exploit substrates that offer low elastic modulus and high stretchability, to allow intimate, mechanically biocompatible integration with soft biological tissues. A challenge is that such substrates do not generally offer protection of the electronics from high peak strains that can occur upon large-scale deformation, thereby creating a potential for device failure. The results presented here establish a simple route to compliant substrates with strain-limiting mechanics based on approaches that complement those of recently described alternatives. Here, a thin film or mesh of a high modulus material transferred onto a prestrained compliant substrate transforms into wrinkled geometry upon release of the prestrain. The structure formed by this process offers a low elastic modulus at small strain due to the small effective stiffness of the wrinkled film or mesh; it has a high tangent modulus (e.g., >1000 times the elastic modulus) at large strain, as the wrinkles disappear and the film/mesh returns to a flat geometry. This bilinear stress-strain behavior has an extremely sharp transition point, defined by the magnitude of the prestrain. A theoretical model yields analytical expressions for the elastic and tangent moduli and the transition strain of the bilinear stress-strain relation, with quantitative correspondence to finite element analysis and experiments.

Real-time measurement of soil stiffness during static compaction.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

Is continuous sensing of soil properties during static pad foot roller compaction achievable? A new pad-based, rollerintegrated system for real-time measurement of the elastic modulus of fine- and mixed-grain soils is the goal of Development of So...

Effect of crosslink torsional stiffness on elastic behavior of semiflexible polymer networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatami-Marbini, H.

2018-02-01

Networks of semiflexible filaments are building blocks of different biological and structural materials such as cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. The mechanical response of these systems when subjected to an applied strain at zero temperature is often investigated numerically using networks composed of filaments, which are either rigidly welded or pinned together at their crosslinks. In the latter, filaments during deformation are free to rotate about their crosslinks while the relative angles between filaments remain constant in the former. The behavior of crosslinks in actual semiflexible networks is different than these idealized models and there exists only partial constraint on torques at crosslinks. The present work develops a numerical model in which two intersecting filaments are connected to each other by torsional springs with arbitrary stiffness. We show that fiber networks composed of rigid and freely rotating crosslinks are the limiting case of the present model. Furthermore, we characterize the effects of stiffness of crosslinks on effective Young's modulus of semiflexible networks as a function of filament flexibility and crosslink density. The effective Young's modulus is determined as a function of the mechanical properties of crosslinks and is found to vanish for networks composed of very weak torsional springs. Independent of the stiffness of crosslinks, it is found that the effective Young's modulus is a function of fiber flexibility and crosslink density. In low density networks, filaments primarily bend and the effective Young's modulus is much lower than the affine estimate. With increasing filament bending stiffness and/or crosslink density, the mechanical behavior of the networks becomes more affine and the stretching of filaments depicts itself as the dominant mode of deformation. The torsional stiffness of the crosslinks significantly affects the effective Young's modulus of the semiflexible random fiber networks.

Micromechanical contact stiffness devices and application for calibrating contact resonance atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Rosenberger, Matthew R; Chen, Sihan; Prater, Craig B; King, William P

2017-01-27

This paper reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of micromechanical devices that can present an engineered contact stiffness to an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever tip. These devices allow the contact stiffness between the AFM tip and a substrate to be easily and accurately measured, and can be used to calibrate the cantilever for subsequent mechanical property measurements. The contact stiffness devices are rigid copper disks of diameters 2-18 μm integrated onto a soft silicone substrate. Analytical modeling and finite element simulations predict the elastic response of the devices. Measurements of tip-sample interactions during quasi-static force measurements compare well with modeling simulation, confirming the expected elastic response of the devices, which are shown to have contact stiffness 32-156 N m -1 . To demonstrate one application, we use the disk sample to calibrate three resonant modes of a U-shaped AFM cantilever actuated via Lorentz force, at approximately 220, 450, and 1200 kHz. We then use the calibrated cantilever to determine the contact stiffness and elastic modulus of three polymer samples at these modes. The overall approach allows cantilever calibration without prior knowledge of the cantilever geometry or its resonance modes, and could be broadly applied to both static and dynamic measurements that require AFM calibration against a known contact stiffness.

Micromechanical contact stiffness devices and application for calibrating contact resonance atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberger, Matthew R.; Chen, Sihan; Prater, Craig B.; King, William P.

2017-01-01

This paper reports the design, fabrication, and characterization of micromechanical devices that can present an engineered contact stiffness to an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever tip. These devices allow the contact stiffness between the AFM tip and a substrate to be easily and accurately measured, and can be used to calibrate the cantilever for subsequent mechanical property measurements. The contact stiffness devices are rigid copper disks of diameters 2-18 μm integrated onto a soft silicone substrate. Analytical modeling and finite element simulations predict the elastic response of the devices. Measurements of tip-sample interactions during quasi-static force measurements compare well with modeling simulation, confirming the expected elastic response of the devices, which are shown to have contact stiffness 32-156 N m-1. To demonstrate one application, we use the disk sample to calibrate three resonant modes of a U-shaped AFM cantilever actuated via Lorentz force, at approximately 220, 450, and 1200 kHz. We then use the calibrated cantilever to determine the contact stiffness and elastic modulus of three polymer samples at these modes. The overall approach allows cantilever calibration without prior knowledge of the cantilever geometry or its resonance modes, and could be broadly applied to both static and dynamic measurements that require AFM calibration against a known contact stiffness.

Small Sample Properties of Asymptotically Efficient Estimators of the Parameters of a Bivariate Gaussian–Weibull Distribution

Treesearch

Steve P. Verrill; James W. Evans; David E. Kretschmann; Cherilyn A. Hatfield

2012-01-01

Two important wood properties are stiffness (modulus of elasticity or MOE) and bending strength (modulus of rupture or MOR). In the past, MOE has often been modeled as a Gaussian and MOR as a lognormal or a two or three parameter Weibull. It is well known that MOE and MOR are positively correlated. To model the simultaneous behavior of MOE and MOR for the purposes of...

Maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of a bivariate Gaussian-Weibull distribution from machine stress-rated data

Treesearch

Steve P. Verrill; David E. Kretschmann; James W. Evans

2016-01-01

Two important wood properties are stiffness (modulus of elasticity, MOE) and bending strength (modulus of rupture, MOR). In the past, MOE has often been modeled as a Gaussian and MOR as a lognormal or a two- or threeparameter Weibull. It is well known that MOE and MOR are positively correlated. To model the simultaneous behavior of MOE and MOR for the purposes of wood...

In Vivo Brillouin Analysis of the Aging Crystalline Lens.

PubMed

Besner, Sebastien; Scarcelli, Giuliano; Pineda, Roberto; Yun, Seok-Hyun

2016-10-01

To analyze the age dependence of the longitudinal modulus of the crystalline lens in vivo using Brillouin scattering data in healthy subjects. Brillouin scans were performed along the crystalline lens in 56 eyes from 30 healthy subjects aged from 19 to 63 years. Longitudinal elastic modulus was acquired along the sagittal axis of the lens with a transverse and axial resolution of 4 and 60 μm, respectively. The relative lens stiffness was computed, and correlations with age were analyzed. Brillouin axial profiles revealed nonuniform longitudinal modulus within the lens, increasing from a softer periphery toward a stiffer central plateau at all ages. The longitudinal modulus at the central plateau showed no age dependence in a range of 19 to 45 years and a slight decrease with age from 45 to 63 years. A significant intersubject variability was observed in an age-matched analysis. Importantly, the extent of the central stiff plateau region increased steadily over age from 19 to 63 years. The slope of change in Brillouin modulus in the peripheral regions were nearly age-invariant. The adult human lens showed no measurable age-related increase in the peak longitudinal modulus. The expansion of the stiff central region of the lens is likely to be the major contributing factor to age-related lens stiffening. Brillouin microscopy may be useful in characterizing the crystalline lens for the optimization of surgical or pharmacological treatments aimed at restoring accommodative power.

Self-interaction corrected LDA + U investigations of BiFeO3 properties: plane-wave pseudopotential method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yaakob, M. K.; Taib, M. F. M.; Lu, L.; Hassan, O. H.; Yahya, M. Z. A.

2015-11-01

The structural, electronic, elastic, and optical properties of BiFeO3 were investigated using the first-principles calculation based on the local density approximation plus U (LDA + U) method in the frame of plane-wave pseudopotential density functional theory. The application of self-interaction corrected LDA + U method improved the accuracy of the calculated properties. Results of structural, electronic, elastic, and optical properties of BiFeO3, calculated using the LDA + U method were in good agreement with other calculation and experimental data; the optimized choice of on-site Coulomb repulsion U was 3 eV for the treatment of strong electronic localized Fe 3d electrons. Based on the calculated band structure and density of states, the on-site Coulomb repulsion U had a significant effect on the hybridized O 2p and Fe 3d states at the valence and the conduction band. Moreover, the elastic stiffness tensor, the longitudinal and shear wave velocities, bulk modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and the Debye temperature were calculated for U = 0, 3, and 6 eV. The elastic stiffness tensor, bulk modulus, sound velocities, and Debye temperature of BiFeO3 consistently decreased with the increase of the U value.

Matrix stiffness-modulated proliferation and secretory function of the airway smooth muscle cells.

PubMed

Shkumatov, Artem; Thompson, Michael; Choi, Kyoung M; Sicard, Delphine; Baek, Kwanghyun; Kim, Dong Hyun; Tschumperlin, Daniel J; Prakash, Y S; Kong, Hyunjoon

2015-06-01

Multiple pulmonary conditions are characterized by an abnormal misbalance between various tissue components, for example, an increase in the fibrous connective tissue and loss/increase in extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). Such tissue remodeling may adversely impact physiological function of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) responsible for contraction of airways and release of a variety of bioactive molecules. However, few efforts have been made to understand the potentially significant impact of tissue remodeling on ASMCs. Therefore, this study reports how ASMCs respond to a change in mechanical stiffness of a matrix, to which ASMCs adhere because mechanical stiffness of the remodeled airways is often different from the physiological stiffness. Accordingly, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements, we found that the elastic modulus of the mouse bronchus has an arithmetic mean of 23.1 ± 14 kPa (SD) (median 18.6 kPa). By culturing ASMCs on collagen-conjugated polyacrylamide hydrogels with controlled elastic moduli, we found that gels designed to be softer than average airway tissue significantly increased cellular secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Conversely, gels stiffer than average airways stimulated cell proliferation, while reducing VEGF secretion and agonist-induced calcium responses of ASMCs. These dependencies of cellular activities on elastic modulus of the gel were correlated with changes in the expression of integrin-β1 and integrin-linked kinase (ILK). Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that changes in matrix mechanics alter cell proliferation, calcium signaling, and proangiogenic functions in ASMCs. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Probing the Effect of Hydrogen on Elastic Properties and Plastic Deformation in Nickel Using Nanoindentation and Ultrasonic Methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lawrence, Samantha K.; Somerday, Brian P.; Ingraham, Mathew Duffy

Hydrogen effects on small-volume plasticity and elastic stiffness constants are investigated with nanoindentation of Ni-201 and sonic velocity measurements of bulk Ni single crystals. Elastic modulus of Ni-201, calculated from indentation data, decreases ~22% after hydrogen charging. This substantial decrease is independently confirmed by sonic velocity measurements of Ni single crystals; c 44 decreases ~20% after hydrogen exposure. Furthermore, clear hydrogen-deformation interactions are observed. The maximum shear stress required to nucleate dislocations in hydrogen-charged Ni-201 is markedly lower than in as-annealed material, driven by hydrogen-reduced shear modulus. Additionally, a larger number of depth excursions are detected prior to general yieldingmore » in hydrogen-charged material, suggesting cross-slip restriction. Together, these data reveal direct correlation between hydrogen-affected elastic properties and plastic deformation in Ni alloys.« less

Probing the Effect of Hydrogen on Elastic Properties and Plastic Deformation in Nickel Using Nanoindentation and Ultrasonic Methods

DOE PAGES

Lawrence, Samantha K.; Somerday, Brian P.; Ingraham, Mathew Duffy; ...

2018-04-11

Hydrogen effects on small-volume plasticity and elastic stiffness constants are investigated with nanoindentation of Ni-201 and sonic velocity measurements of bulk Ni single crystals. Elastic modulus of Ni-201, calculated from indentation data, decreases ~22% after hydrogen charging. This substantial decrease is independently confirmed by sonic velocity measurements of Ni single crystals; c 44 decreases ~20% after hydrogen exposure. Furthermore, clear hydrogen-deformation interactions are observed. The maximum shear stress required to nucleate dislocations in hydrogen-charged Ni-201 is markedly lower than in as-annealed material, driven by hydrogen-reduced shear modulus. Additionally, a larger number of depth excursions are detected prior to general yieldingmore » in hydrogen-charged material, suggesting cross-slip restriction. Together, these data reveal direct correlation between hydrogen-affected elastic properties and plastic deformation in Ni alloys.« less

Probing the Effect of Hydrogen on Elastic Properties and Plastic Deformation in Nickel Using Nanoindentation and Ultrasonic Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawrence, S. K.; Somerday, B. P.; Ingraham, M. D.; Bahr, D. F.

2018-04-01

Hydrogen effects on small-volume plasticity and elastic stiffness constants are investigated with nanoindentation of Ni-201 and sonic velocity measurements of bulk Ni single crystals. Elastic modulus of Ni-201, calculated from indentation data, decreases 22% after hydrogen charging. This substantial decrease is independently confirmed by sonic velocity measurements of Ni single crystals; c 44 decreases 20% after hydrogen exposure. Furthermore, clear hydrogen-deformation interactions are observed. The maximum shear stress required to nucleate dislocations in hydrogen-charged Ni-201 is markedly lower than in as-annealed material, driven by hydrogen-reduced shear modulus. Additionally, a larger number of depth excursions are detected prior to general yielding in hydrogen-charged material, suggesting cross-slip restriction. Together, these data reveal a direct correlation between hydrogen-affected elastic properties and plastic deformation in Ni alloys.

Fracture Toughness and Elastic Modulus of Epoxy-Based Nanocomposites with Dopamine-Modified Nano-Fillers

PubMed Central

Koh, Kwang Liang; Ji, Xianbai; Lu, Xuehong; Lau, Soo Khim; Chen, Zhong

2017-01-01

This paper examines the effect of surface treatment and filler shape factor on the fracture toughness and elastic modulus of epoxy-based nanocomposite. Two forms of nanofillers, polydopamine-coated montmorillonite clay (D-clay) and polydopamine-coated carbon nanofibres (D-CNF) were investigated. It was found that Young’s modulus increases with increasing D-clay and D-CNF loading. However, the fracture toughness decreases with increased D-clay loading but increases with increased D-CNF loading. Explanations have been provided with the aid of fractographic analysis using electron microscope observations of the crack-filler interactions. Fractographic analysis suggests that although polydopamine provides a strong adhesion between the fillers and the matrix, leading to enhanced elastic stiffness, the enhancement prohibits energy release via secondary cracking, resulting in a decrease in fracture toughness. In contrast, 1D fibre is effective in increasing the energy dissipation during fracture through crack deflection, fibre debonding, fibre break, and pull-out. PMID:28773136

A two-layered mechanical model of the rat esophagus. Experiment and theory

PubMed Central

Fan, Yanhua; Gregersen, Hans; Kassab, Ghassan S

2004-01-01

Background The function of esophagus is to move food by peristaltic motion which is the result of the interaction of the tissue forces in the esophageal wall and the hydrodynamic forces in the food bolus. The structure of the esophagus is layered. In this paper, the esophagus is treated as a two-layered structure consisting of an inner collagen-rich submucosa layer and an outer muscle layer. We developed a model and experimental setup for determination of elastic moduli in the two layers in circumferential direction and related the measured elastic modulus of the intact esophagus to the elastic modulus computed from the elastic moduli of the two layers. Methods Inflation experiments were done at in vivo length and pressure-diameters relations were recorded for the rat esophagus. Furthermore, the zero-stress state was taken into consideration. Results The radius and the strain increased as function of pressure in the intact as well as in the individual layers of the esophagus. At pressures higher than 1.5 cmH2O the muscle layer had a larger radius and strain than the mucosa-submucosa layer. The strain for the intact esophagus and for the muscle layer was negative at low pressures indicating the presence of residual strains in the tissue. The stress-strain curve for the submucosa-mucosa layer was shifted to the left of the curves for the muscle layer and for the intact esophagus at strains higher than 0.3. The tangent modulus was highest in the submucosa-mucosa layer, indicating that the submucosa-mucosa has the highest stiffness. A good agreement was found between the measured elastic modulus of the intact esophagus and the elastic modulus computed from the elastic moduli of the two separated layers. PMID:15518591

Fast, High Resolution, and Wide Modulus Range Nanomechanical Mapping with Bimodal Tapping Mode.

PubMed

Kocun, Marta; Labuda, Aleksander; Meinhold, Waiman; Revenko, Irène; Proksch, Roger

2017-10-24

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM), also known as amplitude modulated (AM) or AC mode, is a proven, reliable, and gentle imaging mode with widespread applications. Over the several decades that tapping mode has been in use, quantification of tip-sample mechanical properties such as stiffness has remained elusive. Bimodal tapping mode keeps the advantages of single-frequency tapping mode while extending the technique by driving and measuring an additional resonant mode of the cantilever. The simultaneously measured observables of this additional resonance provide the additional information necessary to extract quantitative nanomechanical information about the tip-sample mechanics. Specifically, driving the higher cantilever resonance in a frequency modulated (FM) mode allows direct measurement of the tip-sample interaction stiffness and, with appropriate modeling, the set point-independent local elastic modulus. Here we discuss the advantages of bimodal tapping, coined AM-FM imaging, for modulus mapping. Results are presented for samples over a wide modulus range, from a compliant gel (∼100 MPa) to stiff materials (∼100 GPa), with the same type of cantilever. We also show high-resolution (subnanometer) stiffness mapping of individual molecules in semicrystalline polymers and of DNA in fluid. Combined with the ability to remain quantitative even at line scan rates of nearly 40 Hz, the results demonstrate the versatility of AM-FM imaging for nanomechanical characterization in a wide range of applications.

Paraspinal Muscle Passive Stiffness Remodels in Direct Response to Spine Stiffness: A Study Using the ENT1-Deficient Mouse.

PubMed

Gsell, Kelsey Y; Zwambag, Derek P; Fournier, Dale E; Séguin, Cheryle A; Brown, Stephen H M

2017-10-01

Basic science study of the relationship between the structural properties of the spine and its surrounding musculature. To determine whether an increase in spine stiffness causes an inverse compensatory change in the passive stiffness of the adjacent paraspinal muscles. Intervertebral disc degeneration causes an increase in multifidus passive stiffness; this was hypothesized to compensate for a decrease in spine stiffness associated with disc degeneration. Mice lacking equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) develop progressive ectopic calcification of the fibrous connective tissues of the spine, which affects the lumbar spine by 6 months of age and likely creates a mechanically stiffer spine. Experiments were conducted on four groups of mice (n = 8 mice/group): wild-type (WT) and ENT1 knockout (KO) at 2 or 8 months of age. Lumbar spines were removed and tested in cyclic axial compression to determine neutral zone length and stiffness. Single muscle fibers and bundles of fibers were isolated from lumbar multifidus and erector spinae, as well as tibialis anterior (a non-spine-related control) and tested to determine elastic modulus (passive stiffness). At 2 months of age, neither spine nor muscle stiffness was different between KO and WT. At 8 months of age, compared with WT the lumbar spines of ENT1 KO mice had a stiffer and shorter neutral zone, and the paraspinal muscle fibers were less stiff; however, fiber bundles were not different. In addition, tibialis anterior was not different between KO and WT. This work has confirmed that calcification of spinal connective tissues in the ENT1 KO mouse results in a stiffened spine, whereas the concurrent decrease in muscle fiber elastic modulus in the adjacent paraspinal muscles suggests a direct compensatory relationship between the stiffness of the spine and the muscles that are attached to it. N/A.

In Vivo Estimation of Perineal Body Properties Using Ultrasound Quasistatic Elastography in Nulliparous Women

PubMed Central

Chen, Luyun; Low, Lisa Kane; DeLancey, John OL; Ashton-Miller, James A

2015-01-01

Objective The perineal body must undergo a remarkable transformation during pregnancy to accommodate an estimated stretch ratio of over 3.3 in order to permit vaginal delivery of the fetal head. Yet measurements of perineal body elastic properties are lacking in vivo, whether in the pregnant or non-pregnant state. The objective of this study, therefore, was to develop a method for measuring perineal body elastic modulus and to test its feasibility in young nulliparous women. Methods An UltraSONIX RP500 ultrasound system was equipped with elastography software. Approximately 1 Hz free-hand sinusoidal compression loading of the perineum was used to measure the relative stiffness of the perineal body compared to that of a custom reference standoff pad with a modulus of 36.7 kPa. Measurements were made in 20 healthy nulliparous women. Four subjects were invited back for second and third visits to evaluate within- and between-visit repeatability using the coefficient of variation. Results The mean± SD elastic compression modulus of the perineal body was 28.9 ± 4.7 kPa. Within- and between-visit repeatability averaged 3.4% and 8.3%, respectively. Conclusion Ultrasound elastography using a standoff pad reference provides a valid method for evaluating the elastic modulus of the perineal body in living women. PMID:25801422

Quantitative assessment of hyaline cartilage elasticity during optical clearing using optical coherence elastography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chih-Hao; Singh, Manmohan; Li, Jiasong; Han, Zhaolong; Wu, Chen; Wang, Shang; Idugboe, Rita; Raghunathan, Raksha; Zakharov, Valery P.; Sobol, Emil N.; Tuchin, Valery V.; Twa, Michael; Larin, Kirill V.

2015-03-01

We report the first study on using optical coherence elastography (OCE) to quantitatively monitor the elasticity change of the hyaline cartilage during the optical clearing administrated by glucose solution. The measurement of the elasticity is verified using uniaxial compression test, demonstrating the feasibility of using OCE to quantify the Young's modulus of the cartilage tissue. As the results, we found that the stiffness of the hyaline cartilage increases during the optical clearing of the tissue. This study might be potentially useful for the early detection of osteoarthritis disease.

In Vivo Brillouin Analysis of the Aging Crystalline Lens

PubMed Central

Besner, Sebastien; Scarcelli, Giuliano; Pineda, Roberto; Yun, Seok-Hyun

2016-01-01

Purpose To analyze the age dependence of the longitudinal modulus of the crystalline lens in vivo using Brillouin scattering data in healthy subjects. Methods Brillouin scans were performed along the crystalline lens in 56 eyes from 30 healthy subjects aged from 19 to 63 years. Longitudinal elastic modulus was acquired along the sagittal axis of the lens with a transverse and axial resolution of 4 and 60 μm, respectively. The relative lens stiffness was computed, and correlations with age were analyzed. Results Brillouin axial profiles revealed nonuniform longitudinal modulus within the lens, increasing from a softer periphery toward a stiffer central plateau at all ages. The longitudinal modulus at the central plateau showed no age dependence in a range of 19 to 45 years and a slight decrease with age from 45 to 63 years. A significant intersubject variability was observed in an age-matched analysis. Importantly, the extent of the central stiff plateau region increased steadily over age from 19 to 63 years. The slope of change in Brillouin modulus in the peripheral regions were nearly age-invariant. Conclusions The adult human lens showed no measurable age-related increase in the peak longitudinal modulus. The expansion of the stiff central region of the lens is likely to be the major contributing factor to age-related lens stiffening. Brillouin microscopy may be useful in characterizing the crystalline lens for the optimization of surgical or pharmacological treatments aimed at restoring accommodative power. PMID:27699407

AnisoVis: a MATLAB™ toolbox for the visualisation of elastic anisotropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Healy, D.; Timms, N.; Pearce, M. A.

2016-12-01

The elastic properties of rocks and minerals vary with direction, and this has significant consequences for their physical response to acoustic waves and natural or imposed stresses. This anisotropy of elasticity is well described mathematically by 4th rank tensors of stiffness or compliance. These tensors are not easy to visualise in a single diagram or graphic, and visualising Poisson's ratio and shear modulus presents a further challenge in that their anisotropy depends on two principal directions. Students and researchers can easily underestimate the importance of elastic anisotropy. This presentation describes an open source toolbox of MATLAB scripts that aims to visualise elastic anisotropy in rocks and minerals. The code produces linked 2-D and 3-D representations of the standard elastic constants, such as Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and shear modulus, all from a simple GUI. The 3-D plots can be manipulated by the user (rotated, panned, zoomed), to encourage investigation and a deeper understanding of directional variations in the fundamental properties. Examples are presented of common rock forming minerals, including those with negative Poisson's ratio (auxetic behaviour). We hope that an open source code base will encourage further enhancements from the rock physics and wider geoscience communities. Eventually, we hope to generate 3-D prints of these complex and beautiful natural surfaces to provide a tactile link to the underlying physics of elastic anisotropy.

Research on the equivalence between digital core and rock physics models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Xingyao; Zheng, Ying; Zong, Zhaoyun

2017-06-01

In this paper, we calculate the elastic modulus of 3D digital cores using the finite element method, systematically study the equivalence between the digital core model and various rock physics models, and carefully analyze the conditions of the equivalence relationships. The influences of the pore aspect ratio and consolidation coefficient on the equivalence relationships are also further refined. Theoretical analysis indicates that the finite element simulation based on the digital core is equivalent to the boundary theory and Gassmann model. For pure sandstones, effective medium theory models (SCA and DEM) and the digital core models are equivalent in cases when the pore aspect ratio is within a certain range, and dry frame models (Nur and Pride model) and the digital core model are equivalent in cases when the consolidation coefficient is a specific value. According to the equivalence relationships, the comparison of the elastic modulus results of the effective medium theory and digital rock physics is an effective approach for predicting the pore aspect ratio. Furthermore, the traditional digital core models with two components (pores and matrix) are extended to multiple minerals to more precisely characterize the features and mineral compositions of rocks in underground reservoirs. This paper studies the effects of shale content on the elastic modulus in shaly sandstones. When structural shale is present in the sandstone, the elastic modulus of the digital cores are in a reasonable agreement with the DEM model. However, when dispersed shale is present in the sandstone, the Hill model cannot describe the changes in the stiffness of the pore space precisely. Digital rock physics describes the rock features such as pore aspect ratio, consolidation coefficient and rock stiffness. Therefore, digital core technology can, to some extent, replace the theoretical rock physics models because the results are more accurate than those of the theoretical models.

Internal strain estimation for quantification of human heel pad elastic modulus: A phantom study.

PubMed

Holst, Karen; Liebgott, Hervé; Wilhjelm, Jens E; Nikolov, Svetoslav; Torp-Pedersen, Søren T; Delachartre, Philippe; Jensen, Jørgen A

2013-02-01

Shock absorption is the most important function of the human heel pad. However, changes in heel pad elasticity, as seen in e.g. long-distance runners, diabetes patients, and victims of Falanga torture are affecting this function, often in a painful manner. Assessment of heel pad elasticity is usually based on one or a few strain measurements obtained by an external load-deformation system. The aim of this study was to develop a technique for quantitative measurements of heel pad elastic modulus based on several internal strain measures from within the heel pad by use of ultrasound images. Nine heel phantoms were manufactured featuring a combination of three heel pad stiffnesses and three heel pad thicknesses to model the normal human variation. Each phantom was tested in an indentation system comprising a 7MHz linear array ultrasound transducer, working as the indentor, and a connected load cell. Load-compression data and ultrasound B-mode images were simultaneously acquired in 19 compression steps of 0.1mm each. The internal tissue displacement was for each step calculated by a phase-based cross-correlation technique and internal strain maps were derived from these displacement maps. Elastic moduli were found from the resulting stress-strain curves. The elastic moduli made it possible to distinguish eight of nine phantoms from each other according to the manufactured stiffness and showed very little dependence of the thickness. Mean elastic moduli for the three soft, the three medium, and the three hard phantoms were 89kPa, 153kPa, and 168kPa, respectively. The combination of ultrasound images and force measurements provided an effective way of assessing the elastic properties of the heel pad due to the internal strain estimation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shallow near-fault material self organizes so it is just nonlinear in typical strong shaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sleep, N. H.

2011-12-01

Cracking within shallow compliant fault zones self-organizes so that strong dynamic stresses marginally exceed the elastic limit. To the first order, the compliant material experiences strain boundary conditions imposed by underlying stiffer rock. A major strike-slip fault yields simple dimensional relations. The near-field velocity pulse is essentially a Love wave. The dynamic strain is the ratio of the measured particle velocity over the deep S-wave velocity. The shallow dynamic stress is this quantity times the local shear modulus. I obtain the equilibrium shear modulus by starting a sequence of earthquakes with intact stiff rock surrounding the shallow fault zone. The imposed dynamic strain in stiff rock causes Coulomb failure and leaves cracks in it wake. Cracked rock is more compliant than the original intact rock. Each subsequent event causes more cracking until the rock becomes compliant enough that it just reaches its elastic limit. Further events maintain the material at the shear modulus where it just fails. Analogously, shallow damaged regolith forms with its shear modulus and S-wave velocity increasing with depth so it just reaches failure during typical strong shaking. The general conclusion is that shallow rocks in seismically active areas just become nonlinear during typical shaking. This process causes transient changes in S-wave velocity, but not strong nonlinear attenuation of seismic waves. Wave amplitudes significantly larger than typical ones would strongly attenuate and strongly damage the rock. The equilibrium shear modulus and S-wave velocity depend only modestly on the effective coefficient of internal friction.

Dehomogenized Elastic Properties of Heterogeneous Layered Materials in AFM Indentation Experiments.

PubMed

Lee, Jia-Jye; Rao, Satish; Kaushik, Gaurav; Azeloglu, Evren U; Costa, Kevin D

2018-06-05

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to study mechanical properties of biological materials at submicron length scales. However, such samples are often structurally heterogeneous even at the local level, with different regions having distinct mechanical properties. Physical or chemical disruption can isolate individual structural elements but may alter the properties being measured. Therefore, to determine the micromechanical properties of intact heterogeneous multilayered samples indented by AFM, we propose the Hybrid Eshelby Decomposition (HED) analysis, which combines a modified homogenization theory and finite element modeling to extract layer-specific elastic moduli of composite structures from single indentations, utilizing knowledge of the component distribution to achieve solution uniqueness. Using finite element model-simulated indentation of layered samples with micron-scale thickness dimensions, biologically relevant elastic properties for incompressible soft tissues, and layer-specific heterogeneity of an order of magnitude or less, HED analysis recovered the prescribed modulus values typically within 10% error. Experimental validation using bilayer spin-coated polydimethylsiloxane samples also yielded self-consistent layer-specific modulus values whether arranged as stiff layer on soft substrate or soft layer on stiff substrate. We further examined a biophysical application by characterizing layer-specific microelastic properties of full-thickness mouse aortic wall tissue, demonstrating that the HED-extracted modulus of the tunica media was more than fivefold stiffer than the intima and not significantly different from direct indentation of exposed media tissue. Our results show that the elastic properties of surface and subsurface layers of microscale synthetic and biological samples can be simultaneously extracted from the composite material response to AFM indentation. HED analysis offers a robust approach to studying regional micromechanics of heterogeneous multilayered samples without destructively separating individual components before testing. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Numerical Study on Section Constitutive Relations of Members Reinforced by Steel-BFRP Composite Bars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Tongliang; Qiu, Hongxing

2017-06-01

Steel-Basalt FRP Composite Bar (S-BFCB) is a new kind of substitute material for longitudinal reinforcement, with high elastic modulus, stable post-yield stiffness and excellent corrosive resistance. Based on mechanical properties of S-BFCB and the plane cross-section assumption, the moment-curvature curves of beam and column members are simulated. Some parameters such as equivalent rebar ratio, postyeild stiffness, concrete strength and axial compression ratio of column were discussed. Results show that the constitutive relation of the cross section is similar with RC member in elastic and cracking stages, while different in post-yield stage. With the increase of postyeild stiffness ratio of composite bar, the ultimate bearing capacity of component improved observably, member may turn out over-reinforced phenomenon, concrete crushing may appear before the fibersarefractured. The effect of concrete strength increase in lower postyeild stiffness ratio is not obvious than in higher. The increase of axial compression ratio has actively influence on bearing capacity of column, but decreases on the ductility.

Placental elastography in a murine intrauterine growth restriction model.

PubMed

Quibel, T; Deloison, B; Chammings, F; Chalouhi, G E; Siauve, N; Alison, M; Bessières, B; Gennisson, J L; Clément, O; Salomon, L J

2015-11-01

To compare placental elasticity in normal versus intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) murine pregnancies using shear wave elastography (SWE). Intrauterine growth restriction was created by ligation of the left uterine artery of Sprague-Dawley rats on E17. Ultrasonography (US) and elastography were performed 2 days later on exteriorized horns after laparotomy. Biparietal diameter (BPD) and abdominal diameter (AD) were measured and compared in each horn. Placental elasticity of each placenta was compared in the right and left horns, respectively, using the Young's modulus, which increases with increasing stiffness of the tissue. Two hundred seventeen feto-placental units from 18 rats were included. Fetuses in the left ligated horn had smaller biometric measurements than those in the right horn (6.7 vs 7.2 mm, p < 0.001, and 9.2 vs 11.2 mm, p < 0.001 for BPD and AD, respectively). Mean fetal weight was lower in the pups from the left than the right horn (1.65 vs 2.11 g; p < 0.001). Mean (SD) Young's modulus was higher for placentas from the left than the right horn (11.7 ± 1.5 kPa vs 8.01 ± 3.8 kPa, respectively; p < 0.001), indicating increased stiffness in placentas from the left than the right horn. There was an inverse relationship between fetal weight and placental elasticity (r = 0.42; p < 0.001). Shear wave elastography may be used to provide quantitative elasticity measurements of the placenta. In our model, placentas from IUGR fetuses demonstrated greater stiffness, which correlated with the degree of fetal growth restriction. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Fatigue of immature baboon cortical bone.

PubMed

Keller, T S; Lovin, J D; Spengler, D M; Carter, D R

1985-01-01

Strain-controlled uniaxial fatigue and monotonic tensile tests were conducted on turned femoral cortical bone specimens obtained from baboons at various ages of maturity. Fatigue loading produced a progressive loss in stiffness and an increase in hysteresis prior to failure, indicating that immature primate cortical bone responds to repeated loading in a fashion similar to that previously observed for adult human cortical bone. Bone fatigue resistance under this strain controlled testing decreased during maturation. Maturation was also associated with an increase in bone dry density, ash fraction and elastic modulus. The higher elastic modulus of more mature bone meant that these specimens were subjected to higher stress levels during testing than more immature bone specimens. Anatomical regions along the femoral shaft exhibited differences in strength and fatigue resistance.

Hyperglycemia and Arterial Stiffness: the Atherosclerosis Risk in the Communities Study

PubMed Central

Rubin, Jonathan; Nambi, Vijay; Chambless, Lloyd E.; Steffes, Michael W.; Juraschek, Stephen P.; Coresh, Josef; Sharrett, A. Richey; Selvin, Elizabeth

2014-01-01

Objectives Hyperglycemia has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that hyperglycemia is associated with the atherosis component of atherosclerosis, limited studies have addressed the independent role of hyperglycemia in the pathophysiology of sclerotic vascular disease. We hypothesized that hyperglycemia, as assessed by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), would be independently associated two common indices of arterial stiffness (pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep) and Young’s elastic modulus (YEM)). Methods We examined the cross-sectional association between HbA1c and arterial stiffness using B-mode ultrasound examination of the carotid artery in 9,050 participants from the community-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. We used multivariable linear and logistic regression models to characterize the association between HbA1c and increased Ep and YEM. Results Higher values of HbA1c were associated in a graded fashion with increased arterial stiffness (P-trend <0.001 for both EP and YEM). After adjusting for traditional risk factors, increasing HbA1c deciles were significantly associated with elevated EP (OR for the highest decile of HbA1c compared to the lowest, 2.01, 95% CI 1.30, 3.11) and YEM (OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.15, 2.55). Conclusion Elevated HbA1c is associated with measures of increased arterial stiffness, even after accounting for arterial wall thickness. This is consistent with the hypothesis that hyperglycemia contributes to arterial stiffness beyond its effects on atherosis and suggests that hyperglycemia is associated with altered material within the arterial wall. PMID:23031361

Factor XIII stiffens fibrin clots by causing fiber compaction.

PubMed

Kurniawan, N A; Grimbergen, J; Koopman, J; Koenderink, G H

2014-10-01

Factor XIII-induced cross-linking has long been associated with the ability of fibrin blood clots to resist mechanical deformation, but how FXIII can directly modulate clot stiffness is unknown. We hypothesized that FXIII affects the self-assembly of fibrin fibers by altering the lateral association between protofibrils. To test this hypothesis, we studied the cross-linking kinetics and the structural evolution of the fibers and clots during the formation of plasma-derived and recombinant fibrins by using light scattering, and the response of the clots to mechanical stresses by using rheology. We show that the lateral aggregation of fibrin protofibrils initially results in the formation of floppy fibril bundles, which then compact to form tight and more rigid fibers. The first stage is reflected in a fast (10 min) increase in clot stiffness, whereas the compaction phase is characterized by a slow (hours) development of clot stiffness. Inhibition of FXIII completely abrogates the slow compaction. FXIII strongly increases the linear elastic modulus of the clots, but does not affect the non-linear response at large deformations. We propose a multiscale structural model whereby FXIII-mediated cross-linking tightens the coupling between the protofibrils within a fibrin fiber, thus making the fiber stiffer and less porous. At small strains, fiber stiffening enhances clot stiffness, because the clot response is governed by the entropic elasticity of the fibers, but once the clot is sufficiently stressed, the modulus is independent of protofibril coupling, because clot stiffness is governed by individual protofibril stretching. © 2014 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Dynamics of an elastic sphere containing a thin creeping region and immersed in an acoustic region for similar viscous-elastic and acoustic time- and length-scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gat, Amir; Friedman, Yonathan

2017-11-01

The characteristic time of low-Reynolds number fluid-structure interaction scales linearly with the ratio of fluid viscosity to solid Young's modulus. For sufficiently large values of Young's modulus, both time- and length-scales of the viscous-elastic dynamics may be similar to acoustic time- and length-scales. However, the requirement of dominant viscous effects limits the validity of such regimes to micro-configurations. We here study the dynamics of an acoustic plane wave impinging on the surface of a layered sphere, immersed within an inviscid fluid, and composed of an inner elastic sphere, a creeping fluid layer and an external elastic shell. We focus on configurations with similar viscous-elastic and acoustic time- and length-scales, where the viscous-elastic speed of interaction between the creeping layer and the elastic regions is similar to the speed of sound. By expanding the linearized spherical Reynolds equation into the relevant spectral series solution for the hyperbolic elastic regions, a global stiffness matrix of the layered elastic sphere was obtained. This work relates viscous-elastic dynamics to acoustic scattering and may pave the way to the design of novel meta-materials with unique acoustic properties. ISF 818/13.

Hooke's Law and the Stiffness of a Plastic Spoon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pestka, Kenneth A., II; Warren, Cori

2012-01-01

The study of elastic properties of solids is essential to both physics and engineering. Finding simple, easy-to-visualize examples to demonstrate these concepts is often difficult. In a previous article written by one of us (KAPII), a simple method for determining Youngs modulus using marshmallows was given. In this article we will illustrate…

A Study of the Effect of Adhesive and Matrix Stiffnesses on the Axial, Normal, and Shear Stress Distributions of a Boron-epoxy Reinforced Composite Joint. M.S. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howell, W. E.

1974-01-01

The mechanical properties of a symmetrical, eight-step, titanium-boron-epoxy joint are discussed. A study of the effect of adhesive and matrix stiffnesses on the axial, normal, and shear stress distributions was made using the finite element method. The NASA Structural Analysis Program (NASTRAN) was used for the analysis. The elastic modulus of the adhesive was varied from 345 MPa to 3100 MPa with the nominal value of 1030 MPa as a standard. The nominal values were used to analyze the stability of the joint. The elastic moduli were varied to determine their effect on the stresses in the joint.

Evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness and carotid arterial stiffness in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

PubMed

Çiftel, Murat; Demir, Berrin; Kozan, Günay; Yılmaz, Osman; Kahveci, Hasan; Kılıç, Ömer

2016-02-01

Adenotonsillar hypertrophy can produce cardiopulmonary disease in children. However, it is unclear whether adenotonsillar hypertrophy causes atherosclerosis. This study evaluated carotid intimamedia thickness and carotid arterial stiffness in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The study included 40 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (age: 5-10 years) and 36 healthy children with similar age and body mass index. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure were measured in all subjects. Carotid intima-media thickness, carotid arterial systolic diameter, and carotid arterial diastolic diameter were measured using a high-resolution ultrasound device. Based on these measurements, carotid arterial strain, carotid artery distensibility, beta stiffness index, and elasticity modulus were calculated. Carotid intima-media thickness was greater in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (0.36±0.05 mm vs. 0.34±0.04 mm, P=0.02) compared to healthy controls. Beta stiffness index (3.01±1.22 vs. 2.98±0.98, P=0.85), elasticity modulus (231.39±99.23 vs. 226.46±83.20, P=0.88), carotid arterial strain (0.17±0.06 vs. 0.17±0.04, P=0.95), and carotid artery distensibility (13.14±3.88 vs. 12.92±3.84, P=0.75) were similar between children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and the healthy controls. The present study revealed increased carotid intima-media thickness in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The risk of subclinical atherosclerosis may be higher in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

Dose-dependent collagen cross-linking of rabbit scleral tissue by blue light and riboflavin treatment probed by dynamic shear rheology.

PubMed

Schuldt, Carsten; Karl, Anett; Körber, Nicole; Koch, Christian; Liu, Qing; Fritsch, Anatol W; Reichenbach, Andreas; Wiedemann, Peter; Käs, Josef A; Francke, Mike; Iseli, Hans Peter

2015-08-01

To determine the visco-elastic properties of isolated rabbit scleral tissue and dose-dependent biomechanical and morphological changes after collagen cross-linking by riboflavin/blue light treatment. Scleral patches from 87 adult albino rabbit eyes were examined by dynamic shear rheology. Scleral patches were treated by riboflavin and different intensities of blue light (450 nm), and the impact on the visco-elastic properties was determined by various rheological test regimes. The relative elastic modulus was calculated from non-treated and corresponding treated scleral patches, and treatments with different blue light intensities were compared. Shear rheology enables us to study the material properties of scleral tissue within physiological relevant parameters. Cross-linking treatment increased the viscous as well as the elastic modulus and changed the ratio of the elastic versus viscous proportion in scleral tissue. Constant riboflavin application combined with different blue light intensities from 12 mW/cm(2) up to 100 mW/cm(2) increased the relative elastic modulus of scleral tissue by factors up to 1.8. Further enhancement of the applied light intensity caused a decline of the relative elastic modulus. This might be due to destructive changes of the collagen bundle structure at larger light intensities, as observed by histological examination. Collagen cross-linking by riboflavin/blue light application increases the biomechanical stiffness of the sclera in a dose-dependent manner up to certain light intensities. Therefore, this treatment might be a suitable therapeutic approach to stabilize the biomechanical properties of scleral tissue in cases of pathological eye expansion. © 2014 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Toward soft-tissue elastography using digital holography to monitor surface acoustic waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shiguang; Mohan, Karan D.; Sanders, William W.; Oldenburg, Amy L.

2011-11-01

Measuring the elasticity distribution inside the human body is of great interest because elastic abnormalities can serve as indicators of several diseases. We present a method for mapping elasticity inside soft tissues by imaging surface acoustic waves (SAWs) with digital holographic interferometry. With this method, we show that SAWs are consistent with Rayleigh waves, with velocities proportional to the square root of the elastic modulus greater than 2-40 kPa in homogeneous tissue phantoms. In two-layer phantoms, the SAW velocity transitions approximately from that of the lower layer to that of the upper layer as frequency is increased in agreement with the theoretical relationship between SAW dispersion and the depth-dependent stiffness profile. We also observed deformation in the propagation direction of SAWs above a stiff inclusion placed 8 mm below the surface. These findings demonstrate the potential for quantitative digital holography-based elastography of soft tissues as a noninvasive method for disease detection.

The Value of Elastic Modulus Index as a Novel Surrogate Marker for Cardiovascular Risk Stratification by Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Carotid Ultrasonography

PubMed Central

Yoon, Ji Hyun; Cho, In-Jeong; Sung, Ji Min; Lee, Jinyong; Ryoo, Hojin; Shim, Chi Young; Hong, Geu-Ru; Chung, Namsik

2016-01-01

Background Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and the presence of carotid plaque have been used for risk stratification of cardiovascular disease (CVD). To date, however, the association between multi-directional functional properties of carotid artery and CVD has not been fully elucidated. We sought to explore the multi-directional mechanics of the carotid artery in relation to cardiovascular risk. Methods Four hundred one patients who underwent carotid ultrasound were enrolled between January 2010 and April 2013. A high risk of CVD was defined as more than 20% of 10-year risk based on the Framingham risk score. Using a speckle-tracking technique, the longitudinal and radial movements were analyzed in the B-mode images. Peak longitudinal and radial displacements, strain and strain rate were also measured. Beta stiffness and elastic modulus index were calculated from the radial measurements. Results Of the overall sample, 13% (52) of patients comprised the high-risk group. In multivariate logistic regression, CIMT and elastic modulus index were independently associated with a high-risk of CVD {odds ratio (OR): 1.810 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.249–2.622] and OR: 1.767 (95% CI: 1.177–2.652); p = 0.002, 0.006, respectively}. The combination of CIMT and elastic modulus index correlated with a high-risk of CVD more so than CIMT alone. Conclusion The elastic modulus index of the carotid artery might serve as a novel surrogate marker of high-risk CVD. Measurement of the multi-directional mechanics of the carotid artery using the speckle tracking technique has potential for providing further information over conventional B-mode ultrasound for stratification of CVD risk. PMID:27721952

Are rapid changes in brain elasticity possible?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, K. J.

2017-09-01

Elastography of the brain is a topic of clinical and preclinical research, motivated by the potential for viscoelastic measures of the brain to provide sensitive indicators of pathological processes, and to assist in early diagnosis. To date, studies of the normal brain and of those with confirmed neurological disorders have reported a wide range of shear stiffness and shear wave speeds, even within similar categories. A range of factors including the shear wave frequency, and the age of the individual are thought to have a possible influence. However, it may be that short term dynamics within the brain may have an influence on the measured stiffness. This hypothesis is addressed quantitatively using the framework of the microchannel flow model, which derives the tissue stiffness, complex modulus, and shear wave speed as a function of the vascular and fluid network in combination with the elastic matrix that comprise the brain. Transformation rules are applied so that any changes in the fluid channels or the elastic matrix can be mapped to changes in observed elastic properties on a macroscopic scale. The results are preliminary but demonstrate that measureable, time varying changes in brain stiffness are possible simply by accounting for vasodynamic or electrochemical changes in the state of any region of the brain. The value of this preliminary exploration is to identify possible mechanisms and order-of-magnitude changes that may be testable in vivo by specialized protocols.

Predicting bending stiffness of randomly oriented hybrid panels

Treesearch

Laura Moya; William T.Y. Tze; Jerrold E. Winandy

2010-01-01

This study was conducted to develop a simple model to predict the bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) of randomly oriented hybrid panels. The modeling process involved three modules: the behavior of a single layer was computed by applying micromechanics equations, layer properties were adjusted for densification effects, and the entire panel was modeled as a three-...

Modeling the effect of initial planting density on within tree variation of stiffness in loblolly pine

Treesearch

Finto Antony; Laurence R. Schimleck; Lewis Jordan; Richard F. Daniels; Alex Clark

2012-01-01

Context Modulus of elasticity (MOE) is an important mechanical property determining the end-use and value of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) lumber. Aim In this study, a model was developed to predict the within tree variation of MOE, from pith-to-bark and stumpto- tip, using data collected...

Reliability formulation for the strength and fire endurance of glued-laminated beams

Treesearch

D. A. Bender

A model was developed for predicting the statistical distribution of glued-laminated beam strength and stiffness under normal temperature conditions using available long span modulus of elasticity data, end joint tension test data, and tensile strength data for laminating-grade lumber. The beam strength model predictions compared favorably with test data for glued-...

Prognostic evaluation of the elastic properties of the ascending aorta in dilated cardiomyopathy.

PubMed

Sciatti, Edoardo; Vizzardi, Enrico; Bonadei, Ivano; Fabbricatore, Davide; Prati, Francesco; Pagnoni, Mattia; Metra, Marco

2018-05-13

Nowadays there is an increased interest in the role of aortic stiffness in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF), since it is a major determinant of left ventricular (LV) performance. We aimed at assessing the predictive value of the aortic stiffness parameters, measured by echocardiography, in patients affected by non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) regarding three end-points: death, HF rehospitalization, combined death or HF rehospitalization in a long-term follow-up. 202 patients affected by non-ischemic DCM underwent an outpatient examination by echocardiography and blood pressure check at the brachial artery, in order to calculate aortic elastic properties (i.e., compliance, distensibility, stiffness index, Peterson's elastic modulus, M-mode strain). ROC curves, Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regressions (correcting for age, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), atrial fibrillation, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)) were run to assess the predictive ability of aortic elastic properties against the three endpoints. Mean follow-up was 9.83±2.80 years. 24.8% of patients died, while 34.7% were rehospitalized for HF cause and 44.6% experienced the combined endpoint. LVEF did not correlate with aortic elastic properties. ROC curves and Kaplan-Meier curves were elaborated. Aortic stiffness did not predict death in our cohort. Otherwise, all aortic elastic properties predicted HF rehospitalization and combined death or HF rehospitalization, after correcting for age, LVEF, atrial fibrillation, CRT. Elastic properties of the ascending aorta measured by echocardiography in patients with non-ischemic DCM predict long-term HF rehospitalization and combined death or HF rehospitalization, also after correcting for the confounding factors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Tensile behavior of porous scaffolds made from poly(para phenylene) - biomed 2013.

PubMed

Dirienzo, Amy L; Yakacki, Christopher M; Safranski, David L; Frick, Carl P

2013-01-01

The goal of this study was to fabricate and mechanically characterize a high-strength porous polymer scaffold for potential use as an orthopedic device. Poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) is an excellent candidate due to its exceptional strength and stiffness and relative inertness, but has never been explicitly investigated for use as a biomedical device. PPP has strength values 3 to 10 times higher and an elastic modulus nearly an order of magnitude higher than traditional polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polycaprolactone (PCL), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and polyurethane (PU) and is significantly stronger and stiffer than polyetheretherketone (PEEK). By utilizing PPP we can overcome the mechanical limitations of traditional porous polymeric scaffolds since the outstanding stiffness of PPP allows for a highly porous structure appropriate for osteointegration that can match the stiffness of bone (100-250 MPa), while maintaining suitable mechanical properties for soft-tissue fixation. Porous samples were manufactured by powder sintering followed by particle leaching. The pore volume fraction was systematically varied from 50–80 vol% for a pore sizes from150-500 µm, as indicated by previous studies for optimal osteointegration. The tensile modulus of the porous samples was compared to the rule of mixtures, and closely matches foam theory up to 70 vol%. The experimental modulus for 70 vol% porous samples matches the stiffness of bone and contains pore sizes optimal for osteointegration.

Update on Breast Cancer Detection Using Comb-push Ultrasound Shear Elastography

PubMed Central

Denis, Max; Bayat, Mahdi; Mehrmohammadi, Mohammad; Gregory, Adriana; Song, Pengfei; Whaley, Dana H.; Pruthi, Sandhya; Chen, Shigao; Fatemi, Mostafa; Alizad, Azra

2015-01-01

In this work, tissue stiffness estimates are used to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses in a group of pre-biopsy patients. The rationale being that breast masses are often stiffer than healthy tissue; furthermore, malignant masses are stiffer than benign masses. The comb-push ultrasound shear elastography (CUSE) method is used to noninvasively assess a tissue’s mechanical properties. CUSE utilizes a simultaneous multiple laterally spaced radiation force (ARF) excitations and detection sequence to reconstruct the region of interest (ROI) shear wave speed map, from which a tissue stiffness property is quantified by Young’s modulus. In this study, the tissue stiffness of 73 breast masses is interrogated. The mean shear wave speeds for malignant masses (3.42 ± 1.32 m/s) were higher than benign breast masses (6.04 ± 1.25 m/s). These speed values correspond to higher stiffness in malignant breast masses (114.9 ± 40.6 kPa) than benign masses (39.4 ± 28.1 kPa and p < 0.001), when tissue elasticity is quantified by Young’s modulus. A Young’s modulus > 83 kPa is established as a cut-off value for differentiating between malignant and benign suspicious breast masses, with receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of 89.19% sensitivity, 88.69% specificity, and 0.911 for the area under the curve (AUC). PMID:26688871

Children and Adolescent Obesity Associates with Pressure-Dependent and Age-Related Increase in Carotid and Femoral Arteries' Stiffness and Not in Brachial Artery, Indicative of Nonintrinsic Arterial Wall Alteration

PubMed Central

García-Espinosa, Victoria; Curcio, Santiago; Castro, Juan Manuel; Arana, Maite; Giachetto, Gustavo; Chiesa, Pedro; Zócalo, Yanina

2016-01-01

Aim. To analyze if childhood obesity associates with changes in elastic, transitional, and/or muscular arteries' stiffness. Methods. 221 subjects (4–15 years, 92 females) were assigned to normal weight (NW, n = 137) or obesity (OB, n = 84) groups, considering their body mass index z-score. Age groups were defined: 4–8; 8–12; 12–15 years old. Carotid, femoral, and brachial artery local stiffness was determined through systodiastolic pressure-diameter and stress-strain relationships. To this end, arterial diameter and peripheral and aortic blood pressure (BP) levels and waveforms were recorded. Carotid-femoral, femoropedal, and carotid-radial pulse wave velocities were determined to evaluate aortic, lower-limb, and upper-limb regional arterial stiffness, respectively. Correlation analysis between stiffness parameters and BP was done. Results. Compared to NW, OB subjects showed higher peripheral and central BP and carotid and femoral stiffness, reaching statistical significance in subjects aged 12 and older. Arterial stiffness differences disappeared when levels were normalized for BP. There were no differences in intrinsic arterial wall stiffness (elastic modulus), BP stiffness relationships, and regional stiffness parameters. Conclusion. OB associates with BP-dependent and age-related increase in carotid and femoral (but not brachial) stiffness. Stiffness changes would not be explained by intrinsic arterial wall alterations but could be associated with the higher BP levels observed in obese children. PMID:27066273

Elasticity study of textured barium strontium titanate thin films by X-ray diffraction and laser acoustic waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaabani, Anouar; Njeh, Anouar; Donner, Wolfgang; Klein, Andreas; Hédi Ben Ghozlen, Mohamed

2017-05-01

Ba0.65Sr0.35TiO3 (BST) thin films of 300 nm were deposited on Pt(111)/TiO2/SiO2/Si(001) substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Two thin films with different (111) and (001) fiber textures were prepared. X-ray diffraction was applied to measure texture. The raw pole figure data were further processed using the MTEX quantitative texture analysis software for plotting pole figures and calculating elastic constants and Young’s modulus from the orientation distribution function (ODF) for each type of textured fiber. The calculated elastic constants were used in the theoretical studies of surface acoustics waves (SAW) propagating in two types of multilayered BST systems. Theoretical dispersion curves were plotted by the application of the ordinary differential equation (ODE) and the stiffness matrix methods (SMM). A laser acoustic waves (LAW) technique was applied to generate surface acoustic waves (SAW) propagating in the BST films, and from a recursive process, the effective Young’s modulus are determined for the two samples. These methods are used to extract and compare elastic properties of two types of BST films, and quantify the influence of texture on the direction-dependent Young’s modulus.

Elastic, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of Bi-Sb binaries: Effect of spin-orbit coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sobhit; Valencia-Jaime, Irais; Pavlic, Olivia; Romero, Aldo H.

2018-02-01

Using first-principles calculations, we systematically study the elastic stiffness constants, mechanical properties, elastic wave velocities, Debye temperature, melting temperature, and specific heat of several thermodynamically stable crystal structures of BixSb1 -x (0

Carotid artery stiffness evaluated early by wave intensity in normal left ventricular function in post-radiotherapy patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhuo; Luo, Runlan; Tan, Bijun; Qian, Jing; Duan, Yanfang; Wang, Nan; Li, Guangsen

2018-04-01

This study aims to assess carotid elasticity early in normal left ventricular function in post-radiotherapy patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by wave intensity. Sixty-seven post-radiotherapy patients all with normal left ventricular function were classified into group NPC1 and group NPC2 based on their carotid intima-media thickness. Thirty age- and sex-matched NPC patients without any history of irradiation and chemotherapy were included as a control group. Carotid parameters, including stiffness constant (β), pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), stiffness constant pulse wave velocity (PWVβ), and wave intensity pulse wave velocity (PWVWI) were measured. There were no significant differences in conventional echocardiographic variables among the three groups. In comparison with the control group, β, Ep, PWVβ, and PWVWI were significantly increased, while AC was significantly decreased in the NPC1 and NPC2 groups, and there were differences between the NPC1 group and NPC2 group (all P < 0.05). This study suggested that carotid artery stiffness increased with reduced carotid compliance in post-RT with NPC.

Biomechanical properties of the mid-shaft femur in middle-aged hypophysectomized rats as assessed by bending test.

PubMed

Bozzini, Clarisa; Picasso, Emilio O; Champin, Graciela M; Alippi, Rosa María; Bozzini, Carlos E

2012-10-01

Both stiffness and strength of bones are thought to be controlled by the "bone mechanostat". Its natural stimuli would be the strains of bone tissue (sensed by osteocytes) that are induced by both gravitational forces (body weight) and contraction of regional muscles. Body weight and muscle mass increase with age. Biomechanical performance of load-bearing bones must adapt to these growth-induced changes. Hypophysectomy in the rat slows the rate of body growth. With time, a great difference in body size is established between a hypophysectomized rat and its age-matched control, which makes it difficult to establish the real effect of pituitary ablation on bone biomechanics. The purpose of the present investigation was to compare mid-shaft femoral mechanical properties between hypophysectomized and weight-matched normal rats, which will show similar sizes and thus will be exposed to similar habitual loads. Two groups of 10 female rats each (H and C) were established. H rats were 12-month-old that had been hypophysectomized 11 months before. C rats were 2.5-month-old normals. Right femur mechanical properties were tested in 3-point bending. Structural (load-bearing capacity and stiffness), geometric (cross-sectional area, cortical sectional area, and moment of inertia), and material (modulus of elasticity and maximum elastic stress) properties were evaluated. The left femur was ashed for calcium content. Comparisons between parameters were performed by the Student's t test. Average body weight, body length, femur weight, femur length, and gastrocnemius weight were not significantly different between H and C rats. Calcium content in ashes was significantly higher in H than in C rats. Cross-sectional area, medullary area, and cross-sectional moment of inertia were higher in C rats, whereas cortical area did not differ between groups. Structural properties (diaphyseal stiffness, elastic limit, and load at fracture) were about four times higher in hypophysectomized rats, as were the bone material stiffness or Young's modulus and the maximal elastic stress (about 7×). The femur obtained from a middle-aged H rat was stronger and stiffer than the femur obtained from a young-adult C rat, both specimens showing similar size and bone mass and almost equal geometric properties. The higher than normal structural properties shown by the hypophysectomized femur were entirely due to changes in the intrinsic properties of the bone; it was thus stronger at the tissue level. The change of the femoral bone tissue was associated with a high mineral content and an unusual high modulus of elasticity and was probably due to a diminished bone and collagen turnover.

Shear-Wave Elastography Assessments of Quadriceps Stiffness Changes prior to, during and after Prolonged Exercise: A Longitudinal Study during an Extreme Mountain Ultra-Marathon.

PubMed

Andonian, Pierre; Viallon, Magalie; Le Goff, Caroline; de Bourguignon, Charles; Tourel, Charline; Morel, Jérome; Giardini, Guido; Gergelé, Laurent; Millet, Grégoire P; Croisille, Pierre

2016-01-01

In sports medicine, there is increasing interest in quantifying the elastic properties of skeletal muscle, especially during extreme muscular stimulation, to improve our understanding of the impact of alterations in skeletal muscle stiffness on resulting pain or injuries, as well as the mechanisms underlying the relationships between these parameters. Our main objective was to determine whether real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE) can monitor changes in quadriceps muscle elasticity during an extreme mountain ultra-marathon, a powerful mechanical stress model. Our study involved 50 volunteers participating in an extreme mountain marathon (distance: 330 km, elevation: +24,000 m). Quantitative SWE velocity and shear modulus measurements were performed in most superficial quadriceps muscle heads at the following 4 time points: before the race, halfway through the race, upon finishing the race and after recovery (+48 h). Blood biomarker levels were also measured. A significant decrease in the quadriceps shear modulus was observed upon finishing the race (3.31±0.61 kPa) (p<0.001) compared to baseline (3.56±0.63 kPa), followed by a partial recovery +48 h after the race (3.45±0.6 kPa) (p = 0.002) across all muscle heads, as well as for each of the following three muscle heads: the rectus femoris (p = 0.003), the vastus medialis (p = 0.033) and the vastus lateralis (p = 0.001). Our study is the first to assess changes in muscle stiffness during prolonged extreme physical endurance exercises based on shear modulus measurements using non-invasive SWE. We concluded that decreases in stiffness, which may have resulted from quadriceps overuse in the setting of supra-physiological stress caused by the extreme distance and unique elevation of the race, may have been responsible for the development of inflammation and muscle swelling. SWE may hence represent a promising tool for monitoring physiologic or pathological variations in muscle stiffness and may be useful for diagnosing and monitoring muscle changes.

Shear-Wave Elastography Assessments of Quadriceps Stiffness Changes prior to, during and after Prolonged Exercise: A Longitudinal Study during an Extreme Mountain Ultra-Marathon

PubMed Central

Andonian, Pierre; Viallon, Magalie; Le Goff, Caroline; de Bourguignon, Charles; Tourel, Charline; Morel, Jérome; Giardini, Guido; Gergelé, Laurent; Millet, Grégoire P.; Croisille, Pierre

2016-01-01

In sports medicine, there is increasing interest in quantifying the elastic properties of skeletal muscle, especially during extreme muscular stimulation, to improve our understanding of the impact of alterations in skeletal muscle stiffness on resulting pain or injuries, as well as the mechanisms underlying the relationships between these parameters. Our main objective was to determine whether real-time shear-wave elastography (SWE) can monitor changes in quadriceps muscle elasticity during an extreme mountain ultra-marathon, a powerful mechanical stress model. Our study involved 50 volunteers participating in an extreme mountain marathon (distance: 330 km, elevation: +24,000 m). Quantitative SWE velocity and shear modulus measurements were performed in most superficial quadriceps muscle heads at the following 4 time points: before the race, halfway through the race, upon finishing the race and after recovery (+48 h). Blood biomarker levels were also measured. A significant decrease in the quadriceps shear modulus was observed upon finishing the race (3.31±0.61 kPa) (p<0.001) compared to baseline (3.56±0.63 kPa), followed by a partial recovery +48 h after the race (3.45±0.6 kPa) (p = 0.002) across all muscle heads, as well as for each of the following three muscle heads: the rectus femoris (p = 0.003), the vastus medialis (p = 0.033) and the vastus lateralis (p = 0.001). Our study is the first to assess changes in muscle stiffness during prolonged extreme physical endurance exercises based on shear modulus measurements using non-invasive SWE. We concluded that decreases in stiffness, which may have resulted from quadriceps overuse in the setting of supra-physiological stress caused by the extreme distance and unique elevation of the race, may have been responsible for the development of inflammation and muscle swelling. SWE may hence represent a promising tool for monitoring physiologic or pathological variations in muscle stiffness and may be useful for diagnosing and monitoring muscle changes. PMID:27579699

Reduced arterial stiffness in very fit boys and girls.

PubMed

Weberruß, Heidi; Pirzer, Raphael; Schulz, Thorsten; Böhm, Birgit; Dalla Pozza, Robert; Netz, Heinrich; Oberhoffer, Renate

2017-01-01

Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, whereas high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness protect the cardiovascular system. Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility are well-established parameters to identify subclinical cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength on carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility in 697 children and adolescents (376 girls), aged 7-17 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness and strength were measured with the test battery FITNESSGRAM; carotid intima-media thickness, arterial compliance, elastic modulus, stiffness index β, and pulse wave velocity β were assessed by B- and M-mode ultrasound at the common carotid artery. In bivariate correlation, cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with all cardiovascular parameters and was an independent predictor in multivariate regression analysis. No significant associations were obtained for muscular strength. In a one-way variance analysis, very fit boys and girls (58 boys and 74 girls>80th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness) had significantly decreased stiffness parameters (expressed in standard deviation scores) compared with low fit subjects (71 boys and 77 girls<20th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness): elastic modulus -0.16±1.02 versus 0.19±1.17, p=0.009; stiffness index β -0.15±1.08 versus 0.16±1.1, p=0.03; and pulse wave velocity β -0.19±1.02 versus 0.19±1.14, p=0.005. Cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with healthier arteries in children and adolescents. Comparison of very fit with unfit subjects revealed better distensibility parameters in very fit boys and girls.

On the realization of the bulk modulus bounds for two-phase viscoelastic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreasen, Casper Schousboe; Andreassen, Erik; Jensen, Jakob Søndergaard; Sigmund, Ole

2014-02-01

Materials with good vibration damping properties and high stiffness are of great industrial interest. In this paper the bounds for viscoelastic composites are investigated and material microstructures that realize the upper bound are obtained by topology optimization. These viscoelastic composites can be realized by additive manufacturing technologies followed by an infiltration process. Viscoelastic composites consisting of a relatively stiff elastic phase, e.g. steel, and a relatively lossy viscoelastic phase, e.g. silicone rubber, have non-connected stiff regions when optimized for maximum damping. In order to ensure manufacturability of such composites the connectivity of the matrix is ensured by imposing a conductivity constraint and the influence on the bounds is discussed.

Flexural properties of glued-laminated Southern pine beams with laminations positioned by visual-stiffness criteria

Treesearch

R. C. Moody; Billy Bohannan

1970-01-01

To establish the effect of using modulus elasticity in addition to visual grade as criteria for the positioning of laminations in laminated beams, an experimental study on southern pine members was conducted. The beams were manufactured in accordance with current specifications for glued-laminated southern pine timber, except that (a) minimum-quality tension...

Commentary on factors affecting transverse vibration using an idealized theoretical equation

Treesearch

Joseph F. Murphy

2000-01-01

An idealized theoretical equation to calculate flexural stiffness using transverse vibration of a simply end-supported beam is being considered by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Wood Committee D07 to determine lumber modulus of elasticity. This commentary provides the user a quantitative view of six factors that affect the accuracy of using the...

