Engineering Mechanics

Proceedings Vol. 7 (2001)

INŽENÝRSKÁ MECHANIKA 2001

ENGINEERING MECHANICS 2001

Copyright © 2001 Institute of Thermomechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague

 

Kafka V.
pages 128 - +10p, full text

Articular cartilage in loaded joints consists of several layers that have different orientations of collagen fibers. In about 10-20% of the thickness, under the surface, there is the so-called 'superficial tangential zone', where the collagen fibers are oriented in one direction that is parallel with the surface and with the direction ofjoint movement. The strength and stiffness of these collagen fibers is greater than of other fibers. This zone represents the main member that ensures the strength of cartilage, and breaking of the collagen fibers in this zone is assumed to be the cause of cracks that are normal to the surface of cartilage. Such cracks were observed in joints with primary osteoarthritis. A mesomechanical rheological analysis of the deformation processes in the structure of this tangential zone discloses how strongly the stressing of the collagen fibers depends on the rate of loading of the joint, and how dangerous are very qUick impact loadings.

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