title: Nanomechanical properties of mineralised collagen microfibrils based on finite elements method: biomechanical role of cross-links.
abstract: Hierarchical structures in bio-composites such as bone tissue have many scales or levels and synergic interactions between the different levels. They also have a highly complex architecture in order to fulfil their biological and mechanical functions. In this study, a new three-dimensional (3D) model based on the finite elements (FEs) method was used to model the relationship between the hierarchical structure and the properties of the constituents at the sub-structure scale (mineralised collagen microfibrils) and to investigate their apparent nanomechanical properties. The results of the proposed FE simulations show that the elastic properties of microfibrils depend on different factors such as the number of cross-links, the mechanical properties and the volume fraction of phases. The results obtained under compression loading at a small deformation < 2% show that the microfibrils have a Young's modulus (Ef) ranging from 0.4 to 1.16 GPa and a Poisson's ratio ranging from 0.26 to 0.3. These results are in excellent agreement with experimental data (X-ray, AFM and MEMS) and molecular simulations.
authors: a PRISME Laboratory, EA4229, University of Orleans , Polytech' Orléans, 8, Rue Léonard de Vinci 45072, Orléans , France.
authors: Abdelwahed
authors: A
authors: Barkaoui
authors: Ridha
authors: R
authors: Hambli
mesh_terms: D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011312:Pressure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014332:Tropocollagen / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D024022:Fibrillar Collagens; D014332:Tropocollagen
keywords: bone tissue; cross-links; finite elements simulation; mineralised collagen microfibrils; nanomechanical properties