Dynamic Viscoelastic Material Research Articles

Review of Progress in Atomic Force Microscopy

The study of biological samples is one of the most attractive and innovative fields of application of atomic force microscopy AFM. Recent breakthroughs in software and hardware have revolutionized this field and this paper reports on recent trends and describes examples of applications on biological samples. Originally developed for high-resolution imaging purposes, the AFM also has unique capabilities as a nano-indentor to probe the dynamic visco-elastic material properties of living cells in culture. In particular, AFM elastography combines imaging and indentation modalities to map the spatial distribution of cell mechanical properties, which in turn reflect the structure and function of the underlying structure. This paper describes the progress and development of atomic force microscopy as applied to animal and plant cell structures.

Seismic isolation effect of lined circular tunnels with damping treatments

The Havriliak-Negami model for dynamic viscoelastic material behavior and Biot’s theory of poroelasticity are employed to develop an exact solution for three-dimensional scattering effect of harmonic plane P-SV waves from a circular cavity lined with a multilayered fluid-filled shell of infinite length containing viscoelastic damping materials and embedded within a fluid-saturated permeable surrounding soil medium. The analytical results are illustrated with numerical examples where the effects of liner/coating structural arrangement, viscoelastic material properties, liner-soil interface bonding condition, seismic excitation frequency, and angle of incidence on the induced dynamic stress concentrations are evaluated and discussed to obtain representative values of the parameters that characterize the system. It is demonstrated that incorporating viscoelastic damping materials with a low shear modulus in the constrained layer configuration is an efficient means of enhancing the overall seismic isolation performance, especially for near-normally incident seismic shear waves where the amplitudes of induced dynamic stresses may be reduced by up to one-third of those without isolation in a relatively wide frequency range. Some additional cases are considered and good agreements with solutions available in the literature are obtained.

Dynamic viscoelastic effects on sound wave scattering by an eccentric compound circular cylinder

The classical method of separation of variables in conjunction with the translational addition theorem for cylindrical wave functions are employed to obtain an exact solution for two-dimensional interaction of a harmonic plane acoustic wave with an infinitely long (visco)elastic circular cylinder which is eccentrically coated by another (visco)elastic material and is submerged in an ideal unbounded acoustic medium. The novel features of Havriliak–Negami model for dynamic viscoelastic material behaviour are used to take the rheological properties of the coating (and/or core) material into consideration. The analytical results are illustrated with numerical examples in which a steel rod eccentrically coated with (an eccentric steel shell filled with) dissipative materials of distinct viscoelastic properties is insonified by plane sound waves at selected angles of incidence. The effects of incident wave frequency, angle of incidence, core eccentricity and dynamic viscoelastic material properties on the backscattered form function spectra are examined. Limiting cases are considered and fair agreements with available solutions are obtained.

Transverse vibration of prestressed beams: An experimental technique for the determination of dynamic viscoelastic material properties of tissue mimicking materials

An experimental dynamic material property identification technique is presented that is based on the theoretical formulations of a vibrating prestressed beam. The technique determines the viscoelastic material properties of tissue mimicking materials that govern their dynamic behavior. Results are presented for silicone‐based materials (Sylgard 184, Dow Corning, Midland, MI) that are formed in the lab using a range of mixing ratios and cast in the form of a thick string held between fixed supports under tensile pre‐stress. The specimens are excited through the transverse harmonic displacement of the boundary. Transverse vibration at an arbitrary location is measured and compared with theory to identify material viscoelastic moduli valid up to at least several hundred Hertz. The presented technique can aid in providing accurate viscoelastic parameter values for phantoms that are used in the development of a range of medical diagnostic techniques that attempt to identify pathology or tissue differentiation ...

Single-cell elastography: probing for disease with the atomic force microscope.

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is emerging as a powerful tool in cell biology. Originally developed for high-resolution imaging purposes, the AFM also has unique capabilities as a nano-indenter to probe the dynamic viscoelastic material properties of living cells in culture. In particular, AFM elastography combines imaging and indentation modalities to map the spatial distribution of cell mechanical properties, which in turn reflect the structure and function of the underlying cytoskeleton. Such measurements have contributed to our understanding of cell mechanics and cell biology and appear to be sensitive to the presence of disease in individual cells. This chapter provides a background on the principles and practice of AFM elastography and reviews the literature comparing cell mechanics in normal and diseased states, making a case for the use of such measurements as disease markers. Emphasis is placed on the need for more comprehensive and detailed quantification of cell biomechanical properties beyond the current standard methods of analysis. A number of technical and practical hurdles have yet to be overcome before the method can be of clinical use. However, the future holds great promise for AFM elastography of living cells to provide novel biomechanical markers that will enhance the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Homogenization Method for Dynamic Viscoelastic Analysis of Composite Materials.

In this paper we propose a new homogenization method for composite materials in order to predict effective dynamic viscoelastic material properties in the frequency domain. The loss tangent, which is the ratio of storage modulus to loss modulus, is an important design variable for products made of viscoelastic materials. The proposed procedure, by which it is possible to compute the effective loss tangent of composite materials with periodic structure, is implemented in a homogenization analysis system based on the general purpose finite element analysis code, ABAQUS. The results of the numerical analysis are very close to experimental results which are obtained by using a rubber composite containing a stiff rubber and a soft rubber.