Microstructural Design for Stress Wave Energy Management

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

Polyurea based foam 7 4) Controlling transmission and reflection of pressure and shear waves in a multilayered anisotropic structure 10 5... Polyurea based foam consists of several factors including high energy absorption, light weight, higher elastic modulus to density ratio (compared with... Polyurea ), and collapsible voids under extreme loading. Pure Polyurea offers unique properties such as increased shear stiffness under large pressure

Structural Performance of COM-Ply Studs Made with Hardwood Veneers

Treesearch

Robert H. McAlister

1979-01-01

COM-PLY 2 x 4 studs made with veneers of yellow-poplar, sweetgum, and white oak were tested for strength and stiffness, nail-holding properties, modulus of elasticity of component parts, static bending, and compression parallel and perpendicular to the grain. All tests were conducted according to performance standards for composite studs used in exterior walls or ASTM...

PASSIVE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND RELATED PROTEINS CHANGE WITH BOTULINUM NEUROTOXIN A INJECTION OF NORMAL SKELETAL MUSCLE

PubMed Central

Thacker, Bryan E.; Tomiya, Akihito; Hulst, Jonah B.; Suzuki, Kentaro P.; Bremner, Shannon N.; Gastwirt, Randy F.; Greaser, Marion L.; Lieber, Richard L.; Ward, Samuel R.

2011-01-01

Summary The effects of botulinum neurotoxin A on the passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscle have not been investigated, but may have significant impact in the treatment of neuromuscular disorders including spasticity. Single fiber and fiber bundle passive mechanical testing was performed on rat muscles treated with botulinum neurotoxin A. Myosin heavy chain and titin composition of single fibers was determined by gel electrophoresis. Muscle collagen content was determined using a hydroxyproline assay. Neurotoxin-treated single fiber passive elastic modulus was reduced compared to control fibers (53.00 kPa versus 63.43 kPa). Fiber stiffness and slack sarcomere length were also reduced compared to control fibers and myosin heavy chain composition shifted from faster to slower isoforms. Average titin molecular weight increased 1.77% after treatment. Fiber bundle passive elastic modulus increased following treatment (168.83 kPa versus 75.14 kPa). Bundle stiffness also increased while collagen content per mass of muscle tissue increased 38%. Injection of botulinum neurotoxin A produces an effect on the passive mechanical properties of normal muscle that is opposite to the changes observed in spastic muscles. PMID:21853457

Histologic and rheologic characterization of vocal fold scarring.

PubMed

Thibeault, Susan L; Gray, Steven D; Bless, Diane M; Chan, Roger W; Ford, Charles N

2002-03-01

Scarring of the vocal fold causes considerable dysphonia and presents significant treatment challenges. A rabbit model was developed to investigate the histologic ultrastructure and rheologic properties of the scarred vocal fold lamina propria. Eleven rabbit larynges were scarred by means of forcep biopsy. Sixty days postoperatively, the rabbits were sacrificed and their vocal folds were harvested. Histological analysis of the scarred and normal lamina propria was completed for collagen, procollagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Linear viscoelastic shear properties of the tissues were also measured, including elastic shear modulus and dynamic viscosity. Compared to normal vocal fold lamina propria, scarred tissues demonstrated significantly less collagen, an increase in procollagen, and a decrease in elastin. Rheologically, both elastic shear modulus and dynamic viscosity were significantly higher for the scarred tissues. Increased stiffness and viscosity do not appear to result from an increase in collagen, but rather appear to be related to the presence of new, disorganized collagen scaffolding. Results are interpreted in terms of the possible role of interstitial proteins in the etiology of increased stiffness and viscosity, which requires further investigation. This animal model should allow for systematic future investigations of vocal fold scarring and its treatment.

Measurements of the Stiffness and Thickness of the Pavement Asphalt Layer Using the Enhanced Resonance Search Method

PubMed Central

Zakaria, Nur Mustakiza; Yusoff, Nur Izzi Md.; Hardwiyono, Sentot; Mohd Nayan, Khairul Anuar

2014-01-01

Enhanced resonance search (ERS) is a nondestructive testing method that has been created to evaluate the quality of a pavement by means of a special instrument called the pavement integrity scanner (PiScanner). This technique can be used to assess the thickness of the road pavement structure and the profile of shear wave velocity by using the principle of surface wave and body wave propagation. In this study, the ERS technique was used to determine the actual thickness of the asphaltic pavement surface layer, while the shear wave velocities obtained were used to determine its dynamic elastic modulus. A total of fifteen locations were identified and the results were then compared with the specifications of the Malaysian PWD, MDD UKM, and IKRAM. It was found that the value of the elastic modulus of materials is between 3929 MPa and 17726 MPa. A comparison of the average thickness of the samples with the design thickness of MDD UKM showed a difference of 20 to 60%. Thickness of the asphalt surface layer followed the specifications of Malaysian PWD and MDD UKM, while some of the values of stiffness obtained are higher than the standard. PMID:25276854

Measurements of the stiffness and thickness of the pavement asphalt layer using the enhanced resonance search method.

PubMed

Zakaria, Nur Mustakiza; Yusoff, Nur Izzi Md; Hardwiyono, Sentot; Nayan, Khairul Anuar Mohd; El-Shafie, Ahmed

2014-01-01

Enhanced resonance search (ERS) is a nondestructive testing method that has been created to evaluate the quality of a pavement by means of a special instrument called the pavement integrity scanner (PiScanner). This technique can be used to assess the thickness of the road pavement structure and the profile of shear wave velocity by using the principle of surface wave and body wave propagation. In this study, the ERS technique was used to determine the actual thickness of the asphaltic pavement surface layer, while the shear wave velocities obtained were used to determine its dynamic elastic modulus. A total of fifteen locations were identified and the results were then compared with the specifications of the Malaysian PWD, MDD UKM, and IKRAM. It was found that the value of the elastic modulus of materials is between 3929 MPa and 17726 MPa. A comparison of the average thickness of the samples with the design thickness of MDD UKM showed a difference of 20 to 60%. Thickness of the asphalt surface layer followed the specifications of Malaysian PWD and MDD UKM, while some of the values of stiffness obtained are higher than the standard.

Passive mechanical properties and related proteins change with botulinum neurotoxin A injection of normal skeletal muscle.

PubMed

Thacker, Bryan E; Tomiya, Akihito; Hulst, Jonah B; Suzuki, Kentaro P; Bremner, Shannon N; Gastwirt, Randy F; Greaser, Marion L; Lieber, Richard L; Ward, Samuel R

2012-03-01

The effects of botulinum neurotoxin A on the passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscle have not been investigated, but may have significant impact in the treatment of neuromuscular disorders including spasticity. Single fiber and fiber bundle passive mechanical testing was performed on rat muscles treated with botulinum neurotoxin A. Myosin heavy chain and titin composition of single fibers was determined by gel electrophoresis. Muscle collagen content was determined using a hydroxyproline assay. Neurotoxin-treated single fiber passive elastic modulus was reduced compared to control fibers (53.00 kPa vs. 63.43 kPa). Fiber stiffness and slack sarcomere length were also reduced compared to control fibers and myosin heavy chain composition shifted from faster to slower isoforms. Average titin molecular weight increased 1.77% after treatment. Fiber bundle passive elastic modulus increased following treatment (168.83  kPa vs. 75.14 kPa). Bundle stiffness also increased while collagen content per mass of muscle tissue increased 38%. Injection of botulinum neurotoxin A produces an effect on the passive mechanical properties of normal muscle that is opposite to the changes observed in spastic muscles. Copyright © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society.

Carotid intima-media thickness and elastic properties of aortas in normotensive children of hypertensive parents.

PubMed

Yildirim, Ali; Kosger, Pelin; Ozdemir, Gokmen; Sahin, Fezan Mutlu; Ucar, Birsen; Kilic, Zubeyir

2015-09-01

A significant correlation between hypertension history and high blood pressure has been observed with regard to age, race and gender. Investigating carotid intima-media thickness and aortic stiffness prior to the development of hypertension in children of hypertensive parents enabled us to evaluate these patients for subclinical atherosclerosis. We compared carotid intima-media thickness, aortic strain, distensibility, stiffness indices and elastic modulus in 67 normotensive children whose parents had a diagnosis of essential hypertension and 39 normotensive children with no parental history of hypertension. Although there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, average blood pressure and pulse pressure (P>0.05), systolic blood pressures were higher among patients 15 years and older in the study group. No significant differences were noted between the control and study groups regarding interventricular septal thickness, left-ventricular posterior wall thickness, left-ventricular systolic and diastolic diameter and aortic annulus diameter (P>0.05). The left atrium diameter was larger in the study group compared with that in the control group, mainly because of the values of the 15-year-old and older children (P=0.01). The mean, maximum and minimum values of carotid intima-media thickness were significantly different in the study group compared with the control group among all age groups (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.006, respectively). Aortic systolic and diastolic diameters were larger in normotensive children of hypertensive parents compared with the control group (P=0.014, P=0.001, respectively). Although there were no differences between the study and control groups regarding aortic strain, aortic distensibility, elastic modulus and stiffness indices (P>0.05), aortic distensibility was lower, and aortic stiffness indices were higher among children 15 years and older in the study group. An increase in the carotid intima-media thickness in all age groups and a decrease in aortic elastic properties in 15-year-old and older children of hypertensive parents may indicate subclinical atherosclerosis in these apparently healthy children.

Identification of Natural Oscillation Modes for Purposes of Seismic Assessment and Monitoring of HPP Dams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuz’menko, A. P., E-mail: apkuzm@gmail.com; Saburov, S. V., E-mail: saburov58@yandex.ru

2016-07-15

The paper puts forward a method for processing data from detailed seismic assessments of HPP dams (dynamic tests). A detailed assessment (hundreds of observation points in dam galleries) is performed with consideration of operating dam equipment and the microseismic noise. It is shown that dynamic oscillation characteristics (natural oscillation frequencies and modes in the main dam axes, the velocities of propagation of elastic waves with given polarization, and so on.) can be determined with sufficient accuracy by using complex transfer functions and pulse characteristics. Monitoring data is processed using data from a detailed assessment, taking account of identified natural oscillationmore » modes and determined ranges of natural frequencies. The spectra of characteristic frequencies thus obtained are used to choose substitution models and estimate the elastic characteristics of the “dam – rock bed” construction system, viz., the modulus of elasticity (the Young modulus), the Poisson ratio, the dam section stiffness with respect to shear, tension and compression and the elastic characteristics of the rock foundation.« less

Comparison of four different techniques to evaluate the elastic properties of phantom in elastography: is there a gold standard?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oudry, Jennifer; Lynch, Ted; Vappou, Jonathan; Sandrin, Laurent; Miette, Véronique

2014-10-01

Elastographic techniques used in addition to imaging techniques (ultrasound, resonance magnetic or optical) provide new clinical information on the pathological state of soft tissues. However, system-dependent variation in elastographic measurements may limit the clinical utility of these measurements by introducing uncertainty into the measurement. This work is aimed at showing differences in the evaluation of the elastic properties of phantoms performed by four different techniques: quasi-static compression, dynamic mechanical analysis, vibration-controlled transient elastography and hyper-frequency viscoelastic spectroscopy. Four Zerdine® gel materials were tested and formulated to yield a Young’s modulus over the range of normal and cirrhotic liver stiffnesses. The Young’s modulus and the shear wave speed obtained with each technique were compared. Results suggest a bias in elastic property measurement which varies with systems and highlight the difficulty in finding a reference method to determine and assess the elastic properties of tissue-mimicking materials. Additional studies are needed to determine the source of this variation, and control for them so that accurate, reproducible reference standards can be made for the absolute measurement of soft tissue elasticity.

Comparison of four different techniques to evaluate the elastic properties of phantom in elastography: is there a gold standard?

PubMed

Oudry, Jennifer; Lynch, Ted; Vappou, Jonathan; Sandrin, Laurent; Miette, Véronique

2014-10-07

Elastographic techniques used in addition to imaging techniques (ultrasound, resonance magnetic or optical) provide new clinical information on the pathological state of soft tissues. However, system-dependent variation in elastographic measurements may limit the clinical utility of these measurements by introducing uncertainty into the measurement. This work is aimed at showing differences in the evaluation of the elastic properties of phantoms performed by four different techniques: quasi-static compression, dynamic mechanical analysis, vibration-controlled transient elastography and hyper-frequency viscoelastic spectroscopy. Four Zerdine® gel materials were tested and formulated to yield a Young's modulus over the range of normal and cirrhotic liver stiffnesses. The Young's modulus and the shear wave speed obtained with each technique were compared. Results suggest a bias in elastic property measurement which varies with systems and highlight the difficulty in finding a reference method to determine and assess the elastic properties of tissue-mimicking materials. Additional studies are needed to determine the source of this variation, and control for them so that accurate, reproducible reference standards can be made for the absolute measurement of soft tissue elasticity.

Modified atomic force microscope applied to the measurement of elastic modulus for a single peptide molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ptak, Arkadiusz; Takeda, Seiji; Nakamura, Chikashi; Miyake, Jun; Kageshima, Masami; Jarvis, Suzanne P.; Tokumoto, Hiroshi

2001-09-01

A modified atomic force microscopy (AFM) system, based on a force modulation technique, has been used to find an approximate value for the elastic modulus of a single peptide molecule directly from a mechanical test. For this purpose a self-assembled monolayer built from two kinds of peptides, reactive (able to anchor to the AFM tip) and nonreactive, was synthesized. In a typical experiment a single C3K30C (C=cysteine, K=lysine) peptide molecule was stretched between a Au(111) substrate and the gold-coated tip of an AFM cantilever to which it was attached via gold-sulfur bonds. The amplitude of the cantilever oscillations, due to an external force applied via a magnetic particle to the cantilever, was recorded by a lock-in amplifier and recalculated into stiffness of the stretched molecule. A longitudinal Young's modulus for the α-helix of a single peptide molecule and for the elongated state of this molecule has been estimated. The obtained values; 1.2±0.3 and 50±15 GPa, for the peptide α-helix and elongated peptide backbone, respectively, seem to be reasonable comparing them to the Young's modulus of protein crystals and linear organic polymers. We believe this research opens up a means by which scientists can perform quantitative studies of the elastic properties of single molecule, especially of biologically important polymers like peptides or DNA.

Radial elasticity of self-assembled lipid tubules.

PubMed

Zhao, Yue; Tamhane, Karan; Zhang, Xuejun; An, Linan; Fang, Jiyu

2008-07-01

Self-assembled lipid tubules with crystalline bilayer walls represent useful supramolecular architectures which hold promise as vehicles for the controlled release of preloaded drugs and templates for the synthesis of one-dimensional inorganic materials. We study the local elasticity of lipid tubules of 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-diynoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine by radial atomic force microscope indentation, coupled with finite element analysis. A reduced stiffness is found to extend a distance of approximately 600 nm from the ends of lipid tubules. The middle section of lipid tubules is homogeneous in terms of their radial elasticity with a Young's modulus of approximately 703 MPa. The inhomogeneous radial elasticity likely arises from the variation of lipid packing density near the tubule ends.

Analysis of Arterial Mechanics During Head-down Tilt Bed Rest

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elliot, Morgan; Martin, David S.; Westby, Christian M.; Stenger, Michael B.; Platts, Steve

2014-01-01

Arterial health may be affected by microgravity or ground based analogs of spaceflight, as shown by an increase in thoracic aorta stiffness1. Head-down tilt bed rest (HDTBR) is often used as a ground-based simulation of spaceflight because it induces physiological changes similar to those that occur in space2, 3. This abstract details an analysis of arterial stiffness (a subclinical measure of atherosclerosis), the distensibility coefficient (DC), and the pressure-strain elastic modulus (PSE) of the arterial walls during HDTBR. This project may help determine how spaceflight differentially affects arterial function in the upper vs. lower body.

Wrinkle surface instability of an inhomogeneous elastic block with graded stiffness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shengyou; Chen, Yi-chao

2017-04-01

Surface instabilities have been studied extensively for both homogeneous materials and film/substrate structures but relatively less for materials with continuously varying properties. This paper studies wrinkle surface instability of a graded neo-Hookean block with exponentially varying modulus under plane strain by using the linear bifurcation analysis. We derive the first variation condition for minimizing the potential energy functional and solve the linearized equations of equilibrium to find the necessary conditions for surface instability. It is found that for a homogeneous block or an inhomogeneous block with increasing modulus from the surface, the critical stretch for surface instability is 0.544 (0.456 strain), which is independent of the geometry and the elastic modulus on the surface of the block. This critical stretch coincides with that reported by Biot (1963 Appl. Sci. Res. 12, 168-182. (doi:10.1007/BF03184638)) 53 years ago for the onset of wrinkle instabilities in a half-space of homogeneous neo-Hookean materials. On the other hand, for an inhomogeneous block with decreasing modulus from the surface, the critical stretch for surface instability ranges from 0.544 to 1 (0-0.456 strain), depending on the modulus gradient, and the length and height of the block. This sheds light on the effects of the material inhomogeneity and structural geometry on surface instability.

Nanomechanical properties of phospholipid microbubbles.

PubMed

Buchner Santos, Evelyn; Morris, Julia K; Glynos, Emmanouil; Sboros, Vassilis; Koutsos, Vasileios

2012-04-03

This study uses atomic force microscopy (AFM) force-deformation (F-Δ) curves to investigate for the first time the Young's modulus of a phospholipid microbubble (MB) ultrasound contrast agent. The stiffness of the MBs was calculated from the gradient of the F-Δ curves, and the Young's modulus of the MB shell was calculated by employing two different mechanical models based on the Reissner and elastic membrane theories. We found that the relatively soft phospholipid-based MBs behave inherently differently to stiffer, polymer-based MBs [Glynos, E.; Koutsos, V.; McDicken, W. N.; Moran, C. M.; Pye, S. D.; Ross, J. A.; Sboros, V. Langmuir2009, 25 (13), 7514-7522] and that elastic membrane theory is the most appropriate of the models tested for evaluating the Young's modulus of the phospholipid shell, agreeing with values available for living cell membranes, supported lipid bilayers, and synthetic phospholipid vesicles. Furthermore, we show that AFM F-Δ curves in combination with a suitable mechanical model can assess the shell properties of phospholipid MBs. The "effective" Young's modulus of the whole bubble was also calculated by analysis using Hertz theory. This analysis yielded values which are in agreement with results from studies which used Hertz theory to analyze similar systems such as cells.

Differential rigor development in red and white muscle revealed by simultaneous measurement of tension and stiffness.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Masahiko; Takemori, Shigeru; Yamaguchi, Maki

2004-02-10

Based on the molecular mechanism of rigor mortis, we have proposed that stiffness (elastic modulus evaluated with tension response against minute length perturbations) can be a suitable index of post-mortem rigidity in skeletal muscle. To trace the developmental process of rigor mortis, we measured stiffness and tension in both red and white rat skeletal muscle kept in liquid paraffin at 37 and 25 degrees C. White muscle (in which type IIB fibres predominate) developed stiffness and tension significantly more slowly than red muscle, except for soleus red muscle at 25 degrees C, which showed disproportionately slow rigor development. In each of the examined muscles, stiffness and tension developed more slowly at 25 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. In each specimen, tension always reached its maximum level earlier than stiffness, and then decreased more rapidly and markedly than stiffness. These phenomena may account for the sequential progress of rigor mortis in human cadavers.

Temperature corrections for mechanically graded lumber

Treesearch

David W. Green; James W. Evans; James D. Logan; Jim Allen

1999-01-01

The continuous lumber tester (CLT) is the most widely used grading machine in the world. With the CLT, the flatwise bending stiffness of lumber is measured as it passes through the machine. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) is calculated from the force required to bend the lumber to a fixed deflection of 7.94 mm (5/16 in.), and this MOE is used in assigning a machine...

Laboratory ultrasonic pulse velocity logging for determination of elastic properties from rock core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blacklock, Natalie Erin

During the development of deep underground excavations spalling and rockbursting have been recognized as significant mechanisms of violent brittle failure. In order to predict whether violent brittle failure will occur, it is important to identify the location of stiffness transitions that are associated with geologic structure. One approach to identify the effect of geologic structures is to apply borehole geophysical tools ahead of the tunnel advance. Stiffness transitions can be identified using mechanical property analysis surveys that combine acoustic velocity and density data to calculate acoustic estimates of elastic moduli. However, logistical concerns arise since the approach must be conducted at the advancing tunnel face. As a result, borehole mechanical property analyses are rarely used. Within this context, laboratory ultrasonic pulse velocity testing has been proposed as a potential alternative to borehole mechanical property analysis since moving the analysis to the laboratory would remove logistical constraints and improve safety for the evaluators. In addition to the traditional method of conducting velocity testing along the core axis, two new methodologies for point-focused testing were developed across the core diameter, and indirectly along intact lengths of drill core. The indirect test procedure was implemented in a continuous ultrasonic velocity test program along 573m of drill core to identify key geologic structures that generated transitions in ultrasonic elastic moduli. The test program was successful at identifying the location of geologic contacts, igneous intrusions, faults and shear structures. Ultrasonic values of Young's modulus and bulk modulus were determined at locations of significant velocity transitions to examine the potential for energy storage and energy release. Comparison of results from different ultrasonic velocity test configurations determined that the indirect test configuration provided underestimates for values of Young's modulus. This indicated that the test procedure will require modifications to improve coupling of the transducers to the core surface. In order to assess whether laboratory testing can be an alternative to borehole surveys, laboratory velocity testing must be directly assessed with results from acoustic borehole logging. There is also potential for the laboratory velocity program to be used to assess small scale stiffness changes, differences in mineral composition and the degree of fracturing of drill core.

Compression Stiffening of Brain and its Effect on Mechanosensing by Glioma Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pogoda, Katarzyna

The stiffness of tissues, often characterized by their time-dependent elastic properties, is tightly controlled under normal condition and central nervous system tissue is among the softest tissues. Changes in tissue and organ stiffness occur in some physiological conditions and are frequently symptoms of diseases such as fibrosis, cardiovascular disease and many forms of cancer. Primary cells isolated from various tissues often respond to changes in the mechanical properties of their substrates, and the range of stiffness over which these responses occur appear to be limited to the tissue elastic modulus from which they are derived. Our goal was to test the hypotheses that the stiffness of tumors derived from CNS tissue differs from that of normal brain, and that transformed cells derived from such tumors exhibit mechanical responses that differ from those of normal glial cells. Unlike breast and some other cancers where the stroma and the tumor itself is substantially stiffer than the surrounding normal tissue, our data suggest that gliomas can arise without a gross change in the macroscopic tissue stiffness when measured at low strains without compression. However, both normal brain and glioma samples stiffen with compression, but not in elongation and increased shear strains. On the other hand, different classes of immortalized cells derived from human glioblastoma show substantially different responses to the stiffness of substrates in vitrowhen grown on soft polyacrylamide and hyaluronic acid gels. This outcome supports the hypothesis that compression stiffening, which might occur with increased vascularization and interstitial pressure gradients that are characteristic of tumors, effectively stiffens the environment of glioma cells, and that in situ, the elastic resistance these cells sense might be sufficient to trigger the same responses that are activated in vitro by increased substrate stiffness.

The angiotensin receptor blocker losartan reduces coronary arteriole remodeling in type 2 diabetic mice

PubMed Central

Husarek, Kathryn E.; Katz, Paige S.; Trask, Aaron J.; Galantowicz, Maarten L.; Cismowski, Mary J.; Lucchesi, Pamela A.

2017-01-01

Cardiovascular complications are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and are associated with alterations of blood vessel structure and function. Although endothelial dysfunction and aortic stiffness have been documented, little is known about the effects of T2DM on coronary microvascular structural remodeling. The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system plays an important role in large artery stiffness and mesenteric vessel remodeling in hypertension and T2DM. The goal of this study was to determine whether the blockade of AT1R signaling dictates vascular smooth muscle growth that partially underlies coronary arteriole remodeling in T2DM. Control and db/db mice were given AT1R blocker losartan via drinking water for 4 weeks. Using pressure myography, we found that coronary arterioles from 16-week db/db mice undergo inward hypertrophic remodeling due to increased wall thickness and wall-to-lumen ratio with a decreased lumen diameter. This remodeling was accompanied by decreased elastic modulus (decreased stiffness). Losartan treatment decreased wall thickness, wall-to-lumen ratio, and coronary arteriole cell number in db/db mice. Losartan treatment did not affect incremental elastic modulus. However, losartan improved coronary flow reserve. Our data suggest that Ang II–AT1R signaling mediates, at least in part, coronary arteriole inward hypertrophic remodeling in T2DM without affecting vascular mechanics, further suggesting that targeting the coronary microvasculature in T2DM may help reduce cardiac ischemic events. PMID:26133668

Muscle stiffness of posterior lower leg in runners with a history of medial tibial stress syndrome.

PubMed

Saeki, J; Nakamura, M; Nakao, S; Fujita, K; Yanase, K; Ichihashi, N

2018-01-01

Previous history of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is a risk factor for MTSS relapse, which suggests that there might be some physical factors that are related to MTSS development in runners with a history of MTSS. The relationship between MTSS and muscle stiffness can be assessed in a cross-sectional study that measures muscle stiffness in subjects with a history of MTSS, who do not have pain at the time of measurement, and in those without a history of MTSS. The purpose of this study was to compare the shear elastic modulus, which is an index of muscle stiffness, of all posterior lower leg muscles of subjects with a history of MTSS and those with no history and investigate which muscles could be related to MTSS. Twenty-four male collegiate runners (age, 20.0±1.7 years; height, 172.7±4.8 cm; weight, 57.3±3.7 kg) participated in this study; 14 had a history of MTSS, and 10 did not. The shear elastic moduli of the lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, soleus, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, and tibialis posterior were measured using shear wave elastography. The shear elastic moduli of the flexor digitorum longus and tibialis posterior were significantly higher in subjects with a history of MTSS than in those with no history. However, there was no significant difference in the shear elastic moduli of other muscles. The results of this study suggest that flexor digitorum longus and tibialis posterior stiffness could be related to MTSS. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Derivation of stiffness matrix in constitutive modeling of magnetorheological elastomer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leng, D.; Sun, L.; Sun, J.; Lin, Y.

2013-02-01

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are a class of smart materials whose mechanical properties change instantly by the application of a magnetic field. Based on the specially orthotropic, transversely isotropic stress-strain relationships and effective permeability model, the stiffness matrix of constitutive equations for deformable chain-like MRE is considered. To valid the components of shear modulus in this stiffness matrix, the magnetic-structural simulations with finite element method (FEM) are presented. An acceptable agreement is illustrated between analytical equations and numerical simulations. For the specified magnetic field, sphere particle radius, distance between adjacent particles in chains and volume fractions of ferrous particles, this constitutive equation is effective to engineering application to estimate the elastic behaviour of chain-like MRE in an external magnetic field.

The study of stiffness modulus values for AC-WC pavement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lubis, AS; Muis, Z. A.; Iskandar, T. D.

2018-02-01

One of the parameters of the asphalt mixture in order for the strength and durability to be achieved as required is the stress-and-strain showing the stiffness of a material. Stiffness modulus is a very necessary factor that will affect the performance of asphalt pavements. If the stiffness modulus value decreases there will be a cause of aging asphalt pavement crack easily when receiving a heavy load. The high stiffness modulus asphalt concrete causes more stiff and resistant to bending. The stiffness modulus value of an asphalt mixture material can be obtained from the theoretical (indirect methods) and laboratory test results (direct methods). For the indirect methods used Brown & Brunton method, and Shell Bitumen method; while for the direct methods used the UMATTA tool. This study aims to determine stiffness modulus values for AC-WC pavement. The tests were conducted in laboratory that used 3 methods, i.e. Brown & Brunton Method, Shell Bitumen Method and Marshall Test as a substitute tool for the UMATTA tool. Hotmix asphalt made from type AC-WC with pen 60/70 using a mixture of optimum bitumen content was 5.84% with a standard temperature variation was 60°C and several variations of temperature that were 30, 40, 50, 70 and 80°C. The stiffness modulus value results obtained from Brown & Brunton Method, Shell Bitumen Method and Marshall Test which were 1374,93 Mpa, 235,45 Mpa dan 254,96 Mpa. The stiffness modulus value decreases with increasing temperature of the concrete asphalt. The stiffness modulus value from the Bitumen Shell method and the Marshall Test has a relatively similar value.The stiffness modulus value from the Brown & Brunton method is greater than the Bitumen Shell method and the Marshall Test, but can not measure the stiffness modulus value at temperature above 80°C.

Elastic interactions between single microcrack and single osteon microstructure of human femur cortical bone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansor, N. N.; Daud, R.; Basaruddin, K. S.; Mat, F.; Bajuri, Y.; Ariffin, A. K.

2017-09-01

Inmultiscale Haversian system of cortical bone fracture, a homogenous bone modeling consideration is limited to only one Young modulus was significant for each cortex without having any constituents in that bone. A two dimension model of human femur cortical bone is presented by considering the anatomical positions of four cortices, e.g anterior, posterior, medial and lateral. The Haversian system is modeled under tensile loading by considering the interstitial matrix, osteon and cement line mechanical properties. The interaction between single microcrack and single osteon is evaluated using linear elastic fracture mechanics theory, and was determined using of stress intensity factor, strain energy release rate, and the critical stress intensity factor and critical strain energy release rate parameter. The results indicate that the medial cortex has the highest SIFs while the lowest was posterior cortex. The Young modulus of material was greatly influence the fracture parameters. More stiff the material, the SIF was reduced.

Mechanical properties of particulate composites based on a body-centered-cubic Mg-Li alloy containing boron

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whalen, R. T.; Gonzalez-Doncel, G.; Robinson, S. L.; Sherby, O. D.

1989-01-01

The effect of substituting the Mg metal in Mg-B composites by a Mg-14 wt pct Li solid solution on the ductility of the resulting composite was investigated using elastic modulus measurements on the P/M composite material prepared with a dispersion of B particles (in a vol pct range of 0-30) in a matrix of Mg-14 wt pct Li-1.5 wt pct Al. It was found that the elastic modulus of the composites increased rapidly with increasing boron, with specific stiffness values reaching about two times that of most structural materials. The values of the compression and tensile strengths increased significantly with boron additions. Good tensile ductility was achieved at the level of 10 vol pct B. However, at 20 vol pct B, the Mg-Li composite exhibited only limited tensile ductility (about 2 percent total elongation).

Evaluation of silicon carbide fiber/titanium composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jech, R. W.; Signorelli, R. A.

1979-01-01

Izod impact, tensile, and modulus of elasticity were determined for silicon carbide fiber/titanium composites to evaluate their potential usefulness as substitutes for titanium alloys or stainless steel in stiffness critical applications for aircraft turbine engines. Variations in processing conditions and matrix ductility were examined to produce composites having good impact strength in both the as-fabricated condition and after air exposure at elevated temperature. The impact strengths of composites containing 36 volume percent silicon carbide (SiC) fiber in an unalloyed (A-40) titanium matrix were found to be equal to unreinforced titanium-6 aluminum-4 vanadium alloy; the tensile strengths of the composites were marginally better than the unreinforced unalloyed (A-70) matrix at elevated temperature, though not at room temperature. At room temperature the modulus of elasticity of the composites was 48 percent higher than titanium or its alloys and 40 percent higher than that of stainless steel.

Development of an intravascular ultrasound elastography based on a dual-element transducer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shih, Cho-Chiang; Chen, Pei-Yu; Ma, Teng; Zhou, Qifa; Shung, K. Kirk; Huang, Chih-Chung

2018-04-01

The ability to measure the elastic properties of plaques and vessels would be useful in clinical diagnoses, particularly for detecting a vulnerable plaque. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the combination of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and acoustic radiation force elasticity imaging for detecting the distribution of stiffness within atherosclerotic arteries ex vivo. A dual-frequency IVUS transducer with two elements was used to induce the propagation of the shear wave (by the 8.5 MHz pushing element) which could be simultaneously monitored by the 31 MHz imaging element. The wave-amplitude image and the wave-velocity image were reconstructed by measuring the peak displacement and wave velocity of shear wave propagation, respectively. System performance was verified using gelatin phantoms. The phantom results demonstrate that the stiffness differences of shear modulus of 1.6 kPa can be distinguished through the wave-amplitude and wave-velocity images. The stiffness distributions of the atherosclerotic aorta from a rabbit were obtained, for which the values of peak displacement and the shear wave velocity were 3.7 ± 1.2 µm and 0.38 ± 0.19 m s-1 for the lipid-rich plaques, and 1.0 ± 0.2 µm and 3.45 ± 0.45 m s-1 for the arterial walls, respectively. These results indicate that IVUS elasticity imaging can be used to distinguish the elastic properties of plaques and vessels.

Age-related variation in the mechanical properties of foods processed by Sapajus libidinosus.

PubMed

Chalk, Janine; Wright, Barth W; Lucas, Peter W; Schuhmacher, Katherine D; Vogel, Erin R; Fragaszy, Dorothy; Visalberghi, Elisabetta; Izar, Patrícia; Richmond, Brian G

2016-02-01

The diet of tufted capuchins (Sapajus) is characterized by annual or seasonal incorporation of mechanically protected foods. Reliance on these foods raises questions about the dietary strategies of young individuals that lack strength and experience to access these resources. Previous research has demonstrated differences between the feeding competencies of adult and juvenile tufted capuchins. Here we test the hypothesis that, compared to adults, juveniles will process foods with lower toughness and elastic moduli. We present data on variation in the toughness and elastic modulus of food tissues processed by Sapajus libidinosus during the dry season at Fazenda Boa Vista, Brazil. Food mechanical property data were collected using a portable universal mechanical tester. Results show that food tissues processed by the capuchins showed significant differences in toughness and stiffness. However, we found no relationship between an individual's age and mean or maximum food toughness or elastic modulus, indicating both juvenile and adult S. libidinosus are able to process foods of comparable properties. Although it has been suggested that juveniles avoid mechanically protected foods, age-related differences in feeding competence are not solely due to variation in food toughness or stiffness. Other factors related to food type (e.g., learning complex behavioral sequences, achieving manual dexterity, obtaining physical strength to lift stone tools, or recognizing subtle cues about food state) combined with food mechanical properties better explain variation in juvenile feeding competency. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Material modeling of biofilm mechanical properties.

PubMed

Laspidou, C S; Spyrou, L A; Aravas, N; Rittmann, B E

2014-05-01

A biofilm material model and a procedure for numerical integration are developed in this article. They enable calculation of a composite Young's modulus that varies in the biofilm and evolves with deformation. The biofilm-material model makes it possible to introduce a modeling example, produced by the Unified Multi-Component Cellular Automaton model, into the general-purpose finite-element code ABAQUS. Compressive, tensile, and shear loads are imposed, and the way the biofilm mechanical properties evolve is assessed. Results show that the local values of Young's modulus increase under compressive loading, since compression results in the voids "closing," thus making the material stiffer. For the opposite reason, biofilm stiffness decreases when tensile loads are imposed. Furthermore, the biofilm is more compliant in shear than in compression or tension due to the how the elastic shear modulus relates to Young's modulus. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

High strength, low stiffness, porous NiTi with superelastic properties.

PubMed

Greiner, Christian; Oppenheimer, Scott M; Dunand, David C

2005-11-01

Near-stoichiometric NiTi with up to 18% closed porosity was produced by expansion at 1200 degrees C of argon-filled pores trapped by powder metallurgy within a NiTi billet. When optimally heat-treated, NiTi with 6-16% porosity exhibits superelasticity, with recoverable compressive strains up to 6% at a maximum compressive stress up to 1700 MPa. The apparent Young's modulus of NiTi with 16% porosity, measured during uniaxial compression, is in the range of 15-25 GPa (similar to human bone), but is much lower than measured ultrasonically (approximately 40 GPa), or predicted from continuum elastic mechanics. This effect is attributed to the reversible stress-induced transformation contributing to the linear elastic deformation of porous NiTi. The unique combination of low stiffness, high strength, high recoverable strains and large energy absorption of porous superelastic NiTi, together with the known biocompatibility of NiTi, makes this material attractive for bone-implant applications.

Bonded joint and method. [for reducing peak shear stress in adhesive bonds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sainsbury-Carter, J. B. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

An improved joint is described for reducing the peak shear stress in adhesive bonds when adhesives are used to bond two materials which are in a lapped relationship and which differ in value of modulus of elasticity. An insert placed between the adhesive and one of the two materials acts to cushion the discontinuity of material stiffness thereby reducing the peak shear stress in the adhesive bond.

Mechanical properties of individual southern pine fibers. Part III. Global relationships between fiber properties and fiber location within an individual tree.

Treesearch

Leslie H. Groom; Stephen Shaler; Laurence Mott

2002-01-01

This is the third and final paper in a three-part series investigating the effect of location within a tree on the mechanical properties of individual wood tracheids. This paper focuses on the definition of juvenile, transition, and mature zones as classified by fiber stiffness, strength, microfibril angle, and cross-sectional area. The average modulus of elasticity...

Mechanical Properties of Individual Southern Pine Fibers. Part III: Global Relationships Between Fiber Properties and Fiber Location Within An Individual Tree

Treesearch

Les Groom; Stephen Shaler; Laurence Mott

2002-01-01

This is the third and final paper in a three-part series investigating the effect of location within a tree on the mechanical properties of individual wood tracheids. This paper focuses on the definition of juvenile, transition, and mature zones as classified by fiber stiffness, strength, microfibril angle, and cross-sectional area. The average modulus of elasticity...

The potential of acoustics to determine family differences for wood quality in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trial

Treesearch

E M Raley; Jennifer H Myszewski; T D Byram

2007-01-01

Acoustics have been used to determine wood quality attributes in both standing timber and sawn lumber. Sonic transmission data are collected non-destructively and can act as a surrogate for stiffness, they are directly related to modulus of elasticity (MOE) and closely related to differences in microfibril angle (MFA). Together with wood density, MFA and MOE are the...

Elasticity, biodegradability and cell adhesive properties of chitosan/hyaluronan multilayer films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Aurore; Richert, Ludovic; Francius, Gregory; Voegel, Jean-Claude; Picart, Catherine

2007-03-01

In the bioengineering field, a recent and promising approach to modifying biomaterial surfaces is the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique used to build thin polyelectrolyte multilayer films. In this work, we focused on polyelectrolyte multilayer films made of two polysaccharides, chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronan (HA), and on the control of their physico-chemical and cell adhesive properties by chemical cross-linking. CHI/HA films were cross-linked using a water soluble carbodiimide and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) with a fluorescently labeled CHI. Film thicknesses were similar for native and cross-linked films. The film nanometer roughness was measured by atomic force microscopy and was found to be higher for cross-linked films. Cross-linking the films also leads to a drastic change in film stiffness. The elastic modulus of the films (Young's modulus) as measured by AFM nano-indentation was about tenfold increased for cross-linked films as compared to native ones. From a biological point of view, cross-liked films are more resistant to enzymatic degradation by hyaluronidase. Furthermore, the increase in film stiffness has a favorable effect on the adhesion and spreading of chondrosarcoma cells. Thus, the CHI/HA cross-linked films could be used for various applications due to their adhesive properties and to their mechanical properties (including stability in enzymatic media).

Effectiveness of Modal Decomposition for Tapping Atomic Force Microscopy Microcantilevers in Liquid Environment.

PubMed

Kim, Il Kwang; Lee, Soo Il

2016-05-01

The modal decomposition of tapping mode atomic force microscopy microcantilevers in liquid environments was studied experimentally. Microcantilevers with different lengths and stiffnesses and two sample surfaces with different elastic moduli were used in the experiment. The response modes of the microcantilevers were extracted as proper orthogonal modes through proper orthogonal decomposition. Smooth orthogonal decomposition was used to estimate the resonance frequency directly. The effects of the tapping setpoint and the elastic modulus of the sample under test were examined in terms of their multi-mode responses with proper orthogonal modes, proper orthogonal values, smooth orthogonal modes and smooth orthogonal values. Regardless of the stiffness of the microcantilever under test, the first mode was dominant in tapping mode atomic force microscopy under normal operating conditions. However, at lower tapping setpoints, the flexible microcantilever showed modal distortion and noise near the tip when tapping on a hard sample. The stiff microcantilever had a higher mode effect on a soft sample at lower tapping setpoints. Modal decomposition for tapping mode atomic force microscopy can thus be used to estimate the characteristics of samples in liquid environments.

Spatial variation in mandibular bone elastic modulus and its effect on structural bending stiffness: A test case using the Taï Forest monkeys.

PubMed

Le, Kim N; Marsik, Matthew; Daegling, David J; Duque, Ana; McGraw, William Scott

2017-03-01

We investigated how heterogeneity in material stiffness affects structural stiffness in the cercopithecid mandibular cortical bone. We assessed (1) whether this effect changes the interpretation of interspecific structural stiffness variation across four primate species, (2) whether the heterogeneity is random, and (3) whether heterogeneity mitigates bending stress in the jaw associated with food processing. The sample consisted of Taï Forest, Cote d'Ivoire, monkeys: Cercocebus atys, Piliocolobus badius, Colobus polykomos, and Cercopithecus diana. Vickers indentation hardness samples estimated elastic moduli throughout the cortical bone area of each coronal section of postcanine corpus. For each section, we calculated maximum area moment of inertia, I max (structural mechanical property), under three models of material heterogeneity, as well as spatial autocorrelation statistics (Moran's I, I MORAN ). When the model considered material stiffness variation and spatial patterning, I max decreased and individual ranks based on structural stiffness changed. Rank changes were not significant across models. All specimens showed positive (nonrandom) spatial autocorrelation. Differences in I MORAN were not significant among species, and there were no discernable patterns of autocorrelation within species. Across species, significant local I MORAN was often attributed to proximity of low moduli in the alveolar process and high moduli in the basal process. While our sample did not demonstrate species differences in the degree of spatial autocorrelation of elastic moduli, there may be mechanical effects of heterogeneity (relative strength and rigidity) that do distinguish at the species or subfamilial level (i.e., colobines vs. cercopithecines). The potential connections of heterogeneity to diet and/or taxonomy remain to be discovered. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Structural and elastoplastic properties of β -Ga2O3 films grown on hybrid SiC/Si substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osipov, A. V.; Grashchenko, A. S.; Kukushkin, S. A.; Nikolaev, V. I.; Osipova, E. V.; Pechnikov, A. I.; Soshnikov, I. P.

2018-04-01

Structural and mechanical properties of gallium oxide films grown on (001), (011) and (111) silicon substrates with a buffer layer of silicon carbide are studied. The buffer layer was fabricated by the atom substitution method, i.e., one silicon atom per unit cell in the substrate was substituted by a carbon atom by chemical reaction with carbon monoxide. The surface and bulk structure properties of gallium oxide films have been studied by atomic-force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The nanoindentation method was used to investigate the elastoplastic characteristics of gallium oxide, and also to determine the elastic recovery parameter of the films under study. The ultimate tensile strength, hardness, elastic stiffness constants, elastic compliance constants, Young's modulus, linear compressibility, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio and other characteristics of gallium oxide have been calculated by quantum chemistry methods based on the PBESOL functional. It is shown that all these properties of gallium oxide are essentially anisotropic. The calculated values are compared with experimental data. We conclude that a change in the silicon orientation leads to a significant reorientation of gallium oxide.

Effects of habitual loading on patellar tendon mechanical and morphological properties in basketball and volleyball players.

PubMed

Zhang, Z J; Ng, G Y F; Fu, S N

2015-11-01

Tendon mechanical properties are linked to sports performance and tendon-related injuries, such as tendinopathy. Whether habitual loading, such as participation in regular jumping activities, would induce adaptation on tendon mechanical properties remains unclear. Forty healthy subjects (10 sedentary, 15 volleyball players, and 15 basketball players) aged between 18 and 35 years were recruited. Supersonic shearwave imaging was used to measure the shear elastic modulus and thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the proximal patellar tendons of both knees at 30° of flexion. Significant group differences in tendon shear elastic modulus were found among the three groups. In the dominant leg, reduction in tendon shear elastic modulus by 18.9 % (p = 0.018) and 48.7 % (p = 0.000) were observed in the basketball and volleyball players, respectively, when compared with sedentary subjects. In the non-dominant leg, reduction in tendon shear elastic modulus were 27.3 % (p = 0.034) and 47.1 % (p = 0.02) in the basketball and volleyball players, respectively. The athlete groups were found to have larger CSA but with similar tendon thickness than sedentary group. The CSA were larger by 24-29 % and by 22-24 % in the basketball players and volleyball players, for the dominant and non-dominant legs, respectively (all p < 0.05). Age and body mass are related to tendon stiffness and CSA, particularly in the sedentary subjects. The proximal patellar tendon can undergo substantial adaptation on tendon mechanical and morphological properties when exposed in jumping sports. Intrinsic factors such as age and body mass could influence tendon properties.

Modeling the Elastic Modulus of 2D Woven CVI SiC Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morscher, Gregory N.

2006-01-01

The use of fiber, interphase, CVI SiC minicomposites as structural elements for 2D-woven SiC fiber reinforced chemically vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiC matrix composites is demonstrated to be a viable approach to model the elastic modulus of these composite systems when tensile loaded in an orthogonal direction. The 0deg (loading direction) and 90deg (perpendicular to loading direction) oriented minicomposites as well as the open porosity and excess SiC associated with CVI SiC composites were all modeled as parallel elements using simple Rule of Mixtures techniques. Excellent agreement for a variety of 2D woven Hi-Nicalon(TradeMark) fiber-reinforced and Sylramic-iBN reinforced CVI SiC matrix composites that differed in numbers of plies, constituent content, thickness, density, and number of woven tows in either direction (i.e, balanced weaves versus unbalanced weaves) was achieved. It was found that elastic modulus was not only dependent on constituent content, but also the degree to which 90deg minicomposites carried load. This depended on the degree of interaction between 90deg and 0deg minicomposites which was quantified to some extent by composite density. The relationships developed here for elastic modulus only necessitated the knowledge of the fractional contents of fiber, interphase and CVI SiC as well as the tow size and shape. It was concluded that such relationships are fairly robust for orthogonally loaded 2D woven CVI SiC composite system and can be implemented by ceramic matrix composite component modelers and designers for modeling the local stiffness in simple or complex parts fabricated with variable constituent contents.

The effect of woven and non-woven fiber structure on mechanical properties polyester composite reinforced kenaf

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratim, S.; Bonnia, N. N.; Surip, S. N.

2012-07-01

The effects of woven and non-woven kenaf fiber on mechanical properties of polyester composites were studied at different types of perform structures. Composite polyester reinforced kenaf fiber has been prepared via hand lay-up process by varying fiber forms into plain weave, twill and mats structure. The reinforcing efficiency of different fiber structure was compared with control of unreinforced polyester sample. It was found that the strength and stiffness of the composites are largely affected by fiber structure. A maximum value for tensile strength of composite was obtained for twill weave pattern of fiber structure while no significant different for plain weave and mat structure. The elastic modulus of composite has shown some improvement on plain and twill weave pattern. Meanwhile, lower value of modulus elasticity achieved by mats structure composite as well as control sample. The modulus of rupture and impact resistance were also analyzed. The improvement of modulus of rupture value can be seen on plain and twill weave pattern. However impact resistance doesn't show significant improvement in all types of structure except for mat fiber. The mechanical properties of kenaf fiber reinforced polyester composite found to be increased with woven and non-woven fiber structures in composite.

Stiffness and strength of oxygen-functionalized graphene with vacancies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zandiatashbar, A.; Ban, E.; Picu, R. C., E-mail: picuc@rpi.edu

2014-11-14

The 2D elastic modulus (E{sup 2D}) and strength (σ{sup 2D}) of defective graphene sheets containing vacancies, epoxide, and hydroxyl functional groups are evaluated at 300 K by atomistic simulations. The fraction of vacancies is controlled in the range 0% to 5%, while the density of functional groups corresponds to O:C ratios in the range 0% to 25%. In-plane modulus and strength diagrams as functions of vacancy and functional group densities are generated using models with a single type of defect and with combinations of two types of defects (vacancies and functional groups). It is observed that in models containing only vacancies,more » the rate at which strength decreases with increasing the concentration of defects is largest, followed by models containing only epoxide groups and those with only hydroxyl groups. The effect on modulus of vacancies and epoxides present alone in the model is similar, and much stronger than that of hydroxyl groups. When the concentration of defects is large, the combined effect of the functional groups and vacancies cannot be obtained as the superposition of individual effects of the two types of defects. The elastic modulus deteriorates faster (slower) than predicted by superposition in systems containing vacancies and hydroxyl groups (vacancies and epoxide groups)« less

The angiotensin receptor blocker losartan reduces coronary arteriole remodeling in type 2 diabetic mice.

PubMed

Husarek, Kathryn E; Katz, Paige S; Trask, Aaron J; Galantowicz, Maarten L; Cismowski, Mary J; Lucchesi, Pamela A

2016-01-01

Cardiovascular complications are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and are associated with alterations of blood vessel structure and function. Although endothelial dysfunction and aortic stiffness have been documented, little is known about the effects of T2DM on coronary microvascular structural remodeling. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays an important role in large artery stiffness and mesenteric vessel remodeling in hypertension and T2DM. The goal of this study was to determine whether the blockade of AT1R signaling dictates vascular smooth muscle growth that partially underlies coronary arteriole remodeling in T2DM. Control and db/db mice were given AT1R blocker losartan via drinking water for 4 weeks. Using pressure myography, we found that coronary arterioles from 16-week db/db mice undergo inward hypertrophic remodeling due to increased wall thickness and wall-to-lumen ratio with a decreased lumen diameter. This remodeling was accompanied by decreased elastic modulus (decreased stiffness). Losartan treatment decreased wall thickness, wall-to-lumen ratio, and coronary arteriole cell number in db/db mice. Losartan treatment did not affect incremental elastic modulus. However, losartan improved coronary flow reserve. Our data suggest that Ang II-AT1R signaling mediates, at least in part, coronary arteriole inward hypertrophic remodeling in T2DM without affecting vascular mechanics, further suggesting that targeting the coronary microvasculature in T2DM may help reduce cardiac ischemic events. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Accounting for spatial variation of trabecular anisotropy with subject-specific finite element modeling moderately improves predictions of local subchondral bone stiffness at the proximal tibia.

PubMed

Nazemi, S Majid; Kalajahi, S Mehrdad Hosseini; Cooper, David M L; Kontulainen, Saija A; Holdsworth, David W; Masri, Bassam A; Wilson, David R; Johnston, James D

2017-07-05

Previously, a finite element (FE) model of the proximal tibia was developed and validated against experimentally measured local subchondral stiffness. This model indicated modest predictions of stiffness (R 2 =0.77, normalized root mean squared error (RMSE%)=16.6%). Trabecular bone though was modeled with isotropic material properties despite its orthotropic anisotropy. The objective of this study was to identify the anisotropic FE modeling approach which best predicted (with largest explained variance and least amount of error) local subchondral bone stiffness at the proximal tibia. Local stiffness was measured at the subchondral surface of 13 medial/lateral tibial compartments using in situ macro indentation testing. An FE model of each specimen was generated assuming uniform anisotropy with 14 different combinations of cortical- and tibial-specific density-modulus relationships taken from the literature. Two FE models of each specimen were also generated which accounted for the spatial variation of trabecular bone anisotropy directly from clinical CT images using grey-level structure tensor and Cowin's fabric-elasticity equations. Stiffness was calculated using FE and compared to measured stiffness in terms of R 2 and RMSE%. The uniform anisotropic FE model explained 53-74% of the measured stiffness variance, with RMSE% ranging from 12.4 to 245.3%. The models which accounted for spatial variation of trabecular bone anisotropy predicted 76-79% of the variance in stiffness with RMSE% being 11.2-11.5%. Of the 16 evaluated finite element models in this study, the combination of Synder and Schneider (for cortical bone) and Cowin's fabric-elasticity equations (for trabecular bone) best predicted local subchondral bone stiffness. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Titanium/beryllium laminates: Fabrication, mechanical properties, and potential aerospace applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, C. C.; Lark, R. F.

1978-01-01

The investigation indicated that structural laminates can be made which have: a modulus of elasticity comparable to steel, fracture strength of comparable to the yield strength of titanium, density comparable to aluminum, impact resistance comparable to titanium, and little or no notch sensitivity. These laminates can have stiffness and weight advantages over other materials including advanced fiber composites, in some aerospace applications where buckling resistance, vibration frequencies, and weight considerations control the design.

Evaluation of Antivascular Combretastatin A4 P Efficacy Using Supersonic Shear Imaging Technique of Ectopic Colon Carcinoma CT26.

PubMed

Seguin, Johanne; Mignet, Nathalie; Latorre Ossa, Heldmuth; Tanter, Mickaël; Gennisson, Jean-Luc

2017-10-01

A recent ultrasound imaging technique-shear wave elastography-showed its ability to image and quantify the mechanical properties of biological tissues, such as prostate or liver tissues. In the present study this technique was used to evaluate the relationship among tumor growth, stiffness and reduction of treatment with combretastatin (CA4 P) in allografted colon tumor CT26 in mice. During 12 d, CT26 tumor growth (n = 52) was imaged by ultrasound, and shear modulus was quantified, showing a good correlation between tumor volume and stiffness (r = 0.59). The treatment was initiated at d 12 and monitored every d during 4 d. Following the treatment, the tumor volume had decreased, while the elasticity of the tumor volume remained steady throughout the treatment. After segmentation using the shear modulus map, a detailed analysis showed a decrease in the stiffness after treatment. This reduction in the mechanical properties was shown to correlate with tissue reorganization, particularly, fibrosis and necrosis, assessed by histology. Copyright © 2017 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Viscoelastic damping in crystalline composites and alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranganathan, Raghavan; Ozisik, Rahmi; Keblinski, Pawel

We use molecular dynamics simulations to study viscoelastic behavior of model Lennard-Jones (LJ) crystalline composites subject to an oscillatory shear deformation. The two crystals, namely a soft and a stiff phase, individually show highly elastic behavior and a very small loss modulus. On the other hand, when the stiff phase is included within the soft matrix as a sphere, the composite exhibits significant viscoelastic damping and a large phase shift between stress and strain. In fact, the maximum loss modulus in these model composites was found to be about 20 times greater than that given by the theoretical Hashin-Shtrikman upper bound. We attribute this behavior to the fact that in composites shear strain is highly inhomogeneous and mostly accommodated by the soft phase, corroborated by frequency-dependent Grüneisen parameter analysis. Interestingly, the frequency at which the damping is greatest scales with the microstructural length scale of the composite. Finally, a critical comparison between damping properties of these composites with ordered and disordered alloys and superlattice structures is made.

Design and mechanical properties of insect cuticle.

PubMed

Vincent, Julian F V; Wegst, Ulrike G K

2004-07-01

Since nearly all adult insects fly, the cuticle has to provide a very efficient and lightweight skeleton. Information is available about the mechanical properties of cuticle-Young's modulus of resilin is about 1 MPa, of soft cuticles about 1 kPa to 50 MPa, of sclerotised cuticles 1-20 GPa; Vicker's Hardness of sclerotised cuticle ranges between 25 and 80 kgf mm(-2); density is 1-1.3 kg m(-3)-and one of its components, chitin nanofibres, the Young's modulus of which is more than 150 GPa. Experiments based on fracture mechanics have not been performed although the layered structure probably provides some toughening. The structural performance of wings and legs has been measured, but our understanding of the importance of buckling is lacking: it can stiffen the structure (by elastic postbuckling in wings, for example) or be a failure mode. We know nothing of fatigue properties (yet, for instance, the insect wing must undergo millions of cycles, flexing or buckling on each cycle). The remarkable mechanical performance and efficiency of cuticle can be analysed and compared with those of other materials using material property charts and material indices. Presented in this paper are four: Young's modulus-density (stiffness per unit weight), specific Young's modulus-specific strength (elastic hinges, elastic energy storage per unit weight), toughness-Young's modulus (fracture resistance under various loading conditions), and hardness (wear resistance). In conjunction with a structural analysis of cuticle these charts help to understand the relevance of microstructure (fibre orientation effects in tendons, joints and sense organs, for example) and shape (including surface structure) of this fibrous composite for a given function. With modern techniques for analysis of structure and material, and emphasis on nanocomposites and self-assembly, insect cuticle should be the archetype for composites at all levels of scale.

Reconstruction of elasticity: a stochastic model-based approach in ultrasound elastography

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The convectional strain-based algorithm has been widely utilized in clinical practice. It can only provide the information of relative information of tissue stiffness. However, the exact information of tissue stiffness should be valuable for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods In this study we propose a reconstruction strategy to recover the mechanical properties of the tissue. After the discrepancies between the biomechanical model and data are modeled as the process noise, and the biomechanical model constraint is transformed into a state space representation the reconstruction of elasticity can be accomplished through one filtering identification process, which is to recursively estimate the material properties and kinematic functions from ultrasound data according to the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criteria. In the implementation of this model-based algorithm, the linear isotropic elasticity is adopted as the biomechanical constraint. The estimation of kinematic functions (i.e., the full displacement and velocity field), and the distribution of Young’s modulus are computed simultaneously through an extended Kalman filter (EKF). Results In the following experiments the accuracy and robustness of this filtering framework is first evaluated on synthetic data in controlled conditions, and the performance of this framework is then evaluated in the real data collected from elastography phantom and patients using the ultrasound system. Quantitative analysis verifies that strain fields estimated by our filtering strategy are more closer to the ground truth. The distribution of Young’s modulus is also well estimated. Further, the effects of measurement noise and process noise have been investigated as well. Conclusions The advantage of this model-based algorithm over the conventional strain-based algorithm is its potential of providing the distribution of elasticity under a proper biomechanical model constraint. We address the model-data discrepancy and measurement noise by introducing process noise and measurement noise in our framework, and then the absolute values of Young’s modulus are estimated through the EFK in the MMSE sense. However, the initial conditions, and the mesh strategy will affect the performance, i.e., the convergence rate, and computational cost, etc. PMID:23937814

Reconstruction of elasticity: a stochastic model-based approach in ultrasound elastography.

PubMed

Lu, Minhua; Zhang, Heye; Wang, Jun; Yuan, Jinwei; Hu, Zhenghui; Liu, Huafeng

2013-08-10

The convectional strain-based algorithm has been widely utilized in clinical practice. It can only provide the information of relative information of tissue stiffness. However, the exact information of tissue stiffness should be valuable for clinical diagnosis and treatment. In this study we propose a reconstruction strategy to recover the mechanical properties of the tissue. After the discrepancies between the biomechanical model and data are modeled as the process noise, and the biomechanical model constraint is transformed into a state space representation the reconstruction of elasticity can be accomplished through one filtering identification process, which is to recursively estimate the material properties and kinematic functions from ultrasound data according to the minimum mean square error (MMSE) criteria. In the implementation of this model-based algorithm, the linear isotropic elasticity is adopted as the biomechanical constraint. The estimation of kinematic functions (i.e., the full displacement and velocity field), and the distribution of Young's modulus are computed simultaneously through an extended Kalman filter (EKF). In the following experiments the accuracy and robustness of this filtering framework is first evaluated on synthetic data in controlled conditions, and the performance of this framework is then evaluated in the real data collected from elastography phantom and patients using the ultrasound system. Quantitative analysis verifies that strain fields estimated by our filtering strategy are more closer to the ground truth. The distribution of Young's modulus is also well estimated. Further, the effects of measurement noise and process noise have been investigated as well. The advantage of this model-based algorithm over the conventional strain-based algorithm is its potential of providing the distribution of elasticity under a proper biomechanical model constraint. We address the model-data discrepancy and measurement noise by introducing process noise and measurement noise in our framework, and then the absolute values of Young's modulus are estimated through the EFK in the MMSE sense. However, the initial conditions, and the mesh strategy will affect the performance, i.e., the convergence rate, and computational cost, etc.

Quantitative Assessment of Skin Stiffness in Localized Scleroderma Using Ultrasound Shear-Wave Elastography.

PubMed

Wang, Liyun; Yan, Feng; Yang, Yujia; Xiang, Xi; Qiu, Li

2017-07-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound shear-wave elastography (US-SWE) in characterization of localized scleroderma (LS), as well as in the disease staging. A total of 21 patients with 37 LS lesions were enrolled in this study. The pathologic stage (edema, sclerosis or atrophy) of the lesions was characterized by pathologic examination. The skin elastic modulus (E-values including E mean , E min , E max and E sd ) and thickness (h) was evaluated both in LS lesions and site-matched unaffected skin (normal controls) using US-SWE. The relative difference of E-values (E RD ) was calculated between each pair of lesions and its normal control for comparison among different pathologic stages. Of the 37 LS lesions, 2 were in edema, 22 were in sclerosis and 13 were in atrophy. US-SWE results showed a significant increase of skin elastic modulus and thickness in all lesions (p < 0.001 in sclerosis and p < 0.05 in atrophy) compared with the normal controls. The measured skin elastic modulus and thickness were greater in sclerosis than in atrophy. However, once normalized by skin thickness, the atrophic lesions, which were on average thinner, appeared significantly stiffer than those of the sclerosis (normalized E RD : an increase of 316.3% in atrophy vs. 50.6% in sclerosis compared with the controls, p = 0.007). These findings suggest that US-SWE allows for quantitative evaluation of the skin stiffness of LS lesions in different stages; however, the E-values directly provided by the US-SWE system alone do not distinguish between the stages, and the normalization by skin thickness is necessary. This non-invasive, real-time imaging technique is an ideal tool for assessing and monitoring LS disease severity and progression. Copyright © 2017 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

On the behavior of isolated and embedded carbon nano-tubes in a polymeric matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahimian-Koloor, Seyed Mostafa; Moshrefzadeh-Sani, Hadi; Mehrdad Shokrieh, Mahmood; Majid Hashemianzadeh, Seyed

2018-02-01

In the classical micro-mechanical method, the moduli of the reinforcement and the matrix are used to predict the stiffness of composites. However, using the classical micro-mechanical method to predict the stiffness of CNT/epoxy nanocomposites leads to overestimated results. One of the main reasons for this overestimation is using the stiffness of the isolated CNT and ignoring the CNT nanoscale effect by the method. In the present study the non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation was used to consider the influence of CNT length on the stiffness of the nanocomposites through the isothermal-isobaric ensemble. The results indicated that, due to the nanoscale effects, the reinforcing efficiency of the embedded CNT is not constant and decreases with decreasing its length. Based on the results, a relationship was derived, which predicts the effective stiffness of an embedded CNT in terms of its length. It was shown that using this relationship leads to predict more accurate elastic modulus of nanocomposite, which was validated by some experimental counterparts.

Hypertrophic remodeling and increased arterial stiffness in patients with intracranial aneurysms.

PubMed

Maltete, David; Bellien, Jeremy; Cabrejo, Lucie; Iacob, Michele; Proust, François; Mihout, Bruno; Thuillez, Christian; Guegan-Massardier, Evelyne; Joannides, Robinson

2010-08-01

Because an underlying arteriopathy might contribute to the development of intracranial aneurysms (IAs), we assessed the elastic properties of proximal conduit arteries in patients with IA. In 27 patients with previous ruptured IA and 27 control subjects matched for age, gender and BMI, we determined arterial pressure, internal diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT), circumferential wall stress (CWS) and elastic modulus (wall stiffness) in common carotid arteries using applanation tonometry and echotracking. Moreover, carotid augmentation index (AIx, arterial wave reflections) and carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV, aortic stiffness) were assessed. Compared with controls, patients with IA exhibited higher brachial and carotid systolic and diastolic blood pressures, with similar brachial but higher carotid artery pulse pressure (35 + or - 6mm Hg vs. 41 + or - 8mm Hg, P=0.014). Moreover, patients have higher PWV (7.8 + or - 1.2ms(-1) vs. 8.3 + or - 1.1ms(-1), P=0.048) and AIx (15.8 + or - 10.8% vs. 21.1 + or - 8.5%, P<0.001) which contributes to increase carotid blood pressures. Furthermore, carotid IMT was higher in patients (546 + or - 64 microm vs. 642 + or - 70 microm, P<0.001) without difference in diameter suggesting an adaptive hypertrophy. However, patients display a lower CWS (61.6 + or - 9.2 kPa vs. 56.9 + or - 10.3 kPa, P=0.007) and no correlation between IMT and pulse pressure (r=0.152, P=NS) in contrast to controls (r=0.539, P<0.001) showing the contribution of a pressure-independent process. Finally, despite this lesser CWS, elastic modulus was increased in patients (310 + or - 105 kPa vs. 383 + or - 174 kPa, P=0.026). This study demonstrates that patients with IA display a particular carotid artery phenotype with an exaggerated hypertrophic remodeling and altered elastic properties. Thus, a systemic arteriopathy might contribute, together with the arterial wall fatiguing effect of the increased pulsatile stress, to the pathogenesis of IA. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determining Tension-Compression Nonlinear Mechanical Properties of Articular Cartilage from Indentation Testing.

PubMed

Chen, Xingyu; Zhou, Yilu; Wang, Liyun; Santare, Michael H; Wan, Leo Q; Lu, X Lucas

2016-04-01

The indentation test is widely used to determine the in situ biomechanical properties of articular cartilage. The mechanical parameters estimated from the test depend on the constitutive model adopted to analyze the data. Similar to most connective tissues, the solid matrix of cartilage displays different mechanical properties under tension and compression, termed tension-compression nonlinearity (TCN). In this study, cartilage was modeled as a porous elastic material with either a conewise linear elastic matrix with cubic symmetry or a solid matrix reinforced by a continuous fiber distribution. Both models are commonly used to describe the TCN of cartilage. The roles of each mechanical property in determining the indentation response of cartilage were identified by finite element simulation. Under constant loading, the equilibrium deformation of cartilage is mainly dependent on the compressive modulus, while the initial transient creep behavior is largely regulated by the tensile stiffness. More importantly, altering the permeability does not change the shape of the indentation creep curves, but introduces a parallel shift along the horizontal direction on a logarithmic time scale. Based on these findings, a highly efficient curve-fitting algorithm was designed, which can uniquely determine the three major mechanical properties of cartilage (compressive modulus, tensile modulus, and permeability) from a single indentation test. The new technique was tested on adult bovine knee cartilage and compared with results from the classic biphasic linear elastic curve-fitting program.

Porous calcium polyphosphate bone substitutes: additive manufacturing versus conventional gravity sinter processing-effect on structure and mechanical properties.

