A novel multiscale model to investigate mechanical properties of cartilage

本项目旨在建立一种新的多尺度模型来研究软骨的各向异性和非均质力学特性。研究发现，软骨的力学性能在很大程度上取决于其微观结构和组成。该模型在宏观尺度上基于一种新的本构关系，在微观尺度上基于一种获取局部应力分布的新算法，并经过严格的实验验证。该模型将成为了解软骨力学特性的有力工具。它将加速机械可行的人造软骨生物材料的设计，这将提供显著的经济效益，并将澳大利亚置于建模和生物材料的前沿。

This project aims to develop a new multiscale model to investigate anisotropic and inhomogeneous mechanical properties of cartilage. It has been found that the mechanical properties of cartilage highly depend on its microstructures and components. The new model is proposed based on a new constitutive relation in the macroscale and a novel algorithm to obtain local stress distributions in the microscale as well as through rigorous experimental validations. This model will be a powerful tool to understand cartilage mechanical properties. It will accelerate the design of mechanically viable artificial cartilage biomaterial, which will provide significant economic benefits and place Australia in the forefront of modelling and biomaterials.