Poroviscoelastic Two-Dimensional Anisotropic Solution with Application to Articular Cartilage Testing

Abstract

The transverse anisotropic poromechanics solution for the two-dimensional Mandel-type problem geometry is extended in this paper to account for the orthotropic nature of the porous media, thus mimicking the response of articular cartilage samples when subjected to load perturbation. The anisotropic solution presented takes into account the viscoelastic and anisotropic nature of the fluid-saturated cartilage specimen sandwiched between two impermeable rigid plates and subjected to quasi-static step loading conditions; thus simulating the unconfined compressive test responses of cartilage samples in biomechanics laboratory setups. The solution addresses the stress, fluid pressure, and displacement results due to load application through exact modeling of the intrinsic nature of the orthotropic viscoelastic matrix structure as well as the compressible interstitial fluid flow responses. Poromechanical parameter characterization and modeling of biological tissues, such as cartilage, will find this analytical solution to the two-dimensional anisotropic poroviscoelastic geometry very useful. This problem will not only serve as a benchmark for validating numerical schemes and simulations but also assist in calibrating laboratory results on biological tissues, including cyclic loadings.