Predicting Vp and constrained modulus reduction curve based on Vs and shear modulus reduction curve in accordance with poroelastic theory

The compression wave velocity (Vp) of sediments plays a key role in seismic wave amplification of vertical motion and is required in site response analysis. However, such information is usually lacking during field exploration (e.g., surface wave method) because only shear wave velocity (Vs) is obtained. This study aims to predict Vp based on Vs empirically and theoretically, especially focusing on saturated conditions. The empirical approach is to establish the Vp correlation dependency on Poisson's ratio and Vs, and the theoretical approach is based on poroelastic theory that accounts for the interaction between fluid and soil skeleton. The Engineering Geological Database for the Taiwan Strong Motion Instrumentation Program and the Kiban Kyoshin Network database in Japan are adopted to establish an empirical model and validate poroelastic theory. The validated poroelastic approach is used to develop a constrained modulus reduction curve dependency on the porosity, Vs, Poisson's ratio, and degree of saturation with a shear modulus reduction curve. The proposed approach can be used to develop generic Vp profiles and constrained modulus reduction curves for the site response to vertical motion given a site specific Vs profile.

Influence of depth on induced geo-mechanical, chemical, and thermal poromechanical effects

Delivering efficient and cost-effective drilled and excavated holes require effective prediction of instability along the hole profile. Most drilled and excavated hole stability analyses in the literature are performed for a given zone without considering the influence of depth. This study focused on determining the influence of depth on induced geo-mechanical, chemical, and thermal stresses and strains in drilled or excavated holes. To this end, a new porochemothermoelastic model was developed based on extended poroelastic theory, and the developed model was employed in determining induced strains and stresses for an oil and gas well case study, using data from the literature. The study delineated the different significance levels of geo-thermal-, chemical-, and thermal-induced strains and stresses as depth increased. From the results obtained, it was clear that at shallow depths, chemically induced strains and stress were the most significant formation perturbations responsible for instability of drilled and excavated holes. On the other hand, at deeper depths, geo-mechanical-induced strains and stress were the most predominant. Comparatively, thermally induced strains and stresses were found to be the least significant formation perturbations responsible for instability of drilled and excavated holes. For this case study, the results indicated that chemical strains and stresses were more prominent at depths below 170 m, accounting for more than 50% of the total stresses and strains. At 170 m, both chemical and geo-mechanical stress and strain had equal contributions to the overall stress and strain. However, as depth increased, the percentage contribution of the geo-mechanical component increased and accounted for about 80% of the total strains and stresses at 1000 m, which increased to 98.48% at depths of 6000 m and beyond. The findings of this study will provide guide for future studies on the application of extended poroelasticity theory in solving instability problems of drilled and excavated holes.

