A new method of describing damage in biological tissues using a structural approach
Résumé
In the context of both automobile accidents and competitive sport, biological tissues are often exposed to severe constraints, resulting in structural damage or fracture. The aim of the present structural modelling study was to determine the behaviour of bones and knee ligaments subjected to dynamic constraints, and to study their damage and failure processes. The present numerical model was based on a nanoscopic-microscopic-macroscopic description of the microfibril/fibril/fibre/ligament (or bone) assembly of both structures. It consists of a finite element model, which was used to simulate a fibrous structure mesh which has been damaged due to decohesive mechanisms between the fibres.