Time-Dependent Lateral Transmission of Force in Skeletal Muscle

Author(s):  
Yingxin Gao ◽  
Alan S. Wineman ◽  
Anthony M. Waas

The composite structure of skeletal muscle is composed of muscle fibers and an extracellular matrix (ECM) framework. This framework is associated with different levels of structure: (a) epimysium, that ensheaths the whole muscle; (b) perimysium, that binds a group of muscle fibers into bundles and (c) endomysium that surrounds the individual muscle fibers. The properties of ECM components and their interaction with muscle fibers determine the overall mechanical properties of the whole muscle. Previous studies have experimentally demonstrated that stress could be laterally transmitted through the ECM [1]. The ECM is thus an essential element in mechanical function of the muscle [2]. The most widely used model describing load transfer between a discontinuous fiber and matrix is the shear lag model, originally proposed by Cox [3]]. This model centers on the transfer of tensile stress between fibers by means of interfacial shear stresses and shear deformation of the matrix. In this paper, a modified shear lag model is developed to investigate the time-dependent mechanics of stress transfer between activated muscle fibers and the surrounding strained ECM.

1994 ◽  
Vol 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Hway Hsueh

ABSTRACTThe shear lag model has been used extensively to analyze the stress transfer in a singe fiberreinforced composite (i.e., a microcomposite). To achieve analytical solutions, various simplifications have been adopted in the stress analysis. Questions regarding the adequacy of those simplifications are discussed in the present study for the following two cases: bonded interfaces and frictional interfaces. Specifically, simplifications regarding (1) Poisson's effect, and (2) the radial dependences of axial stresses in the fiber and the matrix are addressed. For bonded interfaces, the former can be ignored, and the latter can generally be ignored. However, when the volume fraction of the fiber is high, the radial dependence of the axial stress in the fiber should be considered. For frictional interfaces, the latter can be ignored, but the former should be considered; however, it can be considered in an average sense to simplify the analysis. Comparisons among results obtained from analyses with various simplifications are made.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Quan Yuan ◽  
Mengjun Wu

An improved shear-lag model is proposed to investigate the mechanism through which the surface effect influences the stress transfer of multilayered structures. The surface effect of the interlayer is characterized in terms of interfacial stress and surface elasticity by using Gurtin–Murdoch elasticity theory. Our calculation result shows that the surface effect influences the efficiency of stress transfer. The surface effect is enhanced with decreasing interlayer thickness and elastic modulus. Nonuniform and large residual surface stress distribution amplifies the influence of the surface effect on stress concentration.


AIAA Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 2123-2133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Kapuria ◽  
Bhabagrahi Natha Sharma ◽  
A. Arockiarajan

Author(s):  
Yingxin Gao ◽  
Alan S. Wineman ◽  
Anthony M. Waas

There is experimental evidence to suggest that extensible connective tissues are mechanically time-dependent. In view of this, the mechanics of time-dependent lateral stress transfer in skeletal muscle is investigated by employing a viscoelastic shear lag model for the transfer of tensile stress between muscle fibres and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) by means of shear stresses at the interface between the muscle fibre and the ECM. The model allows for both mechanical strains in the muscle as well as the strain owing to muscle contraction. Both the ECM and the muscle fibre are modelled as viscoelastic solids. As a result, time-dependent lateral stress transfer can be studied under a variety of loading and muscle stimulation conditions. The results show that the larger the muscle fibre creep time relative to the ECM relaxation time, the longer it takes for the muscle fibre stress to relax. It also shows that the response of the muscle–ECM composite system also depends on the characteristic time of a strain history relative to the characteristic relaxation time of the ECM. The results from the present model provide significant insight into the role of the parameters that characterize the response of the muscle composite system.


