A study on utilizing multi-scale indentation and compression methods to robustly characterize the mechanical properties of viscoelastic materials
Authors
Gearhart, Jamie Erin
ORCID
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Other Contributors
Mills, Kristen L.
Maniatty, Antoinette M.
Borca-Tasçiuc, Diana-Andra
Maniatty, Antoinette M.
Borca-Tasçiuc, Diana-Andra
Issue Date
2020-05
Keywords
Mechanical engineering
Degree
MS
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.
Full Citation
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to robustly characterize the mechanical properties of various viscoelastic materials using indentation and compression methods across a multitude of length scales. By performing stress-relaxation tests on a set of hydrogels and in vitro tumor models, we have determined an appropriate set of material properties to describe their elastic and viscoelastic loading responses. We then use these properties to identify mechanical markers in tumor models derived from phenotypically distinct cancer cell lines, and we further elucidate on the contribution of specific molecular pathways to these mechanical properties by adding contraction-inhibiting drugs to tumor models. Finally, we establish the mechanical heterogeneity of soft tissues at different length scales by performing milli- and nano-scale indentation on hydrogel and tumor samples. Our findings support the notion that both elastic and viscoelastic properties are required to fully characterize the mechanical behavior of soft tissues. The results of this work may provide insight into the appropriate loading conditions and material descriptors that should be used for mechanically testing and characterizing hydrogels and tumor models at different length scales.
Description
May 2020
School of Engineering
School of Engineering
Department
Dept. of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection
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