PubMed

Hu, Youxin; Shanjani, Yaser; Toyserkani, Ehsan; Grynpas, Marc; Wang, Rizhi; Pilliar, Robert

2014-02-01

Porous calcium polyphosphate (CPP) structures proposed as bone-substitute implants and made by sintering CPP powders to form bending test samples of approximately 35 vol % porosity were machined from preformed blocks made either by additive manufacturing (AM) or conventional gravity sintering (CS) methods and the structure and mechanical characteristics of samples so made were compared. AM-made samples displayed higher bending strengths (≈1.2-1.4 times greater than CS-made samples), whereas elastic constant (i.e., effective elastic modulus of the porous structures) that is determined by material elastic modulus and structural geometry of the samples was ≈1.9-2.3 times greater for AM-made samples. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that samples made by either method displayed the same crystal structure forming β-CPP after sinter annealing. The material elastic modulus, E, determined using nanoindentation tests also showed the same value for both sample types (i.e., E ≈ 64 GPa). Examination of the porous structures indicated that significantly larger sinter necks resulted in the AM-made samples which presumably resulted in the higher mechanical properties. The development of mechanical properties was attributed to the different sinter anneal procedures required to make 35 vol % porous samples by the two methods. A primary objective of the present study, in addition to reporting on bending strength and sample stiffness (elastic constant) characteristics, was to determine why the two processes resulted in the observed mechanical property differences for samples of equivalent volume percentage of porosity. An understanding of the fundamental reason(s) for the observed effect is considered important for developing improved processes for preparation of porous CPP implants as bone substitutes for use in high load-bearing skeletal sites. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Elastomeric nanocomposite scaffolds made from poly (glycerol sebacate) chemically crosslinked with carbon nanotubes

PubMed Central

Patel, Alpesh; Dolatshahi-Pirouz, Alireza; Zhang, Hongbin; Rangarajan, Kaushik; Iviglia, Giorgio; Shin, Su-Ryon; Hussain, Mohammad Asif

2015-01-01

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based nanocomposites often possess properties such as high stiffness, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability and have been studied for various biomedical and biotechnological applications. However, the current design approaches utilize CNTs as physical filler, and thus, the true potential of CNT-based nanocomposites has not been achieved. Here, we introduce a general approach of fabricating stiff, elastomeric nanocomposites from poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) and CNTs. The covalent crosslinking between the nanotubes and polymer chains resulted in novel property combinations that are not observed in conventional nanocomposites. The addition of 1% CNTs resulted a five-fold increase in the tensile modulus and a six-fold increase in compression modulus compared with PGS alone, which is far superior to the previously reported studies for CNT-based nanocomposites. Despite significant increase in mechanical stiffness, the elasticity of the network was not compromised and the resulting nanocomposites showed more than 94% recovery. This study demonstrates that the chemical conjugation of CNTs to a PGS backbone results in stiff and elastomeric nanocomposites. Additionally, in vitro studies using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) indicated that the incorporation of CNTs to PGS network significantly enhanced the differentiation potential of the seeded hMSCs rendering them potentially suitable for applications ranging from scaffolding in musculoskeletal tissue engineering to biosensors in biomedical devices. PMID:26146547

Update on Breast Cancer Detection Using Comb-Push Ultrasound Shear Elastography.

PubMed

Denis, Max; Bayat, Mahdi; Mehrmohammadi, Mohammad; Gregory, Adriana; Song, Pengfei; Whaley, Dana H; Pruthi, Sandhya; Chen, Shigao; Fatemi, Mostafa; Alizad, Azra

2015-09-01

In this work, tissue stiffness estimates are used to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses in a group of pre-biopsy patients. The rationale is that breast masses are often stiffer than healthy tissue; furthermore, malignant masses are stiffer than benign masses. The comb-push ultrasound shear elastography (CUSE) method is used to noninvasively assess a tissue's mechanical properties. CUSE utilizes a sequence of simultaneous multiple laterally spaced acoustic radiation force (ARF) excitations and detection to reconstruct the region of interest (ROI) shear wave speed map, from which a tissue stiffness property can be quantified. In this study, the tissue stiffnesses of 73 breast masses were interrogated. The mean shear wave speeds for benign masses (3.42 ± 1.32 m/s) were lower than malignant breast masses (6.04 ± 1.25 m/s). These speed values correspond to higher stiffness in malignant breast masses (114.9 ± 40.6 kPa) than benign masses (39.4 ± 28.1 kPa and p <; 0.001), when tissue elasticity is quantified by Young's modulus. A Young's modulus >83 kPa is established as a cut-off value for differentiating between malignant and benign suspicious breast masses, with a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of 89.19% sensitivity, 88.69% specificity, and 0.911 for the area under the curve (AUC).

Elastic properties and fracture strength of quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, T. L.

1977-01-01

The layups of the studied laminates are (0, + or - 60) sub s, (0, + or - 45, 90) sub s, (0, + or - 30, + or - 60, 90) sub s (0, + or - 22 1/2, + or - 45, + or - 67 1/2, 90) sub s. The properties determined were tensile modulus, Poisson's ratio, bending stiffness, fracture strength and fracture strain. Measured properties and properties predicted using laminate theory were found to be in reasonable agreement. Reasons for data scatter were determined.

The importance of hyaluronic acid in vocal fold biomechanics.

PubMed

Chan, R W; Gray, S D; Titze, I R

2001-06-01

This study examined the influence of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the biomechanical properties of the human vocal fold cover (the superficial layer of the lamina propria). Vocal fold tissues were freshly excised from 5 adult male cadavers and were treated with bovine testicular hyaluronidase to selectively remove HA from the lamina propria extracellular matrix (ECM). Linear viscoelastic shear properties (elastic shear modulus and dynamic viscosity) of the tissue samples before and after enzymatic treatment were quantified as a function of frequency (0.01 to 15 Hz) by a parallel-plate rotational rheometer at 37 degrees C. On removing HA from the vocal fold ECM, the elastic shear modulus (G' ) or stiffness of the vocal fold cover decreased by an average of around 35%, while the dynamic viscosity (eta') increased by 70% at higher frequencies (>1 Hz). The results suggested that HA plays an important role in determining the biomechanical properties of the vocal fold cover. As a highly hydrated glycosaminoglycan in the vocal fold ECM, it likely contributes to the maintenance of an optimal tissue viscosity that may facilitate phonation, and an optimal tissue stiffness that may be important for vocal fundamental frequency control. HA has been proposed as a potential bioimplant for the surgical repair of vocal fold ECM defects (eg, vocal fold scarring and sulcus vocalis). Our results suggested that such clinical use may be potentially optimal for voice production from a biomechanical perspective.

Noncontact measurement of elasticity for the detection of soft-tissue tumors using phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography combined with a focused air-puff system.

PubMed

Wang, Shang; Li, Jiasong; Manapuram, Ravi Kiran; Menodiado, Floredes M; Ingram, Davis R; Twa, Michael D; Lazar, Alexander J; Lev, Dina C; Pollock, Raphael E; Larin, Kirill V

2012-12-15

We report on an optical noncontact method for the detection of soft-tissue tumors based on the measurement of their elasticity. A focused air-puff system is used to excite surface waves (SWs) on soft tissues with transient static pressure. A high-speed phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography system is used to measure the SWs as they propagate from the point of excitation. To evaluate the stiffness of soft tissues, the Young's modulus is quantified based on the group velocity of SWs. Pilot experiments were performed on ex vivo human myxoma and normal fat. Results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method to measure elasticity and differentiate soft-tissue tumors from normal tissues.

Evidence for age-dependent air-space enlargement contributing to loss of lung tissue elastic recoil pressure and increased shear modulus in older age.

PubMed

Subramaniam, K; Kumar, H; Tawhai, M H

2017-07-01

As a normal part of mature aging, lung tissue undergoes microstructural changes such as alveolar air-space enlargement and redistribution of collagen and elastin away from the alveolar duct. The older lung also experiences an associated decrease in elastic recoil pressure and an increase in specific tissue elastic moduli, but how this relates mechanistically to microstructural remodeling is not well-understood. In this study, we use a structure-based mechanics analysis to elucidate the contributions of age-related air-space enlargement and redistribution of elastin and collagen to loss of lung elastic recoil pressure and increase in tissue elastic moduli. Our results show that age-related geometric changes can result in reduction of elastic recoil pressure and increase in shear and bulk moduli, which is consistent with published experimental data. All elastic moduli were sensitive to the distribution of stiffness (representing elastic fiber density) in the alveolar wall, with homogenous stiffness near the duct and through the septae resulting in a more compliant tissue. The preferential distribution of elastic proteins around the alveolar duct in the healthy young adult lung therefore provides for a more elastic tissue. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We use a structure-based mechanics analysis to correlate air-space enlargement and redistribution of elastin and collagen to age-related changes in the mechanical behavior of lung parenchyma. Our study highlights that both the cause (redistribution of elastin and collagen) and the structural effect (alveolar air-space enlargement) contribute to decline in lung tissue elastic recoil with age; these results are consistent with published data and provide a new avenue for understanding the mechanics of the older lung. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Surface density mapping of natural tissue by a scanning haptic microscope (SHM).

PubMed

Moriwaki, Takeshi; Oie, Tomonori; Takamizawa, Keiichi; Murayama, Yoshinobu; Fukuda, Toru; Omata, Sadao; Nakayama, Yasuhide

2013-02-01

To expand the performance capacity of the scanning haptic microscope (SHM) beyond surface mapping microscopy of elastic modulus or topography, surface density mapping of a natural tissue was performed by applying a measurement theory of SHM, in which a frequency change occurs upon contact of the sample surface with the SHM sensor - a microtactile sensor (MTS) that vibrates at a pre-determined constant oscillation frequency. This change was mainly stiffness-dependent at a low oscillation frequency and density-dependent at a high oscillation frequency. Two paragon examples with extremely different densities but similar macroscopic elastic moduli in the range of natural soft tissues were selected: one was agar hydrogels and the other silicon organogels with extremely low (less than 25 mg/cm(3)) and high densities (ca. 1300 mg/cm(3)), respectively. Measurements were performed in saline solution near the second-order resonance frequency, which led to the elastic modulus, and near the third-order resonance frequency. There was little difference in the frequency changes between the two resonance frequencies in agar gels. In contrast, in silicone gels, a large frequency change by MTS contact was observed near the third-order resonance frequency, indicating that the frequency change near the third-order resonance frequency reflected changes in both density and elastic modulus. Therefore, a density image of the canine aortic wall was subsequently obtained by subtracting the image observed near the second-order resonance frequency from that near the third-order resonance frequency. The elastin-rich region had a higher density than the collagen-rich region.

Critical evaluation on structural stiffness of porous cellular structure of cobalt chromium alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abd Malek, N. M. S.; Mohamed, S. R.; Che Ghani, S. A.; Harun, W. S. Wan

2015-12-01

In order to improve the stiffness characteristics of orthopedic devices implants that mimic the mechanical behavior of bone need to be considered. With the capability of Additive layer manufacturing processes to produce orthopedic implants with tailored mechanical properties are needed. This paper discusses finite element (FE) analysis and mechanical characterization of porous medical grade cobalt chromium (CoCr) alloy in cubical structures with volume based porosity ranging between 60% to 80% produced using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process. ANSYS 14.0 FE modelling software was used to predict the effective elastic modulus of the samples and comparisons were made with the experimental data. The effective mechanical properties of porous samples that were determined by uniaxial compression testing show exponential decreasing trend with the increase in porosity. Finite element model shows good agreement with experimentally obtained stress-strain curve in the elastic regions. The models prove that numerical analysis of actual prosthesis implant can be computed particularly in load bearing condition

Study of mechanical behavior of AFM silicon tips under mechanical load

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kopycinska-Mueller, M.; Gluch, J.; Köhler, B.

2016-11-01

In this paper we address critical issues concerning calibration of AFM based methods used for nanoscale mechanical characterization of materials. It has been shown that calibration approaches based on macroscopic models for contact mechanics may yield excellent results in terms of the indentation modulus of the sample, but fail to provide a comprehensive and actual information concerning the tip-sample contact radius or the mechanical properties of the tip. Explanations for the severely reduced indentation modulus of the tip included the inadequacies of the models used for calculations of the tip-sample contact stiffness, discrepancies in the actual and ideal shape of the tip, presence of the amorphous silicon phase within the silicon tip, as well as negligence of the actual size of the stress field created in the tip during elastic interactions. To clarify these issues, we investigated the influence of the mechanical load applied to four AFM silicon tips on their crystalline state by exposing them to systematically increasing loads, evaluating the character of the tip-sample interactions via the load-unload stiffness curves, and assessing the state of the tips from HR-TEM images. The results presented in this paper were obtained in a series of relatively simple and basic atomic force acoustic microscopy (AFAM) experiments. The novel combination of TEM imaging of the AFM tips with the analysis of the load-unload stiffness curves gave us a detailed insight into their mechanical behavior under load conditions. We were able to identify the limits for the elastic interactions, as well as the hallmarks for phase transformation and dislocation formation and movement. The comparison of the physical dimensions of the AFM tips, geometry parameters determined from the values of the contact stiffness, and the information on the crystalline state of the tips allowed us a better understanding of the nanoscale contact.

Matrix elasticity regulates the optimal cardiac myocyte shape for contractility

PubMed Central

McCain, Megan L.; Yuan, Hongyan; Pasqualini, Francesco S.; Campbell, Patrick H.

2014-01-01

Concentric hypertrophy is characterized by ventricular wall thickening, fibrosis, and decreased myocyte length-to-width aspect ratio. Ventricular thickening is considered compensatory because it reduces wall stress, but the functional consequences of cell shape remodeling in this pathological setting are unknown. We hypothesized that decreases in myocyte aspect ratio allow myocytes to maximize contractility when the extracellular matrix becomes stiffer due to conditions such as fibrosis. To test this, we engineered neonatal rat ventricular myocytes into rectangles mimicking the 2-D profiles of healthy and hypertrophied myocytes on hydrogels with moderate (13 kPa) and high (90 kPa) elastic moduli. Actin alignment was unaffected by matrix elasticity, but sarcomere content was typically higher on stiff gels. Microtubule polymerization was higher on stiff gels, implying increased intracellular elastic modulus. On moderate gels, myocytes with moderate aspect ratios (∼7:1) generated the most peak systolic work compared with other cell shapes. However, on stiffer gels, low aspect ratios (∼2:1) generated the most peak systolic work. To compare the relative contributions of intracellular vs. extracellular elasticity to contractility, we developed an analytical model and used our experimental data to fit unknown parameters. Our model predicted that matrix elasticity dominates over intracellular elasticity, suggesting that the extracellular matrix may potentially be a more effective therapeutic target than microtubules. Our data and model suggest that myocytes with lower aspect ratios have a functional advantage when the elasticity of the extracellular matrix decreases due to conditions such as fibrosis, highlighting the role of the extracellular matrix in cardiac disease. PMID:24682394

Zipping, entanglement, and the elastic modulus of aligned single-walled carbon nanotube films

PubMed Central

Won, Yoonjin; Gao, Yuan; Panzer, Matthew A.; Xiang, Rong; Maruyama, Shigeo; Kenny, Thomas W.; Cai, Wei; Goodson, Kenneth E.

2013-01-01

Reliably routing heat to and from conversion materials is a daunting challenge for a variety of innovative energy technologies––from thermal solar to automotive waste heat recovery systems––whose efficiencies degrade due to massive thermomechanical stresses at interfaces. This problem may soon be addressed by adhesives based on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, which promise the revolutionary combination of high through-plane thermal conductivity and vanishing in-plane mechanical stiffness. Here, we report the data for the in-plane modulus of aligned single-walled carbon nanotube films using a microfabricated resonator method. Molecular simulations and electron microscopy identify the nanoscale mechanisms responsible for this property. The zipping and unzipping of adjacent nanotubes and the degree of alignment and entanglement are shown to govern the spatially varying local modulus, thereby providing the route to engineered materials with outstanding combinations of mechanical and thermal properties. PMID:24309375

Bias of shear wave elasticity measurements in thin layer samples and a simple correction strategy.

PubMed

Mo, Jianqiang; Xu, Hao; Qiang, Bo; Giambini, Hugo; Kinnick, Randall; An, Kai-Nan; Chen, Shigao; Luo, Zongping

2016-01-01

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is an emerging technique for measuring biological tissue stiffness. However, the application of SWE in thin layer tissues is limited by bias due to the influence of geometry on measured shear wave speed. In this study, we investigated the bias of Young's modulus measured by SWE in thin layer gelatin-agar phantoms, and compared the result with finite element method and Lamb wave model simulation. The result indicated that the Young's modulus measured by SWE decreased continuously when the sample thickness decreased, and this effect was more significant for smaller thickness. We proposed a new empirical formula which can conveniently correct the bias without the need of using complicated mathematical modeling. In summary, we confirmed the nonlinear relation between thickness and Young's modulus measured by SWE in thin layer samples, and offered a simple and practical correction strategy which is convenient for clinicians to use.

Tissue mimicking materials for the detection of prostate cancer using shear wave elastography: a validation study.

PubMed

Cao, Rui; Huang, Zhihong; Varghese, Tomy; Nabi, Ghulam

2013-02-01

Quantification of stiffness changes may provide important diagnostic information and aid in the early detection of cancers. Shear wave elastography is an imaging technique that assesses tissue stiffness using acoustic radiation force as an alternate to manual palpation reported previously with quasistatic elastography. In this study, the elastic properties of tissue mimicking materials, including agar, polyacrylamide (PAA), and silicone, are evaluated with an objective to determine material characteristics which resemble normal and cancerous prostate tissue. Acoustic properties and stiffness of tissue mimicking phantoms were measured using compressional mechanical testing and shear wave elastography using supersonic shear imaging. The latter is based on the principles of shear waves generated using acoustic radiation force. The evaluation included tissue mimicking materials (TMMs) within the prostate at different positions and sizes that could mimic cancerous and normal prostate tissue. Patient data on normal and prostate cancer tissues quantified using biopsy histopathology were used to validate the findings. Pathologist reports on histopathology were blinded to mechanical testing and elastographic findings. Young's modulus values of 86.2 ± 4.5 and 271.5 ± 25.7 kPa were obtained for PAA mixed with 2% Al(2)O(3) particles and silicone, respectively. Young's modulus of TMMs from mechanical compression testing showed a clear trend of increasing stiffness with an increasing percentage of agar. The silicone material had higher stiffness values when compared with PAA with Al(2)O(3). The mean Young's modulus value in cancerous tissue was 90.5 ± 4.5 kPa as compared to 93.8 ± 4.4 and 86.2 ± 4.5 kPa obtained with PAA with 2% Al(2)O(3) phantom at a depth of 52.4 and 36.6 mm, respectively. PAA mixed with Al(2)O(3) provides the most suitable tissue mimicking material for prostate cancer tumor material, while agar could form the surrounding background to simulate normal prostate tissue.

Tissue mimicking materials for the detection of prostate cancer using shear wave elastography: A validation study

PubMed Central

Cao, Rui; Huang, Zhihong; Varghese, Tomy; Nabi, Ghulam

2013-01-01

Purpose: Quantification of stiffness changes may provide important diagnostic information and aid in the early detection of cancers. Shear wave elastography is an imaging technique that assesses tissue stiffness using acoustic radiation force as an alternate to manual palpation reported previously with quasistatic elastography. In this study, the elastic properties of tissue mimicking materials, including agar, polyacrylamide (PAA), and silicone, are evaluated with an objective to determine material characteristics which resemble normal and cancerous prostate tissue. Methods: Acoustic properties and stiffness of tissue mimicking phantoms were measured using compressional mechanical testing and shear wave elastography using supersonic shear imaging. The latter is based on the principles of shear waves generated using acoustic radiation force. The evaluation included tissue mimicking materials (TMMs) within the prostate at different positions and sizes that could mimic cancerous and normal prostate tissue. Patient data on normal and prostate cancer tissues quantified using biopsy histopathology were used to validate the findings. Pathologist reports on histopathology were blinded to mechanical testing and elastographic findings. Results: Young's modulus values of 86.2 ± 4.5 and 271.5 ± 25.7 kPa were obtained for PAA mixed with 2% Al2O3 particles and silicone, respectively. Young's modulus of TMMs from mechanical compression testing showed a clear trend of increasing stiffness with an increasing percentage of agar. The silicone material had higher stiffness values when compared with PAA with Al2O3. The mean Young's modulus value in cancerous tissue was 90.5 ± 4.5 kPa as compared to 93.8 ± 4.4 and 86.2 ± 4.5 kPa obtained with PAA with 2% Al2O3 phantom at a depth of 52.4 and 36.6 mm, respectively. Conclusions: PAA mixed with Al2O3 provides the most suitable tissue mimicking material for prostate cancer tumor material, while agar could form the surrounding background to simulate normal prostate tissue. PMID:23387774

Determination of the Mechanical Properties of Plasma-Sprayed Hydroxyapatite Coatings Using the Knoop Indentation Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Md. Fahad; Wang, James; Berndt, Christopher

2015-06-01

The microhardness and elastic modulus of plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings were evaluated using Knoop indentation on the cross section and on the top surface. The effects of indentation angle, testing direction, measurement location and applied load on the microhardness and elastic modulus were investigated. The variability and distribution of the microhardness and elastic modulus data were statistically analysed using the Weibull modulus distribution. The results indicate that the dependence of microhardness and elastic modulus on the indentation angle exhibits a parabolic shape. Dependence of the microhardness values on the indentation angle follows Pythagoras's theorem. The microhardness, Weibull modulus of microhardness and Weibull modulus of elastic modulus reach their maximum at the central position (175 µm) on the cross section of the coatings. The Weibull modulus of microhardness revealed similar values throughout the thickness, and the Weibull modulus of elastic modulus shows higher values on the top surface compared to the cross section.

Probabilistic homogenization of random composite with ellipsoidal particle reinforcement by the iterative stochastic finite element method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sokołowski, Damian; Kamiński, Marcin

2018-01-01

This study proposes a framework for determination of basic probabilistic characteristics of the orthotropic homogenized elastic properties of the periodic composite reinforced with ellipsoidal particles and a high stiffness contrast between the reinforcement and the matrix. Homogenization problem, solved by the Iterative Stochastic Finite Element Method (ISFEM) is implemented according to the stochastic perturbation, Monte Carlo simulation and semi-analytical techniques with the use of cubic Representative Volume Element (RVE) of this composite containing single particle. The given input Gaussian random variable is Young modulus of the matrix, while 3D homogenization scheme is based on numerical determination of the strain energy of the RVE under uniform unit stretches carried out in the FEM system ABAQUS. The entire series of several deterministic solutions with varying Young modulus of the matrix serves for the Weighted Least Squares Method (WLSM) recovery of polynomial response functions finally used in stochastic Taylor expansions inherent for the ISFEM. A numerical example consists of the High Density Polyurethane (HDPU) reinforced with the Carbon Black particle. It is numerically investigated (1) if the resulting homogenized characteristics are also Gaussian and (2) how the uncertainty in matrix Young modulus affects the effective stiffness tensor components and their PDF (Probability Density Function).

Evaluation of fatty liver fibrosis in rabbits using real-time shear wave elastography

PubMed Central

LU, YONGPING; WEI, JIA; TANG, YUEYUE; YUAN, YUAN; HUANG, YANLING; ZHANG, YONG; LI, YUNYAN

2014-01-01

The aim of the present study was to detect the elastic modulus (stiffness) of the livers of rabbits with non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease using real-time shear wave elastography (SWE), and to investigate the fibrosis development process in the formation of fatty liver. The stiffness of the fatty livers in rabbit models prepared via feeding with alcohol or a high-fat diet were measured using a real-time SWE ultrasound system and a 4–15-MHz linear array probe, and the liver stiffness was compared with the pathological staging of the disease. The stiffness of the liver was positively correlated with the degree of pathological change in fatty liver disease (P<0.01). The stiffness of the liver in the alcoholic fatty liver group was higher compared with that in the non-alcoholic fatty liver and control groups, and the stiffness in the non-alcoholic fatty liver group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). Real-time SWE objectively identified the trend in the changing stiffness of the liver and noninvasively detected the development of fibrosis in the progression of non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease. PMID:25009583

Porosity Defect Remodeling and Tensile Analysis of Cast Steel

PubMed Central

Sun, Linfeng; Liao, Ridong; Lu, Wei; Fu, Sibo

2016-01-01

Tensile properties on ASTM A216 WCB cast steel with centerline porosity defect were studied with radiographic mapping and finite element remodeling technique. Non-linear elastic and plastic behaviors dependent on porosity were mathematically described by relevant equation sets. According to the ASTM E8 tensile test standard, matrix and defect specimens were machined into two categories by two types of height. After applying radiographic inspection, defect morphologies were mapped to the mid-sections of the finite element models and the porosity fraction fields had been generated with interpolation method. ABAQUS input parameters were confirmed by trial simulations to the matrix specimen and comparison with experimental outcomes. Fine agreements of the result curves between simulations and experiments could be observed, and predicted positions of the tensile fracture were found to be in accordance with the tests. Chord modulus was used to obtain the equivalent elastic stiffness because of the non-linear features. The results showed that elongation was the most influenced term to the defect cast steel, compared with elastic stiffness and yield stress. Additional visual explanations on the tensile fracture caused by void propagation were also given by the result contours at different mechanical stages, including distributions of Mises stress and plastic strain. PMID:28787919

Normalized stiffness ratios for mechanical characterization of isotropic acoustic foams.

PubMed

Sahraoui, Sohbi; Brouard, Bruno; Benyahia, Lazhar; Parmentier, Damien; Geslain, Alan

2013-12-01

This paper presents a method for the mechanical characterization of isotropic foams at low frequency. The objective of this study is to determine the Young's modulus, the Poisson's ratio, and the loss factor of commercially available foam plates. The method is applied on porous samples having square and circular sections. The main idea of this work is to perform quasi-static compression tests of a single foam sample followed by two juxtaposed samples having the same dimensions. The load and displacement measurements lead to a direct extraction of the elastic constants by means of normalized stiffness and normalized stiffness ratio which depend on Poisson's ratio and shape factor. The normalized stiffness is calculated by the finite element method for different Poisson ratios. The no-slip boundary conditions imposed by the loading rigid plates create interfaces with a complex strain distribution. Beforehand, compression tests were performed by means of a standard tensile machine in order to determine the appropriate pre-compression rate for quasi-static tests.

Strain in shock-loaded skeletal muscle and the time scale of muscular wobbling mass dynamics.

PubMed

Christensen, Kasper B; Günther, Michael; Schmitt, Syn; Siebert, Tobias

2017-10-16

In terrestrial locomotion, muscles undergo damped oscillations in response to limb impacts with the ground. Muscles are also actuators that generate mechanical power to allow locomotion. The corresponding elementary contractile process is the work stroke of an actin-myosin cross-bridge, which may be forcibly detached by superposed oscillations. By experimentally emulating rat leg impacts, we found that full activity and non-fatigue must meet to possibly prevent forcible cross-bridge detachment. Because submaximal muscle force represents the ordinary locomotor condition, our results show that forcible, eccentric cross-bridge detachment is a common, physiological process even during isometric muscle contractions. We also calculated the stiffnesses of the whole muscle-tendon complex and the fibre material separately, as well as Young's modulus of the latter: 1.8 MPa and 0.75 MPa for fresh, fully active and passive fibres, respectively. Our inferred Young's modulus of the tendon-aponeurosis complex suggests that stiffness in series to the fibre material is determined by the elastic properties of the aponeurosis region, rather than the tendon material. Knowing these stiffnesses and the muscle mass, the complex' eigenfrequency for responses to impacts can be quantified, as well as the size-dependency of this time scale of muscular wobbling mass dynamics.

Localized elasticity measured in epithelial cells migrating at a wound edge using atomic force microscopy

PubMed Central

Wagh, Ajay A.; Roan, Esra; Chapman, Kenneth E.; Desai, Leena P.; Rendon, David A.; Eckstein, Eugene C.; Waters, Christopher M.

2008-01-01

Restoration of lung homeostasis following injury requires efficient wound healing by the epithelium. The mechanisms of lung epithelial wound healing include cell spreading and migration into the wounded area and later cell proliferation. We hypothesized that mechanical properties of cells vary near the wound edge, and this may provide cues to direct cell migration. To investigate this hypothesis, we measured variations in the stiffness of migrating human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE cells) ∼2 h after applying a scratch wound. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode to measure the cell stiffness in 1.5-μm square regions at different locations relative to the wound edge. In regions far from the wound edge (>2.75 mm), there was substantial variation in the elastic modulus in specific cellular regions, but the median values measured from multiple fields were consistently lower than 5 kPa. At the wound edge, cell stiffness was significantly lower within the first 5 μm but increased significantly between 10 and 15 μm before decreasing again below the median values away from the wound edge. When cells were infected with an adenovirus expressing a dominant negative form of RhoA, cell stiffness was significantly decreased compared with cells infected with a control adenovirus. In addition, expression of dominant negative RhoA abrogated the peak increase in stiffness near the wound edge. These results suggest that cells near the wound edge undergo localized changes in cellular stiffness that may provide signals for cell spreading and migration. PMID:18487359

Muscle structure and stiffness assessment after botulinum toxin type A injection. A systematic review.

PubMed

Mathevon, L; Michel, F; Decavel, P; Fernandez, B; Parratte, B; Calmels, P

2015-12-01

Botulinum toxin type A manages spasticity disorders in neurological central diseases. Some studies have reported that it might induce muscle changes. We present a literature review abiding by the PRISMA statement guidelines. The purpose was to explore the structural and passive biomechanical muscle properties after botulinum toxin type A injections in healthy and spastic limb muscles, on animals and humans, as well as methods for evaluating these properties. We searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases using the following keywords: "Botulinum toxin" AND ("muscle structure" OR "muscle atrophy") and, "Botulinum toxin" AND "muscle elasticity". From the 228 initially identified articles, 21 articles were included. Histological analyses were performed, especially on animals. A neurogenic atrophy systematically occurred. In humans, one year after a single injection, the histological recovery remained incomplete. Furthermore, 2D ultrasound analyses showed a reduction of the gastrocnemius thickness and pennation angle. MRI volumetric analysis evidenced muscular atrophy six months or one year after a single injection. Passive muscle stiffness depends on these structural changes. On the short term, the biomechanical analysis showed an elastic modulus increase in animals whereas no change was recorded in humans. On the short term, ultrasound elastography imaging showed a decreased elastic modulus. To date, few data are available, but all show a structural and mechanical muscle impact post injections, specifically muscle atrophy which can linger over time. Further studies are necessary to validate this element, and the possibility of change must be taken into account particularly with repeated injections. Thus, in clinical practice, 2D ultrasound and ultrasound elastography are two non-invasive techniques that will help physicians to develop an efficient long term monitoring. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Loss of an actin crosslinker uncouples cell spreading from cell stiffening on gels with a gradient of stiffness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Qi; Byfield, Fitzroy J.; Nordstrom, Kerstin; Arratia, Paulo E.; Miller, R. Tyler; Janmey, Paul A.

2009-03-01

We use microfluidics techniques to produce gels with a gradient of stiffness to show the essential function of the actin crosslinker filamin A in cell responses to mechanical stimuli. M2 melanoma cells null for filamin A do not alter their adherent area in response to increased substrate stiffness when they link to the substrate only through collagen receptors, but change adherent area normally when bound through fibronectin receptors. In contrast, filamin A-replete A7 cells change adherent area on both substrates and respond more strongly to collagen 1-coated gels than to fibronectin-coated gels. A7 cells alter their stiffness, as measured by atomic force microscopy, to match the elastic modulus of the substrate immediately adjacent to them on the gradient. M2 cells, in contrast, maintain a constant stiffness on all substrates that is as low as that of A7 cells on the softest gels achievable (1000 Pa). By contrasting the responses of these cell types to different adhesive substrates, cell spreading can be dissociated from stiffening.

A New Non-Destructive TDR System Combined with a Piezoelectric Stack for Measuring Properties of Geomaterials

PubMed Central

Choi, Chanyong; Song, Minwoo; Kim, Daehyeon; Yu, Xiong

2016-01-01

Dry density and water content are two important factors affecting the degree of soil compaction. Conventional methods such as the sand cone test and the plate load test are used to measure such properties for evaluating the degree of compaction and the stiffness of soil in the field. However, these tests are generally very time-consuming and are inherent with some errors depending on the operator (in particular for the sand cone test). Elastic modulus is an indicator to describe the stress-strain behavior of soil and in some cases is used as a design input parameter. Although a rod type TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) system has been recently proposed to overcome some shortcomings of the conventional methods (particularly the sand cone test), it requires driving the probes into the ground, thus implying that it is still a time-consuming and destructive testing method. This study aims to develop a new non-destructive TDR system that can rapidly measure the dry density, water content, and elastic modulus of soil on the surface of compacted soil, without disturbing the ground. In this study, the Piezoelectric Stack, which is an instrument for measuring the elastic modulus of soil, has been added to the TDR system with a flat type probe, leading to a non-destructive TDR system that is capable of measuring the dry density, water content, and elastic modulus of soil. The new TDR system developed is light enough for an engineer to carry. Results of the standard compaction and TDR tests on sand showed that the dry densities and the moisture contents measured with the new TDR system were in good agreement with those measured with the standard compaction test, respectively. Consequently, it appears that the new TDR system developed will be very useful to advance the current practice of compaction quality control. PMID:28773563

A New Non-Destructive TDR System Combined with a Piezoelectric Stack for Measuring Properties of Geomaterials.

PubMed

Choi, Chanyong; Song, Minwoo; Kim, Daehyeon; Yu, Xiong

2016-06-02

Dry density and water content are two important factors affecting the degree of soil compaction. Conventional methods such as the sand cone test and the plate load test are used to measure such properties for evaluating the degree of compaction and the stiffness of soil in the field. However, these tests are generally very time-consuming and are inherent with some errors depending on the operator (in particular for the sand cone test). Elastic modulus is an indicator to describe the stress-strain behavior of soil and in some cases is used as a design input parameter. Although a rod type TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) system has been recently proposed to overcome some shortcomings of the conventional methods (particularly the sand cone test), it requires driving the probes into the ground, thus implying that it is still a time-consuming and destructive testing method. This study aims to develop a new non-destructive TDR system that can rapidly measure the dry density, water content, and elastic modulus of soil on the surface of compacted soil, without disturbing the ground. In this study, the Piezoelectric Stack, which is an instrument for measuring the elastic modulus of soil, has been added to the TDR system with a flat type probe, leading to a non-destructive TDR system that is capable of measuring the dry density, water content, and elastic modulus of soil. The new TDR system developed is light enough for an engineer to carry. Results of the standard compaction and TDR tests on sand showed that the dry densities and the moisture contents measured with the new TDR system were in good agreement with those measured with the standard compaction test, respectively. Consequently, it appears that the new TDR system developed will be very useful to advance the current practice of compaction quality control.

Comparison of ultrasound B-mode, strain imaging, acoustic radiation force impulse displacement and shear wave velocity imaging using real time clinical breast images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manickam, Kavitha; Machireddy, Ramasubba Reddy; Raghavan, Bagyam

2016-04-01

It has been observed that many pathological process increase the elastic modulus of soft tissue compared to normal. In order to image tissue stiffness using ultrasound, a mechanical compression is applied to tissues of interest and local tissue deformation is measured. Based on the mechanical excitation, ultrasound stiffness imaging methods are classified as compression or strain imaging which is based on external compression and Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) imaging which is based on force generated by focused ultrasound. When ultrasound is focused on tissue, shear wave is generated in lateral direction and shear wave velocity is proportional to stiffness of tissues. The work presented in this paper investigates strain elastography and ARFI imaging in clinical cancer diagnostics using real time patient data. Ultrasound B-mode imaging, strain imaging, ARFI displacement and ARFI shear wave velocity imaging were conducted on 50 patients (31 Benign and 23 malignant categories) using Siemens S2000 machine. True modulus contrast values were calculated from the measured shear wave velocities. For ultrasound B-mode, ARFI displacement imaging and strain imaging, observed image contrast and Contrast to Noise Ratio were calculated for benign and malignant cancers. Observed contrast values were compared based on the true modulus contrast values calculated from shear wave velocity imaging. In addition to that, student unpaired t-test was conducted for all the four techniques and box plots are presented. Results show that, strain imaging is better for malignant cancers whereas ARFI imaging is superior than strain imaging and B-mode for benign lesions representations.

Effect of Material Ion Exchanges on the Mechanical Stiffness Properties and Shear Deformation of Hydrated Cement Material Chemistry Structure C-S-H Jennite -- A Computational Modeling Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adebiyi, Babatunde Mattew

Material properties and performance are governed by material molecular chemistry structures and molecular level interactions. Methods to understand relationships between the material properties and performance and their correlation to the molecular level chemistry and morphology, and thus find ways of manipulating and adjusting matters at the atomistic level in order to improve material performance, are required. A computational material modeling methodology is investigated and demonstrated for a key cement hydrated component material chemistry structure of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (C-S-H) Jennite in this work. The effect of material ion exchanges on the mechanical stiffness properties and shear deformation behavior of hydrated cement material chemistry structure of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) Jennite was studied. Calcium ions were replaced with Magnesium ions in Jennite structure of the C-S-H gel. Different level of substitution of the ions was used. The traditional Jennite structure was obtained from the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database and super cells of the structures were created using a Molecular Dynamics Analyzer and Visualizer Material Studio. Molecular dynamics parameters used in the modeling analysis were determined by carrying out initial dynamic studies. 64 unit cell of C-S-H Jennite was used in material modeling analysis studies based on convergence results obtained from the elastic modulus and total energies. NVT forcite dynamics using COMPASS force field based on 200 ps dynamics time was used to determine mechanical modulus of the traditional C-S-H gel and the Magnesium ion modified structures. NVT Discover dynamics using COMPASS forcefield was used in the material modeling studies to investigate the influence of ionic exchange on the shear deformation of the associated material chemistry structures. A prior established quasi-static deformation method to emulate shear deformation of C-S-H material chemistry structure that is based on a triclinic crystal structure was used, by deforming the triclinic crystal structure at 0.2 degree per time step for 75 steps of deformation. It was observed that there is a decrease in the total energies of the systems as the percentage of magnesium ion increases in the C-S-H Jennite molecular structure systems. Investigation of effect of ion exchange on the elastic modulus shows that the elastic stiffness modulus tends to decrease as the amount of Mg in the systems increases, using either COMPASS or universal force field. On the other hand, shear moduli obtained after deforming the structures computed from the stress-strain curve obtained from material modeling increases as the amount of Mg increases in the system. The present investigations also showed that ultimate shear stress obtained from predicted shear stress---strain also increases with amount of Mg in the chemistry structure. Present study clearly demonstrates that computational material modeling following molecular dynamics analysis methodology is an effective way to predict and understand the effective material chemistry and additive changes on the stiffness and deformation characteristics in cementitious materials, and the results suggest that this method can be extended to other materials.

Mechanical Analysis of Cartilage Graft Reinforced with PDS Plate

PubMed Central

Conderman, Christian; Kinzinger, Michael; Manuel, Cyrus; Protsenko, Dmitry; Wong, Brian J. F.

2014-01-01

Objectives/Hypothesis This study attempts to characterize the biomechanical properties of a PDS-cartilage composite graft for use in septorhinoplasty. Study Design Experimental Study. Methods This study used a PDS analog, porcine cartilage cut to 1 × 5 × 20 mm, and a mechanical testing platform to measure flexure of a composite graft. Samples were assessed in four groups based on variations in suture pattern and orientation. The platform measured the force required to deflect the sample 2 mm in single cantilever beam geometry before and after the polymer was affixed to the specimen. Elastic Moduli were calculated before and after application of the polydioxanone polymer. Results The average modulus of the cartilage alone was 17 ± 0.9 MPa. The modulus of the composite cartilage-polymer graft with 2 suture fixation was 21.2 ± 1.5 MPa. The 3-suture configuration produced an increase to 25.8 ± 2.23 MPa. The four-suture configuration produced 23.1 ± 3.19 MPa. The five-suture configuration produced 25.7 ± 2.6 MPa. The modulus of the analog alone was 170 ± 30 MPa. The modulus of the 0.5 mm PDS was 692 ± 37.4 MPa. The modulus of the 0.15 mm perforated PDS was 447 ± 34.8 MPa. Conclusions The study found that suturing a polymer plate to cartilage resulted in enhanced stiffness of the composite. Under the conditions of the study, there was no significant difference in elastic moduli between suture configurations, making the two-suture linear configuration optimal in the one-plane cantilever deflection model. PMID:22965809

A co-culture device with a tunable stiffness to understand combinatorial cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.

PubMed

Rao, Nikhil; Grover, Gregory N; Vincent, Ludovic G; Evans, Samantha C; Choi, Yu Suk; Spencer, Katrina H; Hui, Elliot E; Engler, Adam J; Christman, Karen L

2013-11-01

Cell behavior on 2-D in vitro cultures is continually being improved to better mimic in vivo physiological conditions by combining niche cues including multiple cell types and substrate stiffness, which are well known to impact cell phenotype. However, no system exists in which a user can systematically examine cell behavior on a substrate with a specific stiffness (elastic modulus) in culture with a different cell type, while maintaining distinct cell populations. We demonstrate the modification of a silicon reconfigurable co-culture system with a covalently linked hydrogel of user-defined stiffness. This device allows the user to control whether two separate cell populations are in contact with each other or only experience paracrine interactions on substrates of controllable stiffness. To illustrate the utility of this device, we examined the role of substrate stiffness combined with myoblast co-culture on adipose derived stem cell (ASC) differentiation and found that the presence of myoblasts and a 10 kPa substrate stiffness increased ASC myogenesis versus co-culture on stiff substrates. As this example highlights, this technology better controls the in vitro microenvironment, allowing the user to develop a more thorough understanding of the combined effects of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.

Mechanical properties of additively manufactured octagonal honeycombs.

PubMed

Hedayati, R; Sadighi, M; Mohammadi-Aghdam, M; Zadpoor, A A

2016-12-01

Honeycomb structures have found numerous applications as structural and biomedical materials due to their favourable properties such as low weight, high stiffness, and porosity. Application of additive manufacturing and 3D printing techniques allows for manufacturing of honeycombs with arbitrary shape and wall thickness, opening the way for optimizing the mechanical and physical properties for specific applications. In this study, the mechanical properties of honeycomb structures with a new geometry, called octagonal honeycomb, were investigated using analytical, numerical, and experimental approaches. An additive manufacturing technique, namely fused deposition modelling, was used to fabricate the honeycomb from polylactic acid (PLA). The honeycombs structures were then mechanically tested under compression and the mechanical properties of the structures were determined. In addition, the Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories were used for deriving analytical relationships for elastic modulus, yield stress, Poisson's ratio, and buckling stress of this new design of honeycomb structures. Finite element models were also created to analyse the mechanical behaviour of the honeycombs computationally. The analytical solutions obtained using Timoshenko beam theory were close to computational results in terms of elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and yield stress, especially for relative densities smaller than 25%. The analytical solutions based on the Timoshenko analytical solution and the computational results were in good agreement with experimental observations. Finally, the elastic properties of the proposed honeycomb structure were compared to those of other honeycomb structures such as square, triangular, hexagonal, mixed, diamond, and Kagome. The octagonal honeycomb showed yield stress and elastic modulus values very close to those of regular hexagonal honeycombs and lower than the other considered honeycombs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Highly porous layers of silica nanospheres sintered by drying: scaling up of the elastic properties of the beads to the macroscopic mechanical properties.

PubMed

Lesaine, Arnaud; Bonamy, Daniel; Gauthier, Georges; Rountree, Cindy L; Lazarus, Véronique

2018-05-16

Layers obtained by drying a colloidal dispersion of silica spheres are found to be a good benchmark to test the elastic behaviour of porous media, in the challenging case of high porosities and nano-sized microstructures. Classically used for these systems, Kendall's approach explicitly considers the effect of surface adhesive forces onto the contact area between the particles. This approach provides the Young's modulus using a single adjustable parameter (the adhesion energy) but provides no further information on the tensorial nature and possible anisotropy of elasticity. On the other hand, homogenization approaches (e.g. rule of mixtures, and Eshelby, Mori-Tanaka and self-consistent schemes), based on continuum mechanics and asymptotic analysis, provide the stiffness tensor from the knowledge of the porosity and the elastic constants of the beads. Herein, the self-consistent scheme accurately predicts both bulk and shear moduli, with no adjustable parameter, provided the porosity is less than 35%, for layers composed of particles as small as 15 nm in diameter. Conversely, Kendall's approach is found to predict the Young's modulus over the full porosity range. Moreover, the adhesion energy in Kendall's model has to be adjusted to a value of the order of the fracture energy of the particle material. This suggests that sintering during drying leads to the formation of covalent siloxane bonds between the particles.

Relations among Adiposity and Insulin Resistance with Flow-Mediated Dilation, Carotid Intima-Media Thickness, and Arterial Stiffness in Children.

PubMed

Ryder, Justin R; Dengel, Donald R; Jacobs, David R; Sinaiko, Alan R; Kelly, Aaron S; Steinberger, Julia

2016-01-01

To determine the associations of adiposity and insulin resistance with measures of vascular structure and function in children. A cross-sectional study included 252 children (age 15.1 ± 2.4 years; body mass index percentile 68.2 ± 26.5%; Tanner 2-5). Measurements of body fat percentage were obtained with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with computed tomography. Insulin resistance was measured with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Vascular measurements for endothelial function (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation [FMD]), vascular structure (carotid intima-media thickness [cIMT]), vascular stiffness (carotid incremental elastic modulus), and pulse wave velocity were analyzed by tertiles of adiposity and insulin resistance. Additional analyses with ANCOVA and linear regression were adjusted for Tanner, sex, race, and family relationship; FMD was also adjusted for baseline artery diameter. FMD was positively associated with high adiposity (body mass index, body fat percentage, and VAT) (P < .01 all). Insulin resistance was not associated with FMD. cIMT was significantly, positively related to obesity, VAT, and insulin resistance (P < .05 all). No differences in carotid incremental elastic modulus and pulse wave velocity were observed in relation to adiposity or insulin resistance. The findings suggest that adiposity is associated with higher FMD, and insulin resistance and VAT are associated with higher cIMT in children. Further research is needed to clarify the progression of these relations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Remote ultrasound palpation for robotic interventions using absolute elastography.

PubMed

Schneider, Caitlin; Baghani, Ali; Rohling, Robert; Salcudean, Septimiu

2012-01-01

Although robotic surgery has addressed many of the challenges presented by minimally invasive surgery, haptic feedback and the lack of knowledge of tissue stiffness is an unsolved problem. This paper presents a system for finding the absolute elastic properties of tissue using a freehand ultrasound scanning technique, which utilizes the da Vinci Surgical robot and a custom 2D ultrasound transducer for intraoperative use. An external exciter creates shear waves in the tissue, and a local frequency estimation method computes the shear modulus. Results are reported for both phantom and in vivo models. This system can be extended to any 6 degree-of-freedom tracking method and any 2D transducer to provide real-time absolute elastic properties of tissue.

Mechanical characterization of the mouse diaphragm with optical coherence elastography reveals fibrosis-related change of direction-dependent muscle tissue stiffness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shang; Loehr, James A.; Larina, Irina V.; Rodney, George G.; Larin, Kirill V.

2016-03-01

The diaphragm, composed of skeletal muscle, plays an important role in respiration through its dynamic contraction. Genetic and molecular studies of the biomechanics of mouse diaphragm can provide great insights into an improved understanding and potential treatment of the disorders that lead to diaphragm dysfunction (i.e. muscular dystrophy). However, due to the small tissue size, mechanical assessment of mouse diaphragm tissue under its proper physiological conditions has been challenging. Here, we present the application of noncontact optical coherence elastography (OCE) for quantitative elastic characterization of ex vivo mouse diaphragm. Phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography was combined with a focused air-puff system to capture and measure the elastic wave propagation from tissue surface. Experiments were performed on wildtype and dystrophic mouse diaphragm tissues containing different levels of fibrosis. The OCE measurements of elastic wave propagation were conducted along both the longitudinal and transverse axis of the muscle fibers. Cross-correlation of the temporal displacement profiles from different spatial locations was utilized to obtain the propagation time delay, which was used to calculate the wave group velocity and to further quantify the tissue Young's modulus. Prior to and after OCE assessment, peak tetanic force was measured to monitor viability of the tissue during the elasticity measurements. Our experimental results indicate a positive correlation between fibrosis level and tissue stiffness, suggesting this elastic-wave-based OCE method could be a useful tool to monitor mechanical properties of skeletal muscle under physiological and pathological conditions.

Collective effects on activated segmental relaxation in supercooled polymer melts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirigian, Stephen; Schweizer, Kenneth

2013-03-01

We extend the polymer nonlinear Langevin equation (NLE) theory of activated segmental dynamics in supercooled polymer melts in two new directions. First, a well-defined mapping from real monomers to a freely-jointed chain is formulated that retains information about chain stiffness, monomer volume, and the amplitude of thermal density fluctuations. Second, collective effects beyond the local cage scale are included based on an elastic solid-state perspective in the ``shoving model'' spirit which accounts for longer range contributions to the activation barrier. In contrast to previous phenomenological treatments of this model, we formulate an explicit microscopic picture of the hopping event, and derive, not assume, that the collective barrier is directly related to the elastic shear modulus. Local hopping is thus renormalized by collective motions of the surroundings that are required to physically accommodate it. Using the PRISM theory of structure, and known compressibility and chain statistics information, quantitative applications of the new theory to predict the temperature and chain length dependence of the alpha time, shear modulus, and fragility are carried out for a range of real polymer liquids and compared to experiment.

Origin of low thermal conductivity in SnSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Yu; Chang, Cheng; Pei, Yanling; Wu, Di; Peng, Kunling; Zhou, Xiaoyuan; Gong, Shengkai; He, Jiaqing; Zhang, Yongsheng; Zeng, Zhi; Zhao, Li-Dong

2016-09-01

We provide direct evidence to understand the origin of low thermal conductivity of SnSe using elastic measurements. Compared to state-of-the-art lead chalcogenides Pb Q (Q =Te , Se, S), SnSe exhibits low values of sound velocity (˜1420 m /s ) , Young's modulus (E ˜27.7 GPa ) , and shear modulus (G ˜9.6 GPa ) , which are ascribed to the extremely weak Sn-Se atomic interactions (or bonds between layers); meanwhile, the deduced average Grüneisen parameter γ of SnSe is as large as ˜3.13, originating from the strong anharmonicity of the bonding arrangement. The calculated phonon mean free path (l ˜ 0.84 nm) at 300 K is comparable to the lattice parameters of SnSe, indicating little room is left for further reduction of the thermal conductivity through introducing nanoscale microstructures and microscale grain boundaries. The low elastic properties indicate that the weak chemical bonding stiffness of SnSe generally causes phonon modes softening which eventually slows down phonon propagation. This work provides insightful data to understand the low lattice thermal conductivity of SnSe.

Study of the elastic behavior of synthetic lightweight aggregates (SLAs)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Na

Synthetic lightweight aggregates (SLAs), composed of coal fly ash and recycled plastics, represent a resilient construction material that could be a key aspect to future sustainable development. This research focuses on a prediction of the elastic modulus of SLA, assumed as a homogenous and isotropic composite of particulates of high carbon fly ash (HCFA) and a matrix of plastics (HDPE, LDPE, PS and mixture of plastics), with the emphasis on SLAs made of HCFA and PS. The elastic moduli of SLA with variable fly ash volume fractions are predicted based on finite element analyses (FEA) performed using the computer programs ABAQUS and PLAXIS. The effect of interface friction (roughness) between phases and other computation parameters; e.g., loading strain, stiffness of component, element type and boundary conditions, are included in these analyses. Analytical models and laboratory tests provide a baseline for comparison. Overall, results indicate ABAQUS generates elastic moduli closer to those predicted by well-established analytical models than moduli predicted from PLAXIS, especially for SLAs with lower fly ash content. In addition, an increase in roughness, loading strain indicated increase of SLAs stiffness, especially as fly ash content increases. The elastic moduli obtained from unconfined compression generally showed less elastic moduli than those obtained from analytical and ABAQUS 3D predictions. This may be caused by possible existence of pre-failure surface in specimen and the directly interaction between HCFA particles. Recommendations for the future work include laboratory measurements of SLAs moduli and FEM modeling that considers various sizes and random distribution of HCFA particles in SLAs.

Determination of mechanical stiffness of bone by pQCT measurements: correlation with non-destructive mechanical four-point bending test data.

PubMed

Martin, Daniel E; Severns, Anne E; Kabo, J M J Michael

2004-08-01

Mechanical tests of bone provide valuable information about material and structural properties important for understanding bone pathology in both clinical and research settings, but no previous studies have produced applicable non-invasive, quantitative estimates of bending stiffness. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) data to accurately compute the bending stiffness of bone. Normal rabbit humeri (N=8) were scanned at their mid-diaphyses using pQCT. The average bone mineral densities and the cross-sectional moments of inertia were computed from the pQCT cross-sections. Bending stiffness was determined as a function of the elastic modulus of compact bone (based on the local bone mineral density), cross-sectional moment of inertia, and simulated quasistatic strain rate. The actual bending stiffness of the bones was determined using four-point bending tests. Comparison of the bending stiffness estimated from the pQCT data and the mechanical bending stiffness revealed excellent correlation (R2=0.96). The bending stiffness from the pQCT data was on average 103% of that obtained from the four-point bending tests. The results indicate that pQCT data can be used to accurately determine the bending stiffness of normal bone. Possible applications include temporal quantification of fracture healing and risk management of osteoporosis or other bone pathologies.

The orthotropic elastic properties of fibrolamellar bone tissue in juvenile white-tailed deer femora

PubMed Central

Barrera, John W.; Le Cabec, Adeline; Barak, Meir M.

2017-01-01

Fibrolamellar bone is a transient primary bone tissue found in fast growing juvenile mammals, several species of birds and large dinosaurs. Despite the fact that this bone tissue is prevalent in many species, the vast majority of bone structural and mechanical studies are focused on humans osteonal bone tissue. Previous research revealed the orthotropic structure of fibrolamellar bone, but only a handful of experiments investigated its elastic properties, mostly in the axial direction. Here we have performed for the first time an extensive biomechanical study to determine the elastic properties of fibrolamellar bone in all three orthogonal directions. We have tested 30 fibrolamellar bone cubes (2×2×2mm) from the femora of five juvenile white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in compression. Each bone cube was compressed iteratively, within its elastic region, in the axial, transverse and radial directions and bone stiffness (Young’s modulus) was recorded. Next, the cubes were kept for seven days at 4°C and then compressed again to test whether bone stiffness had significantly deteriorated. Our results demonstrated that bone tissue in the deer femora has orthotropic elastic behavior where the highest stiffness was in the axial direction followed by the transverse and the radial directions respectively (21.6±3.3 GPa, 17.6±3.0 GPa and 14.9±1.9 GPa respectively). Our results also revealed a slight non-significant decrease in bone stiffness after seven days. Finally, our sample size allowed us to establish that population variance was much bigger in the axial direction compared to the radial direction which potentially reflects bone adaptation to the large diversity in loading activity between individuals in the loading direction (axial) compared to the normal (radial) direction. This study confirms that the well mechanically-studied human transverse-isotropic osteonal bone is just one possible functional adaptation of bone tissue and that other vertebrate species use an orthotropic bone tissue structure which is more suitable for their mechanical requirements. PMID:27231028

Diagnostic features of quantitative comb-push shear elastography for breast lesion differentiation

PubMed Central

Denis, Max; Gregory, Adriana; Mehrmohammadi, Mohammad; Kumar, Viksit; Meixner, Duane; Fazzio, Robert T.; Fatemi, Mostafa

2017-01-01

Background Lesion stiffness measured by shear wave elastography has shown to effectively separate benign from malignant breast masses. The aim of this study was to evaluate different aspects of Comb-push Ultrasound Shear Elastography (CUSE) performance in differentiating breast masses. Methods With written signed informed consent, this HIPAA- compliant, IRB approved prospective study included patients from April 2014 through August 2016 with breast masses identified on conventional imaging. Data from 223 patients (19–85 years, mean 59.93±14.96 years) with 227 suspicious breast masses identifiable by ultrasound (mean size 1.83±2.45cm) were analyzed. CUSE was performed on all patients. Three regions of interest (ROI), 3 mm in diameter each, were selected inside the lesion on the B-mode ultrasound which also appeared in the corresponding shear wave map. Lesion elasticity values were measured in terms of the Young’s modulus. In correlation to pathology results, statistical analyses were performed. Results Pathology revealed 108 lesions as malignant and 115 lesions as benign. Additionally, 4 lesions (BI-RADS 2 and 3) were considered benign and were not biopsied. Average lesion stiffness measured by CUSE resulted in 84.26% sensitivity (91 of 108), 89.92% specificity (107 of 119), 85.6% positive predictive value, 89% negative predictive value and 0.91 area under the curve (P<0.0001). Stiffness maps showed spatial continuity such that maximum and average elasticity did not have significantly different results (P > 0.21). Conclusion CUSE was able to distinguish between benign and malignant breast masses with high sensitivity and specificity. Continuity of stiffness maps allowed for choosing multiple quantification ROIs which covered large areas of lesions and resulted in similar diagnostic performance based on average and maximum elasticity. The overall results of this study, highlights the clinical value of CUSE in differentiation of breast masses based on their stiffness. PMID:28257467

Diagnostic features of quantitative comb-push shear elastography for breast lesion differentiation.

PubMed

Bayat, Mahdi; Denis, Max; Gregory, Adriana; Mehrmohammadi, Mohammad; Kumar, Viksit; Meixner, Duane; Fazzio, Robert T; Fatemi, Mostafa; Alizad, Azra

2017-01-01

Lesion stiffness measured by shear wave elastography has shown to effectively separate benign from malignant breast masses. The aim of this study was to evaluate different aspects of Comb-push Ultrasound Shear Elastography (CUSE) performance in differentiating breast masses. With written signed informed consent, this HIPAA- compliant, IRB approved prospective study included patients from April 2014 through August 2016 with breast masses identified on conventional imaging. Data from 223 patients (19-85 years, mean 59.93±14.96 years) with 227 suspicious breast masses identifiable by ultrasound (mean size 1.83±2.45cm) were analyzed. CUSE was performed on all patients. Three regions of interest (ROI), 3 mm in diameter each, were selected inside the lesion on the B-mode ultrasound which also appeared in the corresponding shear wave map. Lesion elasticity values were measured in terms of the Young's modulus. In correlation to pathology results, statistical analyses were performed. Pathology revealed 108 lesions as malignant and 115 lesions as benign. Additionally, 4 lesions (BI-RADS 2 and 3) were considered benign and were not biopsied. Average lesion stiffness measured by CUSE resulted in 84.26% sensitivity (91 of 108), 89.92% specificity (107 of 119), 85.6% positive predictive value, 89% negative predictive value and 0.91 area under the curve (P<0.0001). Stiffness maps showed spatial continuity such that maximum and average elasticity did not have significantly different results (P > 0.21). CUSE was able to distinguish between benign and malignant breast masses with high sensitivity and specificity. Continuity of stiffness maps allowed for choosing multiple quantification ROIs which covered large areas of lesions and resulted in similar diagnostic performance based on average and maximum elasticity. The overall results of this study, highlights the clinical value of CUSE in differentiation of breast masses based on their stiffness.

Nanomechanics of Microtubules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kis, A.; Kasas, S.; Babić, B.; Kulik, A. J.; Benoît, W.; Briggs, G. A.; Schönenberger, C.; Catsicas, S.; Forró, L.

2002-11-01

We have determined the mechanical anisotropy of a single microtubule by simultaneously measuring the Young's and the shear moduli in vitro. This was achieved by elastically deforming the microtubule deposited on a substrate tailored by electron-beam lithography with a tip of an atomic force microscope. The shear modulus is 2orders of magnitude lower than the Young's, giving rise to a length-dependent flexural rigidity of microtubules. The temperature dependence of the microtubule's bending stiffness in the (5-40) °C range shows a strong variation upon cooling coming from the increasing interaction between the protofilaments.

Graphite fiber reinforced structure for supporting machine tools

DOEpatents

Knight, Jr., Charles E.; Kovach, Louis; Hurst, John S.

1978-01-01

Machine tools utilized in precision machine operations require tool support structures which exhibit minimal deflection, thermal expansion and vibration characteristics. The tool support structure of the present invention is a graphite fiber reinforced composite in which layers of the graphite fibers or yarn are disposed in a 0/90.degree. pattern and bonded together with an epoxy resin. The finished composite possesses a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a substantially greater elastic modulus, stiffness-to-weight ratio, and damping factor than a conventional steel tool support utilized in similar machining operations.

Chemically defined, ultrasoft PDMS elastomers with selectable elasticity for mechanobiology

PubMed Central

Heinrichs, Viktor; Dieluweit, Sabine; Stellbrink, Jörg; Pyckhout-Hintzen, Wim; Hersch, Nils; Richter, Dieter

2018-01-01

Living animal cells are strongly influenced by the mechanical properties of their environment. To model physiological conditions ultrasoft cell culture substrates, in some instances with elasticity (Young's modulus) of only 1 kPa, are mandatory. Due to their long shelf life PDMS-based elastomers are a popular choice. However, uncertainty about additives in commercial formulations and difficulties to reach very soft materials limit their use. Here, we produced silicone elastomers from few, chemically defined and commercially available substances. Elastomers exhibited elasticities in the range from 1 kPa to 55 kPa. In detail, a high molecular weight (155 kg/mol), vinyl-terminated linear silicone was crosslinked with a multifunctional (f = 51) crosslinker (a copolymer of dimethyl siloxane and hydrosilane) by a platinum catalyst. The following different strategies towards ultrasoft materials were explored: sparse crosslinking, swelling with inert silicone polymers, and, finally, deliberate introduction of dangling ends into the network (inhibition). Rheological experiments with very low frequencies led to precise viscoelastic characterizations. All strategies enabled tuning of stiffness with the lowest stiffness of ~1 kPa reached by inhibition. This system was also most practical to use. Biocompatibility of materials was tested using primary cortical neurons from rats. Even after several days of cultivation no adverse effects were found. PMID:29624610

Giant elastic tunability in strained BiFeO 3 near an electrically induced phase transition

DOE PAGES

Yu, Pu; Vasudevan, Rama K.; Tselev, Alexander; ...

2015-11-24

Elastic anomalies are signatures of phase transitions in condensed matters and have traditionally been studied using various techniques spanning from neutron scattering to static mechanical testing. Here, using band-excitation elastic/piezoresponse spectroscopy, we probed sub-MHz elastic dynamics of a tip bias-induced rhombohedral–tetragonal phase transition of strained (001)-BiFeO 3 (rhombohedral) ferroelectric thin films from ~10 3 nm 3 sample volumes. Near this transition, we observed that the Young's modulus intrinsically softens by over 30% coinciding with 2-3 folds enhancement of local piezoresponse. Coupled with phase-field modeling, we also addressed the influence of polarization switching and mesoscopic structural heterogeneities (e.g., domain walls) onmore » the kinetics of this phase transition, thereby providing fresh insights into the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) in ferroelectrics. Moreover, the giant electrically tunable elastic stiffness and corresponding electromechanical properties observed here suggest potential applications of BiFeO 3 in next-generation frequency-agile electroacoustic devices, based on utilization of the soft modes underlying successive ferroelectric phase transitions.« less

Giant elastic tunability in strained BiFeO3 near an electrically induced phase transition

PubMed Central

Li, Q; Cao, Y.; Yu, P.; Vasudevan, R. K.; Laanait, N.; Tselev, A.; Xue, F.; Chen, L. Q.; Maksymovych, P.; Kalinin, S. V.; Balke, N.

2015-01-01

Elastic anomalies are signatures of phase transitions in condensed matters and have traditionally been studied using various techniques spanning from neutron scattering to static mechanical testing. Here, using band-excitation elastic/piezoresponse spectroscopy, we probed sub-MHz elastic dynamics of a tip bias-induced rhombohedral−tetragonal phase transition of strained (001)-BiFeO3 (rhombohedral) ferroelectric thin films from ∼103 nm3 sample volumes. Near this transition, we observed that the Young's modulus intrinsically softens by over 30% coinciding with two- to three-fold enhancement of local piezoresponse. Coupled with phase-field modelling, we also addressed the influence of polarization switching and mesoscopic structural heterogeneities (for example, domain walls) on the kinetics of this phase transition, thereby providing fresh insights into the morphotropic phase boundary in ferroelectrics. Furthermore, the giant electrically tunable elastic stiffness and corresponding electromechanical properties observed here suggest potential applications of BiFeO3 in next-generation frequency-agile electroacoustic devices, based on the utilization of the soft modes underlying successive ferroelectric phase transitions. PMID:26597483

The Effects of Sulfuric Acid on Mechanical Properties of Polycrystalline Ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeAngelis, M. K.; Lee, M. S.; Huang, K.

2017-12-01

The rates of flow for ice streams and glaciers are an important contributor to models of future sea level rise. Soluble impurities, such as sulfuric acid from acid rain, have been identified in ice cores, making it of utmost importance to understand the complete effects of such impurities on the mechanical properties of ice. While previous studies have provided insight into how sulfuric acid affects the viscosity in glaciers, the effects of sulfuric acid on elastic stiffness and friction has received less attention. In this study, we measured and compared the Young's Modulus and steady-state friction of 10 ppm sulfuric acid doped water ice samples to that of pure water ice samples. Microstructure characterization of the sample indicated that, even at such low concentration, the acid was located in small melt pockets at grain triple junctions. With an ultrasonic velocity testing system at -22 °C, primary waves and secondary waves were sent through each sample and wave velocities were recorded. These values and the density of the samples were used to calculate Young's Modulus. The sulfuric acid doped ice has an elastic stiffness that is less than that of pure ice. Reduced modulus could influence calving rates and other ice shelf processes. Using a custom cryo-biaxial apparatus, the friction of doped ice on rock was directly measured at several programmed velocities. The double direct shear configuration was employed, with a normal stress of 100 kPa and a temperature of -5 °C. Compared to previous studies on pure ice, the sulfuric acid doped ice sample experienced similar steady state friction. However, preliminary results indicate that doped samples exhibited velocity weakening behavior (i.e. as velocity increased, friction decreased) and stick slip events, while pure ice maintained a relatively neutral velocity dependence at this temperature. Field observations have reported stick slip motion at Whillans Ice Stream in Antarctica, but an explanation is unclear. This study suggests an impurity, sulfuric acid, is one possible cause for such velocity weakening behavior.

Microenvironment rigidity modulates responses to the HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib via YAP and TAZ transcription factors

DOE PAGES

Lin, Chun-Han; Pelissier, Fanny A.; Zhang, Hui; ...

