Author(s)

Z. Zhou & D. M Bruce

Abstract

This paper is to present a model simulating the mechanical behaviour of soft tissues based on large displacement theory. In this model, large deformation characteristic of soft tissues is described with an incremental non-linear geometric equation. Galerkin weighted residual method is used to produce finite element formulations. Computer program is written to implement the FEM solution. A software package is thus created for simulation of the mechanical behaviour of soft tissues in situations such as surgery and wound care. The numerical model was applied to the simulation of a hypothetical example of wound suturing. Numerical results from the analysis are presented and discussed. 1 Introduction Over last fifteen years, the finite element method (FEM) has increasingly been adopted as an approach to the analysis of soft tissue [I] and has found application in various areas. M

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