MO694SWELLING OF PERITONEAL TISSUE DURING PERITONEAL DIALYSIS: COMPUTATIONAL ASSESSMENT USING POROELASTIC THEORY

Background and Aims Experimental studies and computational modeling show increased hydration of peritoneal tissue close to peritoneal surface after intraperitoneal (ip) administration of hypertonic dialysis fluid. This overhydration - due to fluid inflow from peritoneal cavity (driven by increased intraperitoneal pressure) and from blood (due to high interstitial concentration of osmotic agent diffusing from the cavity) - may lead to tissue swelling, as observed in experiments and in disturbed physiological conditions. We estimated the degree of swelling using linear poroelastic theory with fluid and solute transport parameters obtained from clinical studies. Method The spatially distributed model of peritoneal transport was extended by equations for tissue deformation and stress derived from linear poroelastic theory. The model describes also fluid and osmotic agent flows across tissue and capillary wall. We assumed that transport and deformation occur across a layer of tissue with initial intact width L0 and deformed width L; the deformation is described as the ratio L/L0. Transport parameters are assumed as average values estimated for intact tissue by Stachowska-Pietka (2019). As tissue stiffness (Lame coefficient) for muscle is not known, we examined stiffness ranging from 110 mmHg (connective tissue; interstitium) to 700 mmHg (solid tumor). We assumed that for initial periods of peritoneal dialysis when osmotic pressure of dialysis fluid is high: 1) osmotic pressure gradient across the capillary wall prevails over the combined Starling forces, 2) spatial profile of osmotic agent concentration in tissue (interstitial fluid) can be approximated by exponential function with the penetration depth ΛS. The model yields an equation for L/L0 to be solved numerically, but an approximated closed formula also works well for typical dialysis conditions. Results The model predicts that swelling of peritoneal tissue depends on factors such as tissue stiffness, tissue width, solute penetration depth, and transport parameters for tissue and capillary wall, and on the forces that induce fluid transport: intraperitoneal pressure and the increment of osmolality of dialysis fluid over plasma osmolality. Examples of L/L0 yielded by the model - with use of glucose 1.36% dialysis fluid and for two levels of ip hydrostatic pressure (Pip) - are shown. In Figure, left panel, for L0 = 1 cm representing human abdominal muscle, and solute diffusional penetration ΛS=ΛD=0.055 cm, or lower, as due to diffusion against fluid flow, ΛS=ΛD/2=0.027 cm, is plotted versus the tissue stiffness; the dialysis fluid with glucose 1.36% is applied (osmolality increment of 60 mmol/L at the beginning of peritoneal dwell, Waniewski et al, 1996) and Pip is 15 mmHg. As stiffness of abdominal and bowel muscles may be expected around 300 mm Hg, swelling might be up to 15%; it decreases with lower ip hydrostatic and osmotic pressures. Hypothetical dialysis at Pip = 0 (isobaric with interstitial fluid) would reduce swelling by factor 2, see Figure, right panel. The depth of osmotic agent penetration into the tissue impacts tissue hydration and swelling, see Figure 1 for L/L0 with twice reduced ΛS. The model and its approximation by the closed formula provide practically the same outcomes for clinical peritoneal dialysis, see Figure 1, but some discrepancy between them may occur for thin tissue, as rat abdominal wall. The approximate formula for L/L0 works well if ΛS is much shorter than L0. Nevertheless, for high degree of swelling a nonlinear theory should be constructed. Conclusion In peritoneal dialysis, exposure of peritoneal tissue to hypertonic dialysis fluid at increased hydrostatic pressure contributes to overhydration and swelling (by 5-15% after fluid infusion) of the tissue. The extent by which this swelling may contribute to changes in peritoneal tissue structure and function warrants further studies.

A biphasic approach for characterizing tensile, compressive and hydraulic properties of the sclera

Measuring the biomechanical properties of the mouse sclera is of great interest: altered scleral properties are features of many common ocular pathologies, and the mouse is a powerful tool for studying genetic factors in disease, yet the small size of the mouse eye and its thin sclera make experimental measurements in the mouse difficult. Here, a poroelastic material model is used to analyse data from unconfined compression testing of both pig and mouse sclera, and the tensile modulus, compressive modulus and permeability of the sclera are obtained at three levels of compressive strain. Values for all three properties were comparable to previously reported values measured by tests specific for each property. The repeatability of the approach was evaluated using a test–retest experimental paradigm on pig sclera, and tensile stiffness and permeability measurements were found to be reasonably repeatable. The intrinsic material properties of the mouse sclera were measured for the first time. Tensile stiffness and permeability of the sclera in both species were seen to be dependent on the state of compressive strain. We conclude that unconfined compression testing of sclera, when analysed with poroelastic theory, is a powerful tool to phenotype mouse scleral changes in future genotype–phenotype association studies.