2015-09-02

Stiffness is a biophysical property of the extracellular matrix that modulates cellular functions, including proliferation, invasion, and differentiation, and it also may affect therapeutic responses. Therapeutic durability in cancer treatments remains a problem for both chemotherapies and pathway-targeted drugs, but the reasons for this are not well understood. Tumor progression is accompanied by changes in the biophysical properties of the tissue, and we asked whether matrix rigidity modulated the sensitive versus resistant states in HER2-amplified breast cancer cell responses to the HER2-targeted kinase inhibitor lapatinib. The antiproliferative effect of lapatinib was inversely proportional to the elastic modulus of the adhesivemore » substrata. Down-regulation of the mechanosensitive transcription coactivators YAP and TAZ, either by siRNA or with the small-molecule YAP/TEAD inhibitor verteporfin, eliminated modulus-dependent lapatinib resistance. Reduction of YAP in vivo in mice also slowed the growth of implanted HER2-amplified tumors, showing a trend of increasing sensitivity to lapatinib as YAP decreased. Thus we address the role of stiffness in resistance to and efficacy of a HER2 pathway–targeted therapeutic via the mechanotransduction arm of the Hippo pathway.« less

Microenvironment rigidity modulates responses to the HER2 receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib via YAP and TAZ transcription factors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Chun-Han; Pelissier, Fanny A.; Zhang, Hui

Stiffness is a biophysical property of the extracellular matrix that modulates cellular functions, including proliferation, invasion, and differentiation, and it also may affect therapeutic responses. Therapeutic durability in cancer treatments remains a problem for both chemotherapies and pathway-targeted drugs, but the reasons for this are not well understood. Tumor progression is accompanied by changes in the biophysical properties of the tissue, and we asked whether matrix rigidity modulated the sensitive versus resistant states in HER2-amplified breast cancer cell responses to the HER2-targeted kinase inhibitor lapatinib. The antiproliferative effect of lapatinib was inversely proportional to the elastic modulus of the adhesivemore » substrata. Down-regulation of the mechanosensitive transcription coactivators YAP and TAZ, either by siRNA or with the small-molecule YAP/TEAD inhibitor verteporfin, eliminated modulus-dependent lapatinib resistance. Reduction of YAP in vivo in mice also slowed the growth of implanted HER2-amplified tumors, showing a trend of increasing sensitivity to lapatinib as YAP decreased. Thus we address the role of stiffness in resistance to and efficacy of a HER2 pathway–targeted therapeutic via the mechanotransduction arm of the Hippo pathway.« less

Elastic modulus of phases in Ti–Mo alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Wei-dong; Liu, Yong, E-mail: yonliu11@aliyun.com; Wu, Hong

2015-08-15

In this work, a series of binary Ti–Mo alloys with the Mo contents ranging from 3.2 to 12 at.% were prepared using non-consumable arc melting. The microstructures were investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope, and the elastic modulus was evaluated by nanoindentation testing technique. The evolution of the volume fractions of ω phase was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicated that the phase constitution and elastic modulus of the Ti–Mo alloys are sensitive to the Mo content. Ti–3.2Mo and Ti–8Mo alloys containing only α and β phases, respectively, have a low elastic modulus. In contrast, Ti–4.5Mo,more » Ti–6Mo, Ti–7Mo alloys, with different contents of ω phase, have a high elastic modulus. A simple micromechanical model was used to calculate the elastic modulus of ω phase (E{sub ω}), which was determined to be 174.354 GPa. - Highlights: • Ti–Mo alloys with the Mo contents ranging from 3.2 to 12 at.% were investigated. • XPS was used to investigate the volume fractions of ω phase. • The elastic modulus of Ti–Mo alloys is sensitive to the Mo content. • The elastic modulus of ω phase was determined to be 174.354 GPa.« less

Stretching of red blood cells using an electro-optics trap.

PubMed

Haque, Md Mozzammel; Moisescu, Mihaela G; Valkai, Sándor; Dér, András; Savopol, Tudor

2015-01-01

The stretching stiffness of Red Blood Cells (RBCs) was investigated using a combination of an AC dielectrophoretic apparatus and a single-beam optical tweezer. The experiments were performed at 10 MHz, a frequency high enough to avoid conductivity losses, but below the second turnover point between positive and negative dielectrophoresis. By measuring the geometrical parameters of single healthy human RBCs as a function of the applied voltage, the elastic modulus of RBCs was determined (µ = 1.80 ± 0.5 µN/m) and compared with similar values of the literature got by other techniques. The method is expected to be an easy-to-use, alternative tool to determine the mechano-elastic properties of living cells, and, on this basis, to distinguish healthy and diseased cells.

Studies on crosslinked hydroxyapatite-polyethylene composite as a bone-analogue material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolko, E.; Romero, G.

2007-08-01

The paper examines the use of different types of polymeric matrix composites in hard-tissue replacement applications. The composite samples were prepared with hydroxyapatite (HA) powder and polyethylenes of different densities. The raw material was first compounded in the extruder and the resulting composite pre-forms were compression molded into desired plates and irradiated with different doses. Modulus of elasticity in tension, tensile strength, tensile fracture strain, elongation at break and gel content were obtained for all composites. Ceramic filler distribution was investigated under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With HA incorporated in the samples an increase in the values of Young's Modulus, (stiffness) was observed, while elongation at break decreased with the amount of filler, showing increase of brittleness. Tensile strengths at yield and at break decreased with the filler content for LD and MDPE and stayed constant for HDPE.

Stimuli-responsive cement-reinforced rubber.

PubMed

Musso, Simone; Robisson, Agathe; Maheshwar, Sudeep; Ulm, Franz-Josef

2014-05-14

In this work, we report the successful development of a cement-rubber reactive composite with reversible mechanical properties. Initially, the composite behaves like rubber containing inert filler, but when exposed to water, it increases in volume and reaches a stiffness that is intermediate between that of hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) and hydrated cement, while maintaining a relatively large ductility characteristic of rubber. After drying, the modulus increases even further up to 400 MPa. Wet/drying cycles prove that the elastic modulus can reversibly change between 150 and 400 MPa. Utilizing attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), we demonstrate that the high pH produced by the hydration of cement triggers the hydrolysis of the rubber nitrile groups into carboxylate anions. Thus, the salt bridges, generated between the carboxylate anions of the elastomer and the cations of the filler, are responsible for the reversible variations in volume and elastic modulus of the composite as a consequence of environmental moisture exposure. These results reveal that cement nanoparticles can successfully be used to accomplish a twofold task: (a) achieve an original postpolymerization modification that allows one to work with carboxylate HNBR (HXNBR) not obtained by direct copolymerization of carboxylate monomers with butadiene, and (b) synthesize a stimuli-responsive polymeric composite. This new type of material, having an ideal behavior for sealing application, could be used as an alternative to cement for oil field zonal isolation applications.

Apparent elastic modulus and hysteresis of skeletal muscle cells throughout differentiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Collinsworth, Amy M.; Zhang, Sarah; Kraus, William E.; Truskey, George A.

2002-01-01

The effect of differentiation on the transverse mechanical properties of mammalian myocytes was determined by using atomic force microscopy. The apparent elastic modulus increased from 11.5 +/- 1.3 kPa for undifferentiated myoblasts to 45.3 +/- 4.0 kPa after 8 days of differentiation (P < 0.05). The relative contribution of viscosity, as determined from the normalized hysteresis area, ranged from 0.13 +/- 0.02 to 0.21 +/- 0.03 and did not change throughout differentiation. Myosin expression correlated with the apparent elastic modulus, but neither myosin nor beta-tubulin were associated with hysteresis. Microtubules did not affect mechanical properties because treatment with colchicine did not alter the apparent elastic modulus or hysteresis. Treatment with cytochalasin D or 2,3-butanedione 2-monoxime led to a significant reduction in the apparent elastic modulus but no change in hysteresis. In summary, skeletal muscle cells exhibited viscoelastic behavior that changed during differentiation, yielding an increase in the transverse elastic modulus. Major contributors to changes in the transverse elastic modulus during differentiation were actin and myosin.

Soft-tissue allografts terminally sterilized with an electron beam are biomechanically equivalent to aseptic, nonsterilized tendons.

PubMed

Elenes, Egleide Y; Hunter, Shawn A

2014-08-20

Allograft safety is contingent on effective sterilization. However, current sterilization methods have been associated with decreased biomechanical strength and higher failure rates of soft-tissue allografts. In this study, electron beam (e-beam) sterilization was explored as an alternative sterilization method to preserve biomechanical integrity. We hypothesized that e-beam sterilization would not significantly alter the biomechanical properties of tendon allograft compared with aseptic, nonsterilized controls and gamma-irradiated grafts. Separate sets of forty fresh-frozen tibialis tendon allografts (four from each of ten donors) and forty bisected bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) allografts (four from each of ten donors) were randomly assigned to four study groups. One group received a 17.1 to 21.0-kGy gamma radiation dose; two other groups were sterilized with an e-beam at either a high (17.1 to 21.0-kGy) or low (9.2 to 12.2-kGy) dose. A fourth group served as nonsterilized controls. Each graft was cyclically loaded to 200 N of tension for 2000 cycles at a frequency of 2 Hz, allowed to relax for five minutes, and then tested in tension until failure at a 100%/sec strain rate. One-way analysis of variance testing was used to identify significant differences. Tibialis tendons sterilized with both e-beam treatments and with gamma irradiation exhibited values for cyclic tendon elongation, maximum load, maximum displacement, stiffness, maximum stress, maximum strain, and elastic modulus that were not significantly different from those of nonsterilized controls. BTB allografts sterilized with the high e-beam dose and with gamma irradiation were not significantly different in cyclic tendon elongation, maximum load, maximum displacement, stiffness, maximum stress, maximum strain, and elastic modulus from nonsterilized controls. BTB allografts sterilized with the e-beam at the lower dose were significantly less stiff than nonsterilized controls (p = 0.014) but did not differ from controls in any other properties. The difference in stiffness likely resulted from variations in tendon size rather than the treatments, as the elastic moduli of the groups were similar. The biomechanical properties of tibialis and BTB allografts sterilized with use of an e-beam at a dose range of 17.1 to 21.0 kGy were not different from those of aseptic, nonsterilized controls or gamma-irradiated allografts. E-beam sterilization can be a viable method to produce safe and biomechanically uncompromised soft-tissue allografts. Copyright © 2014 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.

Understanding the Effect of Plastic Deformation on Elastic Modulus of Metals Based on a Percolation Model with Electron Work Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qingda; Hua, Guomin; Lu, Hao; Yu, Bin; Li, D. Y.

2018-05-01

The elastic modulus of materials is usually treated as a constant in engineering applications. However, plastic deformation may result in changes in the elastic modulus of metallic materials. Using brass, aluminum, and low-carbon steel as sample materials, it is demonstrated that plastic deformation decreased the elastic modulus of the materials by 10% to 20%. A percolation model incorporating the electron work function is proposed to correlate such plastic-strain-induced variations in the elastic modulus to corresponding changes in the electron work function. Efforts are made to understand the observed phenomenon on an electronic basis. The obtained experimental results are consistent with the theoretical analysis.

Effects of ablation depth and repair time on the corneal elastic modulus after laser in situ keratomileusis.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaojun; Li, Xiaona; Chen, Weiyi; He, Rui; Gao, Zhipeng; Feng, Pengfei

2017-01-17

The biomechanical properties of the cornea should be taken into account in the refractive procedure in order to perform refractive surgery more accurately. The effects of the ablation depth and repair time on the elastic modulus of the rabbit cornea after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) are still unclear. In this study, LASIK was performed on New Zealand rabbits with different ablation depth (only typical LASIK flaps were created; residual stroma bed was 50 or 30% of the whole cornea thickness respectively). The animals without any treatment were served as normal controls. The corneal thickness was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry before animals were humanly killed after 7 or 28 days post-operatively. The corneal elastic modulus was measured by uniaxial tensile testing. A mathematical procedure considering the actual geometrics of the cornea was created to analyze the corneal elastic modulus. There were no obvious differences among all groups in the elastic modulus on after 7 days post-operatively. However, after 28th days post-operatively, there was a significant increase in the elastic modulus with 50 and 30% residual stroma bed; only the elastic modulus of the cornea with 30% residual stroma bed was significantly higher than that of 7 days. Changes in elastic modulus after LASIK suggest that this biomechanical effect may correlate with the ablation depth and repair time.

Change and anisotropy of elastic modulus in sheet metals due to plastic deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishitsuka, Yuki; Arikawa, Shuichi; Yoneyama, Satoru

2015-03-01

In this study, the effect of the plastic deformation on the microscopic structure and the anisotropy of the elastic modulus in the cold-rolled steel sheet (SPCC) is investigated. Various uniaxial plastic strains (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) are applied to the annealed SPCC plates, then, the specimens for the tensile tests are cut out from them. The elastic moduli in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction to the direction that are pre-strained are measured by the tensile tests. Cyclic tests are performed to investigate the effects of the internal friction caused by the movable dislocations in the elastic deformation. Also, the movable dislocations are quantified by the boundary tracking for TEM micrographs. In addition, the behaviors of the change of the elastic modulus in the solutionized and thermal aged aluminum alloy (A5052) are measured to investigate the effect on the movable dislocations with the amount of the depositions. As a result in SPCC, the elastic moduli of the 0° and 90° directions decrease more than 10% as 10% prestrain applied. On the other hand, the elastic modulus shows the recovery behavior after the strain aging and the annealing. The movable dislocation and the internal friction show a tendency to increase as the plastic strain increases. The marked anisotropy is not observed in the elastic modulus and the internal friction. The elastic modulus in A5052 with many and few depositions decreases similarly by the plastic deformation. From the above, the movable dislocations affect the elastic modulus strongly without depending on the deposition amount. Moreover, the elastic modulus recovers after the plastic deformation by reducing the effects of them with the strain aging and the heat treatment.

Determination of elastic modulus of ceramics using ultrasonic testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasmita, Firmansyah; Wibisono, Gatot; Judawisastra, Hermawan; Priambodo, Toni Agung

2018-04-01

Elastic modulus is important material property on structural ceramics application. However, bending test as a common method for determining this property require particular specimen preparation. Furthermore, elastic modulus of ceramics could vary because it depends on porosity content. For structural ceramics industry, such as ceramic tiles, this property is very important. This drives the development of new method to improve effectivity or verification method as well. In this research, ultrasonic testing was conducted to determine elastic modulus of soda lime glass and ceramic tiles. The experiment parameter was frequency of probe (1, 2, 4 MHz). Characterization of density and porosity were also done for analysis. Results from ultrasonic testing were compared with elastic modulus resulted from bending test. Elastic modulus of soda-lime glass based on ultrasonic testing showed excellent result with error 2.69% for 2 MHz probe relative to bending test result. Testing on red and white ceramic tiles were still contained error up to 41% and 158%, respectively. The results for red ceramic tile showed trend that 1 MHz probe gave better accuracy in determining elastic modulus. However, testing on white ceramic tile showed different trend. It was due to the presence of porosity and near field effect.

Developing the elastic modulus measurement of asphalt concrete using the compressive strength test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setiawan, Arief; Suparma, Latif Budi; Mulyono, Agus Taufik

2017-11-01

Elastic modulus is a fundamental property of an asphalt mixture. An analytical method of the elastic modulus is needed to determine the thickness of flexible pavement. It has a role as one of the input values on a stress-strain analysis in the finite element method. The aim of this study was to develop the measurement of the elastic modulus by using compressive strength testing. This research used a set of specimen mold tool and Delta Dimensi software to record strain changes occurring in the proving ring of compression machine and the specimens. The elastic modulus of the five types of aggregate gradation and 2 types of asphalt were measured at optimum asphalt content. Asphalt Cement 60/70 and Elastomer Modified Asphalt (EMA) were used as a binder. Manufacturing success indicators of the specimens used void-in-the-mix (VIM) 3-5 % criteria. The success rate of the specimen manufacturing was more than 76%. Thus, the procedure and the compressive strength test equipment could be used for the measurement of the elastic modulus. The aggregate gradation and asphalt types significantly affected the elastic modulus of the asphalt concrete.

Seismically damaged regolith as self-organized fragile geological feature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sleep, Norman H.

2011-12-01

The S-wave velocity in the shallow subsurface within seismically active regions self-organizes so that typical strong dynamic shear stresses marginally exceed the Coulomb elastic limit. The dynamic velocity from major strike-slip faults yields simple dimensional relations. The near-field velocity pulse is essentially a Love wave. The dynamic shear strain is the ratio of the measured particle velocity over the deep S-wave velocity. The shallow dynamic shear stress is this quantity times the local shear modulus. The dynamic shear traction on fault parallel vertical planes is finite at the free surface. Coulomb failure occurs on favorably oriented fractures and internally in intact rock. I obtain the equilibrium shear modulus by starting a sequence of earthquakes with intact stiff rock extending all the way to the surface. The imposed dynamic shear strain in stiff rock causes Coulomb failure at shallow depths and leaves cracks in it wake. Cracked rock is more compliant than the original intact rock. Cracked rock is also weaker in friction, but shear modulus changes have a larger effect. Each subsequent event causes additional shallow cracking until the rock becomes compliant enough that it just reaches Coulomb failure over a shallow depth range of tens to hundreds of meters. Further events maintain the material at the shear modulus as a function where it just fails. The formalism provided in the paper yields reasonable representation of the S-wave velocity in exhumed sediments near Cajon Pass and the San Fernando Valley of California. A general conclusion is that shallow rocks in seismically active areas just become nonlinear during typical shaking. This process causes transient changes in S-wave velocity, but not strong nonlinear attenuation of seismic waves. Wave amplitudes significantly larger than typical ones would strongly attenuate and strongly damage the rock.

Indentation-derived elastic modulus of multilayer thin films: Effect of unloading induced plasticity

DOE PAGES

Jamison, Ryan Dale; Shen, Yu -Lin

2015-08-13

Nanoindentation is useful for evaluating the mechanical properties, such as elastic modulus, of multilayer thin film materials. A fundamental assumption in the derivation of the elastic modulus from nanoindentation is that the unloading process is purely elastic. In this work, the validity of elastic assumption as it applies to multilayer thin films is studied using the finite element method. The elastic modulus and hardness from the model system are compared to experimental results to show validity of the model. Plastic strain is shown to increase in the multilayer system during the unloading process. Additionally, the indentation-derived modulus of a monolayermore » material shows no dependence on unloading plasticity while the modulus of the multilayer system is dependent on unloading-induced plasticity. Lastly, the cyclic behavior of the multilayer thin film is studied in relation to the influence of unloading-induced plasticity. Furthermore, it is found that several cycles are required to minimize unloading-induced plasticity.« less

Non-invasive evaluation of liver stiffness after splenectomy in rabbits with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis.

PubMed

Wang, Ming-Jun; Ling, Wen-Wu; Wang, Hong; Meng, Ling-Wei; Cai, He; Peng, Bing

2016-12-14

To investigate the diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by elastography point quantification (ElastPQ) in animal models and determine the longitudinal changes in liver stiffness by ElastPQ after splenectomy at different stages of fibrosis. Liver stiffness was measured in sixty-eight rabbits with CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis at different stages and eight healthy control rabbits by ElastPQ. Liver biopsies and blood samples were obtained at scheduled time points to assess liver function and degree of fibrosis. Thirty-one rabbits with complete data that underwent splenectomy at different stages of liver fibrosis were then included for dynamic monitoring of changes in liver stiffness by ElastPQ and liver function according to blood tests. LSM by ElastPQ was significantly correlated with histologic fibrosis stage ( r = 0.85, P < 0.001). The optimal cutoff values by ElastPQ were 11.27, 14.89, and 18.21 kPa for predicting minimal fibrosis, moderate fibrosis, and cirrhosis, respectively. Longitudinal monitoring of the changes in liver stiffness by ElastPQ showed that early splenectomy (especially F1) may delay liver fibrosis progression. ElastPQ is an available, convenient, objective and non-invasive technique for assessing liver stiffness in rabbits with CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis. In addition, liver stiffness measurements using ElastPQ can dynamically monitor the changes in liver stiffness in rabbit models, and in patients, after splenectomy.

Design optimization of a viscoelastic dynamic vibration absorber using a modified fixed-points theory.

PubMed

Wong, W O; Fan, R P; Cheng, F

2018-02-01

A viscoelastic dynamic vibration absorber (VDVA) is proposed for suppressing infrasonic vibrations of heavy structures because the traditional dynamic vibration absorber equipped with a viscous damper is not effective in suppressing low frequency vibrations. The proposed VDVA has an elastic spring and a viscoelastic damper with frequency dependent modulus and damping properties. The standard fixed-points theory cannot be applied to derive the optimum design parameters of the VDVA because both its stiffness and damping are frequency dependent. A modified fixed-points theory is therefore proposed to solve this problem. H ∞ design optimization of the proposed VDVA have been derived for the minimization of resonant vibration amplitude of a single degree-of-freedom system excited by harmonic forces or due to ground motions. The stiffness and damping of the proposed VDVA can be decoupled such that both of these two properties of the absorber can be tuned independently to their optimal values by following a specified procedure. The proposed VDVA with optimized design is tested numerically using two real commercial viscoelastic damping materials. It is found that the proposed viscoelastic absorber can provide much stronger vibration reduction effect than the conventional VDVA without the elastic spring.

Hierarchical flexural strength of enamel: transition from brittle to damage-tolerant behaviour

PubMed Central

Bechtle, Sabine; Özcoban, Hüseyin; Lilleodden, Erica T.; Huber, Norbert; Schreyer, Andreas; Swain, Michael V.; Schneider, Gerold A.

2012-01-01

Hard, biological materials are generally hierarchically structured from the nano- to the macro-scale in a somewhat self-similar manner consisting of mineral units surrounded by a soft protein shell. Considerable efforts are underway to mimic such materials because of their structurally optimized mechanical functionality of being hard and stiff as well as damage-tolerant. However, it is unclear how different hierarchical levels interact to achieve this performance. In this study, we consider dental enamel as a representative, biological hierarchical structure and determine its flexural strength and elastic modulus at three levels of hierarchy using focused ion beam (FIB) prepared cantilevers of micrometre size. The results are compared and analysed using a theoretical model proposed by Jäger and Fratzl and developed by Gao and co-workers. Both properties decrease with increasing hierarchical dimension along with a switch in mechanical behaviour from linear-elastic to elastic-inelastic. We found Gao's model matched the results very well. PMID:22031729

Metabolic risk factors and arterial stiffness in Indian children of parents with metabolic syndrome.

PubMed

Khadilkar, Anuradha V; Chiplonkar, Shashi A; Pandit, Deepa S; Kinare, Arun S; Khadilkar, Vaman V

2012-02-01

To investigate the possible association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and arterial stiffness in Indian children with parental MS status. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 140 overweight/obese and 60 normal-weight Indian children (mean age, 11.4 ± 2.8 years) along with one of their parents during 2008-2009. Data on weight, height, blood pressure, serum lipids, zinc, insulin, and glucose were collected. Intima media thickness (CIMT) and stiffness parameters were assessed in the right carotid artery. Physical activity and diet were assessed using structured questionnaires. Body composition was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. A gradual increase in the percentage of MS children with an increasing number of MS components in parents was observed. Mean values for arterial stiffness, pulse wave velocity, and elastic modulus were significantly higher in MS children of MS parents than in MS children of normal parents (p < 0.05). A significant correlation was observed for lifestyle, metabolic, and arterial parameters among child-parent pairs (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression revealed that children's CIMT and arterial stiffness were significantly associated (p < 0.01) with their serum levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and zinc, as well as with parental MS-CIMT. Parental MS status and lifestyle factors increase the risk of MS and arterial abnormalities in children.

Skin-Inspired Hierarchical Polymer Architectures with Gradient Stiffness for Spacer-Free, Ultrathin, and Highly Sensitive Triboelectric Sensors.

PubMed

Ha, Minjeong; Lim, Seongdong; Cho, Soowon; Lee, Youngoh; Na, Sangyun; Baig, Chunggi; Ko, Hyunhyub

2018-04-24

The gradient stiffness between stiff epidermis and soft dermis with interlocked microridge structures in human skin induces effective stress transmission to underlying mechanoreceptors for enhanced tactile sensing. Inspired by skin structure and function, we fabricate hierarchical nanoporous and interlocked microridge structured polymers with gradient stiffness for spacer-free, ultrathin, and highly sensitive triboelectric sensors (TESs). The skin-inspired hierarchical polymers with gradient elastic modulus enhance the compressibility and contact areal differences due to effective transmission of the external stress from stiff to soft layers, resulting in highly sensitive TESs capable of detecting human vital signs and voice. In addition, the microridges in the interlocked polymers provide an effective variation of gap distance between interlocked layers without using the bulk spacer and thus facilitate the ultrathin and flexible design of TESs that could be worn on the body and detect a variety of pressing, bending, and twisting motions even in humid and underwater environments. Our TESs exhibit the highest power density (46.7 μW/cm 2 ), pressure (0.55 V/kPa), and bending (∼0.1 V/°) sensitivities ever reported on flexible TESs. The proposed design of hierarchical polymer architectures for the flexible and wearable TESs can find numerous applications in next-generation wearable electronics.

A eutectic-alloy-infused soft actuator with sensing, tunable degrees of freedom, and stiffness properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Yufei; Wang, Tianmiao; Xie, Zhexin; Sun, Wenguang; Liu, Zemin; Fang, Xi; Yang, Minxuan; Wen, Li

2018-02-01

This paper presents a soft actuator embedded with two types of eutectic alloys which enable sensing, tunable mechanical degrees of freedom (DOF), and variable stiffness properties. To modulate the stiffness of the actuator, we embedded a low melting point alloy (LMPA) in the bottom portion of the soft actuator. Different sections of the LMPA could be selectively melted by the Ni-Cr wires twined underneath. To acquire the curvature information, EGaIn (eutectic gallium indium) was infused into a microchannel surrounding the chambers of the soft actuator. Systematic experiments were performed to characterize the stiffness, tunable DOF, and sensing the bending curvature. We found that the average bending force and elasticity modulus could be increased about 35 and 4000 times, respectively, with the LMPA in a solid state. The entire LMPA could be melted from a solid to a liquid state within 12 s. In particular, up to six different motion patterns could be achieved under each pneumatic pressure of the soft actuator. Furthermore, the kinematics of the actuator under different motion patterns could be obtained by a mathematical model whose input was provided by the EGaIn sensor. For demonstration purposes, a two-fingered gripper was fabricated to grasp various objects by adjusting the DOF and mechanical stiffness.

Structural relaxation driven increase in elastic modulus for a bulk metallic glass

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arora, Harpreet Singh; Aditya, Ayyagari V.; Mukherjee, Sundeep, E-mail: sundeep.mukherjee@unt.edu

2015-01-07

The change in elastic modulus as a function of temperature was investigated for a zirconium-based bulk metallic glass. High temperature nano-indentation was done over a wide temperature range from room temperature to the glass-transition. At higher temperature, there was a transition from inhomogeneous to homogeneous deformation, with a decrease in serrated flow and an increase in creep displacement. Hardness was found to decrease, whereas elastic modulus was found to increase with temperature. The increase in elastic modulus for metallic glass at higher temperature was explained by diffusive rearrangement of atoms resulting in free volume annihilation. This is in contrast tomore » elastic modulus increase with temperature for silicate glasses due to compaction of its open three dimensional coordinated structure without any atomic diffusion.« less

Growth-dependent effects of dietary protein concentration and quality on the biomechanical properties of the diaphyseal rat femur.

PubMed

Alippi, Rosa M; Picasso, Emilio; Huygens, Patricia; Bozzini, Carlos E; Bozzini, Clarisa

2012-01-01

This study compares the effects of feeding growing rats with increasing concentrations of casein (C) and wheat gluten (G), proteins that show different biological qualities, on the morphometrical and biomechanical properties of the femoral diaphysis. Female rats were fed with one of ten diets containing different concentrations (5-30%) of C and G between the 30th and 90th days of life (Control=C-20%). Biomechanical structural properties of the right femur middiaphysis were estimated using a 3-point bending mechanical test with calculation of some indicators of bone material properties. Body weight and length were affected by treatments, values being highest in rats fed the C-20% diet. G diets affected negatively both parameters. Changes in cross-sectional geometry (mid-diaphyseal cross-sectional and cortical areas, femoral volume, and rectangular moment of inertia) were positively related to the C content of the diet, while they were severely and negatively affected by G diets. Similar behaviors were observed in the bone structural properties (fracture load, yielding load, diaphyseal stiffness and elastic energy absorption). When values of strength and stiffness were normalized for body weight, the differences disappeared. The bone material quality indicators (elastic modulus, yielding stress, elastic energy absorption/volume) did not differ significantly among all studied groups. Femoral calcium concentration in ashes was not significantly different among groups. The clear differences in strength and stiffness of bone beams induced by dietary protein concentration and quality seemed to be the result of an induced subnormal gain in bone structural properties as a consequence of a correlative subnormal gain in bone growth and mass, yet not in bone material properties. Copyright © 2011 SEEN. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Strain-stiffening response in organogels assembled using steroidal biomolecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tung, Shih-Huang; Raghavan, Srinivasa R.

2007-03-01

The phenomenon of strain-stiffening or strain-hardening refers to an increase in the elastic modulus (stiffness) of a material with increasing strain amplitude. While this response is exhibited by many biological materials, including gels of biopolymers such as actin, it is rarely seen in other types of soft matter. Here, we report strain-stiffening in a new class of self- assembled organogels being studied in our laboratory. These gels are formed in nonpolar organic liquids by combining a lipid (lecithin) or two-tailed surfactant (AOT) with a type of naturally occurring steroidal amphiphile called a bile salt. Based on rheological and scattering data, we deduce that the gel structure comprises a network of semiflexible filaments. Interestingly, gels induced by small organic molecules other than bile salts do not show strain-stiffening. We suggest that the bile salt molecules confer an intrinsic stiffness to the filaments in the gel, which is important for strain-stiffening.

Local Deplanation Of Double Reinforced Beam Cross Section Under Bending

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baltov, Anguel; Yanakieva, Ana

2015-12-01

Bending of beams, double reinforced by means of thin composite layers, is considered in the study. Approximate numerical solution is proposed, considering transitional boundary areas, where smooth quadratic transition of the elasticity modulus and deformations take place. Deplanation of the cross section is also accounted for in the areas. Their thickness is found equalizing the total stiffness of the cross section and the layer stiffness. Deplanation of the cross section of the transitional area is determined via the longitudinal deformation in the reinforcing layer, accounting for the equilibrium between the internal and the external moment, generated by the longitudinal stresses in the cross section. A numerical example is given as an illustration demonstrating model's plausibility. The model allows the design and the calculation of recycled concrete beams double reinforced by means of thin layers. The approach is in agreement with modern design of nearly zero energy buildings (NZEB).

Production and characterization of a novel carbon nanotube/titanium nitride nanocomposite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baddour, Carole Emilie; Das, Kaushik; Vengallatore, Srikar; Meunier, Jean-Luc

2016-12-01

A novel titanium nitride (TiN)/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposite is produced with the purpose to mechanically, structurally and chemically stabilize a ‘felt-like’ CNT growth structure. The CNTs are grown on stainless steel (SS) 304 by chemical vapor deposition using the direct growth method previously developed, which does not require the use of an additional catalyst precursor. The TiN coating is achieved by physical vapor deposition and is shown here to generate a nanocomposite with a porous three-dimensional architecture. The contact stiffness is evaluated using nanoindentation, and wetting properties of the TiN/CNT nanocomposites are determined from contact angle measurements. An increase in contact stiffness and effective elastic modulus with TiN coating time was observed. The TiN coating on the non-wetting CNT felt results in a wetting nanocomposite surface. The wetting property is found to be a function of the TiN coating thickness on the CNT structure.

Breast elastography: Identification of benign and malignant cancer based on absolute elastic modulus measurement using vibro-elastography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arroyo, Junior; Saavedra, Ana Cecilia; Guerrero, Jorge; Montenegro, Pilar; Aguilar, Jorge; Pinto, Joseph A.; Lobo, Julio; Salcudean, Tim; Lavarello, Roberto; Castañeda, Benjamín.

2018-03-01

Breast cancer is a public health problem with 1.7 million new cases per year worldwide and with several limitations in the state-of-art screening techniques. Ultrasound elastography involves a set of techniques intended to facilitate the noninvasive diagnosis of cancer. Among these, Vibro-elastography is an ultrasound-based technique that employs external mechanical excitation to infer the elastic properties of soft tissue. In this paper, we evaluate the Vibro-elastography performance in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions. For this study, a group of 18 women with clinically confirmed tumors or suspected malignant breast lesions were invited to participate. For each volunteer, an elastogram was obtained, and the mean elasticity of the lesion and the adjacent healthy tissue were calculated. After the acquisition, the volunteers underwent core-needle biopsy. The histopathological results allowed to validate the Vibro-elastography diagnosis, which ranged from benign to malignant lesions. Results indicate that the mean elasticity value of the benign lesions, malignant lesions and healthy breast tissue were 39.4 +/- 12 KPa, 55.4 +/- 7.02 KPa and 23.91 +/- 4.57 kPa, respectively. The classification between benign and malignant breast cancer was performed using Support Vector Machine based on the measured lesion stiffness. A ROC curve permitted to quantify the accuracy of the differentiation and to define a suitable cutoff value of stiffness, obtaining an AUC of 0.90 and a cutoff value of 44.75 KPa. The results obtained suggest that Vibro-elastography allows differentiating between benign and malignant lesions. Furthermore, the elasticity values obtained for benign, malignant and healthy tissue are consistent with previous reports.

Optical, mechanical and surface properties of amorphous carbonaceous thin films obtained by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turri, Rafael G.; Santos, Ricardo M.; Rangel, Elidiane C.; da Cruz, Nilson C.; Bortoleto, José R. R.; Dias da Silva, José H.; Antonio, César Augusto; Durrant, Steven F.

2013-09-01

Diverse amorphous hydrogenated carbon-based films (a-C:H, a-C:H:F, a-C:H:N, a-C:H:Cl and a-C:H:Si:O) were obtained by radiofrequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID). The same precursors were used in the production of each pair of each type of film, such as a-C:H, using both PECVD and PIIID. Optical properties, namely the refractive index, n, absorption coefficient, α, and optical gap, ETauc, of these films were obtained via transmission spectra in the ultraviolet-visible near-infrared range (wavelengths from 300 to 3300 nm). Film hardness, elastic modulus and stiffness were obtained as a function of depth using nano-indentation. Surface energy values were calculated from liquid drop contact angle data. Film roughness and morphology were assessed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The PIIID films were usually thinner and possessed higher refractive indices than the PECVD films. Determined refractive indices are consistent with literature values for similar types of films. Values of ETauc were increased in the PIIID films compared to the PECVD films. An exception was the a-C:H:Si:O films, for which that obtained by PIIID was thicker and exhibited a decreased ETauc. The mechanical properties - hardness, elastic modulus and stiffness - of films produced by PECVD and PIIID generally present small differences. An interesting effect is the increase in the hardness of a-C:H:Cl films from 1.0 to 3.0 GPa when ion implantation is employed. Surface energy correlates well with surface roughness. The implanted films are usually smoother than those obtained by PECVD.

Elasticity of phase-Pi (Al3Si2O7(OH)3) - A hydrous aluminosilicate phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Ye; Mookherjee, Mainak; Hermann, Andreas; Bajgain, Suraj; Liu, Songlin; Wunder, Bernd

2017-08-01

Phase-Pi (Al3Si2O7(OH)3) is an aluminosilicate hydrous mineral and is likely to be stable in hydrated sedimentary layers of subducting slabs. Phase-Pi is likely to be stable between the depths of 60 and 200 km and is likely to transport water into the Earth's interior. Here, we use first principles simulations based on density functional theory to explore the crystal structure at high-pressure, equation of state, and full elastic stiffness tensor as a function of pressure. We find that the pressure volume results could be described by a finite strain fit with V0 , K0 , and K0‧ being 310.3 Å3, 133 GPa, and 3.6 respectively. At zero pressure, the full elastic stiffness tensor shows significant anisotropy with the diagonal principal components C11 , C22 , and C33 being 235, 292, 266 GPa respectively, the diagonal shear C44 , C55 , and C66 being 86, 92, and 87 GPa respectively, and the off-diagonal stiffness C12 , C13 , C14 ,C15 , C16 , C23 , C24 , C25 , C26 , C34 , C35 , C36 , C45 , C46 , and C56 being 73, 78, 6, -30, 15, 61, 17, 2, 1, -13, -15, 6, 3, 1, and 3 GPa respectively. The zero pressure, shear modulus, G0 and its pressure derivative, G0 ‧ are 90 GPa and 1.9 respectively. Upon compression, hydrogen bonding in phase-Pi shows distinct behavior, with some hydrogen bonds weakening and others strengthening. The latter eventually undergo symmetrization, at pressure greater (>40 GPa) than the thermodynamic stability of phase-Pi. Full elastic constant tensors indicate that phase-Pi is very anisotropic with AVP ∼22.4% and AVS ∼23.7% at 0 GPa. Our results also indicate that the bulk sound velocity of phase-Pi is slower than that of the high-pressure hydrous aluminosilicate phase, topaz-OH.

Dynamic rheology of food protein networks

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Small amplitude oscillatory shear analyses of samples containing protein are useful for determining the nature of the protein matrix without damaging it. Elastic modulus, viscous modulus, and loss tangent (the ratio of viscous modulus to elastic modulus) give information on the strength of the netw...

Non-invasive evaluation of liver stiffness after splenectomy in rabbits with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis

PubMed Central

Wang, Ming-Jun; Ling, Wen-Wu; Wang, Hong; Meng, Ling-Wei; Cai, He; Peng, Bing

2016-01-01

AIM To investigate the diagnostic performance of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by elastography point quantification (ElastPQ) in animal models and determine the longitudinal changes in liver stiffness by ElastPQ after splenectomy at different stages of fibrosis. METHODS Liver stiffness was measured in sixty-eight rabbits with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis at different stages and eight healthy control rabbits by ElastPQ. Liver biopsies and blood samples were obtained at scheduled time points to assess liver function and degree of fibrosis. Thirty-one rabbits with complete data that underwent splenectomy at different stages of liver fibrosis were then included for dynamic monitoring of changes in liver stiffness by ElastPQ and liver function according to blood tests. RESULTS LSM by ElastPQ was significantly correlated with histologic fibrosis stage (r = 0.85, P < 0.001). The optimal cutoff values by ElastPQ were 11.27, 14.89, and 18.21 kPa for predicting minimal fibrosis, moderate fibrosis, and cirrhosis, respectively. Longitudinal monitoring of the changes in liver stiffness by ElastPQ showed that early splenectomy (especially F1) may delay liver fibrosis progression. CONCLUSION ElastPQ is an available, convenient, objective and non-invasive technique for assessing liver stiffness in rabbits with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. In addition, liver stiffness measurements using ElastPQ can dynamically monitor the changes in liver stiffness in rabbit models, and in patients, after splenectomy. PMID:28028365

A Novel Shape Memory Plate Osteosynthesis for Noninvasive Modulation of Fixation Stiffness in a Rabbit Tibia Osteotomy Model

PubMed Central

Müller, Christian W.; Pfeifer, Ronny; Meier, Karen; Decker, Sebastian; Reifenrath, Janin; Gösling, Thomas; Wesling, Volker; Krettek, Christian; Krämer, Manuel

2015-01-01

Nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (NiTi-SMA) implants might allow modulating fracture healing, changing their stiffness through alteration of both elastic modulus and cross-sectional shape by employing the shape memory effect (SME). Hypotheses: a novel NiTi-SMA plate stabilizes tibia osteotomies in rabbits. After noninvasive electromagnetic induction heating the alloy exhibits the SME and the plate changes towards higher stiffness (inverse dynamization) resulting in increased fixation stiffness and equal or better bony healing. In 14 rabbits, 1.0 mm tibia osteotomies were fixed with our experimental plate. Animals were randomised for control or induction heating at three weeks postoperatively. Repetitive X-ray imaging and in vivo measurements of bending stiffness were performed. After sacrifice at 8 weeks, macroscopic evaluation, µCT, and post mortem bending tests of the tibiae were carried out. One death and one early implant dislocation occurred. Following electromagnetic induction heating, radiographic and macroscopic changes of the implant proved successful SME activation. All osteotomies healed. In the treatment group, bending stiffness increased over time. Differences between groups were not significant. In conclusion, we demonstrated successful healing of rabbit tibia osteotomies using our novel NiTi-SMA plate. We demonstrated shape-changing SME in-vivo through transcutaneous electromagnetic induction heating. Thus, future orthopaedic implants could be modified without additional surgery. PMID:26167493

Higher cell stiffness indicating lower metastatic potential in B16 melanoma cell variants and in (-)-epigallocatechin gallate-treated cells.

PubMed

Watanabe, Tatsuro; Kuramochi, Hiromi; Takahashi, Atsushi; Imai, Kazue; Katsuta, Naoko; Nakayama, Tomonobu; Fujiki, Hirota; Suganuma, Masami

2012-05-01

To understand how nanomechanical stiffness affects metastatic potential, we studied the relationship between cell migration, a characteristic of metastasis, and cell stiffness using atomic force microscopy (AFM), which can measure stiffness (elasticity) of individual living cells. Migration and cell stiffness of three metastatic B16 melanoma variants (B16-F10, B16-BL6, and B16-F1 cells), and also effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were studied using Transwell assay and AFM. Migration of B16-F10 and B16-BL6 cells was 3 and 2 times higher than that of B16-F1 cells in Transwell assay, and cell stiffness determined by AFM was also different among the three variants, although they have similar morphologies and the same growth rates: Means of Young's modulus were 350.8 ± 4.8 Pa for B16-F10 cells, 661.9 ± 16.5 Pa for B16-BL6 cells, and 727.2 ± 13.0 Pa for B16-F1 cells. AFM measurements revealed that highly motile B16-F10 cells have low cell stiffness, and low motile and metastatic B16-F1 cells have high cell stiffness: Nanomechanical stiffness is inversely correlated with migration potential. Treatment of highly motile B16-F10 cells with EGCG increased cell stiffness 2-fold and inhibited migration of the cells. Our study with AFM clearly demonstrates that cell stiffness is a reliable quantitative indicator of migration potential, and very likely metastatic potential, even in morphologically similar cells. And increased cell stiffness may be a key nanomechanical feature in inhibition of metastasis.

Muscle shear elastic modulus is linearly related to muscle torque over the entire range of isometric contraction intensity.

PubMed

Ateş, Filiz; Hug, François; Bouillard, Killian; Jubeau, Marc; Frappart, Thomas; Couade, Mathieu; Bercoff, Jeremy; Nordez, Antoine

2015-08-01

Muscle shear elastic modulus is linearly related to muscle torque during low-level contractions (<60% of Maximal Voluntary Contraction, MVC). This measurement can therefore be used to estimate changes in individual muscle force. However, it is not known if this relationship remains valid for higher intensities. The aim of this study was to determine: (i) the relationship between muscle shear elastic modulus and muscle torque over the entire range of isometric contraction and (ii) the influence of the size of the region of interest (ROI) used to average the shear modulus value. Ten healthy males performed two incremental isometric little finger abductions. The joint torque produced by Abductor Digiti Minimi was considered as an index of muscle torque and elastic modulus. A high coefficient of determination (R(2)) (range: 0.86-0.98) indicated that the relationship between elastic modulus and torque can be accurately modeled by a linear regression over the entire range (0% to 100% of MVC). The changes in shear elastic modulus as a function of torque were highly repeatable. Lower R(2) values (0.89±0.13 for 1/16 of ROI) and significantly increased absolute errors were observed when the shear elastic modulus was averaged over smaller ROI, half, 1/4 and 1/16 of the full ROI) than the full ROI (mean size: 1.18±0.24cm(2)). It suggests that the ROI should be as large as possible for accurate measurement of muscle shear modulus. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Properties of medium-density fiberboard produced in an oil-heated laboratory press

Treesearch

O. Suchsland; G.E. Woodson

1976-01-01

Medium-density fiberboards from pressurized double-disk refined fibers have a close correlation between layer density and layer dynamic modulus of elasticity. Density distribution over the thickness was readily controlled by manipulating platen temperature and applied pressure. Thus, overall modulus of elasticity could be adjusted. In contrast to modulus of elasticity...

Comparison of grain to grain orientation and stiffness mapping by spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy and EBSD.

PubMed

Mark, A F; Li, W; Sharples, S; Withers, P J

2017-07-01

Our aim was to establish the capability of spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) to map grain orientations and the anisotropy in stiffness at the sub-mm to micron scale by comparing the method with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) undertaken within a scanning electron microscope. In the former the grain orientations are deduced by measuring the spatial variation in elastic modulus; conversely, in EBSD the elastic anisotropy is deduced from direct measurements of the crystal orientations. The two test-cases comprise mapping the fusion zones for large TIG and MMA welds in thick power plant austenitic and ferritic steels, respectively; these are technologically important because, among other things, elastic anisotropy can cause ultrasonic weld inspection methods to become inaccurate because it causes bending in the paths of sound waves. The spatial resolution of SRAS is not as good as that for EBSD (∼100 μm vs. ∼a few nm), nor is the angular resolution (∼1.5° vs. ∼0.5°). However the method can be applied to much larger areas (currently on the order of 300 mm square), is much faster (∼5 times), is cheaper and easier to perform, and it could be undertaken on the manufacturing floor. Given these advantages, particularly to industrial users, and the on-going improvements to the method, SRAS has the potential to become a standard method for orientation mapping, particularly in cases where the elastic anisotropy is important over macroscopic/component length scales. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2017 Royal Microscopical Society.

Influence of Selected Factors on the Relationship between the Dynamic Elastic Modulus and Compressive Strength of Concrete

PubMed Central

Jurowski, Krystian; Grzeszczyk, Stefania

2018-01-01

In this paper, the relationship between the static and dynamic elastic modulus of concrete and the relationship between the static elastic modulus and compressive strength of concrete have been formulated. These relationships are based on investigations of different types of concrete and take into account the type and amount of aggregate and binder used. The dynamic elastic modulus of concrete was tested using impulse excitation of vibration and the modal analysis method. This method could be used as a non-destructive way of estimating the compressive strength of concrete. PMID:29565830

Influence of Selected Factors on the Relationship between the Dynamic Elastic Modulus and Compressive Strength of Concrete.

PubMed

Jurowski, Krystian; Grzeszczyk, Stefania

2018-03-22

In this paper, the relationship between the static and dynamic elastic modulus of concrete and the relationship between the static elastic modulus and compressive strength of concrete have been formulated. These relationships are based on investigations of different types of concrete and take into account the type and amount of aggregate and binder used. The dynamic elastic modulus of concrete was tested using impulse excitation of vibration and the modal analysis method. This method could be used as a non-destructive way of estimating the compressive strength of concrete.

Boundary Layer Effect on Behavior of Discrete Models.

PubMed

Eliáš, Jan

2017-02-10

The paper studies systems of rigid bodies with randomly generated geometry interconnected by normal and tangential bonds. The stiffness of these bonds determines the macroscopic elastic modulus while the macroscopic Poisson's ratio of the system is determined solely by the normal/tangential stiffness ratio. Discrete models with no directional bias have the same probability of element orientation for any direction and therefore the same mechanical properties in a statistical sense at any point and direction. However, the layers of elements in the vicinity of the boundary exhibit biased orientation, preferring elements parallel with the boundary. As a consequence, when strain occurs in this direction, the boundary layer becomes stiffer than the interior for the normal/tangential stiffness ratio larger than one, and vice versa. Nonlinear constitutive laws are typically such that the straining of an element in shear results in higher strength and ductility than straining in tension. Since the boundary layer tends, due to the bias in the elemental orientation, to involve more tension than shear at the contacts, it also becomes weaker and less ductile. The paper documents these observations and compares them to the results of theoretical analysis.

Ultra-stiff metallic glasses through bond energy density design.

PubMed

Schnabel, Volker; Köhler, Mathias; Music, Denis; Bednarcik, Jozef; Clegg, William J; Raabe, Dierk; Schneider, Jochen M

2017-07-05

The elastic properties of crystalline metals scale with their valence electron density. Similar observations have been made for metallic glasses. However, for metallic glasses where covalent bonding predominates, such as metalloid metallic glasses, this relationship appears to break down. At present, the reasons for this are not understood. Using high energy x-ray diffraction analysis of melt spun and thin film metallic glasses combined with density functional theory based molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the physical origin of the ultrahigh stiffness in both metalloid and non-metalloid metallic glasses is best understood in terms of the bond energy density. Using the bond energy density as novel materials design criterion for ultra-stiff metallic glasses, we are able to predict a Co 33.0 Ta 3.5 B 63.5 short range ordered material by density functional theory based molecular dynamics simulations with a high bond energy density of 0.94 eV Å -3 and a bulk modulus of 263 GPa, which is 17% greater than the stiffest Co-B based metallic glasses reported in literature.

Upper Airway Elasticity Estimation in Pediatric Down Syndrome Sleep Apnea Patients Using Collapsible Tube Theory.

PubMed

Subramaniam, Dhananjay Radhakrishnan; Mylavarapu, Goutham; McConnell, Keith; Fleck, Robert J; Shott, Sally R; Amin, Raouf S; Gutmark, Ephraim J

2016-05-01

Elasticity of the soft tissues surrounding the upper airway lumen is one of the important factors contributing to upper airway disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. The objective of this study is to calculate patient specific elasticity of the pharynx from magnetic resonance (MR) images using a 'tube law', i.e., the relationship between airway cross-sectional area and transmural pressure difference. MR imaging was performed under anesthesia in children with Down syndrome (DS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). An airway segmentation algorithm was employed to evaluate changes in airway cross-sectional area dilated by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A pressure-area relation was used to make localized estimates of airway wall stiffness for each patient. Optimized values of patient specific Young's modulus for tissue in the velopharynx and oropharynx, were estimated from finite element simulations of airway collapse. Patient specific deformation of the airway wall under CPAP was found to exhibit either a non-linear 'hardening' or 'softening' behavior. The localized airway and tissue elasticity were found to increase with increasing severity of OSA. Elasticity based patient phenotyping can potentially assist clinicians in decision making on CPAP and airway or tissue elasticity can supplement well-known clinical measures of OSA severity.

Contributions of Hamstring Stiffness to Straight-Leg-Raise and Sit-and-Reach Test Scores.

PubMed

Miyamoto, Naokazu; Hirata, Kosuke; Kimura, Noriko; Miyamoto-Mikami, Eri

2018-02-01

The passive straight-leg-raise (PSLR) and the sit-and-reach (SR) tests have been widely used to assess hamstring extensibility. However, it remains unclear to what extent hamstring stiffness (a measure of material properties) contributes to PSLR and SR test scores. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the relationship between hamstring stiffness and PSLR and SR scores using ultrasound shear wave elastography. Ninety-eight healthy subjects completed the study. Each subject completed PSLR testing, and classic and modified SR testing of the right leg. Muscle shear modulus of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus was quantified as an index of muscle stiffness. The relationships between shear modulus of each muscle and PSLR or SR scores were calculated using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients. Shear modulus of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus showed negative correlations with the two PSLR and two SR scores (absolute r value≤0.484). Shear modulus of the biceps femoris was significantly correlated with the PSLR score determined by the examiner and the modified SR score (absolute r value≤0.308). The present findings suggest that PSLR and SR test scores are strongly influenced by factors other than hamstring stiffness and therefore might not accurately evaluate hamstring stiffness. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Deformation localization and dislocation channel dynamics in neutron-irradiated austenitic stainless steels

DOE PAGES

Gussev, Maxim N.; Field, Kevin G.; Busby, Jeremy T.

2015-02-24

We investigated dynamics of deformation localization and dislocation channel formation in situ in a neutron irradiated AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel and a model 304-based austenitic alloy by combining several analytical techniques including optic microscopy and laser confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Channel formation was observed at 70% of the formal tensile yield stress for both alloys. It was shown that triple junction points do not always serve as a source of dislocation channels; at stress levels below the yield stress, channels often formed near the middle of the grain boundary. For amore » single grain, the role of elastic stiffness value (Young modulus) in the channel formation was analyzed; it was shown that in the irradiated 304 steels the initial channels appeared in soft grains with a high Schmid factor located near stiff grains with high elastic stiffness. Moreover, the spatial organization of channels in a single grain was analyzed; it was shown that secondary channels operating in the same slip plane as primary channels often appeared at the middle or at one third of the way between primary channels. The twinning nature of dislocation channels was analyzed for grains of different orientation using TEM. Finally, it was shown that in the AISI 304 steel, channels were twin-free in grains oriented close to [001] and [101] of standard unit triangle; [111]-grains and grains oriented close to Schmid factor maximum contained deformation twins.« less

Elastic modulus of single cellulose microfibrils from tunicate measured by atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Iwamoto, Shinichiro; Kai, Weihua; Isogai, Akira; Iwata, Tadahisa

2009-09-14

The elastic modulus of single microfibrils from tunicate ( Halocynthia papillosa ) cellulose was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Microfibrils with cross-sectional dimensions 8 x 20 nm and several micrometers in length were obtained by oxidation of cellulose with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO) as a catalyst and subsequent mechanical disintegration in water and by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The nanocellulosic materials were deposited on a specially designed silicon wafer with grooves 227 nm in width, and a three-point bending test was applied to determine the elastic modulus using an AFM cantilever. The elastic moduli of single microfibrils prepared by TEMPO-oxidation and acid hydrolysis were 145.2 +/- 31.3 and 150.7 +/- 28.8 GPa, respectively. The result showed that the experimentally determined modulus of the highly crystalline tunicate microfibrils was in agreement with the elastic modulus of native cellulose crystals.

Optical coherence elastography for cellular-scale stiffness imaging of mouse aorta

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijesinghe, Philip; Johansen, Niloufer J.; Curatolo, Andrea; Sampson, David D.; Ganss, Ruth; Kennedy, Brendan F.

2017-04-01

We have developed a high-resolution optical coherence elastography system capable of estimating Young's modulus in tissue volumes with an isotropic resolution of 15 μm over a 1 mm lateral field of view and a 100 μm axial depth of field. We demonstrate our technique on healthy and hypertensive, freshly excised and intact mouse aortas. Our technique has the capacity to delineate the individual mechanics of elastic lamellae and vascular smooth muscle. Further, we observe global and regional vascular stiffening in hypertensive aortas, and note the presence of local micro-mechanical signatures, characteristic of fibrous and lipid-rich regions.

New Soft Tissue Implants Using Organic Elastomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ku, David N.

Typical biomaterials are stiff, difficult to manufacture, and not initially developed for medical implants. A new biomaterial is proposed that is similar to human soft tissue. The biomaterial provides mechanical properties similar to soft tissue in its mechanical and physical properties. Characterization is performed for modulus of elasticity, ultimate strength and wear resistance. The material further exhibits excellent biocompatibility with little toxicity and low inflammation. The material can be molded into a variety of anatomic shapes for use as a cartilage replacement, heart valve, and reconstructive implant for trauma victims. The biomaterial may be suitable for several biodevices of the future aimed at soft-tissue replacements.

Effects of plantar fascia stiffness on the biomechanical responses of the ankle-foot complex.

PubMed

Cheung, Jason Tak-Man; Zhang, Ming; An, Kai-Nan

2004-10-01

The plantar fascia is one of the major stabilizing structures of the longitudinal arch of human foot, especially during midstance of the gait cycle. Knowledge of its functional biomechanics is important for establishing the biomechanical rationale behind different rehabilitation, orthotic and surgical treatment of plantar fasciitis. This study aims at quantifying the biomechanical responses of the ankle-foot complex with different plantar fascia stiffness. A geometrical detailed three-dimensional finite element model of the human foot and ankle, incorporating geometric and contact nonlinearities was constructed by 3D reconstruction of MR images. A sensitivity study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying elastic modulus (0-700 MPa) of the plantar fascia on the stress/strain distribution of the bony, ligamentous and encapsulated soft tissue structures. The results showed that decreasing the Young's modulus of plantar fascia would increase the strains of the long and short plantar and spring ligaments significantly. With zero fascia Young's modulus to simulate the plantar fascia release, there was a shift in peak von Mises stresses from the third to the second metatarsal bones and increased stresses at the plantar ligament attachment area of the cuboid bone. Decrease in arch height and midfoot pronation were predicted but did not lead to the total collapse of foot arch. Surgical dissection of the plantar fascia may induce excessive strains or stresses in the ligamentous and bony structures. Surgical release of plantar fascia should be well-planned to minimise the effect on its structural integrity to reduce the risk of developing arch instability and subsequent painful foot syndrome.

Lactation-Induced Changes in the Volume of Osteocyte Lacunar-Canalicular Space Alter Mechanical Properties in Cortical Bone Tissue.

PubMed

Kaya, Serra; Basta-Pljakic, Jelena; Seref-Ferlengez, Zeynep; Majeska, Robert J; Cardoso, Luis; Bromage, Timothy G; Zhang, Qihong; Flach, Carol R; Mendelsohn, Richard; Yakar, Shoshana; Fritton, Susannah P; Schaffler, Mitchell B

2017-04-01

Osteocytes can remove and remodel small amounts of their surrounding bone matrix through osteocytic osteolysis, which results in increased volume occupied by lacunar and canalicular space (LCS). It is well established that cortical bone stiffness and strength are strongly and inversely correlated with vascular porosity, but whether changes in LCS volume caused by osteocytic osteolysis are large enough to affect bone mechanical properties is not known. In the current studies we tested the hypotheses that (1) lactation and postlactation recovery in mice alter the elastic modulus of bone tissue, and (2) such local changes in mechanical properties are related predominantly to alterations in lacunar and canalicular volume rather than bone matrix composition. Mechanical testing was performed using microindentation to measure modulus in regions containing solely osteocytes and no vascular porosity. Lactation caused a significant (∼13%) reduction in bone tissue-level elastic modulus (p < 0.001). After 1 week postweaning (recovery), bone modulus levels returned to control levels and did not change further after 4 weeks of recovery. LCS porosity tracked inversely with changes in cortical bone modulus. Lacunar and canalicular void space increased 7% and 15% with lactation, respectively (p < 0.05), then returned to control levels at 1 week after weaning. Neither bone mineralization (assessed by high-resolution backscattered scanning electron microscopy) nor mineral/matrix ratio or crystallinity (assessed by Raman microspectroscopy) changed with lactation. Thus, changes in bone mechanical properties induced by lactation and recovery appear to depend predominantly on changes in osteocyte LCS dimensions. Moreover, this study demonstrates that tissue-level cortical bone mechanical properties are rapidly and reversibly modulated by osteocytes in response to physiological challenge. These data point to a hitherto unappreciated role for osteocytes in modulating and maintaining local bone mechanical properties. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Micromechanical analysis on anisotropy of structured magneto-rheological elastomer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, R.; Zhang, Z.; Chen, S. W.; Wang, X. J.

2015-07-01

This paper investigates the equivalent elastic modulus of structured magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) in the absence of magnetic field. We assume that both matrix and ferromagnetic particles are linear elastic materials, and ferromagnetic particles are embedded in matrix with layer-like structure. The structured composite could be divided into matrix layer and reinforced layer, in which the reinforced layer is composed of matrix and the homogenously distributed ferromagnetic particles in matrix. The equivalent elastic modulus of reinforced layer is analysed by the Mori-Tanaka method. Finite Element Method (FEM) is also carried out to illustrate the relationship between the elastic modulus and the volume fraction of ferromagnetic particles. The results show that the anisotropy of elastic modulus becomes noticeable, as the volume fraction of particles increases.

Probing Cytoskeletal Structures by Coupling Optical Superresolution and AFM Techniques for a Correlative Approach

PubMed Central

Chacko, Jenu Varghese; Zanacchi, Francesca Cella; Diaspro, Alberto

2013-01-01

In this article, we describe and show the application of some of the most advanced fluorescence superresolution techniques, STED AFM and STORM AFM microscopy towards imaging of cytoskeletal structures, such as microtubule filaments. Mechanical and structural properties can play a relevant role in the investigation of cytoskeletal structures of interest, such as microtubules, that provide support to the cell structure. In fact, the mechanical properties, such as the local stiffness and the elasticity, can be investigated by AFM force spectroscopy with tens of nanometers resolution. Force curves can be analyzed in order to obtain the local elasticity (and the Young's modulus calculation by fitting the force curves from every pixel of interest), and the combination with STED/STORM microscopy integrates the measurement with high specificity and yields superresolution structural information. This hybrid modality of superresolution-AFM working is a clear example of correlative multimodal microscopy. PMID:24027190

Electrocatalysis-induced elasticity modulation in a superionic proton conductor probed by band-excitation atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

Papandrew, A B; Li, Q; Okatan, M B; Jesse, S; Hartnett, C; Kalinin, S V; Vasudevan, R K

2015-12-21

Variable temperature band-excitation atomic force microscopy in conjunction with I-V spectroscopy was used to investigate the crystalline superionic proton conductor CsHSO4 during proton exchange induced by a Pt-coated conductive scanning probe. At a sample temperature of 150 °C and under an applied bias <1 V, reduction currents of up to 1 nA were observed. Simultaneously, we show that the electrochemical reactions are accompanied by a reversible decrease in the elastic modulus of CsHSO4, as seen by a contact resonance shift, and find evidence for superplasticity during scanning. These effects were not observed in the room-temperature phase of CsHSO4 or in the case of catalytically inactive conductive probes, proving the utility of this technique for monitoring electrochemical processes on the nanoscale, as well as the use of local contact stiffness as a sensitive indicator of electrochemical reactions.

Normal vibrational modes of phospholipid bilayers observed by low-frequency Raman scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surovtsev, N. V.; Dmitriev, A. A.; Dzuba, S. A.

2017-03-01

Low-frequency Raman spectra of multilamellar vesicles made either of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-s n -glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) or 1,2-dipalmitoyl-s n -glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) have been studied in a wide temperature range. Below 0 ∘C two peaks are found at frequencies around 8-9 and 14 -17 c m -1 and attributed to the normal vibrational modes of the phospholipid bilayer, which are determined by the bilayer thickness and stiffness (elastic modulus). The spectral positions of the peaks depend on the temperature and the bilayer composition. It is suggested that the ratio of the intensities of the first and second peaks can serve as a measure of the interleaflet elastic coupling. The addition of cholesterol to the phospholipid bilayer leads to peak shift and broadening, which may be assigned to the composition heterogeneities commonly attributed to the lipid raft formation.

Ab-initio study of electronic structure and elastic properties of ZrC

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mund, H. S., E-mail: hmoond@gmail.com; Ahuja, B. L.

2016-05-23

The electronic and elastic properties of ZrC have been investigated using the linear combination of atomic orbitals method within the framework of density functional theory. Different exchange-correlation functionals are taken into account within generalized gradient approximation. We have computed energy bands, density of states, elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, lattice parameters and pressure derivative of the bulk modulus by calculating ground state energy of the rock salt structure type ZrC.

Transesophageal echocardiographic strain imaging predicts aortic biomechanics: Beyond diameter.

PubMed

Emmott, Alexander; Alzahrani, Haitham; Alreishidan, Mohammed; Therrien, Judith; Leask, Richard L; Lachapelle, Kevin

2018-03-11

Clinical guidelines recommend resection of ascending aortic aneurysms at diameters 5.5 cm or greater to prevent rupture or dissection. However, approximately 40% of all ascending aortic dissections occur below this threshold. We propose new transesophageal echocardiography strain-imaging moduli coupled with blood pressure measurements to predict aortic dysfunction below the surgical threshold. A total of 21 patients undergoing aortic resection were recruited to participate in this study. Transesophageal echocardiography imaging of the aortic short-axis and invasive radial blood pressure traces were taken for 3 cardiac cycles. By using EchoPAC (GE Healthcare, Madison, Wis) and postprocessing in MATLAB (MathWorks, Natick, Mass), circumferential stretch profiles were generated and combined with the blood pressure traces. From these data, 2 in vivo stiffness moduli were calculated: the Cardiac Cycle Pressure Modulus and Cardiac Cycle Stress Modulus. From the resected aortic ring, testing squares were isolated for ex vivo mechanical analysis and histopathology. Each square underwent equibiaxial tensile testing to generate stress-stretch profiles for each patient. Two ex vivo indices were calculated from these profiles (energy loss and incremental stiffness) for comparison with the Cardiac Cycle Pressure Modulus and Cardiac Cycle Stress Modulus. The echo-derived stiffness moduli demonstrate positive significant covariance with ex vivo tensile biomechanical indices: energy loss (vs Cardiac Cycle Pressure Modulus: R 2  = 0.5873, P < .0001; vs Cardiac Cycle Stress Modulus: R 2  = 0.6401, P < .0001) and apparent stiffness (vs Cardiac Cycle Pressure Modulus: R 2  = 0.2079, P = .0378; vs Cardiac Cycle Stress Modulus: R 2  = 0.3575, P = .0042). Likewise, these transesophageal echocardiography-derived moduli are highly predictive of the histopathologic composition of collagen and elastin (collagen/elastin ratio vs Cardiac Cycle Pressure Modulus: R 2  = 0.6165, P < .0001; vs Cardiac Cycle Stress Modulus: R 2  = 0.6037, P < .0001). Transesophageal echocardiography-derived stiffness moduli correlate strongly with aortic wall biomechanics and histopathology, which demonstrates the added benefit of using simple echocardiography-derived biomechanics to stratify patient populations. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Surface Mechanoengineering of a Zr-based Bulk Metallic Glass via Ar-Nanobubble Doping to Probe Cell Sensitivity to Rigid Materials

DOE PAGES

Huang, Lu; Tian, Mengkun; Wu, Dong; ...

