Affiliations: Division of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center, and University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
Note: [*] Guest Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan, July, 1981 through January, 1982
Note: [] Accepted by: Editor-in-Chief A.L. Copley
Abstract: This paper summarizes the recent findings of our laboratory on the mechanical properties of parallel fibered soft connective tissues. Using the improved experimental methodology developed in recent years, it is possible to overcome some of the past experimental difficulties and as a result, more reliable data on the stress-strain relationships for the digital flexor and extensor swine tendons and the medial collateral ligaments of the swine and dog were obtained. Furthermore, the experimental data was used in conjunction with a nonlinear viscoelastic theory to determine the time and history dependent properties of these tissues. A detailed example using the canine medial collateral ligament is reported to illustrate this combined approach.
