Computational methods in modelling fibre-reinforced soft biological tissues

本课题主要研究生物软组织的力学性能，以及它们对外界刺激的反应、生长、适应、破坏、退化等。我特别感兴趣的是软组织理论模型的发展，以便根据组织的微观结构来预测它们的机械和物理特性。理论方法是基于通过一组方程对某一系统的描述。在某些情况下，这些方程式可以解析地用来找出物理量之间重要的基本关系。然而，在某些情况下，方程非常复杂，不可能直接得出任何结果。此外，理论模型不能直接用于解决以复杂几何和/或边界条件为特征的具体问题(例如，生物关节的力学，包括骨骼、关节软骨、韧带等)。

My research focuses on the mechanical properties of soft biological tissues, and the investigation of their response to external stimuli, growth, adaptation, failure, degeneration. I am particularly interested in the development of theoretical models of soft tissues, in order to predict their mechanical and physical properties, based on tissue microstructure. The theoretical approach is based on descriptions of a certain system by means of a set of equations. In several cases, these equations can be used analytically to find important basic relationships between physical quantities. However, there are cases in which the equations are so complex that it is impossible to derive any result directly. Furthermore, theoretical models cannot be directly used to solve specific problems characterised by complex geometry and/or boundary conditions (for example, the mechanics of a biological joint, with bones, articular cartilage, ligaments, etc).