2017-11-24

In this paper, a new materials platform, utilizing the amorphous microstructure of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) and the versatility of ion implantation, was developed for the fundamental investigation of cell responses to substrate-rigidity variations in the gigapascal modulus range, which was previously unattainable with polymeric materials. The surface rigidity of a Zr-Al- Ni-Cu-Y BMG was modulated with low-energy Ar-ion implantation owing to the impartment of Ar nanobubbles into the amorphous matrix. Surface softening was achieved due to the formation of nanobubble-doped transitional zones in the Zrbased BMG substrate. Bone-forming cell studies on this newly designed platform demonstrated that mechanical cues,more » accompanied with the potential effects of other surface properties (i.e. roughness, morphology, and chemistry), contributed to modulating cell behaviors. Cell adhesion and actin filaments were found to be less established on less stiff surfaces, especially on the surface with an elastic modulus of 51 GPa. Cell growth appeared to be affected by surface mechanical properties. A lower stiffness was generally related to a higher growth rate. Findings in this study broadened our fundamental understanding concerning the mechanosensing of bone cells on stiff substrates. It also suggests that surface mechano-engineering of metallic materials could be a potential strategy to promote osseointegration of such materials for bone-implant applications. Further investigations are proposed to fine tune the ion implantation variables in order to further distinguish the surface-mechanical effect on bone-forming cell activities from the contributions of other surface properties.« less

Surface Mechanoengineering of a Zr-based Bulk Metallic Glass via Ar-Nanobubble Doping to Probe Cell Sensitivity to Rigid Materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Lu; Tian, Mengkun; Wu, Dong

In this paper, a new materials platform, utilizing the amorphous microstructure of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) and the versatility of ion implantation, was developed for the fundamental investigation of cell responses to substrate-rigidity variations in the gigapascal modulus range, which was previously unattainable with polymeric materials. The surface rigidity of a Zr-Al- Ni-Cu-Y BMG was modulated with low-energy Ar-ion implantation owing to the impartment of Ar nanobubbles into the amorphous matrix. Surface softening was achieved due to the formation of nanobubble-doped transitional zones in the Zrbased BMG substrate. Bone-forming cell studies on this newly designed platform demonstrated that mechanical cues,more » accompanied with the potential effects of other surface properties (i.e. roughness, morphology, and chemistry), contributed to modulating cell behaviors. Cell adhesion and actin filaments were found to be less established on less stiff surfaces, especially on the surface with an elastic modulus of 51 GPa. Cell growth appeared to be affected by surface mechanical properties. A lower stiffness was generally related to a higher growth rate. Findings in this study broadened our fundamental understanding concerning the mechanosensing of bone cells on stiff substrates. It also suggests that surface mechano-engineering of metallic materials could be a potential strategy to promote osseointegration of such materials for bone-implant applications. Further investigations are proposed to fine tune the ion implantation variables in order to further distinguish the surface-mechanical effect on bone-forming cell activities from the contributions of other surface properties.« less

Lipid Neuroprotectants and Traumatic Glaucomatous Neurodegeneration

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-01

alter elastic TM, modulus and binding and functional assays with potential protein targets. Endogenous lipids, Aqueous humor, Trabecular meshwork...Intraocular pressure, sphingolipids, primary cell culture, elastic modulus, protein targets. Major goal 1. Test the hypothesis that selected lipids...glaucomatous TM with and without these lipids and atomic force microscope (AFM). Further elastic modulus using high flow and low flow areas of glaucomatous

Influence of Waste Tyre Crumb Rubber on Compressive Strength, Static Modulus of Elasticity and Flexural Strength of Concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haridharan, M. K.; Bharathi Murugan, R.; Natarajan, C.; Muthukannan, M.

2017-07-01

In this paper, the experimental investigations was carried out to find the compressive strength, static modulus of elasticity and flexural strength of concrete mixtures, in which natural sand was partially replaced with Waste Tyre Crumb Rubber (WTCR). River sand was replaced with five different percentages (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) of WTCR by volume. The main objective of the experimental investigation is to find the relationship between static modulus of elasticity and flexural strength with compressive strength of concrete with WTCR. The experimentally obtainedstatic modulus of elasticity and flexural strength results comparing with the theoretical values (various country codes recommendations).

Prediction study of structural, elastic and electronic properties of FeMP (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanto, A.; Chihi, T.; Ghebouli, M. A.; Reffas, M.; Fatmi, M.; Ghebouli, B.

2018-06-01

First principles calculations are applied in the study of FeMP (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) compounds. We investigate the structural, elastic, mechanical and electronic properties by combining first-principles calculations with the CASTEP approach. For ideal polycrystalline FeMP (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) the shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, elastic anisotropy indexes, Pugh's criterion, elastic wave velocities and Debye temperature are also calculated from the single crystal elastic constants. The shear anisotropic factors and anisotropy are obtained from the single crystal elastic constants. The Debye temperature is calculated from the average elastic wave velocity obtained from shear and bulk modulus as well as the integration of elastic wave velocities in different directions of the single crystal.

The impact of substrate stiffness and mechanical loading on fibroblast-induced scaffold remodeling.

PubMed

Petersen, Ansgar; Joly, Pascal; Bergmann, Camilla; Korus, Gabriela; Duda, Georg N

2012-09-01

Fibroblasts as many other cells are known to form, contract, and remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). The presented study aims to gain an insight into how mechanical boundary conditions affect the production of ECM components, their remodeling, and the feedback of the altered mechanical cell environment on these processes. The influence of cyclic mechanical loading (f=1 Hz, 10% axial compression) and scaffold stiffness (E=1.2 and 8.5 kPa) on the mechanical properties of fibroblast-seeded scaffold constructs were investigated in an in vitro approach over 14 days of culture. To do so, a newly developed bioreactor system was employed. While mechanical loading resulted in a clear upregulation of procollagen-I and fibronectin production, scaffold stiffness showed to primarily influence matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) secretion and cell-induced scaffold contraction. Higher stiffness of the collagen scaffolds resulted in an up to twofold higher production of collagen-degrading MMP-1. The changes of mechanical parameters like Young's modulus, maximum compression force, and elastic portion of compression force over time suggest that from initially distinct mechanical starting conditions (scaffold stiffness), the construct's mechanical properties converge over time. As a consequence of mechanical loading a shift toward higher construct stiffness was observed. The results suggest that scaffold stiffness has only a temporary effect on cell behavior, while the impact of mechanical loading is preserved over time. Thus, it is concluded that the mechanical environment of the cell after remodeling is depending on mechanical loading rather than on initial scaffold stiffness.

Quantitative nanohistological investigation of scleroderma: an atomic force microscopy-based approach to disease characterization

PubMed Central

Strange, Adam P; Aguayo, Sebastian; Ahmed, Tarek; Mordan, Nicola; Stratton, Richard; Porter, Stephen R; Parekh, Susan; Bozec, Laurent

2017-01-01

Scleroderma (or systemic sclerosis, SSc) is a disease caused by excess crosslinking of collagen. The skin stiffens and becomes painful, while internally, organ function can be compromised by the less elastic collagen. Diagnosis of SSc is often only possible in advanced cases by which treatment time is limited. A more detailed analysis of SSc may provide better future treatment options and information of disease progression. Recently, the histological stain picrosirius red showing collagen register has been combined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) to study SSc. Skin from healthy individuals and SSc patients was biopsied, stained and studied using AFM. By investigating the crosslinking of collagen at a smaller hierarchical stage, the effects of SSc were more pronounced. Changes in morphology and Young’s elastic modulus were observed and quantified; giving rise to a novel technique, we have termed “quantitative nanohistology”. An increase in nanoscale stiffness in the collagen for SSc compared with healthy individuals was seen by a significant increase in the Young’s modulus profile for the collagen. These markers of stiffer collagen in SSc are similar to the symptoms experienced by patients, giving additional hope that in the future, nanohistology using AFM can be readily applied as a clinical tool, providing detailed information of the state of collagen. PMID:28138238

Optical metrics of the extracellular matrix predict compositional and mechanical changes after myocardial infarction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quinn, Kyle P.; Sullivan, Kelly E.; Liu, Zhiyi; Ballard, Zachary; Siokatas, Christos; Georgakoudi, Irene; Black, Lauren D.

2016-11-01

Understanding the organization and mechanical function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for the development of therapeutic strategies that regulate wound healing following disease or injury. However, these relationships are challenging to elucidate during remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) due to rapid changes in cellularity and an inability to characterize both ECM microstructure and function non-destructively. In this study, we overcome those challenges through whole organ decellularization and non-linear optical microscopy to directly relate the microstructure and mechanical properties of myocardial ECM. We non-destructively quantify collagen organization, content, and cross-linking within decellularized healthy and infarcted myocardium using second harmonic generation (SHG) and two photon excited autofluorescence. Tensile mechanical testing and compositional analysis reveal that the cumulative SHG intensity within each image volume and the average collagen autofluorescence are significantly correlated with collagen content and elastic modulus of the ECM, respectively. Compared to healthy ECM, infarcted tissues demonstrate a significant increase in collagen content and fiber alignment, and a decrease in cross-linking and elastic modulus. These findings indicate that cross-linking plays a key role in stiffness at the collagen fiber level following infarction, and highlight how this non-destructive approach to assessing remodeling can be used to understand ECM structure-function relationships.

Ultrafine Ceramic Grains Embedded in Metallic Glass Matrix: Achieving Superior Wear Resistance via Increase in Both Hardness and Toughness.

PubMed

Yang, Lina; Wen, Mao; Dai, Xuan; Cheng, Gang; Zhang, Kan

2018-05-09

As structural materials, crystalline or metallic glass materials have attracted scientific and practical interests. However, some mechanisms involving critical size and shear bands have adverse effects on their mechanical properties. Here, we counter these two effects by introducing a special structure with ultrafine ceramic grains (with a diameter of ∼2.0 nm) embedded into a metallic glass matrix, wherein the grains are mainly composed of a Ta-W-N solid solution structure in nature, surrounded by a W-based amorphous matrix that contains Ta and N atoms. Such a structure is in situ formed during preparation, which combines the merits of both phases to achieve simultaneous increase in hardness and toughness relative to references (pure TaN and W) and thus superior wear resistance. Even more remarkable, a favorable variation of increased hardness but reduced elasticity modulus can be induced by this structure. Intrinsically, ultrafine ceramic grains (free of dislocations), embedded in the metallic glass matrix, could prevent shear band propagation within the glass matrix and further improve the hardness of the matrix material. In return, such glass matrix allows for stiffness neutralization and structural relaxation to reduce the elasticity modulus of ceramic grains. This study will offer a new guidance to fabricate ultrahigh-performance metal-based composites.

The Role of Network Architecture in Collagen Mechanics.

PubMed

Jansen, Karin A; Licup, Albert J; Sharma, Abhinav; Rens, Robbie; MacKintosh, Fred C; Koenderink, Gijsje H

2018-06-05

Collagen forms fibrous networks that reinforce tissues and provide an extracellular matrix for cells. These networks exhibit remarkable strain-stiffening properties that tailor the mechanical functions of tissues and regulate cell behavior. Recent models explain this nonlinear behavior as an intrinsic feature of disordered networks of stiff fibers. Here, we experimentally validate this theoretical framework by measuring the elastic properties of collagen networks over a wide range of self-assembly conditions. We show that the model allows us to quantitatively relate both the linear and nonlinear elastic behavior of collagen networks to their underlying architecture. Specifically, we identify the local coordination number (or connectivity) 〈z〉 as a key architectural parameter that governs the elastic response of collagen. The network elastic response reveals that 〈z〉 decreases from 3.5 to 3 as the polymerization temperature is raised from 26 to 37°C while being weakly dependent on concentration. We furthermore infer a Young's modulus of 1.1 MPa for the collagen fibrils from the linear modulus. Scanning electron microscopy confirms that 〈z〉 is between three and four but is unable to detect the subtle changes in 〈z〉 with polymerization conditions that rheology is sensitive to. Finally, we show that, consistent with the model, the initial stress-stiffening response of collagen networks is controlled by the negative normal stress that builds up under shear. Our work provides a predictive framework to facilitate future studies of the regulatory effect of extracellular matrix molecules on collagen mechanics. Moreover, our findings can aid mechanobiological studies of wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer metastasis, which require collagen matrices with tunable mechanical properties. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assessment of the accuracy of an ultrasound elastography liver scanning system using a PVA-cryogel phantom with optimal acoustic and mechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cournane, S.; Cannon, L.; Browne, J. E.; Fagan, A. J.

2010-10-01

The accuracy of a transient elastography liver-scanning ultrasound system was assessed using a novel application of PVA-cryogel as a tissue-mimicking material with acoustic and shear elasticity properties optimized to best represent those of liver tissue. Although the liver-scanning system has been shown to offer a safer alternative for diagnosing liver cirrhosis through stiffness measurement, as compared to the liver needle biopsy exam, the scanner's accuracy has not been fully established. Young's elastic modulus values of 5-6 wt% PVA-cryogel phantoms, also containing glycerol and 0.3 µm Al2O3 and 3 µm Al2O3, were measured using a 'gold standard' mechanical testing technique and transient elastography. The mechanically measured values and acoustic velocities of the phantoms ranged between 1.6 and 16.1 kPa and 1540 and 1570 m s-1, respectively, mimicking those observed in liver tissue. The values reported by the transient elastography system overestimated Young's elastic modulus values representative of the progressive stages of liver fibrosis by up to 32%. These results were attributed to the relative rather than absolute nature of the measurement arising from the single-point acoustic velocity calibration of the system, rendering the measurements critically dependent on the speed of sound of the sample under investigation. Given the wide range of acoustic velocities which exist in the liver, spanning healthy tissue to cirrhotic pathology, coupled with the system's assumption that the liver is approximately elastic when it is rather highly viscoelastic, care should be exercised when interpreting the results from this system in patient groups.

A new model linking elastic properties and ionic conductivity of mixed network former glasses.

PubMed

Wang, Weimin; Christensen, Randilynn; Curtis, Brittany; Martin, Steve W; Kieffer, John

2018-01-17

Glasses are promising candidate materials for all-solid-state electrolytes for rechargeable batteries due to their outstanding mechanical stability, wide electrochemical stability range, and open structure for potentially high conductivity. Mechanical stiffness and ionic conductivity are two key parameters for solid-state electrolytes. In this study, we investigate two mixed-network former glass systems, sodium borosilicate 0.2Na 2 O + 0.8[xBO 1.5 + (1 - x)SiO 2 ] and sodium borogermanate 0.2Na 2 O + 0.8[xBO 1.5 + (1 - x)GeO 2 ] glasses. With mixed-network formers, the structure of the network changes while the network modifier mole fraction is kept constant, i.e., x = 0.2, which allows us to analyze the effect of the network structure on various properties, including ionic conductivity and elastic properties. Besides the non-linear, non-additive mixed glass former effect, we find that the longitudinal, shear and Young's moduli depend on the combined number density of tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated network former elements. These units provide connectivity in three dimensions, which is required for the networks to exhibit restoring forces in response to isotropic and shear deformations. Moreover, the activation energy for modifier cation, Na + , migration is strongly correlated with the bulk modulus, suggesting that the elastic strain energy associated with the passageway dilation for the sodium ions is governed by the bulk modulus of the glass. The detailed analysis provided here gives an estimate for the number of atoms in the vicinity of the migrating cation that are affected by elastic deformation during the activated process. The larger this number and the more compliant the glass network, the lower is the activation energy for the cation jump.

The capillary adhesion technique: a versatile method for determining the liquid adhesion force and sample stiffness

PubMed Central

Gandyra, Daniel; Gorb, Stanislav; Barthlott, Wilhelm

2015-01-01

Summary We report a novel, practical technique for the concerted, simultaneous determination of both the adhesion force of a small structure or structural unit (e.g., an individual filament, hair, micromechanical component or microsensor) to a liquid and its elastic properties. The method involves the creation and development of a liquid meniscus upon touching a liquid surface with the structure, and the subsequent disruption of this liquid meniscus upon removal. The evaluation of the meniscus shape immediately before snap-off of the meniscus allows the quantitative determination of the liquid adhesion force. Concurrently, by measuring and evaluating the deformation of the structure under investigation, its elastic properties can be determined. The sensitivity of the method is remarkably high, practically limited by the resolution of the camera capturing the process. Adhesion forces down to 10 µN and spring constants up to 2 N/m were measured. Three exemplary applications of this method are demonstrated: (1) determination of the water adhesion force and the elasticity of individual hairs (trichomes) of the floating fern Salvinia molesta. (2) The investigation of human head hairs both with and without functional surface coatings (a topic of high relevance in the field of hair cosmetics) was performed. The method also resulted in the measurement of an elastic modulus (Young’s modulus) for individual hairs of 3.0 × 105 N/cm2, which is within the typical range known for human hair. (3) Finally, the accuracy and validity of the capillary adhesion technique was proven by examining calibrated atomic force microscopy cantilevers, reproducing the spring constants calibrated using other methods. PMID:25671147

Ab initio predictions of structural and elastic properties of struvite: contribution to urinary stone research.

PubMed

Piechota, Jacek; Prywer, Jolanta; Torzewska, Agnieszka

2012-01-01

In the present work, we carried out density functional calculations of struvite--the main component of the so-called infectious urinary stones--to study its structural and elastic properties. Using a local density approximation and a generalised gradient approximation, we calculated the equilibrium structural parameters and elastic constants C(ijkl). At present, there is no experimental data for these elastic constants C (ijkl) for comparison. Besides the elastic constants, we also present the calculated macroscopic mechanical parameters, namely the bulk modulus (K), the shear modulus (G) and Young's modulus (E). The values of these moduli are found to be in good agreement with available experimental data. Our results imply that the mechanical stability of struvite is limited by the shear modulus, G. The study also explores the energy-band structure to understand the obtained values of the elastic constants.

Measurement of gastrocnemius muscle elasticity by shear wave elastography: association with passive ankle joint stiffness and sex differences.

PubMed

Chino, Kentaro; Takahashi, Hideyuki

2016-04-01

Passive joint stiffness is an important quantitative measure of flexibility, but is affected by muscle volume and all of the anatomical structures located within and over the joint. Shear wave elastography can assess muscle elasticity independent of the influences of muscle volume and the other nearby anatomical structures. We determined how muscle elasticity, as measured using shear wave elastography, is associated with passive joint stiffness and patient sex. Twenty-six healthy men (24.4 ± 5.9 years) and 26 healthy women (25.2 ± 4.8 years) participated in this study. The passive ankle joint stiffness and tissue elasticity of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) were quantified with the ankle in 30° plantar flexion (PF), a neutral anatomical position (NE), and 20° dorsiflexion (DF). No significant difference in passive joint stiffness by sex was observed with the ankle in PF, but significantly greater passive ankle joint stiffness in men than in women was observed in NE and DF. The MG elasticity was not significantly associated with joint stiffness in PF or NE, but it was significantly associated with joint stiffness in DF. There were no significant differences in MG elasticity by sex at any ankle position. Muscle elasticity, measured independent of the confounding effects of muscle volume and the other nearby anatomical structures, is associated with passive joint stiffness in the joint position where the muscle is sufficiently lengthened, but does not vary by sex in any joint position tested.

Bending stiffness and interlayer shear modulus of few-layer graphene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Xiaoming; Yi, Chenglin; Ke, Changhong, E-mail: cke@binghamton.edu

2015-03-09

Interlayer shear deformation occurs in the bending of multilayer graphene with unconstrained ends, thus influencing its bending rigidity. Here, we investigate the bending stiffness and interlayer shear modulus of few-layer graphene through examining its self-folding conformation on a flat substrate using atomic force microscopy in conjunction with nonlinear mechanics modeling. The results reveal that the bending stiffness of 2–6 layers graphene follows a square-power relationship with its thickness. The interlayer shear modulus is found to be in the range of 0.36–0.49 GPa. The research findings show that the weak interlayer shear interaction has a substantial stiffening effect for multilayer graphene.

Effects of strain rate, mixing ratio, and stress-strain definition on the mechanical behavior of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material as related to its biological applications.

PubMed

Khanafer, Khalil; Duprey, Ambroise; Schlicht, Marty; Berguer, Ramon

2009-04-01

Tensile tests on Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) materials were conducted to illustrate the effects of mixing ratio, definition of the stress-strain curve, and the strain rate on the elastic modulus and stress-strain curve. PDMS specimens were prepared according to the ASTM standards for elastic materials. Our results indicate that the physiological elastic modulus depends strongly on the definition of the stress-strain curve, mixing ratio, and the strain rate. For various mixing ratios and strain rates, true stress-strain definition results in higher stress and elastic modulus compared with engineering stress-strain and true stress-engineering strain definitions. The elastic modulus increases as the mixing ratio increases up-to 9:1 ratio after which the elastic modulus begins to decrease even as the mixing ratio continues to increase. The results presented in this study will be helpful to assist the design of in vitro experiments to mimic blood flow in arteries and to understand the complex interaction between blood flow and the walls of arteries using PDMS elastomer.

An infinitely-stiff elastic system via a tuned negative-stiffness component stabilized by rotation-produced gyroscopic forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kochmann, D. M.; Drugan, W. J.

2016-06-01

An elastic system containing a negative-stiffness element tuned to produce positive-infinite system stiffness, although statically unstable as is any such elastic system if unconstrained, is proved to be stabilized by rotation-produced gyroscopic forces at sufficiently high rotation rates. This is accomplished in possibly the simplest model of a composite structure (or solid) containing a negative-stiffness component that exhibits all these features, facilitating a conceptually and mathematically transparent, completely closed-form analysis.

Anisotropic mechanical properties of zircon and the effect of radiation damage

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Beirau, Tobias; Nix, William D.; Bismayer, Ulrich

2016-06-02

Our study provides new insights into the relationship between radiation-dose-dependent structural damage, due to natural U and Th impurities, and the anisotropic mechanical properties (Poisson s ratio, elastic modulus and hardness) of zircon. Natural zircon samples from Sri Lanka (see Muarakami et al. 1991) and synthetic samples, covering a dose range of zero up to 6.8 x 10 18 -decays/g, have been studied by nanoindentation. Measurements along the [100] crystallographic direction and calculations, based on elastic stiffness constants determined by zkan (1976), revealed a general radiation-induced decrease in stiffness (~ 54 %) and hardness (~ 48 %) and an increasemore » of the Poisson s ratio (~ 54 %) with increasing dose. Additional indentations on selected samples along the [001] allowed one to follow the amorphization process to the point that the mechanical properties are isotropic. This work shows that the radiation-dose-dependent changes of the mechanical properties of zircon can be directly correlated with the amorphous fraction as determined by previous investigations with local and global probes (Rios et al. 2000a; Farnan and Salje 2001; Zhang and Salje 2001). This agreement, revealed by the different methods, indicates a huge influence of structural and even local phenomena on the macroscopic mechanical properties.« less

Modulus of Elasticity and Thermal Expansion Coefficient of ITO Film

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carter, Austin D.; Elhadj, S.

2016-06-24

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the modulus of elasticity (E) and thermal expansion coefficient (α) of RF sputtered Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) as a function of temperature (T), and to collect ITO film stress data. In order to accomplish that goal, the Toho FLX-2320-S thin film stress measurement machine was used to collect both single stress and stress-temperature data for ITO coated fused silica and sapphire substrates. The stress measurement function of the FLX-2320-S cannot be used to calculate the elastic modulus of the film because the Stoney formula incorporates the elastic modulus of the substrate, rathermore » than of the film itself.« less

A Review on Atherosclerotic Biology, Wall Stiffness, Physics of Elasticity, and Its Ultrasound-Based Measurement.

PubMed

Patel, Anoop K; Suri, Harman S; Singh, Jaskaran; Kumar, Dinesh; Shafique, Shoaib; Nicolaides, Andrew; Jain, Sanjay K; Saba, Luca; Gupta, Ajay; Laird, John R; Giannopoulos, Argiris; Suri, Jasjit S

2016-12-01

Functional and structural changes in the common carotid artery are biomarkers for cardiovascular risk. Current methods for measuring functional changes include pulse wave velocity, compliance, distensibility, strain, stress, stiffness, and elasticity derived from arterial waveforms. The review is focused on the ultrasound-based carotid artery elasticity and stiffness measurements covering the physics of elasticity and linking it to biological evolution of arterial stiffness. The paper also presents evolution of plaque with a focus on the pathophysiologic cascade leading to arterial hardening. Using the concept of strain, and image-based elasticity, the paper then reviews the lumen diameter and carotid intima-media thickness measurements in combined temporal and spatial domains. Finally, the review presents the factors which influence the understanding of atherosclerotic disease formation and cardiovascular risk including arterial stiffness, tissue morphological characteristics, and image-based elasticity measurement.

An Experimental Study on the Stiffness of Size-Isolated Microbubbles Using Atomic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

Chen, Cherry C.; Wu, Shih-Ying; Finan, John D.; Morrison, Barclay; Konofagou, Elisa E.

2014-01-01

To fully assess contrast-enhanced acoustic bioeffects in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, the mechanical properties of microbubbles need to be considered. In the present study, direct measurements of the microbubble stiffness were performed using atomic force microscopy by applying nanoscale compressions (up to 25 nN/s) on size-isolated, lipid-coated microbubbles (diameter ranges of 4 to 6 μm and 6 to 8 μm). The stiffness was found to lie between 4 and 22 mN/m and to decrease exponentially with the microbubble size within the diameter range investigated. No cantilever spring constant effect was found on the measured stiffness. The Young’s modulus of the size-isolated microbubbles used in our study ranged between 0.4 and 2 MPa. Microstructures on the surface of the microbubbles were found to influence the overall microbubble elasticity. Our results indicated that more detailed theoretical models are needed to account for the size-dependent microbubble mechanical properties to accurately predict their acoustic behavior. The findings provided useful insights into guidance of cavitation-induced drug and gene delivery and could be used as part of the framework in studies on the shear stresses induced on the blood vessel walls by oscillating microbubbles. PMID:23475918

Relationship between increased carotid artery stiffness and idiopathic subjective tinnitus.

PubMed

Bayraktar, C; Taşolar, S

2017-05-01

Tinnitus is defined as perception of sound with no external stimulus, and can separate into pulsatile and non-pulsatile types. Arterial stiffness is a parameter that can predict the cardiovascular event and associated with incidence of stroke. It has been shown that increased arterial stiffness may lead to microvascular damage in brain. Our aim was to assess the arterial stiffness of the carotid system in the development and severity of idiopathic subjective tinnitus. Forty subjective tinnitus patients and 40 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. The parameters obtained from the participants included pure tone hearing (dB), serum lipid profile (mg/dl), fasting glucose (mg/dl), blood pressure (mmHg), and body mass index (BMI, kg/m 2 ). The common carotid artery (CCA) stiffness index, Young's elastic modulus (YEM), common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), vessel diameter, mean velocity (MV), and volume flow (VF) were measured in both the right and left common carotid arteries in both groups. The CCA stiffness index, YEM measurements, right CIMT, and left PI were found to be significantly higher in the patients than those in the control group (p < 0.05). With regard to the severity of the tinnitus and the patient characteristics, there was a significant positive correlation with the CCA stiffness index, YEM measurements, left CIMT, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). However, only the right and left CCA stiffness parameters were found to be statistically significant in the multivariate analysis as independent predictors of a moderate to high degree of tinnitus. The increased stiffness index of the common carotid arteries was significantly associated with the formation and severity of tinnitus. Therefore, an assessment of the carotideal system may be helpful in these patients.

Estimating Human Trabecular Meshwork Stiffness by Numerical Modeling and Advanced OCT Imaging.

PubMed

Wang, Ke; Johnstone, Murray A; Xin, Chen; Song, Shaozhen; Padilla, Steven; Vranka, Janice A; Acott, Ted S; Zhou, Kai; Schwaner, Stephen A; Wang, Ruikang K; Sulchek, Todd; Ethier, C Ross

2017-09-01

The purpose of this study was to estimate human trabecular meshwork (hTM) stiffness, thought to be elevated in glaucoma, using a novel indirect approach, and to compare results with direct en face atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. Postmortem human eyes were perfused to measure outflow facility and identify high- and low-flow regions (HF, LF) by tracer. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were obtained as Schlemm's canal luminal pressure was directly manipulated. TM stiffness was deduced by an inverse finite element modeling (FEM) approach. A series of AFM forcemaps was acquired along a line traversing the anterior angle on a radially cut flat-mount corneoscleral wedge with TM facing upward. The elastic modulus of normal hTM estimated by inverse FEM was 70 ± 20 kPa (mean ± SD), whereas glaucomatous hTM was slightly stiffer (98 ± 19 kPa). This trend was consistent with TM stiffnesses measured by AFM: normal hTM stiffness = 1.37 ± 0.56 kPa, which was lower than glaucomatous hTM stiffness (2.75 ± 1.19 kPa). None of these differences were statistically significant. TM in HF wedges was softer than that in LF wedges for both normal and glaucomatous eyes based on the inverse FEM approach but not by AFM. Outflow facility was significantly correlated with TM stiffness estimated by FEM in six human eyes (P = 0.018). TM stiffness is higher, but only modestly so, in glaucomatous patients. Outflow facility in both normal and glaucomatous human eyes appears to associate with TM stiffness. This evidence motivates further studies to investigate factors underlying TM biomechanical property regulation.

Carotid and Femoral Arterial Wall Distensibility During Long-Duration Spaceflight.

PubMed

Arbeille, Philippe; Provost, Romain; Zuj, Kathryn

2017-10-01

This study aimed to assess changes in common carotid (CA) and superficial femoral (FA) arterial stiffness during long-duration spaceflight. Ultrasound imaging was used to investigate the CA and FA of 10 astronauts preflight (PRE), on flight day 15 (FD15), after 4-5 mo (FD4-5m), and 4 d after return to Earth (R+4). Arterial wall properties were assessed through the calculation of strain, stiffness (β), pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), and distensibility (DI). Stiffness indices were assessed for potential correlations to measurements of intima-media thickness (IMT). Significant effects of spaceflight were found for all CA stiffness indices, indicating an increase in arterial stiffness. CA strain was reduced by 34 ± 31% on FD15 and 50 ± 16% on FD4-5m and remained reduced by 42 ± 14% on R+4 with respect to PRE values. On FD4-5m, with respect to PRE values, DI was reduced by 46 ± 25% and β and Ep were increased by 124 ± 95% and 118 ± 92%, respectively. FA arterial stiffness indices appeared to show similar changes; however, a main effect of spaceflight was only found for strain. Correlation analysis showed weak but significant relationships between measurements of CA IMT and arterial stiffness indices, but no relationships were found for FA measurements. The observed change in CA and FA stiffness indices suggest that spaceflight results in an increase in arterial stiffness. That these changes were not strongly related to measurements of IMT suggests the possibility of different mechanisms contributing to the observed results.Arbeille P, Provost R, Zuj K. Carotid and femoral arterial wall distensibility during long-duration spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(10):924-930.

Cell wall elasticity: I. A critique of the bulk elastic modulus approach and an analysis using polymer elastic principles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, H. I.; Spence, R. D.; Sharpe, P. J.; Goeschl, J. D.

1985-01-01

The traditional bulk elastic modulus approach to plant cell pressure-volume relations is inconsistent with its definition. The relationship between the bulk modulus and Young's modulus that forms the basis of their usual application to cell pressure-volume properties is demonstrated to be physically meaningless. The bulk modulus describes stress/strain relations of solid, homogeneous bodies undergoing small deformations, whereas the plant cell is best described as a thin-shelled, fluid-filled structure with a polymer base. Because cell walls possess a polymer structure, an alternative method of mechanical analysis is presented using polymer elasticity principles. This initial study presents the groundwork of polymer mechanics as would be applied to cell walls and discusses how the matrix and microfibrillar network induce nonlinear stress/strain relationships in the cell wall in response to turgor pressure. In subsequent studies, these concepts will be expanded to include anisotropic expansion as regulated by the microfibrillar network.

Freezing/Thawing without Cryoprotectant Damages Native but not Decellularized Porcine Renal Tissue

PubMed Central

Poornejad, Nafiseh; Frost, Timothy S; Scott, Daniel R; Elton, Brinden B; Reynolds, Paul R; Roeder, Beverly L; Cook, Alonzo D

2015-01-01

abstract Whole organ decellularization of porcine renal tissue and recellularization with a patient's own cells would potentially overcome immunorejection, which is one of the most significant problems with allogeneic kidney transplantation. However, there are obstacles to achieving this goal, including preservation of the decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM), identifying the proper cell types, and repopulating the ECM before transplantation. Freezing biological tissue is the best option to avoid spoilage; however, it may damage the structure of the tissue or disrupt cellular membranes through ice crystal formation. Cryoprotectants have been used to repress ice formation during freezing, although cell toxicity can still occur. The effect of freezing/thawing on native (n = 10) and decellularized (n = 10) whole porcine kidneys was studied without using cryoprotectants. Results showed that the elastic modulus of native kidneys was reduced by a factor of 22 (P < 0.0001) by freezing/thawing or decellularization, while the elastic modulus for decellularized ECM was essentially unchanged by the freezing/thawing process (p = 0.0636). Arterial pressure, representative of structural integrity, was also reduced by a factor of 52 (P < 0.0001) after freezing/thawing for native kidneys, compared to a factor of 43 (P < 0.0001) for decellularization and a factor of 4 (P < 0.0001) for freezing/thawing decellularized structures. Both freezing/thawing and decellularization reduced stiffness, but the reductions were not additive. Investigation of the microstructure of frozen/thawed native and decellularized renal tissues showed increased porosity due to cell removal and ice crystal formation. Orcein and Sirius staining showed partial damage to elastic and collagen fibers after freezing/thawing. It was concluded that cellular damage and removal was more responsible for reducing stiffness than fibril destruction. Cell viability and growth were demonstrated on decellularized frozen/thawed and non-frozen samples using human renal cortical tubular epithelial (RCTE) cells over 12 d. No adverse effect on the ability to recellularize after freezing/thawing was observed. It is recommended that porcine kidneys be frozen prior to decellularization to prevent contamination, and after decellularization to prevent protein denaturation. Cryoprotectants may still be necessary, however, during storage and transportation after recellularization. PMID:25730294

Tensile and Flexural Test on Kenaf Hybrid Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salleh, Z.; Yunus, S.; Masdek, N. R. N. M.; Taib, Y. M.; Azhar, I. I. S.; Hyie, K. M.

2018-03-01

The widely use of synthetic materials like carbon and fiberglass in various industries such as automotive and aircraft has lead to human health and environment problems. Therefore, the use of natural fibres such as kenaf has received higher attention as reinforcement. Kenaf or the scientific name is Hibiscus Cannabinus. L is one of the group of Malvecea plant which in the early days, the application of kenaf served only rope and canvas. However, it has more advantages than synthetic materials such as; widely availaible, renewable, lightweight, non-abbrasiveness during processing, high specific strength, free from health hazard and biodegradeable. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different arrangement of kenaf and fiberglass composites on Young’s Modulus. The material composite was hardened with polyester resin and their properties was characterized. The tensile and the flexural properties is determined using an Instron universal tensile testing machine and carried out by following ASTM D3039 for tensile and ASTM D790 for a flexural test. The experimental program was designed to correlate the flexural and tensile Young’s Modulus of kenaf and fiberglass composite under the same load condition but different arrangement of kenaf and fiberglass on the mold . The resistance to change in shape was described by the behavior and characteristic of the composite materials. The stiffness or the elastic modulus of the composite material was determined at the end of the experiment. The results obtained show that the [±90FG/0/90/90/0/±90FG] kenaf/fiberglass composite arrangement has the highest elastic value.

A portable blood plasma clot micro-elastometry device based on resonant acoustic spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krebs, C. R.; Li, Ling; Wolberg, Alisa S.; Oldenburg, Amy L.

2015-07-01

Abnormal blood clot stiffness is an important indicator of coagulation disorders arising from a variety of cardiovascular diseases and drug treatments. Here, we present a portable instrument for elastometry of microliter volume blood samples based upon the principle of resonant acoustic spectroscopy, where a sample of well-defined dimensions exhibits a fundamental longitudinal resonance mode proportional to the square root of the Young's modulus. In contrast to commercial thromboelastography, the resonant acoustic method offers improved repeatability and accuracy due to the high signal-to-noise ratio of the resonant vibration. We review the measurement principles and the design of a magnetically actuated microbead force transducer applying between 23 pN and 6.7 nN, providing a wide dynamic range of elastic moduli (3 Pa-27 kPa) appropriate for measurement of clot elastic modulus (CEM). An automated and portable device, the CEMport, is introduced and implemented using a 2 nm resolution displacement sensor with demonstrated accuracy and precision of 3% and 2%, respectively, of CEM in biogels. Importantly, the small strains (<0.13%) and low strain rates (<1/s) employed by the CEMport maintain a linear stress-to-strain relationship which provides a perturbative measurement of the Young's modulus. Measurements of blood plasma CEM versus heparin concentration show that CEMport is sensitive to heparin levels below 0.050 U/ml, which suggests future applications in sensing heparin levels of post-surgical cardiopulmonary bypass patients. The portability, high accuracy, and high precision of this device enable new clinical and animal studies for associating CEM with blood coagulation disorders, potentially leading to improved diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring.

A portable blood plasma clot micro-elastometry device based on resonant acoustic spectroscopy.

PubMed

Krebs, C R; Li, Ling; Wolberg, Alisa S; Oldenburg, Amy L

2015-07-01

Abnormal blood clot stiffness is an important indicator of coagulation disorders arising from a variety of cardiovascular diseases and drug treatments. Here, we present a portable instrument for elastometry of microliter volume blood samples based upon the principle of resonant acoustic spectroscopy, where a sample of well-defined dimensions exhibits a fundamental longitudinal resonance mode proportional to the square root of the Young's modulus. In contrast to commercial thromboelastography, the resonant acoustic method offers improved repeatability and accuracy due to the high signal-to-noise ratio of the resonant vibration. We review the measurement principles and the design of a magnetically actuated microbead force transducer applying between 23 pN and 6.7 nN, providing a wide dynamic range of elastic moduli (3 Pa-27 kPa) appropriate for measurement of clot elastic modulus (CEM). An automated and portable device, the CEMport, is introduced and implemented using a 2 nm resolution displacement sensor with demonstrated accuracy and precision of 3% and 2%, respectively, of CEM in biogels. Importantly, the small strains (<0.13%) and low strain rates (<1/s) employed by the CEMport maintain a linear stress-to-strain relationship which provides a perturbative measurement of the Young's modulus. Measurements of blood plasma CEM versus heparin concentration show that CEMport is sensitive to heparin levels below 0.050 U/ml, which suggests future applications in sensing heparin levels of post-surgical cardiopulmonary bypass patients. The portability, high accuracy, and high precision of this device enable new clinical and animal studies for associating CEM with blood coagulation disorders, potentially leading to improved diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring.

The Effect of Annealing on the Elastic Modulus of Orthodontic Wires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Higginbottom, Kyle

Introduction: Nickel Titanium orthodontic wires are currently used in orthodontic treatment due to their heat activated properties and their delivery of constant force. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of annealing on the elastic modulus of Nickel Titanium, Stainless Steel and Beta-titanium (TMA) wires. Different points along the wire were tested in order to determine how far from the annealed ends the elastic modulus of the wires was affected. Methods: Eighty (80) orthodontic wires consisting of 4 equal groups (SS/TMA/Classic NitinolRTM/Super Elastic NitinolRTM) were used as the specimens for this study. All wires were measured and marked at 5mm measurements, and cut into 33.00mm sections. The wires were heated with a butane torch until the first 13.00mm of the wires were red hot. Load deflection tests using an InstronRTM universal testing machine were run at 5mm distances from the end of the wire that had been annealed. The change in elastic modulus was then determined. Results: There was a significant difference (F = 533.001, p = 0.0005) in the change in elastic modulus for the four distances. There was also a significant difference (F = 57.571, p = 0.0005) in the change in elastic modulus for the four wire types. There was a significant interaction (F = 19.601, p = 0.005) between wire type and distance, however this interaction negated the differences between the wires. Conclusion: 1) There are significant differences in the changes in elastic modulus between the areas of the wires within the annealed section and those areas 5mm and 10mm away from the annealed section. The change in elastic modulus within the annealed section was significantly greater at 8 mm than it was at 13mm, and this was significantly greater than 18mm and 23mm (5mm and 10mm beyond the annealed section). However, there was no statistical difference in the change in elastic modulus between 5mm and 10mm away from the annealed section (18mm and 23mm respectively). 2) Regardless of the wire type, no clinically important effects were seen 5mm and 10mm beyond the annealed portion.

Monitoring of thermal therapy based on shear modulus changes: I. shear wave thermometry.

PubMed

Arnal, Bastien; Pernot, Mathieu; Tanter, Mickael

2011-02-01

The clinical applicability of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for noninvasive therapy is today hampered by the lack of robust and real-time monitoring of tissue damage during treatment. The goal of this study is to show that the estimation of local tissue elasticity from shear wave imaging (SWI) can lead to the 2-D mapping of temperature changes during HIFU treatments. This new concept of shear wave thermometry is experimentally implemented here using conventional ultrasonic imaging probes. HIFU treatment and monitoring were, respectively, performed using a confocal setup consisting of a 2.5-MHz single-element transducer focused at 30 mm on ex vivo samples and an 8-MHz ultrasound diagnostic probe. Thermocouple measurements and ultrasound-based thermometry were used as a gold standard technique and were combined with SWI on the same device. The SWI sequences consisted of 2 successive shear waves induced at different lateral positions. Each wave was created using 100-μs pushing beams at 3 depths. The shear wave propagation was acquired at 17,000 frames/s, from which the elasticity map was recovered. HIFU sonications were interleaved with fast imaging acquisitions, allowing a duty cycle of more than 90%. Elasticity and temperature mapping was achieved every 3 s, leading to realtime monitoring of the treatment. Tissue stiffness was found to decrease in the focal zone for temperatures up to 43°C. Ultrasound-based temperature estimation was highly correlated to stiffness variation maps (r² = 0.91 to 0.97). A reversible calibration phase of the changes of elasticity with temperature can be made locally using sighting shots. This calibration process allows for the derivation of temperature maps from shear wave imaging. Compared with conventional ultrasound-based approaches, shear wave thermometry is found to be much more robust to motion artifacts.

Temperature effect of elastic anisotropy and internal strain development in advanced nanostructured alloys: An in-situ synchrotron X-ray investigation

DOE PAGES

Gan, Yingye; Mo, Kun; Yun, Di; ...

2017-03-19

Nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs) are promising structural materials for advanced nuclear systems due to their exceptional radiation tolerance and high-temperature mechanical properties. Their remarkable properties result from the ultrafine ultrahigh density Y-Ti-O nanoclusters dispersed within the ferritic matrix. In this work, we performed in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction tests to study the tensile deformation process of the three types of NFAs: 9YWTV, 14YWT-sm13, and 14YWT-sm170 at both room temperature and elevated temperatures. A technique was developed, combining Kroner's model and X-ray measurement, to determine the intrinsic monocrystal elastic-stiffness constants, and polycrystal Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the NFAs. Temperature dependencemore » of elastic anisotropy was observed in the NFAs. Lastly, an analysis of intergranular strain and strengthening factors determined that 14YWT-sm13 had a higher resistance to temperature softening compared to 9YWTV, attributed to the more effective nanoparticle strengthening during high-temperature mechanical loading.« less

Exploring the remarkable limits of continuum elastic theory to understand the nanomechanics of viruses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roos, Wouter; Gibbons, Melissa; Klug, William; Wuite, Gijs

2009-03-01

We report nanoindentation experiments by atomic force microscopy on capsids of the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). HBV is investigated because its capsids can form in either a smaller T=3 or a bigger T=4 configuration, making it an ideal system to test the predictive power of continuum elastic theory to describe nanometre-sized objects. It is shown that for small, consecutive indentations the particles behave reversibly linear and no material fatigue occurs. For larger indentations the particles start to deform non-linearly. The experimental force response fits very well with finite element simulations on coarse grained models of HBV capsids. Furthermore, this also fits with thin shell simulations guided by the F"oppl- von K'arm'an (FvK) number (the dimensionless ratio of stretching and bending stiffness of a thin shell). Both the T=3 and T=4 morphology are very well described by the simulations and the capsid material turns out to have the same Young's modulus, as expected. The presented results demonstrate the surprising strength of continuum elastic theory to describe indentation of viral capsids.

Temperature effect of elastic anisotropy and internal strain development in advanced nanostructured alloys: An in-situ synchrotron X-ray investigation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gan, Yingye; Mo, Kun; Yun, Di

2017-04-01

Nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs) are a promising structural material for advanced nuclear systems due to their exceptional radiation tolerance and high-temperature mechanical properties. Their remarkable properties result from the ultrafine ultrahigh density Y-Ti-O nanoclusters dispersed within the ferritic matrix. In this work, we performed in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction tests to study the tensile deformation process of the three types of NFAs: 9YWTV, 14YWT-sm13, and 14YWT-sm170 at both room temperature and elevated temperatures. A technique was developed, combining Kroner’s model and X-ray measurement, to determine the intrinsic monocrystal elastic-stiffness constants, and polycrystal Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the NFAs. Temperaturemore » dependence of elastic anisotropy was observed in the NFAs. An analysis of intergranular strain and strengthening factors determined that 14YWT-sm13 had a higher resistance to temperature softening compared to 9YWTV, attributed to the more effective nanoparticle strengthening during high-temperature mechanical loading.« less

Abnormal elastic modulus behavior in a crystalline-amorphous core-shell nanowire system.

PubMed

Lee, Jeong Hwan; Choi, Su Ji; Kwon, Ji Hwan; Van Lam, Do; Lee, Seung Mo; Kim, An Soon; Baik, Hion Suck; Ahn, Sang Jung; Hong, Seong Gu; Yun, Yong Ju; Kim, Young Heon

2018-06-13

We investigated the elastic modulus behavior of crystalline InAs/amorphous Al2O3 core-shell heterostructured nanowires with shell thicknesses varying between 10 and 90 nm by conducting in situ tensile tests inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Counterintuitively, the elastic modulus behaviors of InAs/Al2O3 core-shell nanowires differ greatly from those of bulk-scale composite materials, free from size effects. According to our results, the elastic modulus of InAs/Al2O3 core-shell nanowires increases, peaking at a shell thickness of 40 nm, and then decreases in the range of 50-90 nm. This abnormal behavior is attributed to the continuous decrease in the elastic modulus of the Al2O3 shell as the thickness increases, which is caused by changes in the atomic/electronic structure during the atomic layer deposition process and the relaxation of residual stress/strain in the shell transferred from the interfacial mismatch between the core and shell materials. A novel method for estimating the elastic modulus of the shell in a heterostructured core-shell system was suggested by considering these two effects, and the predictions from the suggested method coincided well with the experimental results. We also found that the former and latter effects account for 89% and 11% of the change in the elastic modulus of the shell. This study provides new insight by showing that the size dependency, which is caused by the inhomogeneity of the atomic/electronic structure and the residual stress/strain, must be considered to evaluate the mechanical properties of heterostructured nanowires.

Nanostructure and elastic modulus of single trabecula in bovine cancellous bone.

PubMed

Yamada, Satoshi; Tadano, Shigeru; Fukuda, Sakurako

2014-11-07

We aimed to investigate the elastic modulus of trabeculae using tensile tests and assess the effects of nanostructure at the hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystal scale on the elastic modulus. In the experiments, 18 trabeculae that were at least 3mm in length in the proximal epiphysis of three adult bovine femurs were used. Tensile tests were conducted using a small tensile testing device coupled with microscopy under air-dried condition. The c-axis orientation of HAp crystals and the degree of orientation were measured by X-ray diffraction. To observe the deformation behavior of HAp crystals under tensile loading, the same tensile tests were conducted in X-ray diffraction measurements. The mineral content of specimens was evaluated using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The elastic modulus of a single trabecula varied from 4.5 to 23.6 GPa, and the average was 11.5 ± 5.0 GPa. The c-axis of HAp crystals was aligned with the trabecular axis and the crystals were lineally deformed under tensile loading. The ratio of the HAp crystal strain to the tissue strain (strain ratio) had a significant correlation with the elastic modulus (r=0.79; P<0.001). However, the mineral content and the degree of orientation did not vary widely and did not correlate with the elastic modulus in this study. It suggests that the strain ratio may represent the nanostructure of a single trabecula and would determine the elastic modulus as well as mineral content and orientation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mechanical properties and phase stability of monoborides using density functional theory calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyojung; Trinkle, Dallas R.

2017-06-01

We compute the structural energies, elastic constants, and stacking fault energies, and investigate the phase stability of monoborides with different compositions (" close=")X1-x 1Xx2)">X1-x 1Xx2B (X =Ti/Fe/Mo/Nb/V ) using density functional theory in order to search for Ti monoborides with improved mechanical properties. Our computed Young's modulus and Pugh's modulus ratio, which correlate with stiffness and toughness, agree well with predictions from Vegard's law with the exceptions of mixed monoborides containing Mo and Fe. Among all the monoborides considered in this paper, TiB has the smallest Pugh's ratio, which suggests that the addition of solutes can improve the toughness of a Ti matrix. When X1B and X2B are respectively most stable in the B27 and Bf structures, the mixed monoborides (X0.51X0.52)B , mixed (Ti0.5Mo0.5 )B and mixed (Ti0.5V0.5 )B have a higher Young's modulus, a higher Pugh's ratio, and a smaller stacking fault energy than TiB. We also construct phase diagrams and find large solubility limits for solid solutions containing Ti compared to those containing Fe.

Random field assessment of nanoscopic inhomogeneity of bone

PubMed Central

Dong, X. Neil; Luo, Qing; Sparkman, Daniel M.; Millwater, Harry R.; Wang, Xiaodu

2010-01-01

Bone quality is significantly correlated with the inhomogeneous distribution of material and ultrastructural properties (e.g., modulus and mineralization) of the tissue. Current techniques for quantifying inhomogeneity consist of descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation. However, these parameters do not describe the spatial variations of bone properties. The objective of this study was to develop a novel statistical method to characterize and quantitatively describe the spatial variation of bone properties at ultrastructural levels. To do so, a random field defined by an exponential covariance function was used to present the spatial uncertainty of elastic modulus by delineating the correlation of the modulus at different locations in bone lamellae. The correlation length, a characteristic parameter of the covariance function, was employed to estimate the fluctuation of the elastic modulus in the random field. Using this approach, two distribution maps of the elastic modulus within bone lamellae were generated using simulation and compared with those obtained experimentally by a combination of atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation techniques. The simulation-generated maps of elastic modulus were in close agreement with the experimental ones, thus validating the random field approach in defining the inhomogeneity of elastic modulus in lamellae of bone. Indeed, generation of such random fields will facilitate multi-scale modeling of bone in more pragmatic details. PMID:20817128

Size dependent elastic modulus and mechanical resilience of dental enamel.

PubMed

O'Brien, Simona; Shaw, Jeremy; Zhao, Xiaoli; Abbott, Paul V; Munroe, Paul; Xu, Jiang; Habibi, Daryoush; Xie, Zonghan

2014-03-21

Human tooth enamel exhibits a unique microstructure able to sustain repeated mechanical loading during dental function. Although notable advances have been made towards understanding the mechanical characteristics of enamel, challenges remain in the testing and interpretation of its mechanical properties. For example, enamel was often tested under dry conditions, significantly different from its native environment. In addition, constant load, rather than indentation depth, has been used when mapping the mechanical properties of enamel. In this work, tooth specimens are prepared under hydrated conditions and their stiffnesses are measured by depth control across the thickness of enamel. Crystal arrangement is postulated, among other factors, to be responsible for the size dependent indentation modulus of enamel. Supported by a simple structure model, effective crystal orientation angle is calculated and found to facilitate shear sliding in enamel under mechanical contact. In doing so, the stress build-up is eased and structural integrity is maintained. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Variability of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of hexagonal crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komarova, M. A.; Gorodtsov, V. A.; Lisovenko, D. S.

2018-04-01

In this paper, the variability of elastic characteristics (Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio) of hexagonal crystals has been studied. Analytic expressions for Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio are obtained. Stationary values for these elastic characteristics are found. Young’s modulus has three stationary values, and Poisson’s ratio has eight stationary values. Numerical analysis of these elastic characteristics for hexagonal crystals is given based on the experimental data from the Landolt-Börnstein handbook. Global extrema of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio for hexagonal crystals are found. Crystals are found in which the maximum values exceeds the upper limit for isotropic materials.

A network model of correlated growth of tissue stiffening in pulmonary fibrosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, Cláudio L. N.; Bates, Jason H. T.; Suki, Béla

2014-06-01

During the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, initially isolated regions of high stiffness form and grow in the lung tissue due to collagen deposition by fibroblast cells. We have previously shown that ongoing collagen deposition may not lead to significant increases in the bulk modulus of the lung until these local remodeled regions have become sufficiently numerous and extensive to percolate in a continuous path across the entire tissue (Bates et al 2007 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 176 617). This model, however, did not include the possibility of spatially correlated deposition of collagen. In the present study, we investigate whether spatial correlations influence the bulk modulus in a two-dimensional elastic network model of lung tissue. Random collagen deposition at a single site is modeled by increasing the elastic constant of the spring at that site by a factor of 100. By contrast, correlated collagen deposition is represented by stiffening the springs encountered along a random walk starting from some initial spring, the rationale being that excess collagen deposition is more likely in the vicinity of an already stiff region. A combination of random and correlated deposition is modeled by performing random walks of length N from randomly selected initial sites, the balance between the two processes being determined by N. We found that the dependence of bulk modulus, B(N,c), on both N and the fraction of stiff springs, c, can be described by a strikingly simple set of empirical equations. For c<0.3, B(N,c) exhibits exponential growth from its initial value according to B(N,c)\\approx {{B}_{0}}exp (2c)\\left[ 1+{{c}^{\\beta }}ln \\left( {{N}^{{{a}_{I}}}} \\right) \\right], where \\beta =0.994+/- 0.024 and {{a}_{I}}=0.54+/- 0.026. For intermediate concentrations of stiffening, 0.3\\leqslant c\\leqslant 0.8, another exponential rule describes the bulk modulus as B(N,c)=4{{B}_{0}}exp \\left[ {{a}_{II}}\\left( c-{{c}_{c}} \\right) \\right], where {{a}_{II}} and {{c}_{c}} are parameters that depend on N. For c>0.8, B(N,c) is linear in c and independent of N, such that B(N,c)=100\\;{{B}_{0}}-100{{a}_{III}}(1-c){{B}_{0}}, where {{a}_{III}}=2.857. For small concentrations, the physiologically most relevant regime, the forces in the network springs are distributed according to a power law. When c = 0.3, the exponent of this power law increases from -4.5, when N = 1, and saturates to about -2, as N increases above 40. These results suggest that the spatial correlation of collagen deposition in the fibrotic lung has a strong effect on the rate of lung function decline and on the mechanical environment in which the cells responsible for remodeling find themselves.

Hydrogels for lung tissue engineering: Biomechanical properties of thin collagen-elastin constructs.

PubMed

Dunphy, Siobhán E; Bratt, Jessica A J; Akram, Khondoker M; Forsyth, Nicholas R; El Haj, Alicia J

2014-10-01

In this study, collagen-elastin constructs were prepared with the aim of producing a material capable of mimicking the mechanical properties of a single alveolar wall. Collagen has been used in a wide range of tissue engineering applications; however, due to its low mechanical properties its use is limited to non load-bearing applications without further manipulation using methods such as cross-linking or mechanical compression. Here, it was hypothesised that the addition of soluble elastin to a collagen hydrogel could improve its mechanical properties. Hydrogels made from collagen only and collagen plus varying amounts elastin were prepared. Young׳s modulus of each membrane was measured using the combination of a non-destructive indentation and a theoretical model previously described. An increase in Young׳s modulus was observed with increasing concentration of elastin. The use of non-destructive indentation allowed for online monitoring of the elastic moduli of cell-seeded constructs over 8 days. The addition of lung fibroblasts into the membrane increased the stiffness of the hydrogels further and cell-seeded collagen hydrogels were found to have a stiffness equal to the theoretical value for a single alveolar wall (≈5kPa). Through provision of some of the native extracellular matrix components of the lung parenchyma these scaffolds may be able to provide an initial building block toward the regeneration of new functional lung tissue. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relationships among ultrasonic and mechanical properties of cancellous bone in human calcaneus in vitro.

PubMed

Wear, Keith A; Nagaraja, Srinidhi; Dreher, Maureen L; Sadoughi, Saghi; Zhu, Shan; Keaveny, Tony M

2017-10-01

Clinical bone sonometers applied at the calcaneus measure broadband ultrasound attenuation and speed of sound. However, the relation of ultrasound measurements to bone strength is not well-characterized. Addressing this issue, we assessed the extent to which ultrasonic measurements convey in vitro mechanical properties in 25 human calcaneal cancellous bone specimens (approximately 2×4×2cm). Normalized broadband ultrasound attenuation, speed of sound, and broadband ultrasound backscatter were measured with 500kHz transducers. To assess mechanical properties, non-linear finite element analysis, based on micro-computed tomography images (34-micron cubic voxel), was used to estimate apparent elastic modulus, overall specimen stiffness, and apparent yield stress, with models typically having approximately 25-30 million elements. We found that ultrasound parameters were correlated with mechanical properties with R=0.70-0.82 (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that ultrasound measurements provide additional information regarding mechanical properties beyond that provided by bone quantity alone (p≤0.05). Adding ultrasound variables to linear regression models based on bone quantity improved adjusted squared correlation coefficients from 0.65 to 0.77 (stiffness), 0.76 to 0.81 (apparent modulus), and 0.67 to 0.73 (yield stress). These results indicate that ultrasound can provide complementary (to bone quantity) information regarding mechanical behavior of cancellous bone. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Limitations of using synthetic blood clots for measuring in vitro clot capture efficiency of inferior vena cava filters

PubMed Central

Robinson, Ronald A; Herbertson, Luke H; Das, Srilekha Sarkar; Malinauskas, Richard A; Pritchard, William F; Grossman, Laurence W

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was first to evaluate the clot capture efficiency and capture location of six currently-marketed vena cava filters in a physiological venous flow loop, using synthetic polyacrylamide hydrogel clots, which were intended to simulate actual blood clots. After observing a measured anomaly for one of the test filters, we redirected the focus of the study to identify the cause of poor clot capture performance for large synthetic hydrogel clots. We hypothesized that the uncharacteristic low clot capture efficiency observed when testing the outlying filter can be attributed to the inadvertent use of dense, stiff synthetic hydrogel clots, and not as a result of the filter design or filter orientation. To study this issue, sheep blood clots and polyacrylamide (PA) synthetic clots were injected into a mock venous flow loop containing a clinical inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, and their captures were observed. Testing was performed with clots of various diameters (3.2, 4.8, and 6.4 mm), length-to-diameter ratios (1:1, 3:1, 10:1), and stiffness. By adjusting the chemical formulation, PA clots were fabricated to be soft, moderately stiff, or stiff with elastic moduli of 805 ± 2, 1696 ± 10 and 3295 ± 37 Pa, respectively. In comparison, the elastic moduli for freshly prepared sheep blood clots were 1690 ± 360 Pa. The outlying filter had a design that was characterized by peripheral gaps (up to 14 mm) between its wire struts. While a low clot capture rate was observed using large, stiff synthetic clots, the filter effectively captured similarly sized sheep blood clots and soft PA clots. Because the stiffer synthetic clots remained straight when approaching the filter in the IVC model flow loop, they were more likely to pass between the peripheral filter struts, while the softer, physiological clots tended to fold and were captured by the filter. These experiments demonstrated that if synthetic clots are used as a surrogate for animal or human blood clots for in vitro evaluation of vena cava filters, the material properties (eg, elastic modulus) and dynamic behavior of the surrogate should first be assessed to ensure that they accurately mimic an actual blood clot within the body. PMID:23690701

Limitations of using synthetic blood clots for measuring in vitro clot capture efficiency of inferior vena cava filters.

PubMed

Robinson, Ronald A; Herbertson, Luke H; Sarkar Das, Srilekha; Malinauskas, Richard A; Pritchard, William F; Grossman, Laurence W

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was first to evaluate the clot capture efficiency and capture location of six currently-marketed vena cava filters in a physiological venous flow loop, using synthetic polyacrylamide hydrogel clots, which were intended to simulate actual blood clots. After observing a measured anomaly for one of the test filters, we redirected the focus of the study to identify the cause of poor clot capture performance for large synthetic hydrogel clots. We hypothesized that the uncharacteristic low clot capture efficiency observed when testing the outlying filter can be attributed to the inadvertent use of dense, stiff synthetic hydrogel clots, and not as a result of the filter design or filter orientation. To study this issue, sheep blood clots and polyacrylamide (PA) synthetic clots were injected into a mock venous flow loop containing a clinical inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, and their captures were observed. Testing was performed with clots of various diameters (3.2, 4.8, and 6.4 mm), length-to-diameter ratios (1:1, 3:1, 10:1), and stiffness. By adjusting the chemical formulation, PA clots were fabricated to be soft, moderately stiff, or stiff with elastic moduli of 805 ± 2, 1696 ± 10 and 3295 ± 37 Pa, respectively. In comparison, the elastic moduli for freshly prepared sheep blood clots were 1690 ± 360 Pa. The outlying filter had a design that was characterized by peripheral gaps (up to 14 mm) between its wire struts. While a low clot capture rate was observed using large, stiff synthetic clots, the filter effectively captured similarly sized sheep blood clots and soft PA clots. Because the stiffer synthetic clots remained straight when approaching the filter in the IVC model flow loop, they were more likely to pass between the peripheral filter struts, while the softer, physiological clots tended to fold and were captured by the filter. These experiments demonstrated that if synthetic clots are used as a surrogate for animal or human blood clots for in vitro evaluation of vena cava filters, the material properties (eg, elastic modulus) and dynamic behavior of the surrogate should first be assessed to ensure that they accurately mimic an actual blood clot within the body.

Mechanical modeling and characteristic study for the adhesive contact of elastic layered media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yuyan; Wang, Xiaoli; Tu, Qiaoan; Sun, Jianjun; Ma, Chenbo

2017-11-01

This paper investigates the adhesive contact between a smooth rigid sphere and a smooth elastic layered medium with different layer thicknesses, layer-to-substrate elastic modulus ratios and adhesion energy ratios. A numerical model is established by combining elastic responses of the contact system and an equation of equivalent adhesive contact pressure which is derived based on the Hamaker summation method and the Lennard-Jones intermolecular potential law. Simulation results for hard layer cases demonstrate that variation trends of the pull-off force with the layer thickness and elastic modulus ratio are complex. On one hand, when the elastic modulus ratio increases, the pull-off force decreases at smaller layer thicknesses, decreases at first and then increases at middle layer thicknesses, while increases monotonously at larger layer thicknesses. On the other hand, the pull-off force decreases at first and then increases with the increase in the layer thickness. Furthermore, a critical layer thickness above which the introduction of hard layer cannot reduce adhesion and an optimum layer thickness under which the pull-off force reaches a minimum are found. Both the critical and optimum layer thicknesses become larger with an increase in the Tabor parameter, while they tend to decrease with the increase in the elastic modulus ratio. In addition, the pull-off force increases sublinearly with the adhesion energy ratio if the layer thickness and elastic modulus ratio are fixed.

Effects of Gel Thickness on Microscopic Indentation Measurements of Gel Modulus

PubMed Central

Long, Rong; Hall, Matthew S.; Wu, Mingming; Hui, Chung-Yuen

2011-01-01

In vitro, animal cells are mostly cultured on a gel substrate. It was recently shown that substrate stiffness affects cellular behaviors in a significant way, including adhesion, differentiation, and migration. Therefore, an accurate method is needed to characterize the modulus of the substrate. In situ microscopic measurements of the gel substrate modulus are based on Hertz contact mechanics, where Young's modulus is derived from the indentation force and displacement measurements. In Hertz theory, the substrate is modeled as a linear elastic half-space with an infinite depth, whereas in practice, the thickness of the substrate, h, can be comparable to the contact radius and other relevant dimensions such as the radius of the indenter or steel ball, R. As a result, measurements based on Hertz theory overestimate the Young's modulus. In this work, we discuss the limitations of Hertz theory and then modify it, taking into consideration the nonlinearity of the material and large deformation using a finite-element method. We present our results in a simple correction factor, ψ, the ratio of the corrected Young's modulus and the Hertz modulus in the parameter regime of δ/h ≤ min (0.6, R/h) and 0.3 ≤ R/h ≤ 12.7. The ψ factor depends on two dimensionless parameters, R/h and δ/h (where δ is the indentation depth), both of which are easily accessible to experiments. This correction factor agrees with experimental observations obtained with the use of polyacrylamide gel and a microsphere indentation method in the parameter range of 0.1 ≤ δ/h ≤ 0.4 and 0.3 ≤ R/h ≤ 6.2. The effect of adhesion on the use of Hertz theory for small indentation depth is also discussed. PMID:21806932

Influence of sickle hemoglobin polymerization and membrane properties on deformability of sickle erythrocytes in the microcirculation.

PubMed Central

Dong, C; Chadwick, R S; Schechter, A N

1992-01-01

The rheological properties of normal erythrocytes appear to be largely determined by those of the red cell membrane. In sickle cell disease, the intracellular polymerization of sickle hemoglobin upon deoxygenation leads to a marked increase in intracellular viscosity and elastic stiffness as well as having indirect effects on the cell membrane. To estimate the components of abnormal cell rheology due to the polymerization process and that due to the membrane abnormalities, we have developed a simple mathematical model of whole cell deformability in narrow vessels. This model uses hydrodynamic lubrication theory to describe the pulsatile flow in the gap between a cell and the vessel wall. The interior of the cell is modeled as a Voigt viscoelastic solid with parameters for the viscous and elastic moduli, while the membrane is assigned an elastic shear modulus. In response to an oscillatory fluid shear stress, the cell--modeled as a cylinder of constant volume and surface area--undergoes a conical deformation which may be calculated. We use published values of normal and sickle cell membrane elastic modulus and of sickle hemoglobin viscous and elastic moduli as a function of oxygen saturation, to estimate normalized tip displacement, d/ho, and relative hydrodynamic resistance, Rr, as a function of polymer fraction of hemoglobin for sickle erythrocytes. These results show the transition from membrane to internal polymer dominance of deformability as oxygen saturation is lowered. More detailed experimental data, including those at other oscillatory frequencies and for cells with higher concentrations of hemoglobin S, are needed to apply fully this approach to understanding the deformability of sickle erythrocytes in the microcirculation. The model should be useful for reconciling the vast and disparate sets of data available on the abnormal properties of sickle cell hemoglobin and sickle erythrocyte membranes, the two main factors that lead to pathology in patients with this disease. PMID:1420913

Association of low back pain with muscle stiffness and muscle mass of the lumbar back muscles, and sagittal spinal alignment in young and middle-aged medical workers.

PubMed

Masaki, Mitsuhiro; Aoyama, Tomoki; Murakami, Takashi; Yanase, Ko; Ji, Xiang; Tateuchi, Hiroshige; Ichihashi, Noriaki

2017-11-01

Muscle stiffness of the lumbar back muscles in low back pain (LBP) patients has not been clearly elucidated because quantitative assessment of the stiffness of individual muscles was conventionally difficult. This study aimed to examine the association of LBP with muscle stiffness assessed using ultrasonic shear wave elastography (SWE) and muscle mass of the lumbar back muscle, and spinal alignment in young and middle-aged medical workers. The study comprised 23 asymptomatic medical workers [control (CTR) group] and 9 medical workers with LBP (LBP group). Muscle stiffness and mass of the lumbar back muscles (lumbar erector spinae, multifidus, and quadratus lumborum) in the prone position were measured using ultrasonic SWE. Sagittal spinal alignment in the standing and prone positions was measured using a Spinal Mouse. The association with LBP was investigated by multiple logistic regression analysis with a forward selection method. The analysis was conducted using the shear elastic modulus and muscle thickness of the lumbar back muscles, and spinal alignment, age, body height, body weight, and sex as independent variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that muscle stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle and body height were significant and independent determinants of LBP, but that muscle mass and spinal alignment were not. Muscle stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle in the LBP group was significantly higher than that in the CTR group. The results of this study suggest that LBP is associated with muscle stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle in young and middle-aged medical workers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnetic resonance elastography of the lung parenchyma in an in situ porcine model with a noninvasive mechanical driver: correlation of shear stiffness with trans-respiratory system pressures.

