For tendon collagen, an explanation is proposed for the "toe" region of the stress-strain curve. We ascribe the "toe" effect to the fascicle as a whole. Studies of tendon morphology have shown a distribution of crimp angles. In our model, restoring force arises from the elasticity of those fibrils which are already straightened. Resistance of a crimped fibril is assumed to be negligible. The model was found to fit experimental mechanical data for all ages and over the entire "toe" region.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
For tendon collagen, an explanation is proposed for the "toe" region of the stress-strain curve. We ascribe the "toe" effect to the fascicle as a whole. Studies of tendon morphology have shown a distribution of crimp angles. In our model, restoring force arises from the elasticity of those fibrils which are already straightened. Resistance of a crimped fibril is assumed to be negligible. The model was found to fit experimental mechanical data for all ages and over the entire "toe" region.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.