Indentation versus tensile measurements of Young's modulus for soft biological tissues

Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2011 Jun;17(3):155-64. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEB.2010.0520. Epub 2011 Mar 21.

Abstract

In this review, we compare the reported values of Young's modulus (YM) obtained from indentation and tensile deformations of soft biological tissues. When the method of deformation is ignored, YM values for any given tissue typically span several orders of magnitude. If the method of deformation is considered, then a consistent and less ambiguous result emerges. On average, YM values for soft tissues are consistently lower when obtained by indentation deformations. We discuss the implications and potential impact of this finding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation
  • Connective Tissue / physiology*
  • Elastic Modulus / physiology*
  • Hardness / physiology
  • Hardness Tests / methods*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tensile Strength / physiology*