title: A viscoelastic material model to represent smooth muscle shortening.
abstract: The mechanical properties of a contracting smooth muscle can be changed by changing its length. A viscoelastic material model was developed to predict the length-dependent stiffness changes when a constrained muscle is allowed to shorten under a constant external force. Three-dimensional finite element simulations were carried out to estimate the stiffness changes and compared to available experimental data. A good agreement was found indicating that the viscoelastic material model developed gives a valid representation of the length dependent stiffness changes of a smooth muscle. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine the relative effects of material constants in the model on the length dependent stiffness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. ramana@engr.iupui.edu
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pidaparti
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Meiss
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004548:Elasticity; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D014783:Viscosity