Application of micro-computer tomography and inverse finite element analysis for characterizing the visco-hyperelastic response of bulk liver tissue using indentation

In-vitro mechanical indentation experimentation is performed on bulk liver tissue of lamb to characterize its nonlinear material behaviour. The material response is characterized by a visco-hyperelastic material model by the use of 2-dimensional inverse finite element (FE) analysis. The time-dependent behaviour is characterized by the viscoelastic model represented by a 4-parameter Prony series, whereas the large deformations are modelled using the hyperelastic Neo-Hookean model. The shear response described by the initial and final shear moduli and the corresponding Prony series parameters are optimized using ANSYS with the Root Mean Square (RMS) error being the objective function. Optimized material properties are validated using experimental results obtained under different loading histories. To study the efficacy of a 2D model, a three dimensional (3D) model of the specimen is developed using Micro-CT of the specimen. The initial elastic modulus of the lamb liver obtained was found to 13.5 kPa for 5% indentation depth at a loading rate of 1 mm/sec for 1-cycle. These properties are able to predict the response at 8.33% depth and a loading rate of 5 mm/sec at multiple cycles with reasonable accuracy. Article highlights The visco-hyperelastic model accurately models the large displacement as well as the time-dependent behaviour of the bulk liver tissue. Mapped meshing of the 3D FE model saves computational time and captures localized displacement in an accurate manner. The 2D axisymmetric model while predicting the force response of the bulk tissue, cannot predict the localized deformations.

Material parametrization of natural rubber based compound and characterization of crack propagation under consideration of dissipative effects

Most concepts to characterize crack propagation were developed for elastic materials. When applying these methods to elastomers, the question is how the inherent energy dissipation of the material affects the cracking behavior. This contribution presents a numerical analysis of crack growth in natural rubber taking energy dissipation due to the visco-elastic material behavior into account. For this purpose, experimental tests were first carried out under different load conditions to parameterize a Prony series as well as a Bergström–Boyce model with the results. The parameterized Prony series was then used to perform numerical investigations with respect to the cracking behavior. Using the FE-software system ANSYS and the concept of material forces, the influence and proportion of the dissipative components were discussed.

Quasi-Linear Viscoelastic Characterization of Soft Tissue-Mimicking Materials

We present a novel method based on the quasi-linear viscoelastic (QLV) theory to describe the time-dependent behavior of soft materials. Unlike previous methods for deriving QLV parameters, we characterize the elastic and viscous behavior of materials separately by using two different sets of experiments. To model the nonlinear elastic behavior, we fit the elastic stress response with a one-term Ogden model. Then, we model the relaxation behavior with a Prony series to compare the stress relaxation of the material at different timescales. This new method allows us to characterize materials with narrow confidence intervals (high accuracy), independently from the loading conditions. We validate our model using samples made of phantom materials that mimic normal and cancerous prostate tissues in terms of Young's modulus. Our model is shown to distinguish materials with similar elastic (viscous) properties but different viscous (elastic) properties. Drawing a precise distinction between the phantoms, this method could be useful for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis; but significant clinical studies will be needed in the future.

Visco-Hyperelastic Characterization of the Equine Immature Zona Pellucida

This article presents a very detailed study on the mechanical characterization of a highly nonlinear material, the immature equine zona pellucida (ZP) membrane. The ZP is modeled as a visco-hyperelastic soft matter. The Arruda–Boyce constitutive equation and the two-term Prony series are identified as the most suitable models for describing the hyperelastic and viscous components, respectively, of the ZP’s mechanical response. Material properties are identified via inverse analysis based on nonlinear optimization which fits nanoindentation curves recorded at different rates. The suitability of the proposed approach is fully demonstrated by the very good agreement between AFM data and numerically reconstructed force–indentation curves. A critical comparison of mechanical behavior of two immature ZP membranes (i.e., equine and porcine ZPs) is also carried out considering the information on the structure of these materials available from electron microscopy investigations documented in the literature.

Prony series calculation for viscoelastic behavior modeling of structural adhesives from DMA data.

In product design is important to choose the correct material for a specific application. Viscoelastic behavior let us know how much energy the material can dissipate on its internal structure or either return it to the surroundings, and the property that describe this is the Complex Modulus G*, it is a complex quantity that can be separated in a real and an imaginary part called G' storage modulus and iG'' loss modulus respectively. These properties can be measured experimentally from a small material sample easily by performing Dynamical Mechanical Analysis (DMA). In Product Design process there are both, computational and physical validations and there is the need of improving computational studies by understanding the physics of each component. Viscoelastic characteristics of materials can be represented by Prony series, also known as relaxation modulus in function of time. Relaxation modulus can be defined in most of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) Software. In this article the procedure for calculating Prony Series from DMA data will be explained.

Measurement of Viscoelastic Properties for Polymers by Nanoindentation

A method for measuring the mechanical parameters of viscoelastic polymers by nanoindentation technology was proposed and verified. Through the mechanical response of load-displacement curves at different loading rates, then creep compliances and relaxation modulus were fitted. Polyimide thin film was employed in this research and experiments for five different loading rates were conducted. The fitting load-displacement loading curves obtained by the inversion method were identical to the experimental curves at five different loading rates，confirming the validity of the method. Moreover, with the loading rates increased，the fitting curves were more consistent commensurately with the nanoindentation experiment. DMA experiments were tested, and the generalized Kelvin/ Maxwell model were used for fitting experiment data. Results from DMA tests generally agree well with data from nanoindentation method, thereby verifying the feasibility of the method. The Prony series obtained by the two methods were used to simulate the creep experiments, which further verified the method.

Viscoelastic behavior of a casing material and its utilization in premium connections in high-temperature gas wells

At the high or extra-high temperatures in a natural gas oilfield, where the premium connection is employed by casing, gas leakage in the wellbore is always detected after several years of gas production. As the viscoelastic material’s mechanical properties change with time and temperature, the relaxation of the contact pressure on the connection sealing surface is the main reason for the gas leakage in the high-temperature gas well. In this article, tension-creep experiments were conducted. Furthermore, a constitutive model of the casing material was established by the Prony series method. Moreover, the Prony series’ shift factor was calculated to study the thermo-rheological behavior of the casing material ranging from 120°C to 300°C. A linear viscoelastic model was implemented in ABAQUS, and the simulation results are compared to our experimental data to validate the methodology. Finally, the viscoelastic finite element model is applied to predict the relaxation of contact pressure on the premium connections’ sealing surface versus time under different temperatures. And, the ratio of the design contact pressure and the intending gas sealing pressure is recommended for avoiding the premium connections failure in the high-temperature gas well.