PubMed

Mariappan, Yogesh K; Kolipaka, Arunark; Manduca, Armando; Hubmayr, Rolf D; Ehman, Richard L; Araoz, Philip; McGee, Kiaran P

2012-01-01

Quantification of the mechanical properties of lung parenchyma is an active field of research due to the association of this metric with normal function, disease initiation and progression. A phase contrast MRI-based elasticity imaging technique known as magnetic resonance elastography is being investigated as a method for measuring the shear stiffness of lung parenchyma. Previous experiments performed with small animals using invasive drivers in direct contact with the lungs have indicated that the quantification of lung shear modulus with (1) H based magnetic resonance elastography is feasible. This technique has been extended to an in situ porcine model with a noninvasive mechanical driver placed on the chest wall. This approach was tested to measure the change in parenchymal stiffness as a function of airway opening pressure (P(ao) ) in 10 adult pigs. In all animals, shear stiffness was successfully quantified at four different P(ao) values. Mean (±STD error of mean) pulmonary parenchyma density corrected stiffness values were calculated to be 1.48 (±0.09), 1.68 (±0.10), 2.05 (±0.13), and 2.23 (±0.17) kPa for P(ao) values of 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm H2O, respectively. Shear stiffness increased with increasing P(ao) , in agreement with the literature. It is concluded that in an in situ porcine lung shear stiffness can be quantitated with (1) H magnetic resonance elastography using a noninvasive mechanical driver and that it is feasible to measure the change in shear stiffness due to change in P(ao) . Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Quantitative estimation of muscle shear elastic modulus of the upper trapezius with supersonic shear imaging during arm positioning.

PubMed

Leong, Hio-Teng; Ng, Gabriel Yin-Fat; Leung, Vivian Yee-Fong; Fu, Siu Ngor

2013-01-01

Pain and tenderness of the upper trapezius are the major complaints among people with chronic neck and shoulder disorders. Hyper-activation and increased muscle tension of the upper trapezius during arm elevation will cause imbalance of the scapular muscle force and contribute to neck and shoulder disorders. Assessing the elasticity of the upper trapezius in different arm positions is therefore important for identifying people at risk so as to give preventive programmes or for monitoring the effectiveness of the intervention programmes for these disorders. This study aimed to establish the reliability of supersonic shear imaging (SSI) in quantifying upper trapezius elasticity/shear elastic modulus and its ability to measure the modulation of muscle elasticity during arm elevation. Twenty-eight healthy adults (15 males, 13 females; mean age = 29.6 years) were recruited to participate in the study. In each participant, the shear elastic modulus of the upper trapezius while the arm was at rest and at 30° abduction was measured by two operators and twice by operator 1 with a time interval between the measurements. The results showed excellent within- and between-session intra-operator (ICC = 0.87-0.97) and inter-observer (ICC = 0.78-0.83) reliability for the upper trapezius elasticity with the arm at rest and at 30° abduction. An increase of 55.23% of shear elastic modulus from resting to 30° abduction was observed. Our findings demonstrate the possibilities for using SSI to quantify muscle elasticity and its potential role in delineating the modulation of upper trapezius elasticity, which is essential for future studies to compare the differences in shear elastic modulus between normal elasticity and that of individuals with neck and shoulder disorders.

Quantitative Estimation of Muscle Shear Elastic Modulus of the Upper Trapezius with Supersonic Shear Imaging during Arm Positioning

PubMed Central

Leong, Hio-Teng; Ng, Gabriel Yin-fat; Leung, Vivian Yee-fong; Fu, Siu Ngor

2013-01-01

Pain and tenderness of the upper trapezius are the major complaints among people with chronic neck and shoulder disorders. Hyper-activation and increased muscle tension of the upper trapezius during arm elevation will cause imbalance of the scapular muscle force and contribute to neck and shoulder disorders. Assessing the elasticity of the upper trapezius in different arm positions is therefore important for identifying people at risk so as to give preventive programmes or for monitoring the effectiveness of the intervention programmes for these disorders. This study aimed to establish the reliability of supersonic shear imaging (SSI) in quantifying upper trapezius elasticity/shear elastic modulus and its ability to measure the modulation of muscle elasticity during arm elevation. Twenty-eight healthy adults (15 males, 13 females; mean age = 29.6 years) were recruited to participate in the study. In each participant, the shear elastic modulus of the upper trapezius while the arm was at rest and at 30° abduction was measured by two operators and twice by operator 1 with a time interval between the measurements. The results showed excellent within- and between-session intra-operator (ICC = 0.87–0.97) and inter-observer (ICC = 0.78–0.83) reliability for the upper trapezius elasticity with the arm at rest and at 30° abduction. An increase of 55.23% of shear elastic modulus from resting to 30° abduction was observed. Our findings demonstrate the possibilities for using SSI to quantify muscle elasticity and its potential role in delineating the modulation of upper trapezius elasticity, which is essential for future studies to compare the differences in shear elastic modulus between normal elasticity and that of individuals with neck and shoulder disorders. PMID:23825641

Ethnic Differences in Bending Stiffness of the Ulna and Tibia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnaud, S. B.; Liang, M. T. C.; Bassin, S.; Braun, W.; Dutto, D.; Plesums, K.; Huvnh, H. T.; Cooper, D.; Wong, N.

2004-01-01

There is considerable information about the variations in bone mass associated with different opportunity to compare a mechanical property of bone in young college women of Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian descent who gave informed consent to participate in an exercise study. The subjects were sedentary, in good health, eumenorrheic, non-smokers and had body mass indices (BMI) less than 30. Measurements acquired were body weight, kg, and height, cm, calcaneal and wrist bone density, g/square cm (PIXI, Lunar GE) and bending stiffness (EI, Nm(exp 2)) in the ulna and tibia. E1 was determined non-invasively with an instrument called the Mechanical Response Tissue Analyzer (MRTA) that delivers a vibratory stimulus to the center of the ulna or tibia and analyzes the response curve based on the equation E1 = k(sub b) L(exp 3)/48 where k, is lateral bending stiffness, L is the length of the bone, E is Young's modulus of elasticity and I, the bending moment of inertia. The error of the test (CV) based on measurements of an aluminum rod with a known E1 was 4.8%, of calcaneal BMD, 0.54%, and of wrist bone density, 3.45%.

Boundary Layer Effect on Behavior of Discrete Models

PubMed Central

Eliáš, Jan

2017-01-01

The paper studies systems of rigid bodies with randomly generated geometry interconnected by normal and tangential bonds. The stiffness of these bonds determines the macroscopic elastic modulus while the macroscopic Poisson’s ratio of the system is determined solely by the normal/tangential stiffness ratio. Discrete models with no directional bias have the same probability of element orientation for any direction and therefore the same mechanical properties in a statistical sense at any point and direction. However, the layers of elements in the vicinity of the boundary exhibit biased orientation, preferring elements parallel with the boundary. As a consequence, when strain occurs in this direction, the boundary layer becomes stiffer than the interior for the normal/tangential stiffness ratio larger than one, and vice versa. Nonlinear constitutive laws are typically such that the straining of an element in shear results in higher strength and ductility than straining in tension. Since the boundary layer tends, due to the bias in the elemental orientation, to involve more tension than shear at the contacts, it also becomes weaker and less ductile. The paper documents these observations and compares them to the results of theoretical analysis. PMID:28772517

Dynamic bulk and shear moduli due to grain-scale local fluid flow in fluid-saturated cracked poroelastic rocks: Theoretical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Yongjia; Hu, Hengshan; Rudnicki, John W.

2016-07-01

Grain-scale local fluid flow is an important loss mechanism for attenuating waves in cracked fluid-saturated poroelastic rocks. In this study, a dynamic elastic modulus model is developed to quantify local flow effect on wave attenuation and velocity dispersion in porous isotropic rocks. The Eshelby transform technique, inclusion-based effective medium model (the Mori-Tanaka scheme), fluid dynamics and mass conservation principle are combined to analyze pore-fluid pressure relaxation and its influences on overall elastic properties. The derivation gives fully analytic, frequency-dependent effective bulk and shear moduli of a fluid-saturated porous rock. It is shown that the derived bulk and shear moduli rigorously satisfy the Biot-Gassmann relationship of poroelasticity in the low-frequency limit, while they are consistent with isolated-pore effective medium theory in the high-frequency limit. In particular, a simplified model is proposed to quantify the squirt-flow dispersion for frequencies lower than stiff-pore relaxation frequency. The main advantage of the proposed model over previous models is its ability to predict the dispersion due to squirt flow between pores and cracks with distributed aspect ratio instead of flow in a simply conceptual double-porosity structure. Independent input parameters include pore aspect ratio distribution, fluid bulk modulus and viscosity, and bulk and shear moduli of the solid grain. Physical assumptions made in this model include (1) pores are inter-connected and (2) crack thickness is smaller than the viscous skin depth. This study is restricted to linear elastic, well-consolidated granular rocks.

Cell mechanics, structure, and function are regulated by the stiffness of the three-dimensional microenvironment.

PubMed

Chen, J; Irianto, J; Inamdar, S; Pravincumar, P; Lee, D A; Bader, D L; Knight, M M

2012-09-19

This study adopts a combined computational and experimental approach to determine the mechanical, structural, and metabolic properties of isolated chondrocytes cultured within three-dimensional hydrogels. A series of linear elastic and hyperelastic finite-element models demonstrated that chondrocytes cultured for 24 h in gels for which the relaxation modulus is <5 kPa exhibit a cellular Young's modulus of ∼5 kPa. This is notably greater than that reported for isolated chondrocytes in suspension. The increase in cell modulus occurs over a 24-h period and is associated with an increase in the organization of the cortical actin cytoskeleton, which is known to regulate cell mechanics. However, there was a reduction in chromatin condensation, suggesting that changes in the nucleus mechanics may not be involved. Comparison of cells in 1% and 3% agarose showed that cells in the stiffer gels rapidly develop a higher Young's modulus of ∼20 kPa, sixfold greater than that observed in the softer gels. This was associated with higher levels of actin organization and chromatin condensation, but only after 24 h in culture. Further studies revealed that cells in stiffer gels synthesize less extracellular matrix over a 28-day culture period. Hence, this study demonstrates that the properties of the three-dimensional microenvironment regulate the mechanical, structural, and metabolic properties of living cells. Copyright © 2012 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Random field assessment of nanoscopic inhomogeneity of bone.

PubMed

Dong, X Neil; Luo, Qing; Sparkman, Daniel M; Millwater, Harry R; Wang, Xiaodu

2010-12-01

Bone quality is significantly correlated with the inhomogeneous distribution of material and ultrastructural properties (e.g., modulus and mineralization) of the tissue. Current techniques for quantifying inhomogeneity consist of descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation. However, these parameters do not describe the spatial variations of bone properties. The objective of this study was to develop a novel statistical method to characterize and quantitatively describe the spatial variation of bone properties at ultrastructural levels. To do so, a random field defined by an exponential covariance function was used to represent the spatial uncertainty of elastic modulus by delineating the correlation of the modulus at different locations in bone lamellae. The correlation length, a characteristic parameter of the covariance function, was employed to estimate the fluctuation of the elastic modulus in the random field. Using this approach, two distribution maps of the elastic modulus within bone lamellae were generated using simulation and compared with those obtained experimentally by a combination of atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation techniques. The simulation-generated maps of elastic modulus were in close agreement with the experimental ones, thus validating the random field approach in defining the inhomogeneity of elastic modulus in lamellae of bone. Indeed, generation of such random fields will facilitate multi-scale modeling of bone in more pragmatic details. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Collective Cell Behavior in Mechanosensing of Substrate Thickness.

PubMed

Tusan, Camelia G; Man, Yu-Hin; Zarkoob, Hoda; Johnston, David A; Andriotis, Orestis G; Thurner, Philipp J; Yang, Shoufeng; Sander, Edward A; Gentleman, Eileen; Sengers, Bram G; Evans, Nicholas D

2018-06-05

Extracellular matrix stiffness has a profound effect on the behavior of many cell types. Adherent cells apply contractile forces to the material on which they adhere and sense the resistance of the material to deformation-its stiffness. This is dependent on both the elastic modulus and the thickness of the material, with the corollary that single cells are able to sense underlying stiff materials through soft hydrogel materials at low (<10 μm) thicknesses. Here, we hypothesized that cohesive colonies of cells exert more force and create more hydrogel deformation than single cells, therefore enabling them to mechanosense more deeply into underlying materials than single cells. To test this, we modulated the thickness of soft (1 kPa) elastic extracellular-matrix-functionalized polyacrylamide hydrogels adhered to glass substrates and allowed colonies of MG63 cells to form on their surfaces. Cell morphology and deformations of fluorescent fiducial-marker-labeled hydrogels were quantified by time-lapse fluorescence microscopy imaging. Single-cell spreading increased with respect to decreasing hydrogel thickness, with data fitting to an exponential model with half-maximal response at a thickness of 3.2 μm. By quantifying cell area within colonies of defined area, we similarly found that colony-cell spreading increased with decreasing hydrogel thickness but with a greater half-maximal response at 54 μm. Depth-sensing was dependent on Rho-associated protein kinase-mediated cellular contractility. Surface hydrogel deformations were significantly greater on thick hydrogels compared to thin hydrogels. In addition, deformations extended greater distances from the periphery of colonies on thick hydrogels compared to thin hydrogels. Our data suggest that by acting collectively, cells mechanosense rigid materials beneath elastic hydrogels at greater depths than individual cells. This raises the possibility that the collective action of cells in colonies or sheets may allow cells to sense structures of differing material properties at comparatively large distances. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlation between macro- and nano-scopic measurements of carbon nanostructured paper elastic modulus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Omar, Yamila M.; Al Ghaferi, Amal, E-mail: aalghaferi@masdar.ac.ae, E-mail: mchiesa@masdar.ac.ae; Chiesa, Matteo, E-mail: aalghaferi@masdar.ac.ae, E-mail: mchiesa@masdar.ac.ae

2015-07-20

Extensive work has been done in order to determine the bulk elastic modulus of isotropic samples from force curves acquired with atomic force microscopy. However, new challenges are encountered given the development of new materials constructed of one-dimensional anisotropic building blocks, such as carbon nanostructured paper. In the present work, we establish a reliable framework to correlate the elastic modulus values obtained by amplitude modulation atomic force microscope force curves, a nanoscopic technique, with that determined by traditional macroscopic tensile testing. In order to do so, several techniques involving image processing, statistical analysis, and simulations are used to find themore » appropriate path to understand how macroscopic properties arise from anisotropic nanoscale components, and ultimately, being able to calculate the value of bulk elastic modulus.« less

A Finite Element Model to Predict the Effect of Porosity on Elastic Modulus in Low-Porosity Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrissey, Liam S.; Nakhla, Sam

2018-07-01

The effect of porosity on elastic modulus in low-porosity materials is investigated. First, several models used to predict the reduction in elastic modulus due to porosity are compared with a compilation of experimental data to determine their ranges of validity and accuracy. The overlapping solid spheres model is found to be most accurate with the experimental data and valid between 3 and 10 pct porosity. Next, a FEM is developed with the objective of demonstrating that a macroscale plate with a center hole can be used to model the effect of microscale porosity on elastic modulus. The FEM agrees best with the overlapping solid spheres model and shows higher accuracy with experimental data than the overlapping solid spheres model.

Measurement of the temperature dependence of Young's modulus of cartilage by phase-sensitive optical coherence elastography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, C H; Li, J; Singh, M

2014-08-31

The development of an effective system to monitor the changes in the elastic properties of cartilage tissue with increasing temperature in laser reconstruction is an urgent practical task. In this paper, the use of phase-sensitive optical coherence elastography for detection of elastic waves in the sample has allowed Young's modulus of cartilage tissue to be measured directly during heating. Young's modulus was calculated from the group velocity of propagation of elastic waves excited by means of a system supplying focused air pulses. The measurement results are in agreement with the results of measurements of the modulus of elasticity under mechanicalmore » compression. The technique developed allows for noninvasive measurements; its development is promising for the use in vivo. (laser biophotonics)« less

Acoustic evaluation of loblolly pine tree- and lumber-length logs allows for segregation of lumber modulus of elasticity, not for modulus of rupture

Treesearch

Mark Alexander Butler; Joseph Dahlen; Thomas L. Eberhardt; Cristian Montes; Finto Antony; Richard F. Daniels

2017-01-01

Key message Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) logs can be evaluated using acoustic velocity whereby threshold acoustic velocity values can be set to ensure lumber meets specified mechanical property design values for modulus of elasticity. Context...

Application of 3D and 2D quantitative shear wave elastography (SWE) to differentiate between benign and malignant breast masses.

PubMed

Tian, Jie; Liu, Qianqi; Wang, Xi; Xing, Ping; Yang, Zhuowen; Wu, Changjun

2017-01-20

As breast cancer tissues are stiffer than normal tissues, shear wave elastography (SWE) can locally quantify tissue stiffness and provide histological information. Moreover, tissue stiffness can be observed on three-dimensional (3D) colour-coded elasticity maps. Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performances of quantitative features in differentiating breast masses by two-dimensional (2D) and 3D SWE. Two hundred ten consecutive women with 210 breast masses were examined with B-mode ultrasound (US) and SWE. Quantitative features of 3D and 2D SWE were assessed, including elastic modulus standard deviation (E SD E ) measured on SWE mode images and E SD U measured on B-mode images, as well as maximum elasticity (E max ). Adding quantitative features to B-mode US improved the diagnostic performance (p < 0.05) and reduced false-positive biopsies (p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 3D SWE was similar to that of 2D SWE for E SD E (p = 0.026) and E SD U (p = 0.159) but inferior to that of 2D SWE for E max (p = 0.002). Compared with E SD U , E SD E showed a higher AUC on 2D (p = 0.0038) and 3D SWE (p = 0.0057). Our study indicates that quantitative features of 3D and 2D SWE can significantly improve the diagnostic performance of B-mode US, especially 3D SWE E SD E , which shows considerable clinical value.

Earlywood and latewood elastic properties in loblolly pine

Treesearch

Steven Cramer; David Kretschmann; Roderic Lakes; Troy Schmidt

2005-01-01

The elastic properties of earlywood and latewood and their variability were measured in 388 specimens from six loblolly pine trees in a commercial plantation. Properties measured included longitudinal modulus of elasticity, shear modulus, specific gravity, microfibril angle and presence of compression wood. Novel testing procedures were developed to measure properties...

Synchronous Measuring Techniques in Parallel to MRE: Study of Pressure, Pre-Tension, and Surface Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brinker, Spencer Thomas

The contents of this dissertation include investigations in Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) using a preclinical 9.4 Tesla small animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system along with synthetic materials that mimic the mechanical properties of soft human tissue. MRE is used for studying the mechanical behavior of soft tissue particularly applicable to medical applications. Wave motion induced by a mechanical driver is measured with MRI to acquire internal displacement fields over time and space within a material media. Complex shear modulus of the media is calculated from the response of mechanical wave transmission through the material. Changes in soft tissue stiffness is associated with disease progression and thus, is why assessing tissue mechanical properties with MRE has powerful diagnostic potential due to the noninvasive procedure of MRI. The experiments performed in this dissertation used elastic phantoms and specimens to observe the influence of pre-stress on MRE derived mechanical properties while additional mechanical measurements from other related material testing methods were synchronously collected alongside MRI scanning. An organ simulating phantom was used to explore changes in MRE stiffness in response to gas and liquid cyclic pressure loading. MRE stiffness increased with pressure and hysteresis was observed in cyclic pressure loading. The results suggest MRE is applicable to pressure related disease assessment. In addition, an interconnected porosity pressure phantom was constructed for future porous media investigations. A custom system was also built to demonstrate concurrent tensile testing during MRE for investigating homogeneous soft material media undergoing pre-tension. Stiffness increased with uniaxial tensile stress and strain. The tension and stiffness relationship explored can be related to the stress analysis of voluntary muscle. The results also offer prospective experimental strategies for community wide standards on MRE calibration methods. Lastly, a novel platform was developed for synchronous acquisition of Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometry (SLDV) and MRE for examining surface wave dynamics related to internal media wave propagation in soft material experiencing sinusoidal mechanical excitation. The results indicate that optical displacement measurements of media on the surface are similar in nature to internal displacement measured from MRE. It is concluded that optical and MRI based elastography yield similar values of complex shear modulus.

Measurement of the elastic modulus of a multi-wall boron nitride nanotube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chopra, Nasreen G.; Zettl, A.

1998-02-01

We have experimentally determined the elastic properties of an individual multi-wall boron nitride (BN) nanotube. From the thermal vibration amplitude of a cantilevered BN nanotube observed in a transmission electron microscope, we find the axial Young's modulus to be 1.22 ± 0.24 TPa, a value consistent with theoretical estimates. The observed Young's modulus exceeds that of all other known insulating fibers. Our elasticity results confirm that BN nanotubes are highly crystalline with very few defects.

Behavior of Fiber Glass Bolts, Rock Bolts and Cable Bolts in Shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xuwei; Aziz, Naj; Mirzaghorbanali, Ali; Nemcik, Jan

2016-07-01

This paper experimentally compares the shear behavior of fiber glass (FG) bolt, rock bolt (steel rebar bolt) and cable bolt for the bolt contribution to bolted concrete surface shear strength, and bolt failure mode. Two double shear apparatuses of different size were used for the study. The tensile strength, the shear strength and the deformation modulus of bolt control the shear behavior of a sheared bolted joint. Since the strength and deformation modulus of FG bolt, rock bolt and cable bolt obtained from uniaxial tensile tests are different, their shear behavior in reinforcing joints is accordingly different. Test results showed that the shear stiffness of FG bolted joints decreased gradually from the beginning to end, while the shear stiffness of joints reinforced by rock bolt and cable bolt decreased bi-linearly, which is clearly consistent with their tensile deformation modulus. The bolted joint shear stiffness was highly influenced by bolt pretension in the high stiffness stage for both rock bolt and cable bolt, but not in the low stiffness stage. The rock bolt contribution to joint shear strength standardised by the bolt tensile strength was the largest, followed by cable bolts, then FG bolts. Both the rock bolts and cable bolts tended to fail in tension, while FG bolts in shear due to their low shear strength and constant deformation modulus.

High thermal conductivity in soft elastomers with elongated liquid metal inclusions.

PubMed

Bartlett, Michael D; Kazem, Navid; Powell-Palm, Matthew J; Huang, Xiaonan; Sun, Wenhuan; Malen, Jonathan A; Majidi, Carmel

2017-02-28

Soft dielectric materials typically exhibit poor heat transfer properties due to the dynamics of phonon transport, which constrain thermal conductivity ( k ) to decrease monotonically with decreasing elastic modulus ( E ). This thermal-mechanical trade-off is limiting for wearable computing, soft robotics, and other emerging applications that require materials with both high thermal conductivity and low mechanical stiffness. Here, we overcome this constraint with an electrically insulating composite that exhibits an unprecedented combination of metal-like thermal conductivity, an elastic compliance similar to soft biological tissue (Young's modulus < 100 kPa), and the capability to undergo extreme deformations (>600% strain). By incorporating liquid metal (LM) microdroplets into a soft elastomer, we achieve a ∼25× increase in thermal conductivity (4.7 ± 0.2 W⋅m -1 ⋅K -1 ) over the base polymer (0.20 ± 0.01 W⋅m -1 ·K -1 ) under stress-free conditions and a ∼50× increase (9.8 ± 0.8 W⋅m -1 ·K -1 ) when strained. This exceptional combination of thermal and mechanical properties is enabled by a unique thermal-mechanical coupling that exploits the deformability of the LM inclusions to create thermally conductive pathways in situ. Moreover, these materials offer possibilities for passive heat exchange in stretchable electronics and bioinspired robotics, which we demonstrate through the rapid heat dissipation of an elastomer-mounted extreme high-power LED lamp and a swimming soft robot.

Impact of Chronic Hypoxia on Proximal Pulmonary Artery Wave Propagation and Mechanical Properties in Rats.

PubMed

Su, Junjing; Logan, Charmilie C; Hughes, Alun D; Parker, Kim H; Dhutia, Niti M; Danielsen, Carl Christian; Simonsen, Ulf

2018-03-16

Arterial stiffness and wave reflection are important components of the ventricular afterload. Therefore, we aimed to assess the arterial wave characteristics and mechanical properties of the proximal pulmonary arteries (PAs) in the hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive rat model. After 21 days in normoxic or hypoxic chambers (24 animals in each group), the animals underwent transthoracic echocardiography and pulmonary artery catheterization with a dual-tipped pressure and Doppler flow sensor wire. Wave intensity analysis (WIA) was performed. Artery rings obtained from the pulmonary trunk, right and left PAs and the aorta were subjected to a tensile test to rupture. Collagen and elastin content was determined. In hypoxic rats, proximal PA wall thickness, collagen content, tensile strength per unit collagen, maximal elastic modulus and wall viscosity increased; while the elastin:collagen ratio and arterial distensibility decreased. Arterial pulse wave velocity was also increased and the increase was more prominent in vivo than ex vivo. Wave intensity was similar in the hypoxic and normoxic animals with negligible wave reflection. In contrast, aortic maximal elastic modulus remained unchanged, while the wall viscosity decreased. There was no evidence of altered arterial wave propagation in the proximal PAs of hypoxic rats, while the extracellular matrix protein composition altered and the collagen tensile strength increased. This was accompanied by altered mechanical properties in vivo and ex vivo.

Bioinspired Robotic Fingers Based on Pneumatic Actuator and 3D Printing of Smart Material.

PubMed

Yang, Yang; Chen, Yonghua; Li, Yingtian; Chen, Michael Z Q; Wei, Ying

2017-06-01

In this article, we have proposed a novel robotic finger design principle aimed to address two challenges in soft pneumatic grippers-the controllability of the stiffness and the controllability of the bending position. The proposed finger design is composed of a 3D printed multimaterial substrate and a soft pneumatic actuator. The substrate has four polylactic acid (PLA) segments interlocked with three shape memory polymer (SMP) joints, inspired by bones and joints in human fingers. By controlling the thermal energy of an SMP joint, the stiffness of the joints is modulated due to the dramatic change in SMP elastic modulus around its glass transition temperature (T g ). When SMP joints are heated above T g , they exhibit very small stiffness, allowing the finger to easily bend around the SMP joints if the attached soft actuator is actuated. When there is no force from the soft actuator, shape recovery stress in SMP contributes to the finger's shape restoration. Since each joint's rotation can be individually controlled, the position control of the finger is made possible. Experimental analysis has been conducted to show the finger's variable stiffness and the result is compared with the analytical values. It is found that the stiffness ratio can be 24.9 times for a joint at room temperature (20°C) and at an elevated temperature of 60°C when air pressure p of the soft actuator is turned off. Finally, a gripper composed of two fingers is fabricated for demonstration.

Variations in local elastic modulus along the length of the aorta as observed by use of a scanning haptic microscope (SHM).

PubMed

Moriwaki, Takeshi; Oie, Tomonori; Takamizawa, Keiichi; Murayama, Yoshinobu; Fukuda, Toru; Omata, Sadao; Kanda, Keiichi; Nakayama, Yasuhide

2011-12-01

Variations in microscopic elastic structures along the entire length of canine aorta were evaluated by use of a scanning haptic microscope (SHM). The total aorta from the aortic arch to the abdominal aorta was divided into 6 approximately equal segments. After embedding the aorta in agar, it was cut into horizontal circumferential segments to obtain disk-like agar portions containing ring-like samples of aorta with flat surfaces (thickness, approximately 1 mm). The elastic modulus and topography of the samples under no-load conditions were simultaneously measured along the entire thickness of the wall by SHM by using a probe with a diameter of 5 μm and a spatial resolution of 2 μm at a rate of 0.3 s/point. The elastic modulus of the wall was the highest on the side of the luminal surface and decreased gradually toward the adventitial side. This tendency was similar to that of the change in the elastin fiber content. During the evaluation of the mid-portion of each tunica media segment, the highest elastic modulus (40.8 ± 3.5 kPa) was identified at the thoracic section of the aorta that had the highest density of elastic fibers. Under no-load conditions, portions of the aorta with high elastin density have a high elastic modulus.

Damage of the Interface Between an Orthodontic Bracket and Enamel - the Effect of Some Elastic Properties of the Adhesive Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durgesh, B. H.; Alkheraif, A. A.; Al Sharawy, M.; Varrela, J.; Vallittu, P. K.

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the magnitude of debonding stress of an orthodontic bracket bonded to the enamel with resin systems having different elastic properties. For the same purpose, sixty human premolars were randomly divided into four groups according to the adhesive system used for bonding brackets: G Fix flowable resin (GFI) with Everstick NET (ESN), GFI, G Aenial Universal Flow (GAU) with ESN, and GAU. The brackets were stressed in the occlusogingival direction on a universal testing machine. The values of debonding load and displacement were determined at the point of debonding. The elastic modulus of the tested materials was determined using nanoindentation. An analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the loads required to debond the bracket among the groups tested. The GAU group had the highest elastic modulus, followed by the GFI and ESN groups. ARI (Adhesive Remnant Index) scores demonstrated more remnants of the adhesive material on the bracket surface with adhesives having a higher elastic modulus. Taking into consideration results of the present in-vitro study, it can be concluded that the incorporation of a glass-fiber-reinforced composite resin (FRC) with a low elastic modulus between the orthodontic bracket and enamel increases the debonding force and strain more than with adhesive systems having a higher elastic modulus.

The influence of low temperatures on dynamic mechanical properties of animal bone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mardas, Marcin; Kubisz, Leszek; Mielcarek, Slawomir; Biskupski, Piotr

2009-01-01

Different preservation methods are currently used in bone banks, even though their effects on allograft quality are not fully understood. Freezing is one of the most popular methods of preservation in tissue banking. Yet, there is not a lot of data on dynamic mechanical properties of frozen bone. Material used in this study was femoral bones from adult bovine that were machine cut and frozen to the temperature 140°C. Both elastic modulus and loss modulus were measured at 1, 3, 5, 10, and 20 Hz in the temperature range of 30-200°C. Differences between frozen and control samples were observed. The frequency increase always led to the increase in elastic modulus values and decrease in loss modulus values. Freezing reduced the elastic modulus values of about 25% and the loss modulus values of about 45% when measured at 20°C.

Structural remodeling of coronary resistance arteries: effects of age and exercise training

PubMed Central

Hanna, Mina A.; Taylor, Curtis R.; Chen, Bei; La, Hae-Sun; Maraj, Joshua J.; Kilar, Cody R.; Behnke, Bradley J.; Delp, Michael D.

2014-01-01

Age is known to induce remodeling and stiffening of large-conduit arteries; however, little is known of the effects of age on remodeling and mechanical properties of coronary resistance arteries. We employed a rat model of aging to investigate whether 1) age increases wall thickness and stiffness of coronary resistance arteries, and 2) exercise training reverses putative age-induced increases in wall thickness and stiffness of coronary resistance arteries. Young (4 mo) and old (21 mo) Fischer 344 rats remained sedentary or underwent 10 wk of treadmill exercise training. Coronary resistance arteries were isolated for determination of wall-to-lumen ratio, effective elastic modulus, and active and passive responses to changes in intraluminal pressure. Elastin and collagen content of the vascular wall were assessed histologically. Wall-to-lumen ratio increased with age, but this increase was reversed by exercise training. In contrast, age reduced stiffness, and exercise training increased stiffness in coronary resistance arteries from old rats. Myogenic responsiveness was reduced with age and restored by exercise training. Collagen-to-elastin ratio (C/E) of the wall did not change with age and was reduced with exercise training in arteries from old rats. Thus age induces hypertrophic remodeling of the vessel wall and reduces the stiffness and myogenic function of coronary resistance arteries. Exercise training reduces wall-to-lumen ratio, increases wall stiffness, and restores myogenic function in aged coronary resistance arteries. The restorative effect of exercise training on myogenic function of coronary resistance arteries may be due to both changes in vascular smooth muscle phenotype and expression of extracellular matrix proteins. PMID:25059239

Elastic modulus affects the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells

PubMed Central

Jiang, Xian-feng; Yang, Kai; Yang, Xiao-qing; Liu, Ying-fu; Cheng, Yuan-chi; Chen, Xu-yi; Tu, Yue

2015-01-01

It remains poorly understood if carrier hardness, elastic modulus, and contact area affect neural stem cell growth and differentiation. Tensile tests show that the elastic moduli of Tiansu and SMI silicone membranes are lower than that of an ordinary dish, while the elastic modulus of SMI silicone membrane is lower than that of Tiansu silicone membrane. Neural stem cells from the cerebral cortex of embryonic day 16 Sprague-Dawley rats were seeded onto ordinary dishes as well as Tiansu silicone membrane and SMI silicone membrane. Light microscopy showed that neural stem cells on all three carriers show improved adherence. After 7 days of differentiation, neuron specific enolase, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and myelin basic protein expression was detected by immunofluorescence. Moreover, flow cytometry revealed a higher rate of neural stem cell differentiation into astrocytes on Tiansu and SMI silicone membranes than on the ordinary dish, which was also higher on the SMI than the Tiansu silicone membrane. These findings confirm that all three cell carrier types have good biocompatibility, while SMI and Tiansu silicone membranes exhibit good mechanical homogenization. Thus, elastic modulus affects neural stem cell differentiation into various nerve cells. Within a certain range, a smaller elastic modulus results in a more obvious trend of cell differentiation into astrocytes. PMID:26604916

Theoretical investigations on structural, elastic and electronic properties of thallium halides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Rishi Pal; Singh, Rajendra Kumar; Rajagopalan, Mathrubutham

2011-04-01

Theoretical investigations on structural, elastic and electronic properties, viz. ground state lattice parameter, elastic moduli and density of states, of thallium halides (viz. TlCl and TlBr) have been made using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The ground state lattice parameter and bulk modulus and its pressure derivative have been obtained using optimization method. Young's modulus, shear modulus, Poisson ratio, sound velocities for longitudinal and shear waves, Debye average velocity, Debye temperature and Grüneisen parameter have also been calculated for these compounds. Calculated structural, elastic and other parameters are in good agreement with the available data.

Tissue and cellular biomechanics during corneal wound injury and repair.

PubMed

Raghunathan, Vijay Krishna; Thomasy, Sara M; Strøm, Peter; Yañez-Soto, Bernardo; Garland, Shaun P; Sermeno, Jasmyne; Reilly, Christopher M; Murphy, Christopher J

2017-08-01

Corneal wound healing is an enormously complex process that requires the simultaneous cellular integration of multiple soluble biochemical cues, as well as cellular responses to the intrinsic chemistry and biophysical attributes associated with the matrix of the wound space. Here, we document how the biomechanics of the corneal stroma are altered through the course of wound repair following keratoablative procedures in rabbits. Further we documented the influence that substrate stiffness has on stromal cell mechanics. Following corneal epithelial debridement, New Zealand white rabbits underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) on the right eye (OD). Wound healing was monitored using advanced imaging modalities. Rabbits were euthanized and corneas were harvested at various time points following PTK. Tissues were characterized for biomechanics with atomic force microscopy and with histology to assess inflammation and fibrosis. Factor analysis was performed to determine any discernable patterns in wound healing parameters. The matrix associated with the wound space was stiffest at 7days post PTK. The greatest number of inflammatory cells were observed 3days after wounding. The highest number of myofibroblasts and the greatest degree of fibrosis occurred 21days after wounding. While all clinical parameters returned to normal values 400days after wounding, the elastic modulus remained greater than pre-surgical values. Factor analysis demonstrated dynamic remodeling of stroma occurs between days 10 and 42 during corneal stromal wound repair. Elastic modulus of the anterior corneal stroma is dramatically altered following PTK and its changes coincide initially with the development of edema and inflammation, and later with formation of stromal haze and population of the wound space with myofibroblasts. Factor analysis demonstrates strongest correlation between elastic modulus, myofibroblasts, fibrosis and stromal haze thickness, and between edema and central corneal thickness. Tissue biomechanics during the course of corneal wound healing is documented for the first time through atomic force microscopy, and is correlated with advanced clinical imaging and immunohistochemistry. Parameters obtained from the study are applied in a multivariate statistical model to cluster the data for better classification and monitor the wound repair process. Elastic modulus of the anterior corneal stroma is dramatically altered following wounding and correlates initially with the development of edema and inflammation, and later with formation of stromal haze and population of the wound space with myofibroblasts. Importantly, the occurrence of myofibroblasts is preceded by changes in tissue mechanics, which is important to consider in light of crosslinking procedures applied to treat corneal diseases. Copyright © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Single-cell mechanics--An experimental-computational method for quantifying the membrane-cytoskeleton elasticity of cells.

PubMed

Tartibi, M; Liu, Y X; Liu, G-Y; Komvopoulos, K

2015-11-01

The membrane-cytoskeleton system plays a major role in cell adhesion, growth, migration, and differentiation. F-actin filaments, cross-linkers, binding proteins that bundle F-actin filaments to form the actin cytoskeleton, and integrins that connect the actin cytoskeleton network to the cell plasma membrane and extracellular matrix are major cytoskeleton constituents. Thus, the cell cytoskeleton is a complex composite that can assume different shapes. Atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based techniques have been used to measure cytoskeleton material properties without much attention to cell shape. A recently developed surface chemical patterning method for long-term single-cell culture was used to seed individual cells on circular patterns. A continuum-based cell model, which uses as input the force-displacement response obtained with a modified AFM setup and relates the membrane-cytoskeleton elastic behavior to the cell geometry, while treating all other subcellular components suspended in the cytoplasmic liquid (gel) as an incompressible fluid, is presented and validated by experimental results. The developed analytical-experimental methodology establishes a framework for quantifying the membrane-cytoskeleton elasticity of live cells. This capability may have immense implications in cell biology, particularly in studies seeking to establish correlations between membrane-cytoskeleton elasticity and cell disease, mortality, differentiation, and migration, and provide insight into cell infiltration through nonwoven fibrous scaffolds. The present method can be further extended to analyze membrane-cytoskeleton viscoelasticity, examine the role of other subcellular components (e.g., nucleus envelope) in cell elasticity, and elucidate the effects of mechanical stimuli on cell differentiation and motility. This is the first study to decouple the membrane-cytoskeleton elasticity from cell stiffness and introduce an effective approach for measuring the elastic modulus. The novelty of this study is the development of new technology for quantifying the elastic stiffness of the membrane-cytoskeleton system of cells. This capability could have immense implications in cell biology, particularly in establishing correlations between various cell diseases, mortality, and differentiation with membrane-cytoskeleton elasticity, examining through-tissue cell migration, and understanding cell infiltration in porous scaffolds. The present method can be further extended to analyze membrane-cytoskeleton viscous behavior, identify the contribution of other subcellular components (e.g., nucleus envelope) to load sharing, and elucidate mechanotransduction effects due to repetitive compressive loading and unloading on cell differentiation and motility. Copyright © 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A portable blood plasma clot micro-elastometry device based on resonant acoustic spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Krebs, C. R.; Li, Ling; Wolberg, Alisa S.; Oldenburg, Amy L.

2015-01-01

Abnormal blood clot stiffness is an important indicator of coagulation disorders arising from a variety of cardiovascular diseases and drug treatments. Here, we present a portable instrument for elastometry of microliter volume blood samples based upon the principle of resonant acoustic spectroscopy, where a sample of well-defined dimensions exhibits a fundamental longitudinal resonance mode proportional to the square root of the Young’s modulus. In contrast to commercial thromboelastography, the resonant acoustic method offers improved repeatability and accuracy due to the high signal-to-noise ratio of the resonant vibration. We review the measurement principles and the design of a magnetically actuated microbead force transducer applying between 23 pN and 6.7 nN, providing a wide dynamic range of elastic moduli (3 Pa–27 kPa) appropriate for measurement of clot elastic modulus (CEM). An automated and portable device, the CEMport, is introduced and implemented using a 2 nm resolution displacement sensor with demonstrated accuracy and precision of 3% and 2%, respectively, of CEM in biogels. Importantly, the small strains (<0.13%) and low strain rates (<1/s) employed by the CEMport maintain a linear stress-to-strain relationship which provides a perturbative measurement of the Young’s modulus. Measurements of blood plasma CEM versus heparin concentration show that CEMport is sensitive to heparin levels below 0.050 U/ml, which suggests future applications in sensing heparin levels of post-surgical cardiopulmonary bypass patients. The portability, high accuracy, and high precision of this device enable new clinical and animal studies for associating CEM with blood coagulation disorders, potentially leading to improved diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring. PMID:26233406

In situ elasticity modulation with dynamic substrates to direct cell phenotype

PubMed Central

Kloxin, April M.; Benton, Julie A.; Anseth, Kristi S.

2009-01-01

Microenvironment elasticity influences critical cell functions such as differentiation, cytoskeletal organization, and process extension. Unfortunately, few materials allow elasticity modulation in real-time to probe its direct effect on these dynamic cellular processes. Here, a new approach is presented for the photochemical modulation of elasticity within the cell's microenvironment at any point in time. A photodegradable hydrogel was irradiated and degraded under cytocompatible conditions to generate a wide range of elastic moduli similar to soft tissues and characterized using rheometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effect of the elastic modulus on valvular interstitial cell (VIC) activation into myofibroblasts was explored. In these studies, gradient samples were used to identify moduli that either promote or suppress VIC myofibroblastic activation. With this knowledge, VICs were cultured on a high modulus, activating hydrogel substrate, and uniquely, results show that decreasing the substrate modulus with irradiation reverses this activation, demonstrating that myofibroblasts can be de-activated solely by changing the modulus of the underlying substrate. This finding is important for the rational design of biomaterials for tissue regeneration and offers insight into fibrotic disease progression. These photodegradable hydrogels demonstrate the capability to both probe and direct cell function through dynamic changes in substrate elasticity. PMID:19788947

Finite Element Analysis of Single Cell Stiffness Measurements Using PZT-Integrated Buckling Nanoneedles.

PubMed

Rad, Maryam Alsadat; Tijjani, Auwal Shehu; Ahmad, Mohd Ridzuan; Auwal, Shehu Muhammad

2016-12-23

This paper proposes a new technique for real-time single cell stiffness measurement using lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-integrated buckling nanoneedles. The PZT and the buckling part of the nanoneedle have been modelled and validated using the ABAQUS software. The two parts are integrated together to function as a single unit. After calibration, the stiffness, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio and sensitivity of the PZT-integrated buckling nanoneedle have been determined to be 0.7100 N·m -1 , 123.4700 GPa, 0.3000 and 0.0693 V·m·N -1 , respectively. Three Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells have been modelled and validated based on compression tests. The average global stiffness and Young's modulus of the cells are determined to be 10.8867 ± 0.0094 N·m -1 and 110.7033 ± 0.0081 MPa, respectively. The nanoneedle and the cell have been assembled to measure the local stiffness of the single Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells The local stiffness, Young's modulus and PZT output voltage of the three different size Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been determined at different environmental conditions. We investigated that, at low temperature the stiffness value is low to adapt to the change in the environmental condition. As a result, Saccharomyces cerevisiae becomes vulnerable to viral and bacterial attacks. Therefore, the proposed technique will serve as a quick and accurate process to diagnose diseases at early stage in a cell for effective treatment.

Ultra-structural defects cause low bone matrix stiffness despite high mineralization in osteogenesis imperfecta mice☆

PubMed Central

Vanleene, Maximilien; Porter, Alexandra; Guillot, Pascale-Valerie; Boyde, Alan; Oyen, Michelle; Shefelbine, Sandra

2012-01-01

Bone is a complex material with a hierarchical multi-scale organization from the molecule to the organ scale. The genetic bone disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, is primarily caused by mutations in the collagen type I genes, resulting in bone fragility. Because the basis of the disease is molecular with ramifications at the whole bone level, it provides a platform for investigating the relationship between structure, composition, and mechanics throughout the hierarchy. Prior studies have individually shown that OI leads to: 1. increased bone mineralization, 2. decreased elastic modulus, and 3. smaller apatite crystal size. However, these have not been studied together and the mechanism for how mineral structure influences tissue mechanics has not been identified. This lack of understanding inhibits the development of more accurate models and therapies. To address this research gap, we used a mouse model of the disease (oim) to measure these outcomes together in order to propose an underlying mechanism for the changes in properties. Our main finding was that despite increased mineralization, oim bones have lower stiffness that may result from the poorly organized mineral matrix with significantly smaller, highly packed and disoriented apatite crystals. Using a composite framework, we interpret the lower oim bone matrix elasticity observed as the result of a change in the aspect ratio of apatite crystals and a disruption of the crystal connectivity. PMID:22449447

Ultra-structural defects cause low bone matrix stiffness despite high mineralization in osteogenesis imperfecta mice.

PubMed

Vanleene, Maximilien; Porter, Alexandra; Guillot, Pascale-Valerie; Boyde, Alan; Oyen, Michelle; Shefelbine, Sandra

2012-06-01

Bone is a complex material with a hierarchical multi-scale organization from the molecule to the organ scale. The genetic bone disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, is primarily caused by mutations in the collagen type I genes, resulting in bone fragility. Because the basis of the disease is molecular with ramifications at the whole bone level, it provides a platform for investigating the relationship between structure, composition, and mechanics throughout the hierarchy. Prior studies have individually shown that OI leads to: 1. increased bone mineralization, 2. decreased elastic modulus, and 3. smaller apatite crystal size. However, these have not been studied together and the mechanism for how mineral structure influences tissue mechanics has not been identified. This lack of understanding inhibits the development of more accurate models and therapies. To address this research gap, we used a mouse model of the disease (oim) to measure these outcomes together in order to propose an underlying mechanism for the changes in properties. Our main finding was that despite increased mineralization, oim bones have lower stiffness that may result from the poorly organized mineral matrix with significantly smaller, highly packed and disoriented apatite crystals. Using a composite framework, we interpret the lower oim bone matrix elasticity observed as the result of a change in the aspect ratio of apatite crystals and a disruption of the crystal connectivity. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ab initio calculations of the lattice parameter and elastic stiffness coefficients of bcc Fe with solutes

DOE PAGES

Fellinger, Michael R.; Hector, Louis G.; Trinkle, Dallas R.

2016-10-28

Here, we present an efficient methodology for computing solute-induced changes in lattice parameters and elastic stiffness coefficients Cij of single crystals using density functional theory. We also introduce a solute strain misfit tensor that quantifies how solutes change lattice parameters due to the stress they induce in the host crystal. Solutes modify the elastic stiffness coefficients through volumetric changes and by altering chemical bonds. We compute each of these contributions to the elastic stiffness coefficients separately, and verify that their sum agrees with changes in the elastic stiffness coefficients computed directly using fully optimized supercells containing solutes. Computing the twomore » elastic stiffness contributions separately is more computationally efficient and provides more information on solute effects than the direct calculations. We compute the solute dependence of polycrystalline averaged shear and Young's moduli from the solute dependence of the single-crystal Cij. We then apply this methodology to substitutional Al, B, Cu, Mn, Si solutes and octahedral interstitial C and N solutes in bcc Fe. Comparison with experimental data indicates that our approach accurately predicts solute-induced changes in the lattice parameter and elastic coefficients. The computed data can be used to quantify solute-induced changes in mechanical properties such as strength and ductility, and can be incorporated into mesoscale models to improve their predictive capabilities.« less

Some aspects of the stability of the plane deformation mode of filaments of finite stiffness beyond the elasticity limits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimanovskii, A. V.

A method for calculating the plane bending of elastic-plastic filaments of finite stiffness is proposed on the basis of plastic flow theory. The problem considered is shown to reduce to relations similar to Kirchhoff equations for elastic work. Expressions are obtained for determining the normalized stiffness characteristics for the cross section of a filament with plastic regions containing beam theory equations as a particular case. A study is made of the effect of the plastic region size on the position of the elastic deformation-unloading interface and on the normalized stiffness of the filament cross section. Calculation results are presented in graphic form.

Preparation and mechanical characterization of a PNIPA hydrogel composite.

PubMed

Liu, Kaifeng; Ovaert, Timothy C; Mason, James J

2008-04-01

A poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogel was synthesized by free radical polymerization and reinforced with a polyurethane foam to make a hydrogel composite. The temperature dependence of the elastic modulus of the PNIPA hydrogel and the composite due to volume phase transition was found using a uniaxial compression test, and the swelling property was investigated using an equilibrium swelling ratio experiment. The gel composite preserves the ability to undergo the volume phase transition and its elastic modulus has strong temperature dependence. The temperature dependence of the elastic modulus and swelling ratio of the gel composite were compared to the PNIPA hydrogel. Not surprisingly, the modulus and swelling ratio of the composite were less dramatic than in the gel.

Dynamic modulus of hot mix asphalt : final report, June 2009.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-06-01

One of the most critical parameters needed for the upcoming Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide : (MEPDG) is the dynamic modulus (E*), which will be used for flexible pavement design. The dynamic modulus : represents the stiffness of the asph...

Nanoindentation mapping of a wood-adhesive bond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konnerth, J.; Valla, A.; Gindl, W.

2007-08-01

A mapping experiment of a wood phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde adhesive bond was performed by means of grid nanoindentation. The variability of the modulus of elasticity and the hardness was evaluated for an area of 17 μm by 90 μm. Overall, the modulus of elasticity of the adhesive was clearly lower than the modulus of wood cell walls, whereas the hardness of the adhesive was slightly higher compared to cell walls. A very slight trend of decreasing modulus of elasticity was found with increasing distance from the immediate bond line. However, the trend was superimposed by a high variability of the modulus of elasticity in dependence on the position in the wood cell wall. The unexpectedly high variation of the modulus between 12 and 24 GPa may be explained by the interaction between the helical orientation of the cellulose microfibrils in the S2 layer of the wood cell wall and the geometry of the three-sided Berkovich type indenter pyramid used. Corresponding to the very slight decrease in modulus with increasing distance from the bond line, a similar but clearer trend was found for hardness. Both trends of changing mechanical properties of wood cell walls with varying distance from the bond line are attributed to effects of adhesive penetration into the wood cell wall.

Mechanical properties of novel forms of graphyne under strain: A density functional theory study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majidi, Roya

2017-06-01

The mechanical properties of two forms of graphyne sheets named α-graphyne and α2-graphyne under uniaxial and biaxial strains were studied. In-plane stiffness, bulk modulus, and shear modulus were calculated based on density functional theory. The in-plane stiffness, bulk modulus, and shear modulus of α2-graphyne were found to be larger than that of α-graphyne. The maximum values of supported uniaxial and biaxial strains before failure were determined. The α-graphyne was entered into the plastic region with the higher magnitude of tension in comparison to α2-graphyne. The mechanical properties of α-graphyne family revealed that these forms of graphyne are proper materials for use in nanomechanical applications.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Modeling of Nanotube Materials with Variable Stiffness Tethers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frankland, S. J. V.; Herzog, M. N.; Odegard, G. M.; Gates, T. S.; Fay, C. C.

2004-01-01

Synthesis, mechanical testing, and modeling have been performed for carbon nanotube based materials. Tests using nanoindentation indicated a six-fold enhancement in the storage modulus when comparing the base material (no nanotubes) to the composite that contained 5.3 wt% of nanotubes. To understand how crosslinking the nanotubes may further alter the stiffness, a model of the system was constructed using nanotubes crosslinked with a variable stiffness tether (VST). The model predicted that for a composite with 5 wt% nanotubes at random orientations, crosslinked with the VST, the bulk Young's modulus was reduced by 30% compared to the noncrosslinked equivalent.

In situ measurements of human articular cartilage stiffness by means of a scanning force microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imer, Raphaël; Akiyama, Terunobu; de Rooij, Nico F.; Stolz, Martin; Aebi, Ueli; Kilger, Robert; Friederich, Niklaus F.; Wirz, Dieter; Daniels, A. U.; Staufer, Urs

2007-03-01

Osteoarthritis is a painful and disabling progressive joint disease, characterized by degradation of articular cartilage. In order to study this disease at early stages, we have miniaturized and integrated a complete scanning force microscope into a standard arthroscopic device fitting through a standard orthopedic canula. This instrument will allow orthopedic surgeons to measure the mechanical properties of articular cartilage at the nanometer and micrometer scale in-vivo during a standard arthroscopy. An orthopedic surgeon assessed the handling of the instrument. First measurements of the elasticity-modulus of human cartilage were recorded in a cadaver knee non minimal invasive. Second, minimally invasive experiments were performed using arthroscopic instruments. Load-displacement curves were successfully recorded.

Myths and Truths of Nitinol Mechanics: Elasticity and Tension-Compression Asymmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bucsek, Ashley N.; Paranjape, Harshad M.; Stebner, Aaron P.

2016-09-01

Two prevalent myths of Nitinol mechanics are examined: (1) Martensite is more compliant than austenite; (2) Texture-free Nitinol polycrystals do not exhibit tension-compression asymmetry. By reviewing existing literature, the following truths are revealed: (1) Martensite crystals may be more compliant, equally stiff, or stiffer than austenite crystals, depending on the orientation of the applied load. The Young's Modulus of polycrystalline Nitinol is not a fixed number—it changes with both processing and in operando deformations. Nitinol martensite prefers to behave stiffer under compressive loads and more compliant under tensile loads. (2) Inelastic Nitinol martensite deformation in and of itself is asymmetric, even for texture-free polycrystals. Texture-free Nitinol polycrystals also exhibit tension-compression transformation asymmetry.

First-principles investigations on structural, elastic, electronic properties and Debye temperature of orthorhombic Ni3Ta under pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Pan; Zhang, Jianxin; Ma, Shiyu; Jin, Huixin; Zhang, Youjian; Zhang, Wenyang

2018-06-01

The structural, elastic, electronic properties and Debye temperature of Ni3Ta under different pressures are investigated using the first-principles method based on density functional theory. Our calculated equilibrium lattice parameters at 0 GPa well agree with the experimental and previous theoretical results. The calculated negative formation enthalpies and elastic constants both indicate that Ni3Ta is stable under different pressures. The bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, Young's modulus E and Poisson's ratio ν are calculated by the Voigt-Reuss-Hill method. The bigger ratio of B/G indicates Ni3Ta is ductile and the pressure can improve the ductility of Ni3Ta. In addition, the results of density of states and the charge density difference show that the stability of Ni3Ta is improved by the increasing pressure. The Debye temperature ΘD calculated from elastic modulus increases along with the pressure.

Linear analysis using secants for materials with temperature dependent nonlinear elastic modulus and thermal expansion properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pepi, John W.

2017-08-01

Thermally induced stress is readily calculated for linear elastic material properties using Hooke's law in which, for situations where expansion is constrained, stress is proportional to the product of the material elastic modulus and its thermal strain. When material behavior is nonlinear, one needs to make use of nonlinear theory. However, we can avoid that complexity in some situations. For situations in which both elastic modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion vary with temperature, solutions can be formulated using secant properties. A theoretical approach is thus presented to calculate stresses for nonlinear, neo-Hookean, materials. This is important for high acuity optical systems undergoing large temperature extremes.

Mechanical design in arteries.

PubMed

Shadwick, R E

1999-12-01

The most important mechanical property of the artery wall is its non-linear elasticity. Over the last century, this has been well-documented in vessels in many animals, from humans to lobsters. Arteries must be distensible to provide capacitance and pulse-smoothing in the circulation, but they must also be stable to inflation over a range of pressure. These mechanical requirements are met by strain-dependent increases in the elastic modulus of the vascular wall, manifest by a J-shaped stress-strain curve, as typically exhibited by other soft biological tissues. All vertebrates and invertebrates with closed circulatory systems have arteries with this non-linear behaviour, but specific tissue properties vary to give correct function for the physiological pressure range of each species. In all cases, the non-linear elasticity is a product of the parallel arrangement of rubbery and stiff connective tissue elements in the artery wall, and differences in composition and tissue architecture can account for the observed variations in mechanical properties. This phenomenon is most pronounced in large whales, in which very high compliance in the aortic arch and exceptionally low compliance in the descending aorta occur, and is correlated with specific modifications in the arterial structure.

In-plane, flexural, twisting and thickness-shear coefficients for stiffness and damping of a monolayer filamentary composite, part 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bert, C. W.; Chang, S.

1972-01-01

Elastic and damping analyses resulting in determinations of the various stiffnesses and associated loss tangents for the complete characterization of the elastic and damping behavior of a monofilament composite layer are presented. For the determination of the various stiffnesses, either an elementary mechanics-of-materials formulation or a more rigorous mixed-boundary-value elasticity formulation is used. The solution for the latter formulation is obtained by means of the boundary-point least-square error technique. Kimball-Lovell type damping is assumed for each of the constituent materials. For determining the loss tangents associated with the various stiffnesses, either the viscoelastic correspondence principle or an energy analysis based on the appropriate elastic stress distribution is used.

The role of elastic energy in activities with high force and power requirements: a brief review.

PubMed

Wilson, Jacob M; Flanagan, Eamonn P

2008-09-01

The purpose of this article is to provide strength and conditioning practitioners with an understanding of the role of elastic energy in activities with high force and power requirements. Specifically, the article covers 1) the nature of elasticity and its application to human participants, 2) the role of elastic energy in activities requiring a stretch-shorten cycle such as the vertical jump, 3) the role of muscular stiffness in athletic performance, 4) the control of muscular stiffness through feedforward and feedback mechanisms, and 5) factors affecting muscular stiffness. Finally, practical applications are provided. In this section, it is suggested that the storage and reuse of elastic energy is optimized at relatively higher levels of stiffness. Because stiffness decreases as fatigue ensues as well as with stretching before an event, the article emphasizes the need for proper preparation phases in a periodized cycle and the avoidance of long static stretches before high-force activities. The importance of teaching athletes to transition from eccentric to concentric movements with minimal time delays is also proposed due to the finding that time delays appear to decrease the reuse of elastic energy. In addition to teaching within the criterion tasks, evidence is provided that minimizing transitions in plyometric training, a technique demonstrated to increase musculotendinous stiffness, can optimize power output in explosive movements. Finally, evidence is provided that training and teaching programs designed to optimize muscular stiffness may protect athletes against sports-related injuries.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness and distensibility in children and adolescents: reference values and role of body dimensions.

PubMed

Doyon, Anke; Kracht, Daniela; Bayazit, Aysun K; Deveci, Murat; Duzova, Ali; Krmar, Rafael T; Litwin, Mieczyslaw; Niemirska, Anna; Oguz, Berna; Schmidt, Bernhard M W; Sözeri, Betul; Querfeld, Uwe; Melk, Anette; Schaefer, Franz; Wühl, Elke

2013-09-01

Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid artery distensibility are reliable screening methods for vascular alterations and the assessment of cardiovascular risk in adult and pediatric cohorts. We sought to establish an international reference data set for the childhood and adolescence period and explore the impact of developmental changes in body dimensions and blood pressure (BP) on carotid wall thickness and elasticity. cIMT, the distensibility coefficient, the incremental modulus of elasticity, and the stiffness index β were assessed in 1155 children aged 6 to 18 years and sex-specific reference charts normalized to age or height were constructed from 1051 nonobese and nonhypertensive children. The role of body dimensions, BP, and family history, as well as the association between cIMT and distensibility, was investigated. cIMT increased and distensibility decreased with age, height, body mass index, and BP. A significant sex difference was apparent from the age of 15 years. Age- and height-normalized cIMT and distensibility values differed in children who are short or tall for their age. By stepwise multivariate analysis, standardized systolic BP and body mass index were independently positively associated with cIMT SD scores (SDS). Systolic BP SDS independently predicted all distensibility measures. Distensibility coefficient SDS was negatively and β SDS positively associated with cIMT SDS, whereas incremental modulus of elasticity was independent of cIMT. Morphological and functional aspects of the common carotid artery are particularly influenced by age, body dimensions, and BP. The reference charts established in this study allow to accurately compare vascular phenotypes of children with chronic conditions with those of healthy children.

Elastomer Filled With Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Files, Bradley S.; Forest, Craig R.

2004-01-01

Experiments have shown that composites of a silicone elastomer with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are significantly stronger and stiffer than is the unfilled elastomer. The large strengthening and stiffening effect observed in these experiments stands in contrast to the much smaller strengthening effect observed in related prior efforts to reinforce epoxies with SWNTs and to reinforce a variety of polymers with multiple-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The relative largeness of the effect in the case of the silicone-elastomer/SWNT composites appears to be attributable to (1) a better match between the ductility of the fibers and the elasticity of the matrix and (2) the greater tensile strengths of SWNTs, relative to MWNTs. For the experiments, several composites were formulated by mixing various proportions of SWNTs and other filling materials into uncured RTV-560, which is a silicone adhesive commonly used in aerospace applications. Specimens of a standard "dog-bone" size and shape for tensile testing were made by casting the uncured elastomer/filler mixtures into molds, curing the elastomer, then pressing the specimens from a "cookie-cutter" die. The results of tensile tests of the specimens showed that small percentages of SWNT filler led to large increases in stiffness and tensile strength, and that these increases were greater than those afforded by other fillers. For example, the incorporation of SWNTs in a proportion of 1 percent increased the tensile strength by 44 percent and the modulus of elasticity (see figure) by 75 percent. However, the relative magnitudes of the increases decreased with increasing nanotube percentages because more nanotubes made the elastomer/nanotube composites more brittle. At an SWNT content of 10 percent, the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were 125 percent and 562 percent, respectively, greater than the corresponding values for the unfilled elastomer.

New methodology for mechanical characterization of human superficial facial tissue anisotropic behaviour in vivo.

PubMed

Then, C; Stassen, B; Depta, K; Silber, G

2017-07-01

Mechanical characterization of human superficial facial tissue has important applications in biomedical science, computer assisted forensics, graphics, and consumer goods development. Specifically, the latter may include facial hair removal devices. Predictive accuracy of numerical models and their ability to elucidate biomechanically relevant questions depends on the acquisition of experimental data and mechanical tissue behavior representation. Anisotropic viscoelastic behavioral characterization of human facial tissue, deformed in vivo with finite strain, however, is sparse. Employing an experimental-numerical approach, a procedure is presented to evaluate multidirectional tensile properties of superficial tissue layers of the face in vivo. Specifically, in addition to stress relaxation, displacement-controlled multi-step ramp-and-hold protocols were performed to separate elastic from inelastic properties. For numerical representation, an anisotropic hyperelastic material model in conjunction with a time domain linear viscoelasticity formulation with Prony series was employed. Model parameters were inversely derived, employing finite element models, using multi-criteria optimization. The methodology provides insight into mechanical superficial facial tissue properties. Experimental data shows pronounced anisotropy, especially with large strain. The stress relaxation rate does not depend on the loading direction, but is strain-dependent. Preconditioning eliminates equilibrium hysteresis effects and leads to stress-strain repeatability. In the preconditioned state tissue stiffness and hysteresis insensitivity to strain rate in the applied range is evident. The employed material model fits the nonlinear anisotropic elastic results and the viscoelasticity model reasonably reproduces time-dependent results. Inversely deduced maximum anisotropic long-term shear modulus of linear elasticity is G ∞,max aniso =2.43kPa and instantaneous initial shear modulus at an applied rate of ramp loading is G 0,max aniso =15.38kPa. Derived mechanical model parameters constitute a basis for complex skin interaction simulation. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Characterization of time-dependent changes in strength and stiffness of Florida base materials : final report, October 2008.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-10-01

Resilient modulus and Youngs modulus are parameters increasingly used to fundamentally characterize the behavior : of pavement materials both in the laboratory and in the field. This study documents the small-strain Youngs modulus : and larger-...

Study on axial strength of a channel-shaped pultruded GFRP member

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, Yukihiro; Satake, Chito; Nisida, Kenji

2017-10-01

Fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) are widely used in vehicle and aerospace applications because of their lightweight and high-strength characteristics. Additionally, FRPs are increasingly applied to building structures. However, the elastic modulus of glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRPs) is lower than that of steel. Hence, the evaluating the buckling strength of GFRP members for design purpose is necessary. The buckling strength is determined by Euler buckling mode as well as local buckling. In this study investigated the compressive strength of GFRP members subjected to axial compression through experiments and theoretical calculations. The adopted GFRP member was a channel-shaped GFRP, which was molded via pultrusion, at various lengths. Although, the mechanical properties as longitudinal elastic modulus and fiber volume fraction and strength of GFRP members subjected, to axial can be easily evaluated, evaluating transverse elastic modulus and shear modulus in typical material tests is difficult in standard section. Therefore the composite law was used in this study. As a result, we confirmed that the axial strength of a GFRP member could be calculated by a theoretical evaluation method utilizing longitudinal elastic modulus and fiber volume fraction.

Study of low-modulus biomedical β Ti-Nb-Zr alloys based on single-crystal elastic constants modeling.

PubMed

Wang, Xing; Zhang, Ligang; Guo, Ziyi; Jiang, Yun; Tao, Xiaoma; Liu, Libin

2016-09-01

CALPHAD-type modeling was used to describe the single-crystal elastic constants of the bcc solution phase in the ternary Ti-Nb-Zr system. The parameters in the model were evaluated based on the available experimental data and first-principle calculations. The composition-elastic properties of the full compositions were predicted and the results were in good agreement with the experimental data. It is found that the β phase can be divided into two regions which are separated by a critical dynamical stability composition line. The corresponding valence electron number per atom and the polycrystalline Young׳s modulus of the critical compositions are 4.04-4.17 and 30-40GPa respectively. Orientation dependencies of single-crystal Young׳s modulus show strong elastic anisotropy on the Ti-rich side. Alloys compositions with a Young׳s modulus along the <100> direction matching that of bone were found. The current results present an effective strategy for designing low modulus biomedical alloys using computational modeling. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tuning the Elastic Modulus of Hydrated Collagen Fibrils

PubMed Central

Grant, Colin A.; Brockwell, David J.; Radford, Sheena E.; Thomson, Neil H.