Exploring neurodegenerative disorders using a novel integrated model of cerebral transport: Initial results

The neurovascular unit (NVU) underlines the complex and symbiotic relationship between brain cells and the cerebral vasculature, and dictates the need to consider both neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases under the same mechanistic umbrella. Importantly, unlike peripheral organs, the brain was thought not to contain a dedicated lymphatics system. The glymphatic system concept (a portmanteau of glia and lymphatic) has further emphasized the importance of cerebrospinal fluid transport and emphasized its role as a mechanism for waste removal from the central nervous system. In this work, we outline a novel multiporoelastic solver which is embedded within a high precision, subject specific workflow that allows for the co-existence of a multitude of interconnected compartments with varying properties (multiple-network poroelastic theory, or MPET), that allow for the physiologically accurate representation of perfused brain tissue. This novel numerical template is based on a six-compartment MPET system (6-MPET) and is implemented through an in-house finite element code. The latter utilises the specificity of a high throughput imaging pipeline (which has been extended to incorporate the regional variation of mechanical properties) and blood flow variability model developed as part of the VPH-DARE@IT research platform. To exemplify the capability of this large-scale consolidated pipeline, a cognitively healthy subject is used to acquire novel, biomechanistically inspired biomarkers relating to primary and derivative variables of the 6-MPET system. These biomarkers are shown to capture the sophisticated nature of the NVU and the glymphatic system, paving the way for a potential route in deconvoluting the complexity associated with the likely interdependence of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. The present study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, that casts and implements the 6-MPET equations in a 3D anatomically accurate brain geometry.

A Biphasic Approach for Characterizing Tensile, Compressive, and Hydraulic Properties of the Sclera

Measuring the biomechanical properties of the mouse sclera is of great interest, since altered scleral properties are features of many common ocular pathologies, and the mouse is a powerful species for studying genetic factors in disease. Here, a poroelastic material model is used to analyze data from unconfined compression testing of both pig and mouse sclera, and the tensile modulus, compressive modulus, and permeability of the sclera are obtained at three levels of compressive strain. Values for all three properties measured simultaneously by unconfined compression of pig sclera were comparable to previously reported values measured by tests specific for each property, i.e., compression tests, biaxial tensile tests, and falling-head permeability assays. The repeatability of the approach was evaluated using test-retest experimental paradigm on pig sclera. Repeatability was low for measured compressive stiffness, indicating permanent changes to the samples occurring after the first test. However, reasonable repeatability for tensile stiffness and permeability was observed. The intrinsic material properties of the mouse sclera were measured for the first time. Tensile stiffness and permeability of the sclera in both species were seen to be dependent on the state of compressive strain. We conclude that unconfined compression testing of sclera, when analyzed with poroelastic theory, can be used as a powerful tool to phenotype mouse scleral changes in future genotype-phenotype association studies.Statement of SignificanceOcular biomechanics is strongly influenced by the sclera, the outermost white coat of the eye. Many ocular diseases are believed to be influenced by pathological changes to scleral microstructure and biomechanics, making intrinsic biomechanical properties an important outcome measure in many studies. However, the small mouse eye precludes the use of most traditional biomechanical characterization techniques. Here, we show that unconfined compression testing analyzed with poroelastic theory can produce measurements of biomechanical properties in the pig sclera comparable to those measured by other traditional techniques. Importantly, this technique can be successfully applied to the mouse sclera, enabling more widespread use of the species as a model for ocular disease.

Swelling and shrinking in prestressed polymer gels: an incremental stress–diffusion analysis

Polymer gels are porous fluid-saturated materials which can swell or shrink triggered by various stimuli. The swelling/shrinking-induced deformation can generate large stresses which may lead to the failure of the material. In the present research, a nonlinear stress–diffusion model is employed to investigate the stress and the deformation state arising in hydrated constrained polymer gels when subject to a varying chemical potential. Two different constraint configurations are taken into account: (i) elastic constraint along the thickness direction and (ii) plane elastic constraint. The first step entirely defines a compressed/tensed configuration. From there, an incremental chemo-mechanical analysis is presented. The derived model extends the classical linear poroelastic theory with respect to a prestressed configuration. Finally, the comparison between the analytical results obtained by the proposed model and a particular problem already discussed in literature for a stress-free gel membrane (one-dimensional test case) will highlight the relevance of the derived model.