Computational Framework for Multiscale Mechanics of Connective Tissues

结缔组织多尺度力学计算框架

• 批准号: 8554764
• 负责人: JEFFREY A. WEISS
• 金额: $ 25.38万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-30 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8554764
• 关键词: Affect; Algorithms; Behavior; Biocompatible Materials; Biological; Biology; Biomechanics; Caliber; Cartilage; Cells; Cellular Mechanotransduction; Characteristics; Collagen; Collagen Fiber; Collagen Fibril; Collagen Type I; Companions; Complex; Computational Science; Computer Simulation; Computer software; Connective Tissue; Custom; Data; Data Set; Disease; Elements; Exhibits; Extracellular Matrix; Failure; Fiber; Fibroblasts; Gel; Guidelines; Injury; Joint Capsule; Joints; Laboratories; Length; Ligaments; Measurement; Mechanics; Medicine; Methodology; Methods; Modeling; Motivation; Nanostructures; Osteocytes; Property; Research; Research Personnel; Scheme; Stress; Structure; Technology; Tendon structure; Tissues; Validation; Variant; Writing; base; bone; computer framework; computerized tools; fibrillogenesis; improved; infancy; innovation; insight; millimeter; model development; multi-scale modeling; nanometer; nanoscale; neglect; open source; physical model; simulation; software development; theories

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Most connective tissues are composed primarily of collagen and exhibit hierarchical organization from the nanometer to the millimeter scale. Although the structure and mechanics of collagenous connective tissues have been studied for decades, a clear understanding of the relationships between hierarchical organization and material behavior is severely lacking. This can be attributed in large part to an inability to integrate and couple mechanics between the nanoscale, microscale and mesoscale. In theory, this integration can be accomplished using computational homogenization. The overall aim of this research is to enable multiscale mechanical modeling of hierarchical connective tissues, by developing a software framework and systematically investigating the influence of physical characteristics and assumptions on the predictions from the algorithms. As part of the research, we will develop finite element (FE) based algorithmic and software framework for analysis of nonlinear, multiscale models in biomechanics, based on the open-source FEBio software. To validate these approaches to multiscale modeling, we will construct idealized, multiscale physical surrogates with well-defined nano- and microstructure and perform simultaneous material characterization at the macro- and microscale. This information will be used to develop and validate parametric, multiscale FE models of the physical surrogates. The proposed research will create a significant impact by providing verified, publicly available computational tools, model development and validation methodologies for multiscale mechanics of hierarchical tissues. We anticipate that the results of this research and the software framework will be utilized across a broad range of applications in biology, medicine and beyond. Many heritable diseases directly affect collagen structure and fibrillogenesis, causing relatively well-characterized alterations in structure/organization of type I collagen at multiple levels. The proposed research is fundamentally necessary to enable multiscale mechanical modeling of connective tissues from the nanoscale to the mesoscale.

描述（由申请人提供）：大多数结缔组织主要由胶原蛋白组成，并表现出从纳米到毫米尺度的分层组织。尽管人们对胶原结缔组织的结构和力学进行了数十年的研究，但对分层组织和材料行为之间的关系仍然严重缺乏清晰的认识。这在很大程度上归因于无法在纳米尺度、微米尺度和介观尺度之间整合和耦合力学。理论上，这种整合可以使用计算均质化来完成。这项研究的总体目标是通过开发软件框架并系统地研究物理特性和假设对算法预测的影响，实现分层结缔组织的多尺度力学建模。作为研究的一部分，我们将基于开源 FEBio 软件开发基于有限元 (FE) 的算法和软件框架，用于分析生物力学中的非线性、多尺度模型。为了验证这些多尺度建模方法，我们将构建具有明确纳米和微观结构的理想化多尺度物理替代物，并在宏观和微观尺度上同时进行材料表征。该信息将用于开发和验证物理替代物的参数化、多尺度有限元模型。拟议的研究将通过为分层组织的多尺度力学提供经过验证的、公开可用的计算工具、模型开发和验证方法来产生重大影响。我们预计这项研究的结果和软件框架将在生物学、医学等领域的广泛应用中得到利用。许多遗传性疾病直接影响胶原蛋白结构和原纤维生成，导致 I 型胶原蛋白结构/组织在多个水平上发生相对明确的改变。所提出的研究对于实现从纳米尺度到介观尺度的结缔组织的多尺度力学建模至关重要。