MECHANICS OF NATIVE BOVINE PERICARDIUM .1. THE MULTIANGULAR BEHAVIOR OF STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS OF THE TISSUE

Native bovine pericardial samples have recently been reported to be me chanically anisotropic in both biaxial and uniaxial tests. We present results of multiangular tensile tests conducted on strips from native pericardial samples. These tests were needed in order to establish the nature of the anisotropy, in other words identify the class of the ma terial symmetry. We also examine the possibility of describing the mul tiangular behaviour of the ultimate tensile stress and stiffness of th e tissue by using a theory pertinent to composite structures comprised of linear elastic elements. This application was in general successfu l and should contribute towards a better understanding of the mechanic s and deformations of natural materials with a woven fabric (structure ).