Y.F. Nie^1,2, S.N. Atluri², C.W. Zuo¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.12, No.2, pp. 137-148, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2006.012.137

Abstract Owing to the meshless and local characteristics, moving least squares (MLS) methods have been used extensively to approximate the unknown function of partial differential equation initial boundary value problem. In this paper, based on matrix analysis, a sufficient and necessary condition for the existence of inverse of coefficient matrix used in MLS methods is developed firstly. Then in the light of approximate theory, a practical mathematics model is posed to obtain the optimal radius of support of radial weights used in MLS methods. As an example, while uniform distributed particles and the 4^th order spline weight More >

S. Marguet¹, P. Rozycki¹, L. Gornet¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 119-136, 2006, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2006.004.119

Abstract This paper deals with the modelling until rupture of composite structures made of glass-fibre / epoxy-resin woven fabrics submitted to dynamic loadings. The model is built at the mesoscale of the elementary ply. It takes into account the slightly nonlinear brittle behaviour of the fibres under tensile sollicitations, their nonlinear behaviour in compression as well as the strongly non linear and irreversible behaviour of the ply in shear. Strain rate effects are also introduced and special attention is paid to the objectivity of the model in the context of finite element calculation. Therefore the choice… More >

TATIANA CARLA TOMIOSSO, LAURECIR GOMES, BENEDICTO DE CAMPOS VIDAL, EDSON ROSA PIMENTEL

BIOCELL, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 47-54, 2005, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2005.29.047

Abstract The composition and organization of the extracellular matrix of ostrich articular cartilage was investigated, using samples from the proximal and distal surfaces of the tarsometatarsus. For morphological analysis, sections were stained with toluidine blue and analyzed by polarized light microscopy. For biochemical analysis, extracellular matrix components were extracted with 4 M guanidinium chloride, fractionated on DEAE-Sephacel and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Glycosaminoglycans were analyzed by electrophoresis in agarose gels. Structural analysis showed that the fibrils were arranged in different directions, especially on the distal surface. The protein and glycosaminoglycan contents of this region were higher than More >

G. Minak¹, F. E. G. Chimisso², H. S. Costa Mattos³

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.1, No.3, pp. 193-202, 2005, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2005.001.193

Abstract Cyclic plasticity and damage of a metal matrix composite have been studied in the framework of continuum damage mechanics. The material was considered as macroscopically homogeneous and a model incorporating damage gradient was applied. Strain-controlled fully reversed low-cycle fatigue uniaxial tests were performed to identify material parameters related to yield stress, isotropic and kinematic hardening, fatigue life and damage diffusion. From previous studies it has been found that in the most general case the parameters of the model are constant or depend exponentially on total strain so that only two or three tests are needed More >

Christopher A. Lemmon^1,2, Nathan J. Sniadecki³, Sami Alom Ruiz^1,3, John L. Tan, Lewis H. Romer^2,4,5, Christopher S. Chen^3,4

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 1-16, 2005, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2005.002.001

Abstract The interplay of mechanical forces between the extracellular environment and the cytoskeleton drives development, repair, and senescence in many tissues. Quantitative definition of these forces is a vital step in understanding cellular mechanosensing. Microfabricated post array detectors (mPADs) provide direct measurements of cell-generated forces during cell adhesion to extracellular matrix. A new approach to mPAD post labeling, volumetric imaging, and an analysis of post bending mechanics determined that cells apply shear forces and not point moments at the matrix interface. In addition, these forces could be accurately resolved from post deflections by using images of More >

Morakot Likhitpanichkul¹, X. Edward Guo², Van C. Mow^1,3

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.2, No.4, pp. 191-204, 2005, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2005.002.191

Abstract Thorough analyses of the mechano-electrochemical interaction between articular cartilage matrix and the chondrocytes are crucial to understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms that modulate the cell metabolic activities and biosynthesis. Attempts have been made to model the chondrocytes embedded in the collagen-proteoglycan extracellular matrix to determine the distribution of local stress-strain field, fluid pressure and the time-dependent deformation of the cell. To date, these models still have not taken into account a remarkable characteristic of the cartilage extracellular matrix given rise from organization of the collagen fiber architecture, now known as the tension-compression nonlinearity (TCN)… More >

A.L. Brock, D.E. Ingber¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.2, No.3, pp. 135-144, 2005, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2005.002.135

Abstract The direction in which cells extend new motile processes, such as lamellipodia and filopodia, can be controlled by altering the geometry of extracellular matrix adhesive islands on which individual cells are cultured, thereby altering mechanical interactions between cells and the adhesive substrate [Parker (2002)]. Here we specifically investigate the intracellular molecular signals that mediate the mechanism by which cells selectively extend these processes from the corners of polygonal-shaped adhesive islands. Constitutive activation of the small GTPase Rac within cells cultured on square-shaped islands of fibronectin resulted in the elimination of preferential extension from corners. This… More >

V.V. Mykhas’kiv¹, O.I. Stepanyuk²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 45-64, 2005, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2005.010.045

Abstract The 3D elastostatic problem for an infinite remotely loaded matrix containing a finite number of arbitrarily located rigid disk-inclusions and plane cracks is solved by the boundary integral equation (BIE) method. Its boundary integral formulation is achieved by the superposition principle with the subsequent integral representations of superposition terms through surface integrals, which should satisfy the displacement linearity conditions in the inclusion domains and load-free conditions in the crack domains. The subtraction technique in the conjunction with mapping technique under taking into account the structure of the solution at the edges of inhomogeneities is applied More >

Tanmay Lele^1,1, Philmo Oh^1,1, Jeffrey A. Nickerson^1,1,2,2, Donald E. Ingber^1,1,3,3

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.1, No.3, pp. 181-190, 2004, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2004.001.181

Abstract The estimation of binding constants and diffusion coefficients of molecules that associate with insoluble molecular scaffolds inside living cells and nuclei has been facilitated by the use of Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching (FRAP) in conjunction with mathematical modeling. A critical feature unique to FRAP experiments that has been overlooked by past mathematical treatments is the existence of an `equilibrium constraint': local dynamic equilibrium is not disturbed because photobleaching does not functionally destroy molecules, and hence binding-unbinding proceeds at equilibrium rates. Here we describe an improved mathematical formulation under the equilibrium constraint which provides a more… More >

H.J. Bohm¨ ¹, W. Han^1,2, A. Eckschlager^1,3

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.5, No.1, pp. 5-20, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.005.005

Abstract Three-dimensional periodic micromechanical models are used for studying the mechanical behavior of discontinuously reinforced ductile matrix composites. The models are based on unit cells that contain a number of randomly positioned and, where applicable, randomly oriented spherical, spheroidal or cylindrical reinforcements. The Finite Element method is used to resolve the microscale stress and strain fields and to predict the homogenized responses under overall uniaxial tensile loading in the elastic and elastoplastic regimes. Periodicity boundary conditions are employed in the analyses.\\ The main emphasis of the contribution is put on studying the microscale stresses in the More >