2009-01-01

Abstract Systematic variation of solution conditions reveals that the elastic modulus (E) of individual collagen fibrils can be varied over a range of 2–200 MPa. Nanoindentation of reconstituted bovine Achilles tendon fibrils by atomic force microscopy (AFM) under different aqueous and ethanol environments was carried out. Titration of monovalent salts up to a concentration of 1 M at pH 7 causes E to increase from 2 to 5 MPa. This stiffening effect is more pronounced at lower pH where, at pH 5, e.g., there is an ∼7-fold increase in modulus on addition of 1 M KCl. An even larger increase in modulus, up to ∼200 MPa, can be achieved by using increasing concentrations of ethanol. Taken together, these results indicate that there are a number of intermolecular forces between tropocollagen monomers that govern the elastic response. These include hydration forces and hydrogen bonding, ion pairs, and possibly the hydrophobic effect. Tuning of the relative strengths of these forces allows rational tuning of the elastic modulus of the fibrils. PMID:19948128

Modeling the nonlinear hysteretic response in DAE experiments of Berea sandstone: A case-study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pecorari, Claudio, E-mail: claudio.pecorari@hotmail.com

2015-03-31

Dynamic acousto-elasticity (DAE) allows probing the instantaneous state of a material while the latter slowly and periodically is changed by an external, dynamic source. In DAE investigations of geo-materials, hysteresis of the material's modulus defect displays intriguing features which have not yet been interpreted in terms of any specific mechanism occurring at atomic or mesoscale. Here, experimental results on dry Berea sandstone, which is the rock type best investigated by means of a DAE technique, are analyzed in terms of three rheological models providing simplified representations of mechanisms involving dislocations interacting with point defects which are distributed along the dislocations'more » core or glide planes, and microcracks with finite stiffness in compression. Constitutive relations linking macroscopic strain and stress are derived. From the latter, the modulus defect associated to each mechanism is recovered. These models are employed to construct a composite one which is capable of reproducing several of the main features observed in the experimental data. The limitations of the present approach and, possibly, of the current implementation of DAE are discussed.« less

Elastic-mathematical theory of cells and mitochondria in swelling process. II. Effect of temperature upon modulus of elasticity of membranous material of egg cells of sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and of oyster, Crassostrea virginica.

PubMed

Mela, M J

1968-01-01

The elastic behavior of the cell wall as a function of the temperature has been studied with particular attention being given to the swelling of egg cells of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Crassostrea virginica in different sea water concentrations at different temperatures. It was found that the modulus of elasticity is a nonlinear function of temperature. At about 12-13 degrees C the modulus of elasticity (E) is constant, independent of the stress (sigma) and strain (epsilon(nu)) which exist at the cell wall; the membranous material follows Hooke's law, and E approximately 3 x 10(7) dyn/cm(2) for S. purpuratus and C. virginica. When the temperature is higher or lower than 12-13 degrees C, the modulus of elasticity increases, and the membranous material does not follow Hooke's law, but is almost directly proportional to the stresses existing at the cell wall. On increasing the stress, the function E(sigma) = E(sigma) approaches saturation. The corresponding stress-strain diagrams, sigma = sigma(epsilon(nu)), and the graphs, E(sigma) = E(sigma) and E(sigma) = E(t) are given. The cyto-elastic phenomena at the membrane are discussed.

Film thickness for different regimes of fluid-film lubrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamrock, B. J.

1980-01-01

Film thickness equations are provided for four fluid-film lubrication regimes found in elliptical contacts. These regimes are isoviscous-rigid; viscous-rigid; elastohydrodynamic lubrication of low-elastic-modulus materials (soft EHL), or isoviscous-elastic; and elastohydrodynamic lubrication of high-elastic-modulus materials (hard EHL), or viscous-elastic. The influence or lack of influence of elastic and viscous effects is the factor that distinguishes these regimes. The results are presented as a map of the lubrication regimes, with film thickness contours on a log-log grid of the viscosity and elasticity for three values of the ellipticity parameter.

Effects of biaxial strains on electronic and elastic properties of hexagonal XSi2 (X = Cr, Mo, W) from first-principles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Haiyan; Shi, Liwei; Li, Shuaiqi; Zhang, Shaobo; Xia, Wangsuo

2018-02-01

Structural, electronic properties and elastic anisotropy of hexagonal C40 XSi2 (X = Cr, Mo, W) under equibiaxial in-plane strains are systematically studied using first-principle calculations. The energy gaps show significant changes with biaxial strains, whereas they are always indirect band-gap materials for -6% <ɛxx < 6%. All elastic constants, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus increase (decrease) almost linearly with increasing compressive (tensile) strains. The evolutions of BH /GH ratio and Poisson's ratio indicate that these compounds have a better (worse) ductile behaviour under compressive (tensile) strains. A set of 3D plots show a larger directional variability in the Young's modulus E and shear modulus G at different strains for the three compounds, which is consist with the values of anisotropy factors. Moreover, the evolution of Debye temperature and anisotropy of sound velocities with biaxial strains are discussed.

Finite Element Analysis of Single Cell Stiffness Measurements Using PZT-Integrated Buckling Nanoneedles

PubMed Central

Rad, Maryam Alsadat; Tijjani, Auwal Shehu; Ahmad, Mohd Ridzuan; Auwal, Shehu Muhammad

2016-01-01

This paper proposes a new technique for real-time single cell stiffness measurement using lead zirconate titanate (PZT)-integrated buckling nanoneedles. The PZT and the buckling part of the nanoneedle have been modelled and validated using the ABAQUS software. The two parts are integrated together to function as a single unit. After calibration, the stiffness, Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and sensitivity of the PZT-integrated buckling nanoneedle have been determined to be 0.7100 N·m−1, 123.4700 GPa, 0.3000 and 0.0693 V·m·N−1, respectively. Three Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells have been modelled and validated based on compression tests. The average global stiffness and Young’s modulus of the cells are determined to be 10.8867 ± 0.0094 N·m−1 and 110.7033 ± 0.0081 MPa, respectively. The nanoneedle and the cell have been assembled to measure the local stiffness of the single Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells The local stiffness, Young’s modulus and PZT output voltage of the three different size Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been determined at different environmental conditions. We investigated that, at low temperature the stiffness value is low to adapt to the change in the environmental condition. As a result, Saccharomyces cerevisiae becomes vulnerable to viral and bacterial attacks. Therefore, the proposed technique will serve as a quick and accurate process to diagnose diseases at early stage in a cell for effective treatment. PMID:28025571

Changes in arterial stiffness, carotid intima-media thickness, and epicardial fat after L-thyroxine replacement therapy in hypothyroidism.

PubMed

del Busto-Mesa, Abdel; Cabrera-Rego, Julio Oscar; Carrero-Fernández, Lisván; Hernández-Roca, Cristina Victoria; González-Valdés, Jorge Luis; de la Rosa-Pazos, José Eduardo

2015-01-01

To assess the relationship between primary hypothyroidism and subclinical atherosclerosis and its potential changes with L-thyroxine replacement therapy. A prospective cohort study including 101 patients with primary hypothyroidism and 101 euthyroid patients as controls was conducted from July 2011 to December 2013. Clinical, anthropometrical, biochemical, and ultrasonographic parameters were assessed at baseline and after one year of L-thyroxine replacement therapy. At baseline, hypothyroid patients had significantly greater values of blood pressure, total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, left ventricular mass, epicardial fat, and carotid intima-media thickness as compared to controls. Total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, ventricular diastolic function, epicardial fat, carotid intima-media thickness, carotid local pulse wave velocity, pressure strain elastic modulus, and β arterial stiffness index showed a significant and positive correlation with TSH levels. After one year of replacement therapy, patients with hypothyroidism showed changes in total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, TSH, carotid intima-media thickness, and arterial stiffness parameters. Primary hypothyroidism is characterized by an increased cardiovascular risk. In these patients, L-thyroxine replacement therapy for one year is related to decreased dyslipidemia and improvement in markers of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. Copyright © 2014 SEEN. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Modeling of Stiffness and Strength of Bone at Nanoscale.

PubMed

Abueidda, Diab W; Sabet, Fereshteh A; Jasiuk, Iwona M

2017-05-01

Two distinct geometrical models of bone at the nanoscale (collagen fibril and mineral platelets) are analyzed computationally. In the first model (model I), minerals are periodically distributed in a staggered manner in a collagen matrix while in the second model (model II), minerals form continuous layers outside the collagen fibril. Elastic modulus and strength of bone at the nanoscale, represented by these two models under longitudinal tensile loading, are studied using a finite element (FE) software abaqus. The analysis employs a traction-separation law (cohesive surface modeling) at various interfaces in the models to account for interfacial delaminations. Plane stress, plane strain, and axisymmetric versions of the two models are considered. Model II is found to have a higher stiffness than model I for all cases. For strength, the two models alternate the superiority of performance depending on the inputs and assumptions used. For model II, the axisymmetric case gives higher results than the plane stress and plane strain cases while an opposite trend is observed for model I. For axisymmetric case, model II shows greater strength and stiffness compared to model I. The collagen-mineral arrangement of bone at nanoscale forms a basic building block of bone. Thus, knowledge of its mechanical properties is of high scientific and clinical interests.

Engineering mesenchymal stem cell spheroids by incorporation of mechanoregulator microparticles.

PubMed

Abbasi, Fatemeh; Ghanian, Mohammad Hossein; Baharvand, Hossein; Vahidi, Bahman; Eslaminejad, Mohamadreza Baghaban

2018-05-03

Mechanical forces throughout human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) spheroids (mesenspheres) play a predominant role in determining cellular functions of cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation through mechanotransductional mechanisms. Here, we introduce microparticle (MP) incorporation as a mechanical intervention method to alter tensional homeostasis of the mesensphere and explore MSC differentiation in response to MP stiffness. The microparticulate mechanoregulators with different elastic modulus (34 kPa, 0.6 MPa, and 2.2 MPa) were prepared by controlled crosslinking cell-sized microdroplets of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Preparation of MP-MSC composite spheroids enabled us to study the possible effects of MPs through experimental and computational assays. Our results showed that MP incorporation selectively primed MSCs toward osteogenesis, yet hindered adipogenesis. Interestingly, this behavior depended on MP mechanics, as the spheroids that contained MPs with intermediate stiffness behaved similar to control MP-free mesenspheres with more tendencies toward chondrogenesis. However, by using the soft or stiff MPs, the MP-mesenspheres significantly showed signs of osteogenesis. This could be explained by the complex of forces which acted in the cell spheroid and, totally, provided a homeostasis situation. Incorporation of cell-sized polymer MPs as mechanoregulators of cell spheroids could be utilized as a new engineering toolkit for multicellular organoids in disease modeling and tissue engineering applications. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of risk of atherosclerosis in Indian adults.

PubMed

Pandit, Deepa; Chiplonkar, Shashi; Khadilkar, Anuradha; Kinare, Arun; Khadilkar, Vaman; Divate, Uma

2013-05-01

To investigate interrelationship of arterial measurements with metabolic syndrome (MS) components and zinc status in apparently healthy Indian adults. Anthropometry and biochemical data were recorded in 110 men and 139 women (25-50 yr). Carotid Intima media thickness (CIMT), stiffness (beta), pulse wave velocity (PWV), elasticity modulus (Ep), and arterial compliance (AC) of the right carotid artery were evaluated ultrasonically. According to definition of MS, subjects were categorized as MS-1, MS-2, MS-3. Further, normal and MS subjects were divided as zinc sufficient and deficient. In all, 12.1% subjects had 3 risk factors for MS. Mean CIMT, beta, Ep and PWV were significantly higher by 6%, 11.6%, 29.5% and 12.4% in subjects with MS than normal (p < 0.05). AC showed significant decline in MS subjects by only 3% than normal (p < 0.05). Serum zinc was inversely correlated with beta, Ep and PWV in both the genders in subjects with MS (p < 0.05). A synergistic effect of serum zinc deficiency with MS further envisages the elevated risk of arterial stiffness. Risk of atherosclerosis is marked by increase in stiffness parameters even in presence of a single MS risk and zinc deficiency may further aggravate the risk indicating need for early diagnosis.

Elastic Modulus Measurement of ORNL ATF FeCrAl Alloys

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thompson, Zachary T.; Terrani, Kurt A.; Yamamoto, Yukinori

2015-10-01

Elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio for a number of wrought FeCrAl alloys, intended for accident tolerant fuel cladding application, are determined via resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy. The results are reported as a function of temperature from room temperature to 850°C. The wrought alloys were in the fully annealed and unirradiated state. The elastic modulus for the wrought FeCrAl alloys is at least twice that of Zr-based alloys over the temperature range of this study. The Poisson’s ratio of the alloys was 0.28 on average and increased very slightly with increasing temperature.

Radiation-damage-induced transitions in zircon: Percolation theory applied to hardness and elastic moduli as a function of density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beirau, Tobias; Nix, William D.; Ewing, Rodney C.; Pöllmann, Herbert; Salje, Ekhard K. H.

2018-05-01

Two in literature predicted percolation transitions in radiation-damaged zircon (ZrSiO4) were observed experimentally by measurement of the indentation hardness as a function of density and their correlation with the elastic moduli. Percolations occur near 30% and 70% amorphous fractions, where hardness deviates from its linear correlation with the elastic modulus (E), the shear modulus (G) and the bulk modulus (K). The first percolation point pc1 generates a cusp in the hardness versus density evolution, while the second percolation point is seen as a change of slope.

Nanoscale characterization of the biomechanical properties of collagen fibrils in the sclera

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Papi, M.; Paoletti, P.; Geraghty, B.

We apply the PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Property Mapping (PFQNM) atomic force microscopy mode for the investigation of regional variations in the nanomechanical properties of porcine sclera. We examine variations in the collagen fibril diameter, adhesion, elastic modulus and dissipation in the posterior, equatorial and anterior regions of the sclera. The mean fibril diameter, elastic modulus and dissipation increased from the posterior to the anterior region. Collagen fibril diameter correlated linearly with elastic modulus. Our data matches the known macroscopic mechanical behavior of the sclera. We propose that PFQNM has significant potential in ocular biomechanics and biophysics research.

Use of an ultrasonic device for the determination of elastic modulus of dentin.

PubMed

Miyazaki, Masashi; Inage, Hirohiko; Onose, Hideo

2002-03-01

The mechanical properties of dentin substrate are one of the important factors in determining bond strength of dentin bonding systems. The purpose of this study was to determine the elastic modulus of dentin substrate with the use of an ultrasonic device. The dentin disks of about 1 mm thickness were obtaining from freshly extracted human third molars, and the dentin disk was shaped in a rectangular form with a line diamond point. The size and weight of each specimen was measured to calculate the density of the specimen. The ultrasonic equipment employed in this study was composed of a Pulser-Receiver (Model 5900PR, Panametrics), transducers (V155, V156, Panametrics) and an oscilloscope. The measured two-way transit time through the dentin disk was divided by two to account for the down-and-back travel path, and then multiplied by the velocity of sound in the test material. Measuring the longitudinal and share wave sound velocity determine elastic modulus. The mean elastic modulus of horizontally sectioned specimens was 21.8 GPa and 18.5 GPa for the vertically sectioned specimens, and a significant difference was found between the two groups. The ultrasonic method used in this study shows considerable promise for determination of the elastic modulus of the tooth substrate.

Influence of Ce addition on biomedical porous Ti-51 atomic percentage (at. %) Ni shape memory alloy fabricated by microwave sintering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Mustafa K.; Hamzah, E.; Saud, Safaa N.; Nazim, E. M.; Bahador, A.

2017-12-01

Ti-Ni and Ti-Ni-Ce shape memory alloys (SMAs) were successfully fabricated by microwave sintering. The improvement of the mechanical properties especially the elastic modulus is the most important criterion in this research. The high elastic modulus problems are the most critical issues frequently encountered in hard tissue replacement applications. The effect of Ce addition with four atomic percentages (0 %, 0.19 %, 0.385 % and, 1.165 %) on the microstructure, phase composition, transformation temperatures and mechanical properties was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), and compression test. The microstructure shows plates-like with needles-like inside the titanium-rich region. The compression strain was improved, but reduces the compression strength. The addition of cerium improved the properties by reducing the elastic modulus to be very close to the natural human bone, also the microwave sintering gives TiNi SMAs with low elastic modulus comparing with other methods. Based on the results, the 0.385 at. % Ce exhibited a remarkable highest compressive strain and lower elastic modulus compared with the other percentages. In conclusion, the present results indicate that Ti-Ni-Ce SMAs could be a potential alternative to improve Ti-51 at %Ni SMAs for certain biomedical applications.

Elastin in large artery stiffness and hypertension

PubMed Central

Wagenseil, Jessica E.; Mecham, Robert P.

2012-01-01

Large artery stiffness, as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is correlated with high blood pressure and may be a causative factor in essential hypertension. The extracellular matrix components, specifically the mix of elastin and collagen in the vessel wall, determine the passive mechanical properties of the large arteries. Elastin is organized into elastic fibers in the wall during arterial development in a complex process that requires spatial and temporal coordination of numerous proteins. The elastic fibers last the lifetime of the organism, but are subject to proteolytic degradation and chemical alterations that change their mechanical properties. This review discusses how alterations in the amount, assembly, organization or chemical properties of the elastic fibers affect arterial stiffness and blood pressure. Strategies for encouraging or reversing alterations to the elastic fibers are addressed. Methods for determining the efficacy of these strategies, by measuring elastin amounts and arterial stiffness, are summarized. Therapies that have a direct effect on arterial stiffness through alterations to the elastic fibers in the wall may be an effective treatment for essential hypertension. PMID:22290157

Viscoelastic characterization of soft biological materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nayar, Vinod Timothy

Progressive and irreversible retinal diseases are among the primary causes of blindness in the United States, attacking the cells in the eye that transform environmental light into neural signals for the optic pathway. Medical implants designed to restore visual function to afflicted patients can cause mechanical stress and ultimately damage to the host tissues. Research shows that an accurate understanding of the mechanical properties of the biological tissues can reduce damage and lead to designs with improved safety and efficacy. Prior studies on the mechanical properties of biological tissues show characterization of these materials can be affected by environmental, length-scale, time, mounting, stiffness, size, viscoelastic, and methodological conditions. Using porcine sclera tissue, the effects of environmental, time, and mounting conditions are evaluated when using nanoindentation. Quasi-static tests are used to measure reduced modulus during extended exposure to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), as well as the chemical and mechanical analysis of mounting the sample to a solid substrate using cyanoacrylate. The less destructive nature of nanoindentation tests allows for variance of tests within a single sample to be compared to the variance between samples. The results indicate that the environmental, time, and mounting conditions can be controlled for using modified nanoindentation procedures for biological samples and are in line with averages modulus values from previous studies but with increased precision. By using the quasi-static and dynamic characterization capabilities of the nanoindentation setup, the additional stiffness and viscoelastic variables are measured. Different quasi-static control methods were evaluated along with maximum load parameters and produced no significant difference in reported reduced modulus values. Dynamic characterization tests varied frequency and quasi-static load, showing that the agar could be modeled as a linearly elastic material. The effects of sample stiffness were evaluated by testing both the quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties of different concentration agar samples, ranging from 0.5% to 5.0%. The dynamic nanoindentation protocol showed some sensitivity to sample stiffness, but characterization remained consistently applicable to soft biological materials. Comparative experiments were performed on both 0.5% and 5.0% agar as well as porcine eye tissue samples using published dynamic macrocompression standards. By comparing these new tests to those obtained with nanoindentation, the effects due to length-scale, stiffness, size, viscoelastic, and methodological conditions are evaluated. Both testing methodologies can be adapted for the environmental and mounting conditions, but the limitations of standardized macro-scale tests are explored. The factors affecting mechanical characterization of soft and thin viscoelastic biological materials are researched and a comprehensive protocol is presented. This work produces material mechanical properties for use in improving future medical implant designs on a wide variety of biological tissue and materials.

Endothelial, cardiac muscle and skeletal muscle exhibit different viscous and elastic properties as determined by atomic force microscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mathur, A. B.; Collinsworth, A. M.; Reichert, W. M.; Kraus, W. E.; Truskey, G. A.

2001-01-01

This study evaluated the hypothesis that, due to functional and structural differences, the apparent elastic modulus and viscous behavior of cardiac and skeletal muscle and vascular endothelium would differ. To accurately determine the elastic modulus, the contribution of probe velocity, indentation depth, and the assumed shape of the probe were examined. Hysteresis was observed at high indentation velocities arising from viscous effects. Irreversible deformation was not observed for endothelial cells and hysteresis was negligible below 1 microm/s. For skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle cells, hysteresis was negligible below 0.25 microm/s. Viscous dissipation for endothelial and cardiac muscle cells was higher than for skeletal muscle cells. The calculated elastic modulus was most sensitive to the assumed probe geometry for the first 60 nm of indentation for the three cell types. Modeling the probe as a blunt cone-spherical cap resulted in variation in elastic modulus with indentation depth that was less than that calculated by treating the probe as a conical tip. Substrate contributions were negligible since the elastic modulus reached a steady value for indentations above 60 nm and the probe never indented more than 10% of the cell thickness. Cardiac cells were the stiffest (100.3+/-10.7 kPa), the skeletal muscle cells were intermediate (24.7+/-3.5 kPa), and the endothelial cells were the softest with a range of elastic moduli (1.4+/-0.1 to 6.8+/-0.4 kPa) depending on the location of the cell surface tested. Cardiac and skeletal muscle exhibited nonlinear elastic behavior. These passive mechanical properties are generally consistent with the function of these different cell types.

Saxagliptin Prevents Increased Coronary Vascular Stiffness in Aortic-Banded Mini Swine.

PubMed

Fleenor, Bradley S; Ouyang, An; Olver, T Dylan; Hiemstra, Jessica A; Cobb, Melissa S; Minervini, Gianmaria; Emter, Craig A

2018-06-11

Increased peripheral conduit artery stiffness has been shown in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction. However, it is unknown whether this phenomenon extends to the coronary vasculature. HF with preserved ejection fraction may be driven, in part, by coronary inflammation, and inhibition of the enzyme DPP-4 (dipeptidyl-peptidase 4) reduces inflammation and oxidative stress. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of saxagliptin-a DPP-4 inhibitor-on coronary stiffness in aortic-banded mini swine. We hypothesized saxagliptin would prevent increased coronary artery stiffness in a translational swine model with cardiac features of HF with preserved ejection fraction by inhibiting perivascular adipose tissue inflammation. Yucatan mini swine were divided into 3 groups: control, aortic-banded untreated HF, and aortic-banded saxagliptin-treated HF. Ex vivo mechanical testing was performed on the left circumflex and right coronary arteries, and advanced glycation end product, NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB), and nitrotyrosine levels were measured. An increase in the coronary elastic modulus of HF animals was associated with increased vascular advanced glycation end products, NF-κB, and nitrotyrosine levels compared with control and prevented by saxagliptin treatment. Aortas from healthy mice were treated with media from swine perivascular adipose tissue culture to assess its role on vascular stiffening. Conditioned media from HF and saxagliptin-treated HF animals increased mouse aortic stiffness; however, only perivascular adipose tissue from the HF group showed increased advanced glycation end products and NF-κB levels. In conclusion, our data show increased coronary conduit vascular stiffness was prevented by saxagliptin and associated with decreased advanced glycation end products, NF-κB, and nitrotyrosine levels in a swine model with potential relevance to HF with preserved ejection fraction. © 2018 American Heart Association, Inc.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Takahashi, Atsushi; Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama 338-8570; Green Tea Laboratory, Saitama Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, Saitama 358-0042

Highlights: •EGCG reduced cell motility of highly metastatic human lung cancer cells. •EGCG increased cell stiffness of the cells, indicating the inhibition of phenotypes of EMT. •EGCG inhibited expression of vimentin and Slug in the cells at the leading edge of scratch. •Treatment of MβCD increased cell stiffness, and inhibited cell motility and vimentin expression. •Inhibition of EMT phenotypes with EGCG is a mechanism-based inhibition of cancer metastasis. -- Abstract: Cell motility and cell stiffness are closely related to metastatic activity of cancer cells. (−)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been shown to inhibit spontaneous metastasis of melanoma cell line into themore » lungs of mice, so we studied the effects of EGCG on cell motility, cell stiffness, and expression of vimentin and Slug, which are molecular phenotypes of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Treatments of human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines H1299 and Lu99 with 50 and 100 μM EGCG reduced cell motility to 67.5% and 43.7% in H1299, and 71.7% and 31.5% in Lu99, respectively in in vitro wound healing assay. Studies on cell stiffness using atomic force microscope (AFM) revealed that treatment with 50 μM EGCG increased Young’s modulus of H1299 from 1.24 to 2.25 kPa and that of Lu99 from 1.29 to 2.28 kPa, showing a 2-fold increase in cell stiffness, i.e. rigid elasticity of cell membrane. Furthermore, treatment with 50 μM EGCG inhibited high expression of vimentin and Slug in the cells at a leading edge of scratch. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin, a reagent to deplete cholesterol in plasma membrane, showed inhibition of EMT phenotypes similar that by EGCG, suggesting that EGCG induces inhibition of EMT phenotypes by alteration of membrane organization.« less

Finite element investigation of temperature dependence of elastic properties of carbon nanotube reinforced polypropylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmadi, Masoud; Ansari, Reza; Rouhi, Saeed

2017-11-01

This paper aims to investigate the elastic modulus of the polypropylene matrix reinforced by carbon nanotubes at different temperatures. To this end, the finite element approach is employed. The nanotubes with different volume fractions and aspect ratios (the ratio of length to diameter) are embedded in the polymer matrix. Besides, random and regular algorithms are utilized to disperse carbon nanotubes in the matrix. It is seen that as the pure polypropylene, the elastic modulus of carbon nanotube reinforced polypropylene decreases by increasing the temperature. It is also observed that when the carbon nanotubes are dispersed parallelly and the load is applied along the nanotube directions, the largest improvement in the elastic modulus of the nanotube/polypropylene nanocomposites is obtained.

Elasticity, slowness, thermal conductivity and the anisotropies in the Mn3Cu1-xGexN compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guan-Nan; Chen, Zhi-Qian; Lu, Yu-Ming; Hu, Meng; Jiao, Li-Na; Zhao, Hao-Ting

2018-03-01

We perform the first-principles to systematically investigate the elastic properties, minimum thermal conductivity and anisotropy of the negative thermal expansion compounds Mn3Cu1-xGexN. The elastic constant, bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus and Poisson ratio are calculated for all the compounds. The results of the elastic constant indicate that all the compounds are mechanically stable and the doped Ge can adjust the ductile character of the compounds. According to the values of the percent ratio of the elastic anisotropy AB, AE and AG, shear anisotropic factors A1, A2 and A3, all the Mn3Cu1-xGexN compounds are elastic anisotropy. The three-dimensional diagrams of elastic moduli in space also show that all the compounds are elastic anisotropy. In addition, the acoustic wave speed, slowness, minimum thermal conductivity and Debye temperature are also calculated. When the ratio of content for Cu and Ge arrived to 1:1, the compound has the lowest thermal conductivity and the highest Debye temperature.

Extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer using shear wave elastography.

PubMed

Lamouille, J; Müller, C; Aubry, S; Bensamoun, S; Raffoul, W; Durand, S

2017-06-01

The means for judging optimal tension during tendon transfers are approximate and not very quantifiable. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of quantitatively assessing muscular mechanical properties intraoperatively using ultrasound elastography (shear wave elastography [SWE]) during extensor indicis proprius (EIP) transfer. We report two cases of EIP transfer for post-traumatic rupture of the extensor pollicis longus muscle. Ultrasound acquisitions measured the elasticity modulus of the EIP muscle at different stages: rest, active extension, active extension against resistance, EIP section, distal passive traction of the tendon, after tendon transfer at rest and then during active extension. A preliminary analysis was conducted of the distribution of values for this modulus at the various transfer steps. Different shear wave velocity and elasticity modulus values were observed at the various transfer steps. The tension applied during the transfer seemed close to the resting tension if a traditional protocol were followed. The elasticity modulus varied by a factor of 37 between the active extension against resistance step (565.1 kPa) and after the tendon section (15.3 kPa). The elasticity modulus values were distributed in the same way for each patient. The therapeutic benefit of SWE elastography was studied for the first time in tendon transfers. Quantitative data on the elasticity modulus during this test may make it an effective means of improving intraoperative adjustments. Copyright © 2017 SFCM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of Substrate Mechanics on Cardiomyocyte Maturation and Growth

PubMed Central

Tallawi, Marwa; Rai, Ranjana; Boccaccini, Aldo. R.

2015-01-01

Cardiac tissue engineering constructs are a promising therapeutic treatment for myocardial infarction, which is one of the leading causes of death. In order to further advance the development and regeneration of engineered cardiac tissues using biomaterial platforms, it is important to have a complete overview of the effects that substrates have on cardiomyocyte (CM) morphology and function. This article summarizes recent studies that investigate the effect of mechanical cues on the CM differentiation, maturation, and growth. In these studies, CMs derived from embryos, neonates, and mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on different substrates of various elastic modulus. Measuring the contractile function by force production, work output, and calcium handling, it was seen that cell behavior on substrates was optimized when the substrate stiffness mimicked that of the native tissue. The contractile function reflected changes in the sarcomeric protein confirmation and organization that promoted the contractile ability. The analysis of the literature also revealed that, in addition to matrix stiffness, mechanical stimulation, such as stretching the substrate during cell seeding, also played an important role during cell maturation and tissue development. PMID:25148904

Ultra-thin ZnSe: Anisotropic and flexible crystal structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bacaksiz, C.; Senger, R. T.; Sahin, H.

2017-07-01

By performing density functional theory-based calculations, we investigate the structural, electronic, and mechanical properties of the thinnest ever ZnSe crystal [11]. The vibrational spectrum analysis reveals that the monolayer ZnSe is dynamically stable and has flexible nature with its soft phonon modes. In addition, a direct electronic band gap is found at the gamma point for the monolayer structure of ZnSe. We also elucidate that the monolayer ZnSe has angle dependent in-plane elastic parameters. In particular, the in-plane stiffness values are found to be 2.07 and 6.89 N/m for the arm-chair and zig-zag directions, respectively. The angle dependency is also valid for the Poisson ratio of the monolayer ZnSe. More significantly, the in-plane stiffness of the monolayer ZnSe is the one-tenth of Young modulus of bulk zb-ZnSe which indicates that the monolayer ZnSe is a quite flexible single layer crystal. With its flexible nature and in-plane anisotropic mechanical properties, the monolayer ZnSe is a good candidate for nanoscale mechanical applications.

Study of Tetrapodal ZnO-PDMS Composites: A Comparison of Fillers Shapes in Stiffness and Hydrophobicity Improvements

PubMed Central

Jin, Xin; Deng, Mao; Kaps, Sören; Zhu, Xinwei; Hölken, Iris; Mess, Kristin; Adelung, Rainer; Mishra, Yogendra Kumar

2014-01-01

ZnO particles of different size and structures were used as fillers to modify the silicone rubber, in order to reveal the effect of the filler shape in the polymer composites. Tetrapodal shaped microparticles, short microfibers/whiskers, and nanosized spherical particles from ZnO have been used as fillers to fabricate the different ZnO-Silicone composites. The detailed microstructures of the fillers as well as synthesized composites using scanning electron microscopy have been presented here. The tensile elastic modulus and water contact angle, which are important parameters for bio-mimetic applications, of fabricated composites with different fillers have been measured and compared. Among all three types of fillers, tetrapodal shaped ZnO microparticles showed the best performance in terms of increase in hydrophobicity of material cross-section as well as the stiffness of the composites. It has been demonstrated that the tetrapodal shaped microparticles gain their advantage due to the special shape, which avoids agglomeration problems as in the case for nanoparticles, and the difficulty of achieving truly random distribution for whisker fillers. PMID:25208080

Study of tetrapodal ZnO-PDMS composites: a comparison of fillers shapes in stiffness and hydrophobicity improvements.

PubMed

Jin, Xin; Deng, Mao; Kaps, Sören; Zhu, Xinwei; Hölken, Iris; Mess, Kristin; Adelung, Rainer; Mishra, Yogendra Kumar

2014-01-01

ZnO particles of different size and structures were used as fillers to modify the silicone rubber, in order to reveal the effect of the filler shape in the polymer composites. Tetrapodal shaped microparticles, short microfibers/whiskers, and nanosized spherical particles from ZnO have been used as fillers to fabricate the different ZnO-Silicone composites. The detailed microstructures of the fillers as well as synthesized composites using scanning electron microscopy have been presented here. The tensile elastic modulus and water contact angle, which are important parameters for bio-mimetic applications, of fabricated composites with different fillers have been measured and compared. Among all three types of fillers, tetrapodal shaped ZnO microparticles showed the best performance in terms of increase in hydrophobicity of material cross-section as well as the stiffness of the composites. It has been demonstrated that the tetrapodal shaped microparticles gain their advantage due to the special shape, which avoids agglomeration problems as in the case for nanoparticles, and the difficulty of achieving truly random distribution for whisker fillers.

Hysteretic behavior using the explicit material point method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sofianos, Christos D.; Koumousis, Vlasis K.

2018-05-01

The material point method (MPM) is an advancement of particle in cell method, in which Lagrangian bodies are discretized by a number of material points that hold all the properties and the state of the material. All internal variables, stress, strain, velocity, etc., which specify the current state, and are required to advance the solution, are stored in the material points. A background grid is employed to solve the governing equations by interpolating the material point data to the grid. The derived momentum conservation equations are solved at the grid nodes and information is transferred back to the material points and the background grid is reset, ready to handle the next iteration. In this work, the standard explicit MPM is extended to account for smooth elastoplastic material behavior with mixed isotropic and kinematic hardening and stiffness and strength degradation. The strains are decomposed into an elastic and an inelastic part according to the strain decomposition rule. To account for the different phases during elastic loading or unloading and smoothening the transition from the elastic to inelastic regime, two Heaviside-type functions are introduced. These act as switches and incorporate the yield function and the hardening laws to control the whole cyclic behavior. A single expression is thus established for the plastic multiplier for the whole range of stresses. This overpasses the need for a piecewise approach and a demanding bookkeeping mechanism especially when multilinear models are concerned that account for stiffness and strength degradation. The final form of the constitutive stress rate-strain rate relation incorporates the tangent modulus of elasticity, which now includes the Heaviside functions and gathers all the governing behavior, facilitating considerably the simulation of nonlinear response in the MPM framework. Numerical results are presented that validate the proposed formulation in the context of the MPM in comparison with finite element method and experimental results.

Attenuation and Dispersion Analysis in Laboratory Measured Elastic Properties in the Middle East Carbonate Reservoir Rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, R.

2016-12-01

Carbonate rocks are sensitive to circulation of fluid types that leads to diagenetic alterations and therefore to heterogeneity in distribution of porosity and permeability. These heterogeneities in turn, lead to heterogeneity in saturations varying from partial to patchy to uniform. Depending on the interaction between fluids and rock matrix, a weakening or strengthening in shear modulus of carbonate rocks can also develop (Eberli et al., 2003; Adam et al., 2006; Sharma et al., 2009; Sharma et al., 2013). Thus the elastic response over the production life of the carbonate reservoirs can change considerably. Efforts to couple fluid flow with varying seismic properties of these reservoirs are limited in success due to the differences between static elastic properties derived from reservoir simulation and dynamic elastic properties derived from inverted seismic. An additional limitation arises from the assumption that shear modulus does not change with fluid type and saturations. To overcome these limitations, we need to understand the relationships between the static and the dynamic elastic properties using laboratory measurements made at varying pressures, frequencies and with varying saturants. I will present the following results: 1) errors associated with using dynamic (2 - 2000 Hz and 1 MHz) elastic properties data for static ( 0 Hz) reservoir properties, 2) shear modulus variation in carbonates upon saturation with varying saturants The results will enable us to estimate, 1) distribution of stress-strain relations in reservoir rocks and 2) modulus dispersion to correct seismic-derived moduli as inputs for reservoir simulators. The results are critical to estimate, 1) modulus dispersion correction and 2) occurrence and amount of shear modulus variation with fluid change vital for rock stability analysis

Bulk modulus of two-dimensional liquid dusty plasmas and its application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wei; Lin, Wei; Feng, Yan

2017-04-01

From the recently obtained equation of state [Feng et al., J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 49, 235203 (2016) and Feng et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 093705 (2016); Erratum 23, 119904 (2016)], the bulk modulus of elasticity K of 2D liquid dusty plasmas is analytically derived as the expression of the temperature and the screening parameter. Exact values of the obtained bulk modulus of elasticity K are reported and also plotted in the 2D plane of the temperature and the screening parameter. As the temperature and the screening parameter change, the variation trend of K is reported and the corresponding interpretation is suggested. It has been demonstrated that the obtained bulk modulus of elasticity K can be used to predict the longitudinal sound speed, which agrees well with previous studies.

High thermal conductivity in soft elastomers with elongated liquid metal inclusions

PubMed Central

Bartlett, Michael D.; Powell-Palm, Matthew J.; Huang, Xiaonan; Sun, Wenhuan; Malen, Jonathan A.; Majidi, Carmel

2017-01-01

Soft dielectric materials typically exhibit poor heat transfer properties due to the dynamics of phonon transport, which constrain thermal conductivity (k) to decrease monotonically with decreasing elastic modulus (E). This thermal−mechanical trade-off is limiting for wearable computing, soft robotics, and other emerging applications that require materials with both high thermal conductivity and low mechanical stiffness. Here, we overcome this constraint with an electrically insulating composite that exhibits an unprecedented combination of metal-like thermal conductivity, an elastic compliance similar to soft biological tissue (Young’s modulus < 100 kPa), and the capability to undergo extreme deformations (>600% strain). By incorporating liquid metal (LM) microdroplets into a soft elastomer, we achieve a ∼25× increase in thermal conductivity (4.7 ± 0.2 W⋅m−1⋅K−1) over the base polymer (0.20 ± 0.01 W⋅m−1·K−1) under stress-free conditions and a ∼50× increase (9.8 ± 0.8 W⋅m−1·K−1) when strained. This exceptional combination of thermal and mechanical properties is enabled by a unique thermal−mechanical coupling that exploits the deformability of the LM inclusions to create thermally conductive pathways in situ. Moreover, these materials offer possibilities for passive heat exchange in stretchable electronics and bioinspired robotics, which we demonstrate through the rapid heat dissipation of an elastomer-mounted extreme high-power LED lamp and a swimming soft robot. PMID:28193902

On the potential of a new IVUS elasticity modulus imaging approach for detecting vulnerable atherosclerotic coronary plaques: In vitro vessel phantom study

PubMed Central

Le Floc’h, Simon; Cloutier, Guy; Finet, Gérard; Tracqui, Philippe; Pettigrew, Roderic I.; Ohayon, Jacques

2016-01-01

Peak cap stress amplitude is recognized as a good indicator of vulnerable plaque (VP) rupture. However, such stress evaluation strongly relies on a precise, but still lacking, knowledge of the mechanical properties exhibited by the plaque components. As a first response to this limitation, our group recently developed, in a previous theoretical study, an original approach, called iMOD, which reconstructs elasticity maps (or modulograms) of atheroma plaques from the estimation of strain fields. In the present in vitro experimental study, conducted on PVA-C arterial phantoms, we investigate the benefit of coupling the iMOD procedure with the acquisition of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements for detection of VP. Our results show that the combined iMOD-IVUS strategy : 1) successfully detected and quantified soft inclusion contours with high positive predictive values and sensitivities of 89.7 ± 3.9% and 81.5 ± 8.8 %, respectively, 2) estimated reasonably cap thicknesses larger than ~300 µm, but underestimated thinner caps, and 3) quantified satisfactorily Young's modulus of hard medium (mean value of 109.7 ± 23.7 kPa instead of 145.4 ± 31.8 kPa), but overestimated the stiffness of soft inclusions (mean Young`s moduli of 31.4 ± 9.7 kPa instead of 17.6 ± 3.4 kPa). All together, these results demonstrate a promising benefit of the new iMOD-IVUS clinical imaging method for in vivo VP detection. PMID:20826899

Interplay between arterial stiffness and diastolic function: a marker of ventricular-vascular coupling.

PubMed

Zito, Concetta; Mohammed, Moemen; Todaro, Maria Chiara; Khandheria, Bijoy K; Cusmà-Piccione, Maurizio; Oreto, Giuseppe; Pugliatti, Pietro; Abusalima, Mohamed; Antonini-Canterin, Francesco; Vriz, Olga; Carerj, Scipione

2014-11-01

We evaluated the interplay between left ventricular diastolic function and large-artery stiffness in asymptomatic patients at increased risk of heart failure and no structural heart disease (Stage A). We divided 127 consecutive patients (mean age 49 ± 17 years) with risk factors for heart failure who were referred to our laboratory to rule out structural heart disease into two groups according to presence (Group 1, n = 35) or absence (Group 2, n = 92) of grade I left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Doppler imaging with high-resolution echo-tracking software was used to measure intima-media thickness (IMT) and stiffness of carotid arteries. Group 1 had significantly higher mean age, blood pressure, left ventricular mass index, carotid IMT and arterial stiffness than Group 2 (P < 0.05). Overall, carotid stiffness indices (β-stiffness index, augmentation index and elastic modulus) and 'one-point' pulse wave velocity each showed inverse correlation with E-wave velocity, E' velocity and E/A ratio, and direct correlation with A-wave velocity, E-wave deceleration time and E/E' ratio (P < 0.05). Arterial compliance showed negative correlations with the echocardiographic indices of left ventricular diastolic function (P < 0.05). On logistic regression analysis, age, hypertension, SBP, pulse pressure, left ventricular mass index, carotid IMT and stiffness parameters were associated with grade I left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (P < 0.05 for each). However, on multivariate logistic analysis, only 'one-point' pulse wave velocity and age were independent predictors (P = 0.038 and P = 0.016, respectively). An independent association between grade I left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness is demonstrated at the earliest stage of heart failure. Hence, assessment of vascular function, beyond cardiac function, should be included in a comprehensive clinical evaluation of these patients.

Effects of Cu and Ag as ternary and quaternary additions on some physical properties of SnSb7 bearing alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Bediwi, A. B.

2004-02-01

The structure, electrical resistivity, and elastic modulus of SnSb7 and SnSb7X (X = Cu , Ag, or Cu and Ag) rapidly solidified alloys have been investigated using X-ray diffractometer, double bridge, and dynamic resonance techniques. Copper and silver additions to SnSb result in the formation of a eutectic matrix containing embedded crystals (intermetallic phases) of SnCu, SnAg, and SnSb. The hard crystals SnCu, SnAg, and SnSb increase the overall hardness and wear resistance of SnSb bearing alloys. Addition of copper and silver improves internal friction, electrical conductivity, and elastic modulus values of SnSb rapidly solidified bearing alloys. The internal friction, elastic modulus, and electrical resistivity values are relatively sensitive to the composition of the intermediate phases in the matrix. The SbSb(7)Cu(2)g(2) has better properties (lowest internal friction, cost, adequate elastic modulus, and electrical resistivity) for bearing alloys as compared to cast iron and bronzes.

Mechanical evaluation of quad-helix appliance made of low-nickel stainless steel wire.

PubMed

dos Santos, Rogério Lacerda; Pithon, Matheus Melo

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is no difference between stainless steel and low-nickel stainless steel wires as regards mechanical behavior. Force, resilience, and elastic modulus produced by Quad-helix appliances made of 0.032-inch and 0.036-inch wires were evaluated. Sixty Quad-helix appliances were made, thirty for each type of alloy, being fifteen for each wire thickness, 0.032-in and 0.036-in. All the archwires were submitted to mechanical compression test using an EMIC DL-10000 machine simulating activations of 4, 6, 9, and 12 mm. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with multiple comparisons and Tukey's test were used (p < 0.05) to assess force, resilience, and elastic modulus. Statistically significant difference in the forces generated, resilience and elastic modulus were found between the 0.032-in and 0.036-in thicknesses (p < 0.05). Appliances made of low-nickel stainless steel alloy had force, resilience, and elastic modulus similar to those made of stainless steel alloy.

Compressive Strength and Modulus of Elasticity of Concrete with Cubed Waste Tire Rubbers as Coarse Aggregates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haryanto, Y.; Hermanto, N. I. S.; Pamudji, G.; Wardana, K. P.

2017-11-01

One feasible solution to overcome the issue of tire disposal waste is the use of waste tire rubber to replace aggregate in concrete. We have conducted an experimental investigation on the effect of rubber tire waste aggregate in cuboid form on the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity of concrete. The test was performed on 72 cylindrical specimens with the height of 300 mm and diameter of 150 mm. We found that the workability of concrete with waste tire rubber aggregate has increased. The concrete density with waste tire rubber aggregate was decreased, and so was the compressive strength. The decrease of compressive strength is up to 64.34%. If the content of waste tire rubber aggregate is more than 40%, then the resulting concrete cannot be categorized as structural concrete. The modulus of elasticity decreased to 59.77%. The theoretical equation developed to determine the modulus of elasticity of concrete with rubber tire waste aggregate has an accuracy of 84.27%.

A novel method to determine the elastic modulus of extremely soft materials.

PubMed

Stirling, Tamás; Zrínyi, Miklós

2015-06-07

Determination of the elastic moduli of extremely soft materials that may deform under their own weight is a rather difficult experimental task. A new method has been elaborated by means of which the elastic modulus of such materials can be determined. This method is generally applicable to all soft materials with purely neo-Hookean elastic deformation behaviour with elastic moduli lower than 1 kPa. Our novel method utilises the self-deformation of pendent gel cylinders under gravity. When suspended, the material at the very top bears the weight of the entire gel cylinder, but that at the bottom carries no load at all. Due to the non-uniform stress distribution along the gel sample both the stress and the resulting strain show position dependence. The cross-sectional area of the material is lowest at the top of the sample and gradually increases towards its bottom. The equilibrium geometry of the pendant gel is used to evaluate the elastic modulus. Experimental data obtained by the proposed new method were compared to the results obtained from underwater measurements. The parameters affecting the measurement uncertainty were studied by a Pareto analysis of a series of adaptive Monte Carlo simulations. It has been shown that our method provides an easily achievable method to provide an accurate determination of the elastic modulus of extremely soft matter typically applicable for moduli below 1 kPa.

Biomechanics of bone-fracture fixation by stiffness-graded plates in comparison with stainless-steel plates

PubMed Central

Ganesh, VK; Ramakrishna, K; Ghista, Dhanjoo N

2005-01-01

Background In the internal fixation of fractured bone by means of bone-plates fastened to the bone on its tensile surface, an on-going concern has been the excessive stress-shielding of the bone by the excessively-stiff stainless-steel plate. The compressive stress-shielding at the fracture-interface immediately after fracture-fixation delays callus formation and bone healing. Likewise, the tensile stress-shielding of the layer of the bone underneath the plate can cause osteoporosis and decrease in tensile strength of this layer. Method In order to address this problem, we propose to use stiffness-graded plates. Accordingly, we have computed (by finite-element analysis) the stress distribution in the fractured bone fixed by composite plates, whose stiffness is graded both longitudinally and transversely. Results It can be seen that the stiffness-graded composite-plates cause less stress-shielding (as an example: at 50% of the healing stage, stress at the fracture interface is compressive in nature i.e. 0.002 GPa for stainless steel plate whereas stiffness graded plates provides tensile stress of 0.002 GPa. This means that stiffness graded plate is allowing the 50% healed bone to participate in loadings). Stiffness-graded plates are more flexible, and hence permit more bending of the fractured bone. This results in higher compressive stresses induced at the fractured faces accelerate bone-healing. On the other hand, away from the fracture interface the reduced stiffness and elastic modulus of the plate causes the neutral axis of the composite structure to be lowered into the bone resulting in the higher tensile stress in the bone-layer underneath the plate, wherein is conducive to the bone preserving its tensile strength. Conclusion Stiffness graded plates (with in-built variable stiffness) are deemed to offer less stress-shielding to the bone, providing higher compressive stress at the fractured interface (to induce accelerated healing) as well as higher tensile stress in the intact portion of the bone (to prevent bone remodeling and osteoporosis). PMID:16045807

Parametric instability of spinning elastic rings excited by fluctuating space-fixed stiffnesses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chunguang; Cooley, Christopher G.; Parker, Robert G.

2017-07-01

This study investigates the vibration of rotating elastic rings that are dynamically excited by an arbitrary number of space-fixed discrete stiffnesses with periodically fluctuating stiffnesses. The rotating, elastic ring is modeled using thin-ring theory with radial and tangential deformations. Primary and combination instability regions are determined in closed-form using the method of multiple scales. The ratio of peak-to-peak fluctuation to average discrete stiffness is used as the perturbation parameter, so the resulting perturbation analysis is not limited to small mean values of discrete stiffnesses. The natural frequencies and vibration modes are determined by discretizing the governing equations using Galerkin's method. Results are demonstrated for compliant gear applications. The perturbation results are validated by direct numerical integration of the equations of motion and Floquet theory. The bandwidths of the instability regions correlate with the fractional strain energy stored in the discrete stiffnesses. For rings with multiple discrete stiffnesses, the phase differences between them can eliminate large amplitude response under certain conditions.

Measuring the elastic properties of fine wire.

PubMed

Fallen, C T; Costello, J; Crawford, G; Schmidt, J A

2001-01-01

The elastic moduli of fine wires made from MP35N and 304SS used in implantable biomedical devices are assumed to be the same as those published in the literature. However, the cold working required to manufacture the wire significantly alters the elastic moduli of the material. We describe three experiments performed on fine wire made from MP35N and 304SS. The experimentally determined Young's and shear modulus of both wire types were significantly less than the moduli reported in the literature. Young's modulus differed by as much as 26%, and the shear modulus differed by as much as 14% from reported values.

The first principles study of elastic and thermodynamic properties of ZnSe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khatta, Swati; Kaur, Veerpal; Tripathi, S. K.; Prakash, Satya

2018-05-01

The elastic and thermodynamic properties of ZnSe are investigated using thermo_pw package implemented in Quantum espresso code within the framework of density functional theory. The pseudopotential method within the local density approximation is used for the exchange-correlation potential. The physical parameters of ZnSe bulk modulus and shear modulus, anisotropy factor, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, Pugh's ratio and Frantsevich's ratio are calculated. The sound velocity and Debye temperature are obtained from elastic constant calculations. The Helmholtz free energy and internal energy of ZnSe are also calculated. The results are compared with available theoretical calculations and experimental data.

Structural, elastic and electronic properties of transition metal carbides ZnC, NbC and their ternary alloys ZnxNb1-xC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zidi, Y.; Méçabih, S.; Abbar, B.; Amari, S.

2018-02-01

We have investigated the structural, electronic and elastic properties of transition-metal carbides ZnxNb1-xC alloys in the range of 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 using the density functional theory (DFT). The full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method within a framework of the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA + U (where U is the Hubbard correlation terms) approach is used to perform the calculations presented here. The lattice parameters, the bulk modulus, its pressure derivative and the elastic constants were determined. We have obtained Young's modulus, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, anisotropy factor by the aid of the calculated elastic constants. We discuss the total and partial densities of states and charge densities.

3D Modeling Effect of Spherical Inclusions on the Magnetostriction of Bulk Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yufeng; Pan, Baocai

2018-02-01

In this paper, the dependence of the effective magnetostriction of bulk superconductors on the elastic parameters including the volume fraction and elastic modulus ratio is studied by a three-dimensional model consisting of a spherical inclusion-superconducting matrix system. The effect of the elastic modulus and volume fraction on the magnetostriction is also obtained through the magnetostriction loop. The results indicate that the elastic modulus and volume fraction have obvious effects on the effective magnetostriction of the superconducting composite, which gives an explanation about the differences between the experimental and the theoretical results. Furthermore, it is worth pointing out that the linear field dependence of magnetostriction is unique to the Bean model by comparing the curve shapes of the magnetostriction loop with and without inclusion.

Equilibrium structures of carbon diamond-like clusters and their elastic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisovenko, D. S.; Baimova, Yu. A.; Rysaeva, L. Kh.; Gorodtsov, V. A.; Dmitriev, S. V.

2017-04-01

Three-dimensional carbon diamond-like phases consisting of sp 3-hybridized atoms, obtained by linking of carcasses of fullerene-like molecules, are studied by methods of molecular dynamics modeling. For eight cubic and one hexagonal diamond-like phases on the basis of four types of fullerene-like molecules, equilibrium configurations are found and the elastic constants are calculated. The results obtained by the method of molecular dynamics are used for analytical calculations of the elastic characteristics of the diamond- like phases with the cubic and hexagonal anisotropy. It is found that, for a certain choice of the dilatation axis, three of these phases have negative Poisson's ratio, i.e., are partial auxetics. The variability of the engineering elasticity coefficients (Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, shear modulus, and bulk modulus) is analyzed.

Elastic Properties of the Solid Electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO)

DOE PAGES

Yu, Seungho; Schmidt, Robert D.; Garcia-mendez, Regina; ...

2015-12-16

The oxide known as LLZO, with nominal composition Li 7La 3Zr 2O 12, is a promising solid electrolyte for Li-based batteries due to its high Li-ion conductivity and chemical stability with respect to lithium. Solid electrolytes may also enable the use of metallic Li anodes by serving as a physical barrier that suppresses dendrite initiation and propagation during cycling. Prior linear elasticity models of the Li electrode/solid electrolyte interface suggest that the stability of this interface is highly dependent on the elastic properties of the solid separator. For example, dendritic suppression is predicted to be enhanced as the electrolyte smore » shear modulus increases. In the present study a combination of first-principles calculations, acoustic impulse excitation measurements, and nanoindentation experiments are used to determine the elastic constants and moduli for highconductivity LLZO compositions based on Al and Ta doping. The calculated and measured isotropic shear moduli are in good agreement and fall within the range of 56-61 GPa. These values are an order of magnitude larger than that for Li metal and far exceed the minimum value ( 8.5 GPa) believed to be necessary to suppress dendrite initiation. These data suggest that LLZO exhibits sufficient stiffness to warrant additional development as a solid electrolyte for Li batteries.« less

Pressure induced elastic softening in framework aluminosilicate- albite (NaAlSi 3O 8)

DOE PAGES

Mookherjee, Mainak; Mainprice, David; Maheshwari, Ketan; ...

2016-10-13

Albite (NaAlSi 3O 8) is an aluminosilicate mineral. Its crystal structure consists of 3-D framework of Al and Si tetrahedral units. We have used Density Functional Theory to investigate the high-pressure behavior of the crystal structure and how it affects the elasticity of albite. Our results indicate elastic softening between 6–8 GPa. This is observed in all the individual elastic stiffness components. Our analysis indicates that the softening is due to the response of the three-dimensional tetrahedral framework, in particular by the pressure dependent changes in the tetrahedral tilts. At pressure <6 GPa, the PAW-GGA can be described by amore » Birch-Murnaghan equation of state with V GGA 0 = 687.4Å 3, K GGA 0 = 51.7 GPa, and G GGA 0 = 4.7. The shear modulus and its pressure derivative are K ⊕GGA 0 = 33.7 GPa, and G ⊕GGA 0 = 2.9. At 1 bar, the azimuthal compressional and shear wave anisotropy AV GGA P = 42.8%, and AV GGA S = 50.1%. We also investigate the densification of albite to a mixture of jadeite and quartz. The transformation is likely to cause a discontinuity in density, compressional, and shear wave velocity across the crust and mantle. Furthermore, this could partially account for the Mohorovicic discontinuity in thickened continental crustal regions.« less

Carbyne from first principles: chain of C atoms, a nanorod or a nanorope.

PubMed

Liu, Mingjie; Artyukhov, Vasilii I; Lee, Hoonkyung; Xu, Fangbo; Yakobson, Boris I

2013-11-26

We report an extensive study of the properties of carbyne using first-principles calculations. We investigate carbyne's mechanical response to tension, bending, and torsion deformations. Under tension, carbyne is about twice as stiff as the stiffest known materials and has an unrivaled specific strength of up to 7.5 × 10(7) N·m/kg, requiring a force of ∼10 nN to break a single atomic chain. Carbyne has a fairly large room-temperature persistence length of about 14 nm. Surprisingly, the torsional stiffness of carbyne can be zero but can be "switched on" by appropriate functional groups at the ends. Further, under appropriate termination, carbyne can be switched into a magnetic semiconductor state by mechanical twisting. We reconstruct the equivalent continuum elasticity representation, providing the full set of elastic moduli for carbyne, showing its extreme mechanical performance (e.g., a nominal Young's modulus of 32.7 TPa with an effective mechanical thickness of 0.772 Å). We also find an interesting coupling between strain and band gap of carbyne, which is strongly increased under tension, from 2.6 to 4.7 eV under a 10% strain. Finally, we study the performance of carbyne as a nanoscale electrical cable and estimate its chemical stability against self-aggregation, finding an activation barrier of 0.6 eV for the carbyne-carbyne cross-linking reaction and an equilibrium cross-link density for two parallel carbyne chains of 1 cross-link per 17 C atoms (2.2 nm).

Novel Imaging Method of Continuous Shear Wave by Ultrasonic Color Flow Mapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamakoshi, Yoshiki; Yamamoto, Atsushi; Yuminaka, Yasushi

Shear wave velocity measurement is a promising method in evaluation of tissue stiffness. Several methods have been developed to measure the shear wave velocity, however, it is difficult to obtain quantitative shear wave image in real-time by low cost system. In this paper, a novel shear wave imaging method for continuous shear wave is proposed. This method uses a color flow imaging which is used in ultrasonic imaging system to obtain shear wave's wavefront map. Two conditions, shear wave frequency condition and shear wave displacement amplitude condition, are required, however, these conditions are not severe restrictions in most applications. Using the proposed method, shear wave velocity of trapezius muscle is measured. The result is consistent with the velocity which is calculated from shear elastic modulus measured by ARFI method.

Development of Polydimethylsiloxane Substrates with Tunable Elastic Modulus to Study Cell Mechanobiology in Muscle and Nerve

PubMed Central

Palchesko, Rachelle N.; Zhang, Ling; Sun, Yan; Feinberg, Adam W.

2012-01-01

Mechanics is an important component in the regulation of cell shape, proliferation, migration and differentiation during normal homeostasis and disease states. Biomaterials that match the elastic modulus of soft tissues have been effective for studying this cell mechanobiology, but improvements are needed in order to investigate a wider range of physicochemical properties in a controlled manner. We hypothesized that polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) blends could be used as the basis of a tunable system where the elastic modulus could be adjusted to match most types of soft tissue. To test this we formulated blends of two commercially available PDMS types, Sylgard 527 and Sylgard 184, which enabled us to fabricate substrates with an elastic modulus anywhere from 5 kPa up to 1.72 MPa. This is a three order-of-magnitude range of tunability, exceeding what is possible with other hydrogel and PDMS systems. Uniquely, the elastic modulus can be controlled independently of other materials properties including surface roughness, surface energy and the ability to functionalize the surface by protein adsorption and microcontact printing. For biological validation, PC12 (neuronal inducible-pheochromocytoma cell line) and C2C12 (muscle cell line) were used to demonstrate that these PDMS formulations support cell attachment and growth and that these substrates can be used to probe the mechanosensitivity of various cellular processes including neurite extension and muscle differentiation. PMID:23240031

Effects of mechanical and thermal cycling on composite and hybrid laminates with residual stresses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daniel, I. M.; Liber, T.

1977-01-01

The effects of tensile load cycling and thermal cycling on residual stiffness and strength properties of the following composite and hybrid angle-ply laminates were studied: boron/epoxy, boron/polyimide, graphite/low-modulus epoxy, graphite/high-modulus epoxy, graphite/polyimide, S-glass/epoxy, graphite/Kevlar 49/epoxy, and graphite/S-glass/epoxy. Specimens of the first six types were mechanically cycled up to 90% of static strength. Those that survived 10 million cycles were tested statically to failure, and no significant changes in residual strength and modulus were noted. Specimens of all types were subjected to thermal cycling between room temperature and 411 K for the epoxy-matrix composites and 533 K for the polyimide-matrix composites. The residual strength and stiffness remained largely unchanged, except for the graphite/low-modulus epoxy, which showed reductions in both of approximately 35%. When low-temperature thermal cycling under tensile load was applied, there was a noticeable reduction in modulus and strength in the graphite/low-modulus epoxy and some strength reduction in the S-glass/epoxy.

Stress fluctuations in fracture networks from theoretical and numerical models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davy, P.; Darcel, C.; Mas Ivars, D.; Le Goc, R.

2017-12-01

We analyze the spatial fluctuations of stress in a simple tridimensional model constituted by a population of disc-shaped fractures embedded in an elastic matrix with uniform and isotropic properties. The fluctuations arise from the classical stress enhancement at fracture tips and stress shadowing around fracture centers that are amplified or decreased by the interactions between close-by fractures. The distribution of local stresses is calculated at the elementary mesh scale with the 3DEC numerical program based on the distinct element method. As expected, the stress distributions vary with fracture density, the larger is the density, the wider is the distribution. For freely slipping fractures, it is mainly controlled by the percolation parameter p (i.e., the total volume of spheres surrounding fractures). For stresses smaller than the remote deviatoric stress, the distribution depends only on for the range of density that has been studied. For large stresses, the distribution decreases exponentially when increasing stress, with a characteristic stress that increases with entailing a widening of the stress distribution. We extend the analysis to fractures with plane resistance defined by an elastic shear stiffness ks and a slip Coulomb threshold. A consequence of the fracture plane resistance is to lower the stress perturbation in the surrounding matrix by a factor that depends on the ratio between ks and a fracture-matrix stiffness km mainly dependent on the ratio between Young modulus and fracture size. km is also the ratio between the remote shear stress and the displacement across the fracture plane in the case of freely slipping fractures. A complete analytical derivation of the expressions of the stress perturbations and of the fracture displacements is obtained and checked with numerical simulations. In the limit ks >> km, the stress perturbation tends to 0 and the stress state is spatially uniform. The analysis allows us to quantify the intensity of the stress fluctuations in fractured rocks as a function of both the fracture network characteristics (density and size distribution), and the mechanical properties (fracture shear stiffness vs matrix elastic properties).

CAD-FEA modeling and analysis of different full crown monolithic restorations.

PubMed

Dal Piva, Amanda Maria de Oliveira; Tribst, João Paulo Mendes; Borges, Alexandre Luiz Souto; Souza, Rodrigo Othávio de Assunção E; Bottino, Marco Antonio

2018-06-19

To investigate the influence of different materials for monolithic full posterior crowns using 3D-Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Twelve (12) 3D models of adhesively-restored teeth with different crowns according to the material and its elastic modulus were analysed: Acrylic resin, Polyetheretherketone, Composite resin, Hybrid ceramic, pressable and machinable Zirconia reinforced lithium silicate, Feldspathic, Lithium disilicate, Gold alloy, Cobalt-Chromium alloy (Co-Cr), Zirconia tetragonal partially stabilized with yttria, and Alumina. All materials were assumed to behave elastically throughout the entire deformation. Results in restoration and cementing line were obtained using maximum principal stress. In addition, maximum shear stress criteria was used for the cementing line. Restorative materials with higher elastic modulus present higher stress concentration inside the crown, mainly tensile stress on an intaglio surface. On the other hand, materials with lower elastic modulus allow stress passage for cement, increasing shear stress on this layer. Stiffer materials promote higher stress peak values. Materials with higher elastic modulus such as Co-Cr, zirconia and alumina enable higher tensile stress concentration on the crown intaglio surface and higher shear stress on the cement layer, facilitating crown debonding. Copyright © 2018 The Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of pH on the rheological properties of borate crosslinked hydroxypropyl guar gum hydrogel and hydroxypropyl guar gum.

PubMed

Wang, Shibin; Tang, Hongbiao; Guo, Jianchun; Wang, Kunjie

2016-08-20

pH is an important factor affecting the performance of polymer fluid. The rheological properties of hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) base fluid and the structural strength, rheological properties, viscoelastic properties and thixotropy properties of HPG gel depend largely on the pH values. For the base fluid, an apparent viscosity-increasing effect was observed over the pH range from 7 to 11, and the apparent viscosity gradually decreased at pH 11.5-14, exhibiting electrostatic repulsion behavior and steric effects. For the HPG gel, at pH 7-12.5, the gel possessed higher apparent viscosity, higher elastic modulus (G'), lower tanδ (the ratio of the viscous modulus to the elastic modulus) and an "8"-shaped hysteresis loop, indicating stronger gel structure strength and the elastic dominant property. At pH 13-13.5, the gel samples exhibited the transition from a pseudoplastic fluid to a Newtonian fluid, and their viscosity, elastic modulus decreased but tanδ increased with the increase in pH values, exhibiting gradually weakened elastic properties. When the pH was 14, the gel mainly exhibited viscous characteristics. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigation of composite materials property requirements for sonic fatigue research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patrick, H. V. L.

1985-01-01

Experimental techniques for determining the extensional and bending stiffness characteristics for symmetric laminates are presented. Vibrational test techniques for determining the dynamic modulus and material damping are also discussed. Partial extensional stiffness results intially indicate that the laminate theory used for predicting stiffness is accurate. It is clearly shown that the laminate theory can only be as accurate as the physical characteristics describing the lamina, which may vary significantly. It is recommended that all of the stiffness characteristics in both extension and bending be experimentally determined to fully verify the laminate theory. Dynamic modulus should be experimentally evaluated to determine if static data adequately predicts dynamic behavior. Material damping should also be ascertained because laminate damping is an order of magnitude greater than found in common metals and can significantly effect the displacement response of composite panels.

Southern pine veneer laminates at various moduli of elasticity

Treesearch

George E. Woodson

1972-01-01

Modulus of rigidity (GLT) of veneer laminates was shown to be unrelated to dynamic modulus of elasticity (Ed) of single veneers and also, within the range of samples tested, unrelated to specific gravity. Values determined by flexure test (GLR) were consistent with those from standard plate shear...

Elasticity and inelasticity of silicon nitride/boron nitride fibrous monoliths.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smirnov, B. I.; Burenkov, Yu. A.; Kardashev, B. K.

A study is reported on the effect of temperature and elastic vibration amplitude on Young's modulus E and internal friction in Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} and BN ceramic samples and Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}/BN monoliths obtained by hot pressing of BN-coated Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} fibers. The fibers were arranged along, across, or both along and across the specimen axis. The E measurements were carried out under thermal cycling within the 20-600 C range. It was found that high-modulus silicon-nitride specimens possess a high thermal stability; the E(T) dependences obtained under heating and cooling coincide well with one another. The low-modulus BN ceramicmore » exhibits a considerable hysteresis, thus indicating evolution of the defect structure under the action of thermoelastic (internal) stresses. Monoliths demonstrate a qualitatively similar behavior (with hysteresis). This behavior of the elastic modulus is possible under microplastic deformation initiated by internal stresses. The presence of microplastic shear in all the materials studied is supported by the character of the amplitude dependences of internal friction and the Young's modulus. The experimental data obtained are discussed in terms of a model in which the temperature dependences of the elastic modulus and their features are accounted for by both microplastic deformation and nonlinear lattice-atom vibrations, which depend on internal stresses.« less

Investigating the sources of variability in the dynamic response of built-up structures through a linear analytical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abolfathi, Ali; O'Boy, Dan J.; Walsh, Stephen J.; Fisher, Stephen A.

