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Soft tissue abnormalities are often correlated with a change in the mechanical properties of the soft tissue. New developing non-invasive techniques with the ability of early detection of cancerous tissue with high accuracy is a challenging state of art. In this paper, a new method is proposed to investigate the liver tissue cancers. Hyperelastic behavior of a porcine liver tissue has been extracted from the in vitro stress-strain experimental tests of the tissue. Hyperelastic coefficients have been used as the input of the Abaqus FEM software and the palpation of a physician has been simulated. The soft tissue contains a tumor with specified mechanical and geometrical properties. Artificial tactile sensing capability in tumor detection and localization has been investigated thoroughly. In mass localization we have focused on deeply located tumor which is a challenging area in the medical diagnosis. Moreover, tumor type differentiation which is commonly achieved through pathological investigations is studied by changing the stiffness ratio of the tumor and the tissue. Results show that the new proposed method has a high ability in mass detection, localization and type differentiation.

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This article is devoted to the derivation of formulation and isogeometric solution of nonlinear nearly incompressible elastic problems, known as nearly incompressible hyperelasticity. After problem definition, the governing equations are linearized for employing the Newton-Raphson iteration method. Then, the problem is discretized by using concepts of isogeometric analysis method and its solution algorithm is devised. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach, the obtained results are compared with finite elements. Due to large deformations in this kind of problems, the finite element method requires a relatively large number of elements, as well as the need for remeshings in some problems, that results in a large system of equations with a high computational cost. In the isogeometric analysis method, using B-Spline and NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline) basis functions provides us with a good flexibility in modeling of geometry without any need for further remeshings. The examples studied in this article indicate that by using the isogeometric approach good quality results are obtained with a smaller system of equations and less computational cost. Also, influence of different volumetric functions for the nearly incompressible materials are investigated.

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has long been known as one of the most unspecified reasons for death around the world. This phenomenon has been under study for many years and yet questions remain due to its physiological, geometrical and computational complexity. Because of the limitations in experimental study on human head, the finite element human head model with precise geometric characteristics and mechanical properties is essential. In this study, the visco-hyperelastic parameters of bovine brain are extracted from experimental data and finite element simulations which are validated by experimental results. Then a 3D human head including brain, skull, and the meninges is modeled using CT-scan and MRI data of a 30-years old human. This model is named “Sharif University of Technology Head Trauma Model (SUTHTM)”. After validating SUTHTM, the model is then used to study the effect of G acceleration. Damage threshold based on consciousness in terms of acceleration and time duration is developed using HIC and Maximum Brain Pressure criteria. Results revealed that Max. Brain Pressure ≥ 3.1 KPa and HIC ≥ 30 are representative of loss of consciousness. Also, 3D domains for the loss of consciousness based on Max. Brain Pressure and HIC criteria are developed.

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The objective of the present work is to investigate indentation in polymers and hyperelastic materials. Both experiments and numerical analysis have been carried out. Two different sports floorings were selected to test, monolayer rubber and two layer polyurethane (PU)/polyvinylchloride (PVC). To determine the value of hardness and indentation depth of indenter in the materials, experimental study was carried out according to quality standard test for sports flooring. The numerical analysis was also conducted by Abaqus software using simulation of experimental testing conditions, selection of the best hyperelastic model and comparison of the results to experimental test in order to ascertain the efficiency and accuracy of each simulation step. The accuracy of the results has been shown by comparision of experiments with numerical results. For the first sample, indentation depth was 0.575 mm (based on experimental result) and Yeoh’s model was employed to simulate with the error of 4.3%. The indentation depth and error (by selection of reduced polynomial form of order two models) were 0.425 mm and 0.94%. for the second sample (PU/PVC), respectively. In addition, hardness was decreased from 78.1 to 75.3 when the thickness of rubber sports flooring was increased from 2.5 to 5 mm. In general, it can be concluded that the hardness values of polymers depend on their thickness, and on the other hand the indenter shape has influence on indentation depth and force-displacement curves, as well.

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Soft tissue’s cancers are related to major variations in the mechanical properties of the tissue. In recent years, a number of developing techniques have been introduced for early detection of soft tissue’s cancers. The major advantage of these methods over the common available techniques is while being noninvasive to the body, the accuracy of detection is noticeably increased. This article intends to analyze mechanical behavior of the breast tissue by considering a Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic model. Coefficients of the model are defined by using a series of experimental mechanical datasets. For this purpose, a mechanical device is designed and fabricated base on a new noninvasive method named Artificial Tactile Sensing (ATS). The device is examined on 8 patients in 20 to 50 age range refer to “Jahad Daneshgahi Breast Diseases Clinic” while considering Helsinki agreement’s protocols. Due to wide anatomical variations of the breast tissue in individuals, 40 specified regions are examined on the tissues of all attended cases. Experimental stress versus strain datasets are collected for 40 test points. To achieve a reliable and optimized model, a genetic algorithm (GA) is used for calculating Mooney-Rivlin’s coefficients. Results confirmed that an accurate model can be afforded to estimate the soft tissue’s mechanical behavior with the least error. The model is suitable for disease diagnosis and follow-up procedure.

