Constitutive modelling of passive myocardium: a structurally based framework for material characterization.

Full Abstract

In this paper, we first of all review the morphology and structure of the myocardium and discuss the main features of the mechanical response of passive myocardium tissue, which is an orthotropic material. Locally within the architecture of the myocardium three mutually orthogonal directions can be identified, forming planes with distinct material responses. We treat the left ventricular myocardium as a non-homogeneous, thick-walled, nonlinearly elastic and incompressible material and develop a general theoretical framework based on invariants associated with the three directions. Within this framework we review existing constitutive models and then develop a structurally based model that accounts for the muscle fibre direction and the myocyte sheet structure. The model is applied to simple shear and biaxial deformations and a specific form fitted to the existing (and somewhat limited) experimental data, emphasizing the orthotropy and the limitations of biaxial tests. The need for additional data is highlighted. A brief discussion of issues of convexity of the model and related matters concludes the paper.

Author information

Author/s: Holzapfel, Gerhard A (GA); Ogden, Ray W (RW);

Affiliation: Department of Solid Mechanics, School of Engineering Sciences, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Osquars Backe 1, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden. holzapfel(-atsign-)tugraz.at

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences (Philos Transact A Math Phys Eng Sci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 367 (issue 1902) : pp 3445-75

Dates: Created 2009/08/06; Completed 2009/10/21;

PMID: 19657007, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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