title: Tear and decohesion of bovine pericardial tissue.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the fracture-by tear and delamination-of bovine pericardium tissues which are usually employed for the manufacture of bioprosthetic valves. A large number of samples (77) were tested in root-to-apex and circumferential directions, according to a standardised tear test (ASTM D 1938). Before performing the tear test, some samples were subjected to 1000 cycles of fatigue to a maximum stress of 3MPa. Fracture toughness of tearing and delamination were computed by following a simple fracture model. The study showed significantly lower values of delamination toughness compared with tear delamination. Moreover, tear forces were different in each test direction, revealing a clear orthotropic behaviour. All these results, as well as the testing procedure, could be of value for future research in the physiological function of pericardium tissues and clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain; Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: almudena.tobaruela@upm.es.
authors.forename: Almudena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobaruela
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain; Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elices
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain; Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jean Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Bourges
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain; Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Rojo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain; Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Atienza
authors.affiliation: Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain; Departamento de Ciencia de Materiales, ETSI Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guinea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D002417:Cattle; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Bovine pericardium; Delamination; Fracture toughness; Tearing