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In this paper, behavior of functionally graded rubbers with large deformation has been modeled under different loading conditions. Rubbers have been assumed incompressible hyperelastic material. In the first section of this paper, behavior of isotropic FG rubber has been investigated in uniaxial extension, equibiaxial extension and pure shear. In the second section, behavior of isotropic FG rubber is investigated in mechanical and thermal loads, simultaneously. For this purpose, multiplicative decomposition of deformation gradient tensor has been used. At last, behavior of transversely isotropic FG rubber has been investigated in uniaxial extension, equibiaxial extension and pure shear. Material properties vary continuously in different specific direction in FG hyperelastic materials. For modeling nonlinear behavior of hyperelastic materials, strain energy functions are used. Strain energy functions are function of invariants of left Cauchy-Green stretch tensor. Modification in strain energy functions required in order to use them for FG rubbers. For this purpose, material constants of strain energy functions have been assumed to vary exponentially in the axial direction of bar. Moreover, stretches in different points of the bar are considered to be function of material properties variation in the length direction. Analytical solution have been compared with experimental data and good agreement has been found between them, therefore proposed constitutive law has been modeled material behavior with a proper approximation.

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In this paper, an innovative flexible sandwich structure is introduced which can be used in shape changing (morphing) aircrafts that adapt their external shape to different flight conditions. First, different ideas for achieving smart aircraft in the literature is briefly reviewed and then characteristics of the new deformable sandwich structure as well as its different features in comparison to other proposed structures are described. Moreover, fabrication details of deformable and load bearable sandwich panel are explained. In an aircraft with variable camber wings, deformable sections can be supposed as a cantilever beam. As a result some specimens of new deformable sandwich structure are constructed and then tested as end-loaded beams. Since the numerical study of the new proposed structure requires an understanding of the mechanical behavior of components used, a comprehensive study about the mechanical behavior of individual components of structure is conducted. According to the observation of broken samples, a distribution of cavities resulting from the manufacturing process is supposed in one type of model to obtain more accurate numerical results. Finally, another example is analyzed with the same assumptions and it is shown that in the second example, the numerical results are close to the experimental data.

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Aortic Valve simulation remains a controversial topic, as a result of its complex anatomical structure and mechanical characteristics such as material properties and time-dependent loading conditions. This study aims to integrate physiologically important features into a realistic structural simulation of the aortic valve. A finite element model of the natural human aortic valve was developed considering Linear Elastic and Hyperelastic material properties for the leaflets and aortic tissues and starting from the unpressurized geometry. It has been observed that although similar stress-strain patterns generated on Aortic Valve for both material properties, the hyperelastic nature of valve tissue can distribute stress smoothly and lower strain during the cardiac cycle. The deformation of the aortic root can play a prominent role as its compliance extremely changed throughout cardiac cycle. Furthermore, dynamics of the leaflets can reduce stresses by affecting geometries. The highest values of stress occurred along the leaflet attachment line and near the commissure during diastole. The effects of high +G acceleration on the performance of valve, valve opening and closing characteristics, and equivalent Von Mises stress and strain distribution are also investigated.

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Skeletal muscles simulation remains a controversial topic as a result of its complex anatomical structure and mechanical characteristics such as nonlinear material properties and loading conditions. Most of the current models in the literature for describing the constitutive equations of skeletal muscles are based on Hill's one-dimensional, three element model. In this paper a 3D constitutive model which is based on the hyper elastic behavior of skeletal muscle and energy function has been presented. By using the derivatives of such energy function for defining the Second Piola and Cauchy stresses, we able to describe the inactive behavior of skeleton muscles. The applied constitutive equations are an efficient generalization of Hamphury's model for the inactive behavior of skeletal muscle. In this paper using a 3D model, different modes of deformations of skeletal muscle such as simple tension, biaxial and shear tests has been investigated and material properties constants for each modes of deformation has been optimized by Genetic algorithm. Finally the results of the model simulations of each mode are compared with those obtained from experimental tests. Also, the model results are compared with the ones from two well- known hyper elastic Ogden and Mooney-Rivilin models in order to show the priority of the new developed 3D model to those aforementioned models has been shown.

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Mathematical modeling of tumor growth as modeling of other biological tissues is important since these models enable us to predict and evaluate the parameters that could not be measured easily. The accuracy of a derived model depends upon considering more involved factors and mechanisms and will lead us toward a realistic modelling.
In this study, a finite element model of avascular tumor growth is represented. This model concentrates on the constitutive behavior of tissues and the resulting stresses. The tumor and its host are assumed to behave as a hyperelastic material. The tumor model is supplied with a growth term which is a function of nutrient concentration, solid content of the tumor and rate of cell proliferation and death. The evolved stresses during growth and interactions between tumor and the surrounding host could be evaluated using the presented model. The results show that the exerted stresses on tumor increase as time passes which lead to reduction of tumor growth rate until it gradually reaches an asymptotic radius. The effects of variation of the bulk modulus which is a determinant of compressibility are investigated. Since biological tissues consist mainly of water so we should impose the condition of incompressibility. It is found that the increase of bulk modulus which leads to more incompressibility causes stress elevation.

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Heart diseases are one of the most important causes of death in the world, and their treatment is very important from a medical and financial perspective. One of the effective ways that can be very useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is computational modeling which can help medical professionals to better understand the human heart and provide more effective therapeutic approaches. The mechanical characteristics of the myocardium of human heart, known as a nonlinear and anisotropic tissue, are the most important part of the heart because it plays a key role in myocardial response to loading and unloading during heart cycle. In this study, the orthotropic hyperelastic and isotropic viscoelastic properties of the human heart were modeled by taking into account the effect of active stress on myocardium and using an idealized left ventricular geometry. Simulation results showed that the viscoelastic property cause the myocardium deformation to be damped and reduces the amount of torsion that experienced by the tissue. Also, myocardium tissue in viscoelastic case showed the hysteresis phenomenon which is found in clinical observations of heart mechanics. The Model is entirely implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics finite element software and can be used in heart electromechanical models in future studies.