A new method for computing the uniaxial modulus of articular cartilages using modified inhomogeneous triphasic model

• Published in: Acta mechanica Sinica Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 121 - 126
• Main Authors: Niu, Haijun, Wang, Qing, Zheng, Yongping, Fan, Yubo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.03.2010
• Subjects: Articular; Biomedical materials; Cartilage; Classical and Continuum Physics; Computational Intelligence; Degeneration; Engineering; Engineering Fluid Dynamics; Mathematical models; Optimization; Research Paper; Strain; Swelling; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; 不均匀; 关节软骨; 弹性模量; 相模型; 组织结构; Inhomogeneous; Unaxial module; Articular cartilage; Osmotic pressure; Triphasic model
• ISSN: 0567-7718; 1614-3116
• DOI: 10.1007/s10409-009-0287-x

It is well known that subtle changes in structure and tissue composition of articular cartilage can lead to its degeneration. The present paper puts forward a modified layered inhomogeneous triphasic model with four parameters based on the inhomogeneous triphasic model proposed by Narmoneva et al. Incorporating a piecewise fitting optimization criterion, the new model was used to obtain the uniaxial modulus Ha, and predict swelling pattern for the articular cartilage based on ultrasound-measured swelling strain data. The results show that the new method can be used to provide more accurate estimation on the uniaxial modulus than the inhomogeneous triphasic model with three parameters and the homogeneous mode, and predict effectively the swell- ing strains of highly nonuniform distribution of degenerated articular cartilages. This study can provide supplementary information for exploring mechanical and material properties of the cartilage, and thus be helpful for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis-related diseases.