Strain rate effect on the failure properties of tendons

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of strain rate on the failure properties of tendons. Seventy-five chicken flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons were tensile tested at 15 strain rates, ranging from 0.05 to 150 per cent/s. Results showed that strain rate had little effect on the shape of the stress-strain curve. No significant change was observed in the toe region, while the slope of the linear region increased with the increase in strain rate. Generally, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus increased significantly as strain rate increased (p < 0.01), while no significant change in strain at UTS (p>0.01) was observed. It was found the change in failure properties of tendons was not significant, with small change in strain rate.