Abstract
This study is aimed at setting a method of experimental parameter estimation for large-deforming nonlinear viscoelastic continuous fibre-reinforced composite material model. Specifically, arterial tissue was investigated during experimental research and parameter estimation studies, due to medical, scientific and socio-economic importance of soft tissue research. Using analytical formulations for specimens under combined inflation/extension/torsion on thick-walled cylindrical tubes, in vitro experiments were carried out with fresh sheep arterial segments, and parameter estimation procedures were carried out on experimental data. Model restrictions were pointed out using outcomes from parameter estimation. Needs for further studies that can be developed are discussed.
Acknowledgements
The primary author expresses his regards to Plastic Surgeon Med. Dr. Burcak ERDINC for her contributions in specimen preparation, to Technician Mr Orhan KAMBUROGLU for the preparation of all the adapter for connecting the arterial specimens, to M.Sc. Burak YAZICI for his assistance in initiating optical measurements and formulations and to Gökhan BAYSAL for his support during the experimental studies. Support from State Planning Organization of Turkey, Project ID DPT-2003K120630/90191 and from Istanbul Technical University, Directorate of Scientific Research Projects, Project ID 30029(2002), is greatly acknowledged.