Homogenization Method for Analysis of Dynamic Viscoelastic Properties of Composite Materials.

In this paper, we propose a new homogenization method for composite materials in order to predict effective dynamic viscoelastic material properties in the frequency domain. The loss tangent, which is the ratio of storage modulus to loss modulus, is an important design variable for products made of viscoelastic materials. The proposed procedure, which makes it possible to compute the effective loss tangent of composite materials with periodic structure, is implemented in a homogenization analysis system based on the general purpose finite element analysis code, ABAQUS. The results of the numerical analysis are very close to experimental results obtained using rubber composite containing a stiff rubber and a soft rubber.

Deformability and intrinsic material properties of neonatal red blood cells

Whole cell and membrane deformability are essential for red blood cell (RBC) survival and for effective blood flow. Neonatal RBCs display several specific properties (eg, large size, high hemoglobin F) that could influence their deformation characteristics and contribute to their shortened life span. The present study was designed to compare selected rheologic properties (cellular deformability, pressure required to aspirate RBC into micropipettes, static and dynamic viscoelastic material properties) of neonatal and adult RBCs. RBC deformability, as studied by a rheoscope, was similar for neonates and adults over a shear stress range of 2.5 to 500 dyn/cm2. The pressure required to aspirate RBCs completely into 3.3-micron diameter pipettes was 129 +/- 87 dyn/cm2 for neonatal RBCs and 71 +/- 37 dyn/cm2 for adult RBCs. The aspiration pressure for neonatal and adult RBCs increased with increasing RBC volume, suggesting that the increased mean aspiration pressure for neonatal RBCs resulted from their larger volume. When RBCs with same volume and diameter were compared, the aspiration pressure tended to be smaller for neonatal RBCs than for adult cells. To characterize material properties determining RBC deformability, we measured membrane extensional (shear) and bending elastic moduli, the time constant for elastic recovery from extensional deformation and hemoglobin viscosity (ie, cytoplasmic viscosity) of neonatal and adult RBCs. Membrane surface viscosity and time constant for recovery from bending deformation were calculated. The extensional and bending moduli of neonatal RBCs were slightly smaller (10% and 16%, respectively) compared with adult cells. This suggests that the static resistance of neonatal RBC membrane to deformation and failure in response to a given force is slightly smaller. The time constant for recovery from extensional deformation of neonatal RBCs was larger by 14%, compared with adult cells. The time constant for bending deformation related to the RBC diameter and surface area was increased by 18% in the neonates. Membrane surface viscosity and hemoglobin viscosity were similar for both cell types. These results indicate that the deformability and viscoelastic properties of neonatal RBCs deviate only slightly from those of adult RBCs and that the increased aspiration pressure of neonatal RBCs is solely due to their large size. Some of the specific deformation characteristics observed in this study (increased aspiration pressure, decreased resistance to elastic deformation) may contribute to the shortened life span of neonatal RBCs.

Deformability and Intrinsic Material Properties of Neonatal Red Blood Cells

Abstract Whole cell and membrane deformability are essential for red blood cell (RBC) survival and for effective blood flow. Neonatal RBCs display several specific properties (eg, large size, high hemoglobin F) that could influence their deformation characteristics and contribute to their shortened life span. The present study was designed to compare selected rheologic properties (cellular deformability, pressure required to aspirate RBC into micropipettes, static and dynamic viscoelastic material properties) of neonatal and adult RBCs. RBC deformability, as studied by a rheoscope, was similar for neonates and adults over a shear stress range of 2.5 to 500 dyn/cm2. The pressure required to aspirate RBCs completely into 3.3-micron diameter pipettes was 129 +/- 87 dyn/cm2 for neonatal RBCs and 71 +/- 37 dyn/cm2 for adult RBCs. The aspiration pressure for neonatal and adult RBCs increased with increasing RBC volume, suggesting that the increased mean aspiration pressure for neonatal RBCs resulted from their larger volume. When RBCs with same volume and diameter were compared, the aspiration pressure tended to be smaller for neonatal RBCs than for adult cells. To characterize material properties determining RBC deformability, we measured membrane extensional (shear) and bending elastic moduli, the time constant for elastic recovery from extensional deformation and hemoglobin viscosity (ie, cytoplasmic viscosity) of neonatal and adult RBCs. Membrane surface viscosity and time constant for recovery from bending deformation were calculated. The extensional and bending moduli of neonatal RBCs were slightly smaller (10% and 16%, respectively) compared with adult cells. This suggests that the static resistance of neonatal RBC membrane to deformation and failure in response to a given force is slightly smaller. The time constant for recovery from extensional deformation of neonatal RBCs was larger by 14%, compared with adult cells. The time constant for bending deformation related to the RBC diameter and surface area was increased by 18% in the neonates. Membrane surface viscosity and hemoglobin viscosity were similar for both cell types. These results indicate that the deformability and viscoelastic properties of neonatal RBCs deviate only slightly from those of adult RBCs and that the increased aspiration pressure of neonatal RBCs is solely due to their large size. Some of the specific deformation characteristics observed in this study (increased aspiration pressure, decreased resistance to elastic deformation) may contribute to the shortened life span of neonatal RBCs.