title: Nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour of the flexor tendon of the human hand.
abstract: The mechanical behaviour of the flexor tendon of the human hand is here investigated from the point of view of its nonlinear viscoelasticity. The samples are subjected to several single and multiple step loading histories. A quasilinear viscoelastic constitutive relationship between strain and stress history is assumed. Its characteristic material functions are determined with the aid of simple creep results, and model predictions are compared with the experimental results of complex loading histories. The validity of the quasilinear approach to tendon behaviour is discussed in connection with the deformation mechanism suggested by it.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Thermodynamics and Physical Chemistry, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monleón Pradas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Díaz Calleja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004548:Elasticity; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*; D014783:Viscosity