A Non-linear, Anisotropic, Inhomogeneous Model of Articular Cartilage

INTRODUCTION the deep layers because they are softer, a result that is Articular cartilage is a biological composite material made of consistent with experimental evidence [5]. a proteoglycan matrix, and of chondrocyte and collagen fibre inclusions. We have modelled articular cartilage by means of a Implementation of this model into a Finite Element code linearly elastic Transversely Isotropic, Transversely might help in studying the mechanical behaviour of Homogeneous (TITH) model [1]. Here, we extend the TITH chondrocytes during cartilage deformation, which might proof model to non-linear elasticity by using a class of transversely to be an essential piece towards understanding biological isotropic potentials [2,3]. The use of a non homogeneous responses of articular cartilage as a function of mechanical potential (i.e., explicitly dependent on the point) enables us to loading. identify non-uniformities in the simulation of compression tests.