On the viscoelastic character of liver tissue: experiments and modelling of the linear behaviour

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Liu, Zizhen | Bilston, Lynne^;

Affiliations: Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Building J07, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Note: [] Corresponding author: Tel.: +61 2 9351 2344; Fax: +61 2 9351 7060; E‐mail: bilston@mech.eng.usyd.edu.au.

Abstract: This paper presents the results of recent investigations into the viscoelastic character of liver tissue, especially the linear response. The linear domain of liver tissue has been determined by a strain sweep oscillation test. The fluid‐like viscoelastic behaviour of liver tissue was confirmed by stress relaxation experiments. To demonstrate the consistency and quality of the experimental data, the relaxation spectrum was used to reconstruct the relaxation modulus, as well as the storage and loss moduli. The generalised Maxwell model was successfully employed to model the mechanical behaviour in the linear viscoelastic domain.

Keywords: Soft tissue mechanics, biomechanics, linear viscoelasticity, biorheology, liver tissue

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 191-201, 2000