Multi-scale modelling of skeletal muscles
The present research deals with the analysis of complex deformation states of skeletal muscle tissue whose results are being integrated in a numerical multi-scale modelling approach. The essential aim is the determination of the mechanical behaviour of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and consequently the prediction of changes based on quantitative and structural changes of the ECM. This knowledge, however, is of high medical as well as socioeconomical importance but rooted on previous analytical methods it could not be obtained. In order to advance research on this field, two areas of expertise are combined: microsystems technology and solid mechanics. This unique combination presents a completely new and innovative approach and enables the development of new methods in order to analyse skeletal muscle tissue from the experimental as well as numerical point of view.
Therefore, it is provided extensive experimental analyses on different size scales. In a first step we apply at micro scale axial tension as well as axial/transversal compression experiments on single muscle fibres and muscle fibres segments, respectively. Further, at meso scale, we focus on compression and shear-compression tests applied on cubes excised from muscle fascicles. Finally, cubes resected from muscle tissue are tested at macro scale.
In order to perform such experiments special setups at micro and meso scale are developed. Their main components are micro technological parallel grippers. In doing so, single muscle fibres or cubes resected from fascicles by means of ultra-short-pulse laser can be loaded and forces, displacements and deformations can be measured. Experiments at macro scale are accomplished using experimental methods. Based on these multi-scale experiments and by means of the inverse finite element method an identification process is establish in order to determinate the mechanical behaviour of ECM. Finally, rooted on these findings a multi-scale modelling approach is validated.