Simulation-Based Development of Gradient Woven Fabrics for Biomimetic Implants to Restore Tendons and Ligaments

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

Tendons and ligaments are complex tissues that are necessary for human movement. Injuries occur very commonly and treatment quite often requires implants. Such implants must be adapted to the biological and structural composition of human tendons and ligaments. Thus, the objective is to realize graded, biomimetic tendon and ligament implants that are long-term resorbable. First, basic woven fabrics are fabricated from biocompatible silk fibroin yarns. Starting from the basic fabrics, gradient fabrics, with three different weave zones, are then developed and produced. In addition, fabrics with variable width and lateral warp yarn offset are fabricated on the basis of open reed weaving (ORW) technology on a modified shuttle narrow weaving loom. Meso-scale finite element models are developed in order to support the design of the gradient weaves. First, TexGen software is used to create a close to reality fabric geometry. Models are then converted into beam element models using a Python script. Results of real and virtual tensile tests show a clear relationship between the crimp of the warp yarns in the fabric structures and the resulting elongations. The additional ORW yarn system influences the stiffness. The tensile behavior of experiments and simulation agree very well, so the models are suitable for further development of woven implants.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)336-348
Number of pages13
JournalTextiles
Volume2
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jun 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

unpaywall 10.3390/textiles2020019
Mendeley 83ea8fd4-8279-3fe5-9084-85980b31977d
ORCID /0000-0002-7440-9277/work/142239096
ORCID /0000-0003-0421-4199/work/142244801
Scopus 85183363959

Keywords

Library keywords