2017-01-01

It is well established that the dynamic response of a number of nominally identical built-up structures are often different and the variability increases with increasing complexity of the structure. Furthermore, the effects of the different parameters, for example the variation in joint locations or the range of the Young's modulus, on the dynamic response of the system are not the same. In this paper, the effects of different material and geometric parameters on the variability of a vibration transfer function are compared using an analytical model of a simple linear built-up structure that consist of two plates connected by a single mount. Similar results can be obtained if multiple mounts are used. The scope of this paper is limited to a low and medium frequency range where usually deterministic models are used for vibrational analysis. The effect of the mount position and also the global variation in the properties of the plate, such as modulus of elasticity or thickness, is higher on the variability of vibration transfer function than the effect of the mount properties. It is shown that the vibration transfer function between the plates is independent of the mount property if a stiff enough mount with a small mass is implemented. For a soft mount, there is a direct relationship between the mount impedance and the variation in the vibration transfer function. Furthermore, there are a range of mount stiffnesses between these two extreme cases at which the vibration transfer function is more sensitive to changes in the stiffness of the mount than when compared to a soft mount. It is found that the effect of variation in the mount damping and the mount mass on the variability is negligible. Similarly, the effect of the plate damping on the variability is not significant.

Development of magnetorheological elastomers based on Deproteinised natural rubber as smart damping materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismail, Nik Intan Nik; Kamaruddin, Shamsul

2017-12-01

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are composite materials consist of micron-sized magnetizable particles carbonyl iron particles [CIPs]) embedded in a soft elastomer matrix. MRE technology offers variable stiffness and damping properties under the influence of a magnetic field. Herein, the feasibility of incorporating a new generation specialty rubber, Pureprena as a matrix for MREs was investigated. Pureprena or Deproteinised Natural Rubber (DPNR) is a specialty natural rubber that has good dynamic properties, particularly with respect to damping parameters. DPNR was compounded with 60 wt% of CIPs to fabricate MREs. The performance of the DPNR-based MRE was measured in terms of tensile strength, dynamic properties, and magnetorheological (MR) effect and compared with polyisoprene (IR)-based MRE with the same amount of CIPs. Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) showed that the loss factor in the glass transition region of the DPNR-based MRE was higher than that of the IR-based MRE, indicating better damping properties. Further investigation was undertaken using a servo-hydraulic testing machine to characterise the effect of strain amplitude and frequency on the dynamic properties (e.g. damping coefficient) of MREs at zero magnetic fields. The results demonstrate that DPNR-based MREs possess a comparable damping coefficient to that of IR-based MREs. In addition, MR effect, which relates to the ratio between elastic modulus with applied magnetic field (on-state) to the same modulus without applied fields (off-state), was measured using a parallel plate rheometer. As a result, DPNR-based MREs have improved MR effect than that of IR-based MREs. Moreover, variable stiffness is obtained when the magnetic field was increased to 0.8T. Loss factor or tan δ of MREs was found to vary against different magnetic fields. Finally, MREs with varied stiffness and damping were found to have potential as active control devices for smart damping materials.

[Echo-tracking technology for evaluating femoral artery endothelial function in patients with Grave's disease].

PubMed

Wei, Wei; Wang, Jingyuan; Zhao, Qiaoling; Yang, Jinru

2012-10-01

To assess the value of echo-tracking technology in evaluating endothelial function of the femoral artery in patients with Grave's disease. Thirty-four patients with Grave's disease patients and 30 normal adults as controls were recruited in this study. The intima-media thickness (IMT), arterial stiffness (β), pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), pulse wave conducting velocity (PWVβ) and augmentation index (AI) parameters were examined using echo-tracking technology for evaluating the right femoral arterial elasticity. Compared with the control subjects, the patients with Grave's disease showed significantly increased β, Ep, and PWVβ and significantly decreased AC (P<0.05), but the argumentation index were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). In patients with Grave's disease, β and Ep were positively correlated with FT3, FT4, TT3, TT4, and PWVβ was positively correlated with FT3 and FT4. Echo-tracking technology can provide more accurate quantitative evidences for early diagnosis of femoral artery endothelial dysfunction in patients with Grave's disease, but the influence of procedural factors on the measurement accuracy should be considered in the evaluation.

PML solution of longitudinal wave propagation in heterogeneous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farzanian, M.; Arbabi, Freydoon; Pak, Ronald

2016-06-01

This paper describes the development of a model for unbounded heterogeneous domains with radiation damping produced by an unphysical wave absorbing layer. The Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) approach is used along with a displacement-based finite element. The heterogeneous model is validated using the closed-form solution of a benchmark problem: a free rod with two-part modulus subjected to a specified time history. Both elastically supported and unsupported semi-infinite rods with different degrees of inhomogeneity and loading are considered. Numerical results illustrate the effects of inhomogeneity on the response and are compared with those for equivalent homogeneous domains. The effects of characteristic features of the inhomogeneous problem, presence of local maxima and cut-off frequency are determined. A degenerate case of a homogeneous semi-infinite rod on elastic foundations is produced by tending the magnitude of the foundation stiffness to zero. The response of the latter is compared with that of a free rod. The importance of proper selection of the PML parameters to highly accurate and efficient results is demonstrated by example problems.

Shock Wave Propagation in Functionally Graded Mineralized Tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelms, Matthew; Hodo, Wayne; Livi, Ken; Browning, Alyssa; Crawford, Bryan; Rajendran, A. M.

2017-06-01

In this investigation, the effects of shock wave propagation in bone-like biomineralized tissue was investigated. The Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) exoskeleton is comprised of many disparate scales that provide a biological analog for potential design of flexible protective material systems. The gar scale is identified as a two-phase, (1) hydroxyapatite mineral and (2) collagen protein, biological composite with two distinct layers where a stiff, ceramic-like ganoine overlays a soft, highly ductile ganoid bone. Previous experimentations has shown significant softening under compressive loading and an asymmetrical stress-strain response for analogous mineralized tissues. The structural features, porosity, and elastic modulus were determined from high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, 3D micro-tomography, and dynamic nanoindentation experiments to develop an idealized computational model for FE simulations. The numerical analysis employed Gurson's yield criterion to determine the influence of porosity and pressure on material strength. Functional gradation of elastic moduli and certain structural features, such as the sawtooth interface, are explicitly modeled to study the plate impact shock profile for a full 3-D analysis using ABAQUS finite element software.

Microviscoelasticity of the apical cell surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) within confluent monolayers.

PubMed

Feneberg, Wolfgang; Aepfelbacher, Martin; Sackmann, Erich

2004-08-01

We studied the local viscoelasticity of the apical membrane of human umbilical vein endothelial cells within confluent layers by magnetic tweezers microrheometry. Magnetic beads are coupled to various integrins by coating with fibronectin or invasin. By analyzing the deflection of beads evoked by various force scenarios we demonstrate that the cell envelope behaves as a linear viscoelastic body if forces up to 2 nN are applied for short times (<20 s) but can respond in an adaptive way if stress pulses are applied longer (>30 s). The time-dependent shear relaxation modulus G(t) exhibits three time regimes: a fast response (t < 0.05 s) where the relaxation modulus G(t) obeys a power law G(t) approximately t(-0.82+/-0.02); a plateau-like behavior (at 0.05 s < t < 0.15 s); and a slow flow-like response which is, however, partially reversible. Strain field mapping experiments with colloidal probes show that local forces induce a strain field exhibiting a range of zeta = 10 +/- 1 microm, but which could only be observed if nonmagnetic beads were coupled to the cell surface by invasin. By application of the theory of elasticity of planar bodies we estimated a surface shear modulus of 2.5 x10(-4) N/m. By assuming a thickness of the actin cortex of approximately 0.5 microm we estimate a Young modulus micro approximately 400 Pa for the apical membrane. The value agrees with a plateau modulus of an entangled or weakly cross-linked actin network of an actin concentration of 100 microM (mesh size 0.2 microm). This result together with our observation of a strong reduction of the shear modulus by the actin destabilizing agent latrunculin A suggests that the shear modulus measured by our technique is determined by the actin cortex. The effect of two ligands inducing actin stress fiber formation and centripetal contraction of cells (associated with the formation of gaps in the confluent cell monolayer) on the viscoelastic responses were studied: histamine and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Histamine evoked a dramatic increase of the cell stiffness by >1 order of magnitude within <30 s, which is attributed to a transient rise of the intracellular Ca(2+) level, since DMSO exerted a similar effect. The stiffening is accompanied by a concomitant rounding of the cells as observed by microinterferometry and relaxes partially in the timescale of 5 min, whereas gaps between cells close after approximately 30 min. LPA did not exert a remarkable and reproducible effect other than an occasional very weak transient increase of the shear stiffness, which shows that the gap formation activated by LPA is mediated by a different mechanism than that induced by histamine.

LTPP Computed Parameter: Dynamic Modulus

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-09-01

The dynamic modulus, |E*|, is a fundamental property that defines the stiffness characteristics of hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures as a function of loading rate and temperature. In spite of the demonstrated significance of |E*|, it is not included in ...

Stiff, light, strong and ductile: nano-structured High Modulus Steel.

PubMed

Springer, H; Baron, C; Szczepaniak, A; Uhlenwinkel, V; Raabe, D

2017-06-05

Structural material development for lightweight applications aims at improving the key parameters strength, stiffness and ductility at low density, but these properties are typically mutually exclusive. Here we present how we overcome this trade-off with a new class of nano-structured steel - TiB 2 composites synthesised in-situ via bulk metallurgical spray-forming. Owing to the nano-sized dispersion of the TiB 2 particles of extreme stiffness and low density - obtained by the in-situ formation with rapid solidification kinetics - the new material has the mechanical performance of advanced high strength steels, and a 25% higher stiffness/density ratio than any of the currently used high strength steels, aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloys. This renders this High Modulus Steel the first density-reduced, high stiffness, high strength and yet ductile material which can be produced on an industrial scale. Also ideally suited for 3D printing technology, this material addresses all key requirements for high performance and cost effective lightweight design.

The effect of porosity on the mechanical properties of porous titanium scaffolds: comparative study on experimental and analytical values

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khodaei, Mohammad; Fathi, Mohammadhossein; Meratian, Mahmood; Savabi, Omid

2018-05-01

Reducing the elastic modulus and also improving biological fixation to the bone is possible by using porous scaffolds. In the present study, porous titanium scaffolds containing different porosities were fabricated using the space holder method. Pore distribution, formed phases and mechanical properties of titanium scaffolds were studied by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and cold compression test. Then the results of compression test were compared to the Gibson-Ashby model. Both experimentally measured and analytically calculated elastic modulus of porous titanium scaffolds decreased by porosity increment. The compliance between experimentally measured and analytically calculated elastic modulus of titanium scaffolds are also increased by porosity increment.

Multiscale biomechanics of brain tumours favours cancer invasion by cell softening and tissue stiffening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kas, Josef; Fritsch, Anatol; Grosser, Steffen; Friebe, Sabrina; Reiss-Zimmermann, Martin; Müller, Wolf; Hoffmann, Karl-Titus; Sack, Ingolf

Cancer progression needs two contradictory mechanical prerequisites. For metastasis individual cancer cells or small clusters have to flow through the microenvironment by overcoming the yield stress exerted by the surrounding. On the other hand a tumour has to behave as a solid to permit cell proliferation and spreading of the tumour mass against its surrounding. We determine that the high mechanical adaptability of cancer cells and the scale controlled viscoelastic properties of tissues reconcile both conflicting properties, fluid and solid, simultaneously in brain tumours. We resolve why different techniques that assess cell and tissue mechanics have produced apparently conflicting results by our finding that tumours generate different viscoelastic behaviours on different length scales, which are in concert optimal for tumour spreading and metastasis. Single cancer cells become very soft in their elastic behavior which promotes cell unjamming. On the level of direct cell-to-cell interactions cells feel their micro-environment as rigid elastic substrate that stimulates cancer on the molecular level. All over a tumour has predominately a stiff elastic character in terms of viscoelastic behaviour caused by a solid backbone. Simultaneously, the tumour mass is characterized by a large local variability in the storage and loss modulus that is caused by areas of a more fluid nature.

Quantitative shear-wave optical coherence elastography with a programmable phased array ultrasound as the wave source.

PubMed

Song, Shaozhen; Le, Nhan Minh; Huang, Zhihong; Shen, Tueng; Wang, Ruikang K

2015-11-01

The purpose of this study is to implement a beam-steering ultrasound as the wave source for shear-wave optical coherence elastography (SW-OCE) to achieve an extended range of elastic imaging of the tissue sample. We introduce a linear phased array ultrasound transducer (LPAUT) as the remote and programmable wave source and a phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) as the sensitive shear-wave detector. The LPAUT is programmed to launch acoustic radiation force impulses (ARFI) focused at desired locations within the range of OCT imaging, upon which the elasticity map of the entire OCT B-scan cross section is recovered by spatial compounding of the elastic maps derived from each launch of AFRIs. We also propose a directional filter to separate the shear-wave propagation at different directions in order to reduce the effect of tissue heterogeneity on the shear-wave propagation within tissue. The feasibility of this proposed approach is then demonstrated by determining the stiffness of tissue-mimicking phantoms with agarose concentrations of 0.5% and 1% and also by imaging the Young's modulus of retinal and choroidal tissues within a porcine eye ball ex vivo. The approach opens up opportunities to combine medical ultrasound imaging and SW-OCE for high-resolution localized quantitative assessment of tissue biomechanical property.

Field investigation of low-temperature cracking and stiffness moduli on selected roads with conventional and high modulus asphalt concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Judycki, Józef; Jaczewski, Mariusz; Ryś, Dawid; Pszczoła, Marek; Jaskuła, Piotr; Glinicki, Adam

2017-09-01

High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) was introduced in Poland as a one of the solutions to the problem of rutting, type of deterioration common in the 1990s. After first encouraging trials in 2002 HMAC was widely used for heavily loaded national roads and motorways. However some concerns were raised about low-temperature cracking of HMAC. This was the main reason of the studies presented in this article were started. The article presents the comparison of performance of pavements constructed in typical contract conditions with the road bases made of HMAC and conventional asphalt concrete (AC). The field investigation was focused on the number of low-temperature cracks, bearing capacity (based on FWD test) of road sections localized in coldest region of Poland. Also load transfer efficiency of selected low-temperature cracks was assessed. FWD test confirmed lower deflections of pavements with HMAC and two times higher stiffness modulus of asphalt courses in comparison to pavements constructed with conventional AC mixtures. Relation of stiffness of asphalt layers and amount of low-temperature cracks showed that the higher stiffness modulus of asphalt layers could lead to increase of the number of low-temperature cracks. FWD test results showed that the load transfer efficiency of low-temperature cracks on pavements with HMAC presents very low values, very close to lack of load transfer. It was surprising as section with HMAC road base were aged from 2 to 5 years and presented very good bearing capacity.

Concentration Dependent Physical Properties of Ge1-xSnx Solid Solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jivani, A. R.; Jani, A. R.

2011-12-01

Our own proposed potential is used to investigate few physical properties like total energy, bulk modulus, pressure derivative of bulk modulus, elastic constants, pressure derivative of elastic constants, Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus of Ge1-xSnx solid solution with x is atomic concentration of α-Sn. The potential combines linear plus quadratic types of electron-ion interaction. First time screening function proposed by Sarkar et al is used to investigate the properties of the Ge-Sn solid solution system.

Improving the estimate of the effective elastic modulus derived from three-point bending tests of long bones.

PubMed

Kourtis, Lampros C; Carter, Dennis R; Beaupre, Gary S

2014-08-01

Three-point bending tests are often used to determine the apparent or effective elastic modulus of long bones. The use of beam theory equations to interpret such tests can result in a substantial underestimation of the true effective modulus. In this study three-dimensional, nonlinear finite element analysis is used to quantify the errors inherent in beam theory and to create plots that can be used to correct the elastic modulus calculated from beam theory. Correction plots are generated for long bones representative of a variety of species commonly used in research studies. For a long bone with dimensions comparable to the mouse femur, the majority of the error in the effective elastic modulus results from deformations to the bone cross section that are not accounted for in the equations from beam theory. In some cases, the effective modulus calculated from beam theory can be less than one-third of the true effective modulus. Errors are larger: (1) for bones having short spans relative to bone length; (2) for bones with thin vs. thick cortices relative to periosteal diameter; and (3) when using a small radius or "knife-edge" geometry for the center loading ram and the outer supports in the three-point testing system. The use of these correction plots will enable researchers to compare results for long bones from different animal strains and to compare results obtained using testing systems that differ with regard to length between the outer supports and the radius used for the loading ram and outer supports.

Molecular Modeling of Aerospace Polymer Matrices Including Carbon Nanotube-Enhanced Epoxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Radue, Matthew S.

Carbon fiber (CF) composites are increasingly replacing metals used in major structural parts of aircraft, spacecraft, and automobiles. The current limitations of carbon fiber composites are addressed through computational material design by modeling the salient aerospace matrix materials. Molecular Dynamics (MD) models of epoxies with and without carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement and models of pure bismaleimides (BMIs) were developed to elucidate structure-property relationships for improved selection and tailoring of matrices. The influence of monomer functionality on the mechanical properties of epoxies is studied using the Reax Force Field (ReaxFF). From deformation simulations, the Young's modulus, yield point, and Poisson's ratio are calculated and analyzed. The results demonstrate an increase in stiffness and yield strength with increasing resin functionality. Comparison between the network structures of distinct epoxies is further advanced by the Monomeric Degree Index (MDI). Experimental validation demonstrates the MD results correctly predict the relationship in Young's moduli for all epoxies modeled. Therefore, the ReaxFF is confirmed to be a useful tool for studying the mechanical behavior of epoxies. While epoxies have been well-studied using MD, there has been no concerted effort to model cured BMI polymers due to the complexity of the network-forming reactions. A novel, adaptable crosslinking framework is developed for implementing 5 distinct cure reactions of Matrimid-5292 (a BMI resin) and investigating the network structure using MD simulations. The influence of different cure reactions and extent of curing are analyzed on the several thermo-mechanical properties such as mass density, glass transition temperature, coefficient of thermal expansion, elastic moduli, and thermal conductivity. The developed crosslinked models correctly predict experimentally observed trends for various properties. Finally, the epoxies modeled (di-, tri-, and tetra-functionalresins) are simulated with embedded CNT to understand how the affinity to nanoparticles affects the mechanical response. Multiscale modeling techniques are then employed to translate the molecular phenomena observed to predict the behavior of realistic composites. The effective stiffness of hybrid composites are predicted for CNT/epoxy composites with randomly oriented CNTs, for CF/CNT/epoxy systems with aligned CFs and randomly oriented CNTs, and for woven CF/CNT/epoxy fabric with randomly oriented CNTs. The results indicate that in the CNT/epoxy systems the epoxy type has a significant influence on the elastic properties. For the CF/CNT/epoxy hybrid composites, the axial modulus is highly influenced by CF concentration, while the transverse modulus is primarily affected by the CNT weight fraction.

Crystalline cellulose elastic modulus predicted by atomistic models of uniform deformation and nanoscale indentation

Treesearch

Xiawa Wu; Robert J. Moon; Ashlie Martini

2013-01-01

The elastic modulus of cellulose Iß in the axial and transverse directions was obtained from atomistic simulations using both the standard uniform deformation approach and a complementary approach based on nanoscale indentation. This allowed comparisons between the methods and closer connectivity to experimental measurement techniques. A reactive...

Stiffness optimization of non-linear elastic structures

DOE PAGES

Wallin, Mathias; Ivarsson, Niklas; Tortorelli, Daniel

2017-11-13

Our paper revisits stiffness optimization of non-linear elastic structures. Due to the non-linearity, several possible stiffness measures can be identified and in this work conventional compliance, i.e. secant stiffness designs are compared to tangent stiffness designs. The optimization problem is solved by the method of moving asymptotes and the sensitivities are calculated using the adjoint method. And for the tangent cost function it is shown that although the objective involves the third derivative of the strain energy an efficient formulation for calculating the sensitivity can be obtained. Loss of convergence due to large deformations in void regions is addressed bymore » using a fictitious strain energy such that small strain linear elasticity is approached in the void regions. We formulate a well-posed topology optimization problem by using restriction which is achieved via a Helmholtz type filter. The numerical examples provided show that for low load levels, the designs obtained from the different stiffness measures coincide whereas for large deformations significant differences are observed.« less

Stiffness optimization of non-linear elastic structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wallin, Mathias; Ivarsson, Niklas; Tortorelli, Daniel

Our paper revisits stiffness optimization of non-linear elastic structures. Due to the non-linearity, several possible stiffness measures can be identified and in this work conventional compliance, i.e. secant stiffness designs are compared to tangent stiffness designs. The optimization problem is solved by the method of moving asymptotes and the sensitivities are calculated using the adjoint method. And for the tangent cost function it is shown that although the objective involves the third derivative of the strain energy an efficient formulation for calculating the sensitivity can be obtained. Loss of convergence due to large deformations in void regions is addressed bymore » using a fictitious strain energy such that small strain linear elasticity is approached in the void regions. We formulate a well-posed topology optimization problem by using restriction which is achieved via a Helmholtz type filter. The numerical examples provided show that for low load levels, the designs obtained from the different stiffness measures coincide whereas for large deformations significant differences are observed.« less

Passive stiffness of pressure-induced hypertrophied cat myocardium.

PubMed

Williams, J F; Potter, R D

1981-07-01

The effect of myocardial hypertrophy on passive stiffness was determined from the stress (sigma)-strain relationship of right ventricular papillary muscles from 18 pulmonary artery-banded and 21 non-banded cats. By use of Lagrangian strain, (1-lo)lo is initial muscle length, and instantaneous stress elastic constants beta and alpha were calculated from the equation sigma = alpha(ebeta epsilon - 1). Elastic stiffness (d sigma/d epsilon) was determined from the formula d sigma/d epsilon = beta alpha + alpha beta. Banding produced an average increase in RV mass of 70%. Beta averaged 14.2 +/- 0.9 (SEM) and 16.0 +/- 0.8 in the non-hypertrophied and hypertrophied muscles, respectively (NS). However, elastic stiffness was significantly greater in hypertrophied muscles over the entire stress range. Contractile function varied widely among hypertrophied muscles but was not related to changes in stiffness. Thus, moderate degrees of pressure-induced hypertrophy are associated with a modest increase in the passive stiffness properties of the muscle, independent of changes in contractile function.

Elastic-Mathematical Theory of Cells and Mitochondria in Swelling Process

PubMed Central

Mela, M. J.

1968-01-01

The elastic behavior of the cell wall as a function of the temperature has been studied with particular attention being given to the swelling of egg cells of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Crassostrea virginica in different sea water concentrations at different temperatures. It was found that the modulus of elasticity is a nonlinear function of temperature. At about 12-13°C the modulus of elasticity (E) is constant, independent of the stress (σ) and strain (εν) which exist at the cell wall; the membranous material follows Hooke's law, and E ≈ 3 × 107 dyn/cm2 for S. purpuratus and C. virginica. When the temperature is higher or lower than 12-13°C, the modulus of elasticity increases, and the membranous material does not follow Hooke's law, but is almost directly proportional to the stresses existing at the cell wall. On increasing the stress, the function Eσ = E(σ) approaches saturation. The corresponding stress-strain diagrams, σ = σ(εν), and the graphs, Eσ = E(σ) and Eσ = E(t) are given. The cyto-elastic phenomena at the membrane are discussed. PMID:5689191

The effect of neighboring cells on the stiffness of cancerous and non-cancerous human mammary epithelial cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Xinyi; Bonin, Keith; Scarpinato, Karin; Guthold, Martin

2014-10-01

Using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) with a 5.3 μm diameter spherical probe, we determined mechanical properties of individual human mammary epithelial cells. The cells were derived from a pair of cell lines that mimic cell progression through four phases of neoplastic transformation: normal (non-transformed), immortal, tumorigenic, and metastatic. Measurements on cells in all four phases were taken over both the cytoplasmic and nuclear regions. Moreover, the measurements were made for cells in different microenvironments as related to cell-cell contacts: isolated cells; cells residing on the periphery of a contiguous cell monolayer; and cells on the inside of a contiguous cell monolayer. By fitting the AFM force versus indentation curves to a Hertz model, we determined the pseudo-elastic Young’s modulus, E. Combining all data for the cellular subregions (over nucleus and cytoplasm) and the different cell microenvironments, we obtained stiffness values for normal, immortal, tumorigenic, and metastatic cells of 870 Pa, 870 Pa, 490 Pa, and 580 Pa, respectively. That is, cells become softer as they advance to the tumorigenic phase and then stiffen somewhat in the final step to metastatic cells. We also found a distinct contrast in the influence of a cell’s microenvironment on cell stiffness. Normal mammary epithelial cells inside a monolayer are stiffer than peripheral cells, which are stiffer than isolated cells. However, the microenvironment had a slight, opposite effect on tumorigenic and little effect on immortal and metastatic cell stiffness. Thus, the stiffness of cancer cells is less sensitive to the microenvironment than normal cells. Our results show that the mechanical properties of a cell can depend on cancer progression and microenvironment (cell-cell interactions).

The Value Range of Contact Stiffness Factor between Pile and Soil Based on Penalty Function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Sandy H. L.; Wu, Xinliu

2018-03-01

The value range of contact stiffness factor based on penalty function is studied when we use finite element software ANSYS to analyze contact problems, take single pile and soil of a certain project for example, the normal contact between pile and soil is analyzed with 2D simplified model in horizontal load. The study shows that when adopting linear elastic model to simulate soil, the maximum contact pressure and penetration approach steady value as the contact stiffness factor increases. The reasonable value range of contact stiffness factor reduces as the underlying element thickness decreases, but the rule reverses when refers to the soil stiffness. If choose DP model to simulate soil, the stiffness factor should be magnified 100 times compares to the elastic model regardless of the soil bears small force and still in elastic deformation stage or into the plastic deformation stage. When the soil bears big force and into plastic deformation stage, the value range of stiffness factor relates to the plastic strain range of the soil, and reduces as the horizontal load increases.

Elasticity of microscale volumes of viscoelastic soft matter by cavitation rheometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavlovsky, Leonid; Ganesan, Mahesh; Younger, John G.; Solomon, Michael J.

2014-09-01

Measurement of the elastic modulus of soft, viscoelastic liquids with cavitation rheometry is demonstrated for specimens as small as 1 μl by application of elasticity theory and experiments on semi-dilute polymer solutions. Cavitation rheometry is the extraction of the elastic modulus of a material, E, by measuring the pressure necessary to create a cavity within it [J. A. Zimberlin, N. Sanabria-DeLong, G. N. Tew, and A. J. Crosby, Soft Matter 3, 763-767 (2007)]. This paper extends cavitation rheometry in three ways. First, we show that viscoelastic samples can be approximated with the neo-Hookean model provided that the time scale of the cavity formation is measured. Second, we extend the cavitation rheometry method to accommodate cases in which the sample size is no longer large relative to the cavity dimension. Finally, we implement cavitation rheometry to show that the theory accurately measures the elastic modulus of viscoelastic samples with volumes ranging from 4 ml to as low as 1 μl.

Resonant Acoustic Determination of Complex Elastic Moduli

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, David A.; Garrett, Steven L.

1991-01-01

A simple, inexpensive, yet accurate method for measuring the dynamic complex modulus of elasticity is described. Using a 'free-free' bar selectively excited in three independent vibrational modes, the shear modulus is obtained by measuring the frequency of the torsional resonant mode and the Young's modulus is determined from measurement of either the longitudinal or flexural mode. The damping properties are obtained by measuring the quality factor (Q) for each mode. The Q is inversely proportional to the loss tangent. The viscoelastic behavior of the sample can be obtained by tracking a particular resonant mode (and thus a particular modulus) using a phase locked loop (PLL) and by changing the temperature of the sample. The change in the damping properties is obtained by measuring the in-phase amplitude of the PLL which is proportional to the Q of the material. The real and imaginary parts or the complex modulus can be obtained continuously as a function of parameters such as temperature, pressure, or humidity. For homogeneous and isotropic samples only two independent moduli are needed in order to characterize the complete set of elastic constants, thus, values can be obtained for the dynamic Poisson's ratio, bulk modulus, Lame constants, etc.

The elastic properties of cancerous skin: Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus.

PubMed

Tilleman, Tamara Raveh; Tilleman, Michael M; Neumann, Martino H A

2004-12-01

The physical properties of cancerous skin tissue have rarely been measured in either fresh or frozen skin specimens. Of interest are the elastic properties associated with the skin's ability to deform, i.e., to stretch and compress. Two constants--Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio--represent the basic elastic behavior pattern of any elastic material, including skin. The former relates the applied stress on a specimen to its deformation via Hooke's law, while the latter is the ratio between the axial and lateral strains. To investigate the elastic properties of cancerous skin tissue. For this purpose 23 consecutive cancerous tissue specimens prepared during Mohs micrographic surgery were analyzed. From these specimens we calculated the change in radial length (defined as the radial strain) and the change in tissue thickness (defined as axial strain). Based on the above two strains we determined a Poisson ratio of 0.43 +/- 0.12 and an average Young modulus of 52 KPa. Defining the elastic properties of cancerous skin may become the first step in turning elasticity into a clinical tool. Correlating these constants with the histopathologic features of a cancerous tissue can contribute an additional non-invasive, in vivo and in vitro diagnostic tool.

Ultima Replicated Optics Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hadaway, James; Engelhaupt, Darell

1997-01-01

Designs are reviewed incorporating processes suitable for replication of precision spherical segments of very large (greater than 20 meter diameter) telescopes combining ultra-lightweight and high precision. These designs must be amenable to assembly and alignment after deployment . The methods considered lie outside the present scope of fabrication, deployment and alignment considered to date. Design guidelines for reducing the weight and low frequency resonance in low G environment were given by The Serius Group, Dr. Glenn Zeiders, and are considered baseline for this activity. The goal of a rigid design of 10 Kg/sq M is being persued for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) and is not likely adequate for advanced efforts. Flexures have been considered for maintaining the figure of many lightweight structures by control loop processes. This adds to the complexity and weight to the extent that it becomes difficult to recover the benefits. Two fabrication guidelines lead to a stiffer and concurrently lighter structure. First the use of thin vertical wall triangular structural reinforcements to increase the resistance to bending is preferred over hexagonal or square similar sections. Secondly, the incorporation of a similar back sheet on a cellular structure markedly improves the geometric stiffness. Neither improves the short range stiffness. Also often overlooked is that selected material properties must include high microyield and low hysteresis in addition to high elastic modulus to weight (stiffness). The fabrication steps can easily exceed the strain requirement.

Characterization of the Properties of Photopatterned Hydrogels for Use in Regenerative Medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiedler, Callie Irene

The goal of this thesis was to locally photopattern cytocompatible hydrogels to exhibit a wide range of mechanical properties and to probe the fundamental parameters governing these materials printed via stereolithography (SLA). Fabricating cell-laden structures with locally defined mechanical properties is non-trivial because the use of multiple precursor materials is wasteful, slow, and can lead to cell-death. To investigate the range of mechanical properties a single precursor solution can produce, I initially formed a single-network hydrogel and cyclically in- swelled fresh precursor solution followed by photo-exposure of the swollen gel ("swelling + exposure" or SE cycle). Because transport (i.e., diffusion and swelling) can occur on the same time scale as photopolymerization reaction kinetics, I first characterized the variable modulus hydrogels in bulk to isolate the reaction kinetics. In these experiments, I demonstrated the ability modify the mechanical and chemical (i.e., compressive modulus, toughness, crosslink density, swelling ratio) properties by up to 10-fold using only 2-4 SE cycles. I then used the understanding gained via these bulk experiments to locally photopattern the elastic modulus of a cytocompatible hydrogel with pixel-limited resolution (˜10s mum) employing a custom SLA system. Here I demonstrated the ability to fabricate hydrogels with a 500% elastic moduli increase with respect to the unpatterned hydrogel using atomic force microscopy. I monitored monomer attachment to the existing matrix as a function of SE cycle using confocal fluorescence microscopy to characterize the shape and size of printed features. I validated that the dependence of these features on material and processing conditions could be explained by a first-order reaction/diffusion model. With this understanding, I fabricated SLA 3D printed, soft, cytocompatible hydrogels (˜10s kPa) with ˜250 mum channels in addition to fabricating 3D printed stiff, cytocompatible hydrogels (39 MPa) both with ˜10 mum resolution.

Alteration of Dentin-Enamel Mechanical Properties Due to Dental Whitening Treatments

PubMed Central

Zimmerman, B.; Datko, L.; Cupelli, M.; Alapati, S.; Dean, D.; Kennedy, M.

2010-01-01

The mechanical properties of dentin and enamel affect the reliability and wear properties of a tooth. This study investigated the influence of clinical dental treatments and procedures, such as whitening treatments or etching prior to restorative procedures. Both autoclaved and non-autoclaved teeth were studied in order to allow for both comparison with published values and improved clinical relevance. Nanoindentation analysis with the Oliver-Pharr model provided elastic modulus and hardness across the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ). Large increases were observed in the elastic modulus of enamel in teeth that had been autoclaved (52.0GPa versus 113.4GPa), while smaller increases were observed in the dentin (17.9GPa versus 27.9GPa). Likewise, there was an increase in the hardness of enamel (2.0GPa versus 4.3GPa) and dentin (0.5GPa versus 0.7GPa) with autoclaving. These changes suggested that the range of elastic modulus and hardness values previously reported in literature may be partially due to the sterilization procedures. Treatment of the exterior of non-autoclaved teeth with Crest Whitestrips™, Opalescence™ or UltraEtch™ caused changes in the mechanical properties of both the enamel and dentin. Those treated with Crest Whitestrips™ showed a reduction in the elastic modulus of enamel (55.3GPa to 32.7GPa) and increase in the elastic modulus of dentin (17.2GPa to 24.3GPa). Opalescence™ treatments did not significantly affect the enamel properties, but did result in a decrease in modulus of dentin (18.5GPa to 15.1GPa). Additionally, as expected, UltraEtch™ treatment decreased the modulus and hardness of enamel (48.7GPa to 38.0GPa and 1.9GPa to 1.5GPa, respectively) and dentin (21.4GPa to 15.0GPa and 1.9GPa to 1.5GPa, respectively). Changes in the mechanical properties were linked to altered protein concentration within the tooth, as evidenced by fluorescence microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. PMID:20346902

The trampoline aftereffect: the motor and sensory modulations associated with jumping on an elastic surface.

PubMed

Márquez, Gonzalo; Aguado, Xavier; Alegre, Luis M; Lago, Angel; Acero, Rafael M; Fernández-del-Olmo, Miguel

2010-08-01

After repeated jumps over an elastic surface (e.g. a trampoline), subjects usually report a strange sensation when they jump again overground (e.g. they feel unable to jump because their body feels heavy). However, the motor and sensory effects of exposure to an elastic surface are unknown. In the present study, we examined the motor and perceptual effects of repeated jumps over two different surfaces (stiff and elastic), measuring how this affected maximal countermovement vertical jump (CMJ). Fourteen subjects participated in two counterbalanced sessions, 1 week apart. Each experimental session consisted of a series of maximal CMJs over a force plate before and after 1 min of light jumping on an elastic or stiff surface. We measured actual motor performance (height jump and leg stiffness during CMJ) and how that related to perceptual experience (jump height estimation and subjective sensation). After repeated jumps on an elastic surface, the first CMJ showed a significant increase in leg stiffness (P < or = 0.01), decrease in jump height (P < or = 0.01) increase in perceptual misestimation (P < or = 0.05) and abnormal subjective sensation (P < or = 0.001). These changes were not observed after repeated jumps on a rigid surface. In a complementary experiment, continuous surface transitions show that the effects persist across cycles, and the effects over the leg stiffness and subjective experience are minimized (P < or = 0.05). We propose that these aftereffects could be the consequence of an erroneous internal model resulting from the high vertical forces produced by the elastic surface.

Natural asphalt modified binders used for high stiffness modulus asphalt concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilski, Marcin; Słowik, Mieczysław

2018-05-01

This paper presents a set of test results supporting the possibility of replacing, in Polish climate conditions, hard road 20/30 penetration grade bitumen used in the binder course and/or base course made of high stiffness modulus asphalt concrete with binders comprising of 35/50 or 50/70 penetration grade bitumens and additives in the form of natural Gilsonite or Trinidad Epuré asphalts. For the purpose of comparing the properties of the discussed asphalt binders, values of the Performance Grade have been determined according to the American Superpave system criteria.

Numerical Analysis of the Bending Properties of Cathay Poplar Glulam

PubMed Central

Gao, Ying; Wu, Yuxuan; Zhu, Xudong; Zhu, Lei; Yu, Zhiming; Wu, Yong

2015-01-01

This paper presents the formulae and finite element analysis models for predicting the Modulus of Elastic (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR) of Cathay poplar finger-jointed glulam. The formula of the MOE predicts the MOE of Cathay poplar glulam glued with one-component polyurethane precisely. Three formulae are used to predict the MOR, and Equation (12) predicts the MOR of Cathay poplar glulam precisely. The finite element analysis simulation results of both the MOE and MOR are similar to the experimental results. The predicted results of the finite element analysis are shown to be more accurate than those of the formulae, because the finite element analysis considers the glue layers, but the formulae do not. Three types of typical failure modes due to bending were summarized. The bending properties of Cathay poplar glulam were compared to those of Douglas fir glulam. The results show that Cathay poplar glulam has a lower stiffness, but a marginally higher strength. One-component polyurethane adhesive is shown to be more effective than resorcinol formaldehyde resin adhesive for Cathay poplar glulam. This study shows that Cathay poplar has the potential to be a glulam material in China. PMID:28793619

Quantitative vibro-acoustography of tissue-like objects by measurement of resonant modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazumder, Dibbyan; Umesh, Sharath; Mohan Vasu, Ram; Roy, Debasish; Kanhirodan, Rajan; Asokan, Sundarrajan

2017-01-01

We demonstrate a simple and computationally efficient method to recover the shear modulus pertaining to the focal volume of an ultrasound transducer from the measured vibro-acoustic spectral peaks. A model that explains the transport of local deformation information with the acoustic wave acting as a carrier is put forth. It is also shown that the peaks correspond to the natural frequencies of vibration of the focal volume, which may be readily computed by solving an eigenvalue problem associated with the vibrating region. Having measured the first natural frequency with a fibre Bragg grating sensor, and armed with an expedient means of computing the same, we demonstrate a simple procedure, based on the method of bisection, to recover the average shear modulus of the object in the ultrasound focal volume. We demonstrate this recovery for four homogeneous agarose slabs of different stiffness and verify the accuracy of the recovery using independent rheometer-based measurements. Extension of the method to anisotropic samples through the measurement of a more complete set of resonant modes and the recovery of an elasticity tensor distribution, as is done in resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, is suggested.

Bending elasticity of lipid membranes in presence of beta 2 glycoprotein I in the surrounding solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavlič, J. I.; Genova, J.; Zheliaskova, A.; Iglič, A.; Mitov, M. D.

2010-11-01

Thermally induced shape fluctuations of giant quasi-spherical lipid vesicles are used to study the bending elasticity modulus kc of a phospholipid (PHLP) membranes in presence of beta 2 glycoprotein I (β2-GPI) in the aqueous solution which surrounds the vesicle's membrane. The bending elastic modulus kc of PHLP - protein membrane was obtained for different mass concentrations of β2-GPI for pure neutral SOPC membranes and for mixed SOPC: Cardiolipin negatively charged membranes. The experimental results for the bending elastic modulus kc of the PHLP membranes does not show dependence on the concentration of β2-GPI in the range from 5.5 to 55 μg/ml, when β2-GPI is present in the aqueous solution surrounding the vesicle's membrane. Obtained results are in good agreement with predictions, based on different experiments, explaining the mechanism of binding of β2-GPI to neutral membranes.

Effect of ripples on the finite temperature elastic properties of hexagonal boron nitride using strain-fluctuation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, Siby; Ajith, K. M.; Valsakumar, M. C.

2017-11-01

This work intents to put forth the results of a classical molecular dynamics study to investigate the temperature dependent elastic constants of monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) between 100 and 1000 K for the first time using strain fluctuation method. The temperature dependence of out-of-plane fluctuations (ripples) is quantified and is explained using continuum theory of membranes. At low temperatures, negative in-plane thermal expansion is observed and at high temperatures, a transition to positive thermal expansion has been observed due to the presence of thermally excited ripples. The decrease of Young's modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus and Poisson's ratio with increase in temperature has been analyzed. The thermal rippling in h-BN leads to strong anharmonic behaviour that causes large deviation from the isotropic elasticity. A detailed study shows that the strong thermal rippling in large systems is also responsible for the softening of elastic constants in h-BN. From the determined values of elastic constants and elastic moduli, it has been elucidated that 2D h-BN sheets meet the Born's mechanical stability criterion in the investigated temperature range. The variation of longitudinal and shear velocities with temperature is also calculated from the computed values of elastic constants and elastic moduli.

Relationship between mechanical properties of one-step self-etch adhesives and water sorption.

PubMed

Hosaka, Keiichi; Nakajima, Masatoshi; Takahashi, Masahiro; Itoh, Shima; Ikeda, Masaomi; Tagami, Junji; Pashley, David H

2010-04-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between changes in the modulus of elasticity and ultimate tensile strength of one-step self-etch adhesives, and their degree of water sorption. Five one-step self-etch adhesives, Xeno IV (Dentsply Caulk), G Bond (GC Corp.), Clearfil S3 Bond (Kuraray Medical Inc.), Bond Force (Tokuyama Dental Corp.), and One-Up Bond F Plus (Tokuyama Dental Corp.) were used. Ten dumbelled-shaped polymers of each adhesive were used to obtain the modulus of elasticity by the three-point flexural bending test and the ultimate tensile strength by microtensile testing. The modulus of elasticity and the ultimate tensile strength were measured in both dry and wet conditions before/after immersion in water for 24h. Water sorption was measured, using a modification of the ISO-4049 standard. Each result of the modulus of elasticity and ultimate tensile strength was statistically analyzed using a two-way ANOVA and the result of water sorption was statistically analyzed using a one-way ANOVA. Regression analyses were used to determine the correlations between the modulus of elasticity and the ultimate tensile strength in dry or wet states, and also the percent decrease in these properties before/after immersion of water vs. water sorption. In the dry state, the moduli of elasticity of the five adhesive polymers varied from 948 to 1530 MPa, while the ultimate tensile strengths varied from 24.4 to 61.5 MPa. The wet specimens gave much lower moduli of elasticity (from 584 to 1073 MPa) and ultimate tensile strengths (from 16.5 to 35.0 MPa). Water sorption varied from 32.1 to 105.8 g mm(-3). The moduli of elasticity and ultimate tensile strengths of the adhesives fell significantly after water-storage. Water sorption depended on the constituents of the adhesive systems. The percent decreases in the ultimate tensile strengths of the adhesives were related to water sorption, while the percent reductions in the moduli of elasticity of the adhesives were not related to water sorption. Copyright (c) 2009 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modelling of Asphalt Concrete Stiffness in the Linear Viscoelastic Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazurek, Grzegorz; Iwański, Marek

2017-10-01

Stiffness modulus is a fundamental parameter used in the modelling of the viscoelastic behaviour of bituminous mixtures. On the basis of the master curve in the linear viscoelasticity range, the mechanical properties of asphalt concrete at different loading times and temperatures can be predicted. This paper discusses the construction of master curves under rheological mathematical models i.e. the sigmoidal function model (MEPDG), the fractional model, and Bahia and co-workers’ model in comparison to the results from mechanistic rheological models i.e. the generalized Huet-Sayegh model, the generalized Maxwell model and the Burgers model. For the purposes of this analysis, the reference asphalt concrete mix (denoted as AC16W) intended for the binder coarse layer and for traffic category KR3 (5×105

Quantitative US Elastography Can Be Used to Quantify Mechanical and Histologic Tendon Healing in a Rabbit Model of Achilles Tendon Transection.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Yohei; Yamaguchi, Satoshi; Sasho, Takahisa; Fukawa, Taisuke; Akatsu, Yorikazu; Akagi, Ryuichiro; Yamaguchi, Tadashi; Takahashi, Kenji; Nagashima, Kengo; Takahashi, Kazuhisa

2017-05-01

Purpose To determine the time-dependent change in strain ratios (SRs) at the healing site of an Achilles tendon rupture in a rabbit model of tendon transection and to assess the correlation between SRs and the mechanical and histologic properties of the healing tissue. Materials and Methods Experimental methods were approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. The Achilles tendons of 24 New Zealand white rabbits (48 limbs) were surgically transected. The SRs of Achilles tendons were calculated by using compression-based quantitative ultrasonographic elastography measurements obtained 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after transection. After in vivo elastography, the left Achilles tendon was harvested for mechanical testing of ultimate load, ultimate stress, elastic modulus, and linear stiffness, and the right tendons were harvested for tissue histologic analysis with the Bonar scale. Time-dependent changes in SRs, mechanical parameters, and Bonar scale scores were evaluated by using repeated-measures analysis of variance. The correlation between SRs and each measured variable was evaluated by using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results Mean SRs and Bonar scale values decreased as a function of time after transection, whereas mechanical parameters increased (P < .001). SR correlated with ultimate stress (ρ = 0.68, P <.001,) elastic modulus (ρ = 0.74, P <.001), and the Bonar scale (ρ = 0.87, P <.001). Conclusion Quantitative elastography could be a useful method with which to evaluate mechanical and histologic properties of the healing tendon. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Influence of purified multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the mechanical and morphological behavior in poly (L-lactic acid) matrix.

PubMed

Leal, C V; Martinez, D S T; Más, B A; Alves, O L; Duek, E A R

2016-06-01

Poly (L-latic acid) (PLLA) is a bioresorbable polymer widely used as a biomaterial, but its fragility can limit its use. An alternative is to produce polymer nanocomposites, which can enhance the mechanical properties of polymeric matrix, resulting in a material with differentiated properties. In this work, PLLA based nanocomposites containing 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0wt% of purified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (p-MWCNTs) were prepared by the solvent casting method. The morphology and mechanical properties results show an improvement in strain at break for 0.25 and 0.5wt% p-MWCNTs and an increase in stiffness and elastic modulus for all compositions. Nanocomposites presented a p-MWCNTs agglomeration; however, there was a good stress transfer between PLLA and p-MWCNTs, which was confirmed by the increase in the hardness and elastic modulus. Atomic force microscopy analysis indicated an increase in roughness after nanotube addition. The in vitro biological study showed that PLLA/p-MWCNTs nanocomposites are cytocompatible with osteoblasts cells. The capacity of PLLA nanocomposites to stimulate osteogenesis was investigated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay. Higher ALP activity was found on osteoblasts cultured on nanocomposites with 0.25 and 0.5wt% p-MWCNT compared to neat PLLA, confirming that PLLA cytocompatibility was improved on these compositions. Finally, our results showed that by a simple and inexpensive solvent casting method, it is possible to manufacture biofunctional nanocomposites devices with potential for orthopedic applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biomechanics of subcellular structures by non-invasive Brillouin microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonacci, Giuseppe; Braakman, Sietse

2016-11-01

Cellular biomechanics play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of several diseases. Unfortunately, current methods to measure biomechanical properties are invasive and mostly limited to the surface of a cell. As a result, the mechanical behaviour of subcellular structures and organelles remains poorly characterised. Here, we show three-dimensional biomechanical images of single cells obtained with non-invasive, non-destructive Brillouin microscopy with an unprecedented spatial resolution. Our results quantify the longitudinal elastic modulus of subcellular structures. In particular, we found the nucleoli to be stiffer than both the nuclear envelope (p < 0.0001) and the surrounding cytoplasm (p < 0.0001). Moreover, we demonstrate the mechanical response of cells to Latrunculin-A, a drug that reduces cell stiffness by preventing cytoskeletal assembly. Our technique can therefore generate valuable insights into cellular biomechanics and its role in pathophysiology.

Physical properties and collapse force of according to the z-position of poly-Si pattern using nano-tribology.

PubMed

Kim, Soo In; Lee, Chang Woo

2011-02-01

Nowadays, many researchers try to measure the collapse force of fine pattern. However, most of the researches use LFM to gauge it indirectly and LFM can measure not for collapse force directly but only limited for horizontal force. Thus, nano-scratch is suggested to measure the collapse force possibly. We used poly-Si pattern on Si plate and changed the z-location of the pattern. From these experiments, the stiffness was decease as depth increase from surface and well fitted with negative exponential curve. Also, the elastic modulus was decreased. From the results, the collapse force of poly-Si nano-patterns was decreased as the depth increased over than 30% from the surface and the maximum collapse force was 26.91 microN and pattern was collapsed between poly-Si and plate.

Mechanical Behavior of Microelectromechanical Microshutters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burns, Devin Edward; Jones, Justin Scott; Li, Mary J.

2014-01-01

A custom micro-mechanical test system was constructed using off-the-shelf components to characterize the mechanical properties of microshutters. Microshutters are rectangular microelectromechanical apertures which open and close about a narrow torsion bar hinge. Displacement measurements were verified using both capacitive and digital image correlation techniques. Repeatable experiments on Si3N4 cantilever beams verified that the test system operates consistently. Using beam theory, the modulus of elasticity of the low stress Si3N4 was approximately 150 GPa, though significant uncertainty exists for this measurement due primarily to imprecise knowledge of the cantilever thickness. Tests conducted on microshutter arrays concluded that reducing the Si3N4 thickness from 250 nm to 500 nm reduces the torsional stiffness by a factor of approximately four. This is in good agreement with analytical and finite element models of the microshutters.

Morphology- and ion size-induced actuation of carbon nanotube architectures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geier; Mahrholz; Wierach; Sinapius

2018-04-01

Future adaptive applications require lightweight and stiff materials with high active strain but low energy consumption. A suitable combination of these properties is offered by carbon nanotube-based actuators. Papers made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are charged within an electrolyte, which results in an electrical field forming a double-layer of ions at their surfaces and a deflection of the papers can be detected. Until now, there is no generally accepted theory for the actuation mechanism. This study focuses on the actuation mechanism of CNT papers, which represent architectures of randomly oriented CNTs. The samples are tested electrochemically in an in-plane set-up to detect the free strain. The elastic modulus of the CNT papers is analyzed in a tensile test facility. The influence of various ion sizes of water-based electrolytes is investigated.

3D Printing Variable Stiffness Foams Using Viscous Thread Instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipton, Jeffrey I.; Lipson, Hod

2016-08-01

Additive manufacturing of cellular structures has numerous applications ranging from fabrication of biological scaffolds and medical implants, to mechanical weight reduction and control over mechanical properties. Various additive manufacturing processes have been used to produce open regular cellular structures limited only by the resolution of the printer. These efforts have focused on printing explicitly designed cells or explicitly planning offsets between strands. Here we describe a technique for producing cellular structures implicitly by inducing viscous thread instability when extruding material. This process allows us to produce complex cellular structures at a scale that is finer than the native resolution of the printer. We demonstrate tunable effective elastic modulus and density that span two orders of magnitude. Fine grained cellular structures allow for fabrication of foams for use in a wide range of fields ranging from bioengineering, to robotics to food printing.

Influence of Severe Plastic Deformation on the Structure and Properties of Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr-Sc-Zn Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaigorodova, L. I.; Rasposienko, D. Yu.; Pushin, V. G.; Pilyugin, V. P.; Smirnov, S. V.

2018-02-01

The structural and phase transformations in the Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr-Sc-Zn alloy have been studied by the electron microscopy after the aging for the maximum strength and in the nanostructured state after severe plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion. It has been shown that severe plastic deformation leads to the formation of a nanostructured state in the alloy, the nature of which is determined by the magnitude of deformation and the degree of completeness of the dynamic recrystallization. It has been established that deformation also causes a change in the phase composition of the alloy. The influence of the structural components of the severely deformed alloy on the level of mechanical properties, such as the hardness, plasticity, elastic modulus, and stiffness has been discussed.

Standardizing lightweight deflectometer modulus measurements for compaction quality assurance : research summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-09-01

The mechanistic-empirical pavement design method requires the elastic resilient modulus as the key input for characterization of geomaterials. Current density-based QA procedures do not measure resilient modulus. Additionally, the density-based metho...

Quantifying effects of cyclic stretch on cell-collagen substrate adhesiveness of vascular endothelial cells.

PubMed

Omidvar, Ramin; Tafazzoli-Shadpour, Mohammad; Mahmoodi-Nobar, Farbod; Azadi, Shohreh; Khani, Mohammad-Mehdi

2018-05-01

Vascular endothelium is continuously subjected to mechanical stimulation in the form of shear forces due to blood flow as well as tensile forces as a consequence of blood pressure. Such stimuli influence endothelial behavior and regulate cell-tissue interaction for an optimized functionality. This study aimed to quantify influence of cyclic stretch on the adhesive property and stiffness of endothelial cells. The 10% cyclic stretch with frequency of 1 Hz was applied to a layer of endothelial cells cultured on a polydimethylsiloxane substrate. Cell-substrate adhesion of endothelial cells was examined by the novel approach of atomic force microscope-based single-cell force spectroscopy and cell stiffness was measured by atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the adhesive molecular bonds were evaluated using modified Hertz contact theory. Our results show that overall adhesion of endothelial cells with substrate decreased after cyclic stretch while they became stiffer. Based on the experimental results and theoretical modeling, the decrease in the number of molecular bonds after cyclic stretch was quantified. In conclusion, in vitro cyclic stretch caused alterations in both adhesive capacity and elastic modulus of endothelial cells through mechanotransductive pathways as two major determinants of the function of these cells within the cardiovascular system.

New findings confirm the viscoelastic behaviour of the inter-lamellar matrix of the disc annulus fibrosus in radial and circumferential directions of loading.

PubMed

Tavakoli, J; Costi, J J

2018-04-15

While few studies have improved our understanding of composition and organization of elastic fibres in the inter-lamellar matrix (ILM), its clinical relevance is not fully understood. Moreover, no studies have measured the direct tensile and shear failure and viscoelastic properties of the ILM. Therefore, the aim of this study was, for the first time, to measure the viscoelastic and failure properties of the ILM in both the tension and shear directions of loading. Using an ovine model, isolated ILM samples were stretched to 40% of their initial length at three strain rates of 0.1%s -1 (slow), 1%s -1 (medium) and 10%s -1 (fast) and a ramp test to failure was performed at a strain rate of 10%s -1 . The findings from this study identified that the stiffness of the ILM was significantly larger at faster strain rates, and energy absorption significantly smaller, compared to slower strain rates, and the viscoelastic and failure properties were not significantly different under tension and shear loading. We found a strain rate dependent response of the ILM during dynamic loading, particularly at the fastest rate. The ILM demonstrated a significantly higher capability for energy absorption at slow strain rates compared to medium and fast strain rates. A significant increase in modulus was found in both loading directions and all strain rates, having a trend of larger modulus in tension and at faster strain rates. The finding of no significant difference in failure properties in both loading directions, was consistent with our previous ultra-structural studies that revealed a well-organized (±45°) elastic fibre orientation in the ILM. The results from this study can be used to develop and validate finite element models of the AF at the tissue scale, as well as providing new strategies for fabricating tissue engineered scaffolds. While few studies have improved our understanding of composition and organization of elastic fibres in the inter-lamellar matrix (ILM) of the annulus in the disc no studies have measured the direct mechanical failure and viscoelastic properties of the ILM. The findings from this study identified that the stiffness of the ILM was significantly larger at faster strain rates, and energy absorption significantly smaller, compared to slower strain rates. The failure properties of the ILM were not significantly different under tension and shear. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Resilient modulus and the fatigue properties of Kansas hot mix asphalt mixes

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-08-01

This research study aimed to determine the dynamic modulus, bending stiffness and fatigue properties of four representative Superpave Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixtures used in the construction of base layers of Kansas flexible pavements and to compare t...

Anisotropic mechanical properties of zircon and the effect of radiation damage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beirau, Tobias; Nix, William D.; Bismayer, Ulrich; Boatner, Lynn A.; Isaacson, Scott G.; Ewing, Rodney C.

2016-10-01

This study provides new insights into the relationship between radiation-dose-dependent structural damage due to natural U and Th impurities and the anisotropic mechanical properties (Poisson's ratio, elastic modulus and hardness) of zircon. Natural zircon samples from Sri Lanka (see Muarakami et al. in Am Mineral 76:1510-1532, 1991) and synthetic samples, covering a dose range of zero up to 6.8 × 1018 α-decays/g, have been studied by nanoindentation. Measurements along the [100] crystallographic direction and calculations, based on elastic stiffness constants determined by Özkan (J Appl Phys 47:4772-4779, 1976), revealed a general radiation-induced decrease in stiffness (~54 %) and hardness (~48 %) and an increase in the Poisson's ratio (~54 %) with increasing dose. Additional indentations on selected samples along the [001] allowed one to follow the amorphization process to the point that the mechanical properties are isotropic. This work shows that the radiation-dose-dependent changes of the mechanical properties of zircon can be directly correlated with the amorphous fraction as determined by previous investigations with local and global probes (Ríos et al. in J Phys Condens Matter 12:2401-2412, 2000a; Farnan and Salje in J Appl Phys 89:2084-2090, 2001; Zhang and Salje in J Phys Condens Matter 13:3057-3071, 2001). The excellent agreement, revealed by the different methods, indicates a large influence of structural and even local phenomena on the macroscopic mechanical properties. Therefore, this study indicates the importance of acquiring better knowledge about the mechanical long-term stability of radiation-damaged materials.

Dissecting the Impact of Matrix Anchorage and Elasticity in Cell Adhesion

PubMed Central

Pompe, Tilo; Glorius, Stefan; Bischoff, Thomas; Uhlmann, Ina; Kaufmann, Martin; Brenner, Sebastian; Werner, Carsten

2009-01-01

Abstract Extracellular matrices determine cellular fate decisions through the regulation of intracellular force and stress. Previous studies suggest that matrix stiffness and ligand anchorage cause distinct signaling effects. We show herein how defined noncovalent anchorage of adhesion ligands to elastic substrates allows for dissection of intracellular adhesion signaling pathways related to matrix stiffness and receptor forces. Quantitative analysis of the mechanical balance in cell adhesion using traction force microscopy revealed distinct scalings of the strain energy imparted by the cells on the substrates dependent either on matrix stiffness or on receptor force. Those scalings suggested the applicability of a linear elastic theoretical framework for the description of cell adhesion in a certain parameter range, which is cell-type-dependent. Besides the deconvolution of biophysical adhesion signaling, site-specific phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase, dependent either on matrix stiffness or on receptor force, also demonstrated the dissection of biochemical signaling events in our approach. Moreover, the net contractile moment of the adherent cells and their strain energy exerted on the elastic substrate was found to be a robust measure of cell adhesion with a unifying power-law scaling exponent of 1.5 independent of matrix stiffness. PMID:19843448

Mechanical properties of dental tissues in dolphins (Cetacea: Delphinoidea and Inioidea).

PubMed

Loch, Carolina; Swain, Michael V; van Vuuren, Ludwig Jansen; Kieser, Jules A; Fordyce, R Ewan

2013-07-01

(1) Mammalian teeth play a major role in food acquisition and processing. While most mammals are heterodont and masticate their food, dolphins are homodont with simplified tooth morphology and negligible mastication. Understanding mechanical properties of dental tissues in dolphins is fundamental to elucidate the functional morphology and biomechanics of their feeding apparatus. This paper aims to study the hardness and elastic modulus of enamel and dentine in dolphins. (2) Teeth of 10 extant species (Inioidea and Delphinoidea) were longitudinally sectioned, polished and mounted in a UMIS nanoindenter. Indentations were performed from dentine to outer enamel. Hardness and elastic modulus were calculated using the Oliver-Pharr method. (3) Mean values of hardness and elastic modulus were similar on buccal and lingual surfaces. While dentine hardness was statistically similar among species, enamel hardness varied from 3.86GPa (±0.4) in Steno bredanensis (rough-toothed dolphin) to 2.36GPa (±0.38) in Pontoporia blainvillei (franciscana). For most species, there was a gradational increase in hardness values from inner to outer enamel. Enamel and dentine elastic modulus values clearly differed among species. In enamel, it ranged from 69.32GPa (±4.08) in the rough-toothed dolphin to 13.51GPa (±2.80) in Stenella coeruleoalba (striped dolphin). For most species, elastic modulus values were highest at inner and outer enamel. (4) Differences in mechanical properties between species, and within the enamel of each species, suggest functional implications and influence of ultrastructural arrangement and chemical composition. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of milling on the plastic and the elastic stiffness of lactose particles.

PubMed

Pazesh, Samaneh; Persson, Ann-Sofie; Berggren, Jonas; Alderborn, Göran

2018-03-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of degree of disorder of a series of α-lactose monohydrate powders, prepared by milling for different time periods, on the plastic and the elastic stiffness of the particles. As references, a series of physical mixtures consisting of original crystalline particles and amorphous particles obtained by spray-drying was used. In addition, the effect of powder pre-storage humidity on the mechanical properties was investigated. For milled particles of a low degree of disorder, a decreased particle size increased the particle plastic stiffness. For milled particles of constant particle size, the plastic stiffness decreased with an increased degree of disorder while the elastic stiffness seemed nearly independent of the degree of disorder. The presence of moisture caused a recrystallisation of milled particles with low degree of disorder which increased their plastic stiffness. For the physical mixtures of crystalline and amorphous particles, similar relationships between plastic stiffness and amorphous content as for the milled powders were obtained. A reasonable explanation is that the nature of the milled particles is represented by a two-state system with crystalline and amorphous domains. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dynamic modulus of nanosilica modified porous asphalt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arshad, A. K.; Masri, K. A.; Ahmad, J.; Samsudin, M. S.

2017-11-01

Porous asphalt (PA) is a flexible pavement layer with high interconnected air void contents and constructed using open-graded aggregates. Due to high temperature environment and increased traffic volume in Malaysia, PA may have deficiencies particularly in rutting and stiffness of the mix. A possible way to improve these deficiencies is to improve the asphalt binder used. Binder is normally modified using polymer materials to improve its properties. However, nanotechnology presently is being gradually used for asphalt modification. Nanosilica (NS), a byproduct of rice husk and palm oil fuel ash is used as additive in this study. The aim of this study is to enhance the rutting resistance and stiffness performance of PA using NS. This study focused on the performance of PA in terms of dynamic modulus with the addition of NS modified binder to produce better and more durable PA. From the result of Dynamic SPT Test, it shows that the addition of NS was capable in enhancing the stiffness and rutting resistance of PA. The addition of NS also increase the dynamic modulus value of PA by 50%.

Diameter effect on stress-wave evaluation of modulus of elasticity of logs

Treesearch

Xiping Wang; Robert J. Ross; Brian K. Brashaw; John Punches; John R. Erickson; John W. Forsman; Roy E. Pellerin

2004-01-01

Recent studies on nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of logs have shown that a longitudinal stress-wave method can be used to nondestructively evaluate the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of logs. A strong relationship has been found between stress-wave MOE and static MOE of logs, but a significant deviation was observed between stress-wave and static values. The objective of...

Prediction of the elastic modulus of wood flour/kenaf fibre/polypropylene hybrid composites

Treesearch

Jamal Mirbagheri; Mehdi Tajvidi; Ismaeil Ghasemi; John C. Hermanson

2007-01-01

The prediction of the elastic modulus of short natural fibre hybrid composites has been investigated by using the properties of the pure composites through the rule of hybrid mixtures (RoHM) equation. In this equation, a hybrid natural fibre composite assumed as a system consisting of two separate single systems, namely particle/polymer and short-fibre/polymer systems...

Diameter effect on stress-wave evaluation of modulus of elasticity of logs

Treesearch

Xiping Wang; Robert J. Ross; Brian K. Brashaw; John R. Erickson; John W. Forsman; Roy Pellerin

2003-01-01

Recent studies on nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of logs have shown that a longitudinal stress-wave method can be used to nondestructively evaluate the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of logs. A strong relationship has been found between stress-wave MOE and static MOE of logs, but a significant deviation was observed between stress-wave and static values. The objective of...

Elastohydrodynamics of elliptical contacts for materials of low elastic modulus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamrock, B. J.; Dowson, D.

1983-01-01

The influence of the ellipticity parameter k and the dimensionless speed U, load W, and materials G parameters on minimum film thickness for materials of low elastic modulus was investigated. The ellipticity parameter was varied from 1 (a ball-on-plane configuration) to 12 (a configuration approaching a line contact); U and W were each varied by one order of magnitude. Seventeen cases were used to generate the minimum- and central-film-thickness relations. The influence of lubricant starvation on minimum film thickness in starved elliptical, elastohydrodynamic configurations was also investigated for materials of low elastic modulus. Lubricant starvation was studied simply by moving the inlet boundary closer to the center of the conjunction in the numerical solutions. Contour plots of pressure and film thickness in and around the contact were presented for both fully flooded and starved lubrication conditions. It is evident from these figures that the inlet pressure contours become less circular and closer to the edge of the Hertzian contact zone and that the film thickness decreases substantially as the serverity of starvation increases. The results presented reveal the essential features of both fully flooded and starved, elliptical, elastohydrodynamic conjunctions for materials of low elastic modulus.

Freeze-Thaw Durability of Air-Entrained Concrete

PubMed Central

Shang, Huai-Shuai; Yi, Ting-Hua

2013-01-01

One of the most damaging actions affecting concrete is the abrupt temperature change (freeze-thaw cycles). The types of deterioration of concrete structures by cyclic freeze-thaw can be largely classified into surface scaling (characterized by the weight loss) and internal crack growth (characterized by the loss of dynamic modulus of elasticity). The present study explored the durability of concrete made with air-entraining agent subjected to 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 cycles of freeze-thaw. The experimental study of C20, C25, C30, C40, and C50 air-entrained concrete specimens was completed according to “the test method of long-term and durability on ordinary concrete” GB/T 50082-2009. The dynamic modulus of elasticity and weight loss of specimens were measured after different cycles of freeze-thaw. The influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity and weight loss was analyzed. The findings showed that the dynamic modulus of elasticity and weight decreased as the freeze-thaw cycles were repeated. They revealed that the C30, C40, and C50 air-entrained concrete was still durable after 300 cycles of freeze-thaw according to the experimental results. PMID:23576906

Freeze-thaw durability of air-entrained concrete.

PubMed

Shang, Huai-Shuai; Yi, Ting-Hua

2013-01-01

One of the most damaging actions affecting concrete is the abrupt temperature change (freeze-thaw cycles). The types of deterioration of concrete structures by cyclic freeze-thaw can be largely classified into surface scaling (characterized by the weight loss) and internal crack growth (characterized by the loss of dynamic modulus of elasticity). The present study explored the durability of concrete made with air-entraining agent subjected to 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 cycles of freeze-thaw. The experimental study of C20, C25, C30, C40, and C50 air-entrained concrete specimens was completed according to "the test method of long-term and durability on ordinary concrete" GB/T 50082-2009. The dynamic modulus of elasticity and weight loss of specimens were measured after different cycles of freeze-thaw. The influence of freeze-thaw cycles on the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity and weight loss was analyzed. The findings showed that the dynamic modulus of elasticity and weight decreased as the freeze-thaw cycles were repeated. They revealed that the C30, C40, and C50 air-entrained concrete was still durable after 300 cycles of freeze-thaw according to the experimental results.