Modelling tendon failure as a function of strain rate

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether parameters which describe the rate of collagen fibre damage accumulation in a collagen distribution model are dependent on the strain-rate. Fifty rat tail tendons were subjected to one of five different strain rates until failure. Using a collagen distribution model, parameters describing the rate of fibre damage were obtained by least-squares and regressed against the strain rate. Rates of damage accumulation were found to be proportional to the strain rate.