A finite element model for macroscopic deformation of the lung.
A finite element model is formulated for determining the macroscopic stress, strain and deformation of the lung parenchyma. The effects of nonlinear elastic behavior, finite deformation, and interfacial tension are included. An incremental approach is used. Illustrative results for deformation of the lung due to its weight are included. The necessity of including surface tension explicitly is demonstrated.
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004548:Elasticity; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008954:Models, Biological; D011312:Pressure; D013500:Surface Tension