Lubricated squeezing flow: a useful method for measuring the viscoelastic properties of soft tissues.
Conducting experiments on very soft biological tissues can be difficult. Traditionally, unconfined compression and shear have been used. Here, an improved method of compression testing, lubricated squeezing flow is described. This gives a uniform compression along the squeezing axis and almost uniform equi-biaxial elongation at right angles to the squeezing axis, with minimal shear deformation due to the constant lubrication of the sample surfaces during testing. Sample results for porcine liver obtained using this method are described here.
Nasseri
Simin
S
School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Bilston
Lynne
L
Tanner
Roger
R
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004548:Elasticity; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012212:Rheology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013552:Swine; D014783:Viscosity