Multiscale modeling of musculo-skeletal tissues from virtually reconstructed 3D detailed FE based models
Background
Muscle and tendon tissues are multi-scale materials with fibre bundles embedded in layers of a collagenous scaffolding network, namely extra-cellular matrix (ECM). This complex three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical structure plays a potentially important role in load transfer, particularly for compressive states. However, this hierarchy is often inadequately represented in analysis and model development for the passive mechanical response of these tissues.
Objective
The goal of this project is to develop a class of constitutive multi-scale models for muscle and tendon tissues by obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the structural features and load transfer mechanisms that govern the peculiar response of such tissues with the aid of (i) dedicated multi-scale experiments and (ii) numerical simulations with detailed finite element models created from histological tissue sections.
Numerical simulation using detailed FE based models; uni-axial tension followed by isometric activation of (1) full 3D muscle model (2) extruded muscle model.
These simulations validated with experimental data provide us with predictive capabilities of the muscle tissue response over a wide range of load cases. Such ‘virtual testing’ will be employed towards developing a multi-scale modelling framework.
Partners
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
- IFM, TU Braunschweig