23: Elasticity in Biological Materials
- Page ID
- 31604
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https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/
Learning Objectives
On completion of this TLP you should:
- Appreciate that many materials in living systems do not show Hookean elasticity.
- Understand the concept of J-curves and be familiar with examples of biomaterials that show this behaviour, in particular arterial wall.
- Understand how aneurysms arise in hardened arteries.
- Appreciate that some biomaterials, for example hair and spiders' silk, exhibit hysteresis, and understand how this can be essential to their performance and applications.
Before you start
Before beginning this TLP, you should understand the elasticity of rubber, including the concept of an entropy spring. Take a look at The Stiffness of Rubber TLP.
You should also be aware of how a tensile test is carried out. Take a look at the Introduction to Mechanical Testing TLP.