2014 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. Kundalwal ◽  
M. C. Ray ◽  
S. A. Meguid

In this article, we investigate the stress transfer characteristics of a novel hybrid hierarchical nanocomposite in which the regularly staggered short fuzzy fibers are interlaced in the polymer matrix. The advanced fiber augmented with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on its circumferential surface is known as “fuzzy fiber.” A three-phase shear lag model is developed to analyze the stress transfer characteristics of the short fuzzy fiber reinforced composite (SFFRC) incorporating the staggering effect of the adjacent representative volume elements (RVEs). The effect of the variation of the axial and lateral spacing between the adjacent staggered RVEs in the polymer matrix on the load transfer characteristics of the SFFRC is investigated. The present shear lag model also accounts for the application of the radial loads on the RVE and the radial as well as the axial deformations of the different orthotropic constituent phases of the SFFRC. Our study reveals that the existence of the non-negligible shear tractions along the length of the RVE of the SFFRC plays a significant role in the stress transfer characteristics and cannot be neglected. Reductions in the maximum values of the axial stress in the carbon fiber and the interfacial shear stress along its length become more pronounced in the presence of the externally applied radial loads on the RVE. The results from the newly developed analytical shear lag model are validated with the finite element (FE) shear lag simulations and found to be in good agreement.


2004 ◽  
Vol 261-263 ◽  
pp. 1421-1426
Author(s):  
Hong Gun Kim ◽  
Sung Mo Yang ◽  
Hong Gil Noh ◽  
Dong Joo Lee

An investigation of composite mechanics to investigate stress transfer mechanism accurately, a modification of the conventional shear lag model was attempted by taking fiber end effects into account in discontinuous composite materials. It was found that the major shortcoming of conventional shear lag theory is not being able to provide sufficiently accurate strengthening predictions in elastic regime when the fiber aspect ratio is very small. The reason is due to its neglect of stress transfer across the fiber ends and the stress concentrations that exist in the matrix regions near the fiber ends. To overcome this shortcoming, a more simplified shear lag model introducing the stress concentration factor which is a function of several variables, such as the modulus ratio, the fiber volume fraction, the fiber aspect ratio, is proposed. It is found that the modulus ratio is the most essential parameter among them. Thus, the stress concentration factor is expressed as a function of modulus ratio in the derivation. It is also found that the proposed model gives a good agreement with finite element results and has the capability to correctly predict the variations of the internal quanitities.


2007 ◽  
Vol 07 (04) ◽  
pp. 381-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
YINGXIN GAO ◽  
ANTHONY M. WAAS ◽  
ALAN S. WINEMAN

An advanced shear lag model is developed to analyze the stress-shielding effect in injured muscle fiber by introducing the activation strain. The model considers three muscle fibers connected by the endomysium with the middle muscle fiber injured. Stress shielding describes the function of the lateral transmission of force in protecting the injured muscle fibers from being further injured by transferring force in the injured muscle fiber to its adjacent muscle fibers. Parameter studies demonstrate that the mechanical and geometrical properties of muscle fibers and the endomysium as well as the degree of injury can affect the stress-shielding effect. In conclusion, the model successfully demonstrates and captures, at least in a qualitative manner, the lateral transmission of force between an injured and a normal muscle fiber.


Author(s):  
Amin Salehi-Khojin ◽  
Nader Jalili

Understanding the stress transfer between nanotube reinforcements and surrounding matrix is an important factor in determining the overall mechanical properties of nanotube-reinforced composites. An efficient load transfer from the polymer matrix to the nanotube through interface is required to take the advantage of very high Young’s modulus and strength of carbon nanotubes in the composites. On the other hand, considerable energy dissipation can be obtained by interfacial slippage in the interface of nanotube and matrix which is beneficial in term of structural damping. In order to obtain a composite structure with tunable properties ranges from stiffer structure to better damper, we propose a semi-active control approach. In this method, applied electrical loading to piezoelectric polymeric matrix such as Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) reinforced with nanomaterials results in radial displacement of piezoelectric polymer corresponding to the direction and magnitude of electrical load. This leads to control of restriction effect of nanotube on the polymer segments, and consequently results in tunable interfacial adhesion between piezoelectric polymer and nanomaterials with faster response time. According to the concept of semi-active control, a shear lag model is obtained for a nanotube reinforced piezoelectric polymer under electro-thermo-mechanical loadings. As the adhesion in carbon nanotube (CNT) composite is universally present in the form of van der Waals interaction, and is the focus of this study, the shear stress and the axial displacement of nanotube and matrix in the interface zone can not be equal. This makes mathematical modeling of interface region more difficult. To solve this complexity, we propose to obtain the relative axial displacement between nanotube and polymer in the interface according to the Lennard-Jones potential function. Results indicate that as the electrical load increases, the relative displacement between nanotube and polymer increases which mean the possibility for slippage increases. Furthermore, results indicate that stiffer structures have more potential to show more switch stiffness capability.


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