Mechanics of native bovine pericardium. I. The multiangular behaviour of strength and stiffness of the tissue.

Abstract

Native bovine pericardial samples have recently been reported to be mechanically anisotropic in both biaxial and uniaxial tests. We present results of multiangular tensile tests conducted on strips from native pericardial samples. These tests were needed in order to establish the nature of the anisotropy, in other words identify the class of the material symmetry. We also examine the possibility of describing the multiangular behaviour of the ultimate tensile stress and stiffness of the tissue by using a theory pertinent to composite structures comprised of linear elastic elements. This application was in general successful and should contribute towards a better understanding of the mechanics and deformations of natural materials with a woven fabric (structure).