The tensile and flexural properties of bovine nasal cartilage.

Abstract

AbstractThe tensile and flexural behaviors of fresh bovine nasal cartilage were measured as a function of strain rate. The following conclusions may be drawn from these studies: (1) Strain rate increases the measured values of tensile and flexural stress and ultimate tensile strength. (2) The effect of strain rate is minimal under the following subultimate conditions: (a) Rates from 0.045%/sec to 2.2%/sec for tensile stress at 13.4% elongation. (b) Rates from 0.038%/sec to 0.38%/sec for flexural stress at 10% deflection. (3) The average ultimate tensile strength of bovine nasal cartilage increases from 303 psi at .045%/sec to 471 psi at 11.0%/sec, and it extends on the average to 38% before failure. (4) at 20% deflection the average value of the flexural stress is 540 psi over the strain rate of .038%/sec to 38%/sec. (5) It is important that the strain rate used in measuring the mechanical properties of biological tissues be comparable to the strain rates encountered in vivo.The values of the mechanical properties may be a function of the measurement technique. Mechanical properties are measured by exposing the material to deformation applied at a given rate. The data obtained is a function of this rate of deformation (strain rate) and therefore may not be an absolute value to be used for all stress rates. This paper presents the tensile and flexural properties of bovine nasal cartilage and the variation of these measurements with the strain rate.