Tendon Stiffness and Strain Distribution

Class: BE210
Group: 101_B4

Members:

Joseph Frey

Chrysta Irolla

Dipal Patel

Akivaga Tsingalia

Date: April 2006

Powerpoint Presentation
Full Text

The experiment primarily aims to assess the difference between the stiffness of sutured and intact tendons. Such an assessment can be used to qualify the extent to which sutured tendons mimic the properties of, and act as sufficient replacements for intact tendons. Additionally, the experiment aims to qualify the difference in strain distribution in sutured and intact tendons. Sutured tendons are assumed to be weaker near the point of repair, and therefore it is believed that strain will be more highly concentrated in this area. The intact tendons, assuming that they have fairly consistent material properties, will have no such concentration of strain.

The expected distribution of strain in sutured and intact tendons leads to the prediction of their respective stiffness values. Because the intact tendons distribute strain over a larger area than sutured tendons, the stiffness of the intact tendons will be greater than the stiffness of the sutured tendons. This expectation stems from the relationship between stiffness and displacement: as the displacement of a material decreases, the stiffness of the material will increase proportionally (k=F/d). Therefore, the stiffness of the intact tendons will be greater, because the displacement (analogous to strain) in any one area of the intact tendon will be less than the displacement of the sutured tendons near the area of repair. T-tests will be used to quantify the significance of the difference in stiffness values between the sutured and intact tendons.