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arXiv · 1302.5220

Bending instabilities of soft tissues

Michel Destrade·Aisling Ni Annaidh·Ciprian Coman
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Abstract

Rubber components and soft tissues are often subjected to large bending deformations "in service". The circumferential line elements on the inner face of a bent block can contract up to a certain critical stretch ratio lambda_cr (say) before bifurcation occurs and axial creases appear. For several models used to describe rubber, it is found that lambda_cr = 0.56, allowing for a 44% contraction. For models used to describe arteries it is found, somewhat surprisingly, that the strain-stiffening effect promotes instability. For example, the models used for the artery of a 70 year old human predict that lambda_cr = 0.73, allowing only for a 27% contraction. Tensile experiments conducted on pig skin indicate that bending instabilities should occur even earlier there.

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Michel Destrade, Aisling Ni Annaidh, Ciprian Coman. 2013-02-21. Bending instabilities of soft tissues. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2009.08.017

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