STRUCTURE-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES RELATIONSHIP OF NATURAL TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS

The mechanical characterization of rabbit Achilles' tendon and anterio r cruciate ligament is presented. Both static and dynamic mechanical t ests have been performed on fresh explanted tissues. Experimental resu lts are presented and discussed in terms of a relationship between str uctural architecture and mechanical properties. The differences in col lagen fibre configuration and composition between tendon and ligament influence the tensile and viscoelastic properties. In particular, tend ons and ligaments showed a gradual transition from a rubber-like to a glassy-like behaviour during the loading process due to the traighteni ng of collagen fibres.