Simulation of the mechanical properties of a physiological tissue

The compressive behavior of a particular physiological tissue — sheepskin — was simulated on an analog com puter, the simulation being derived from a nonlinear me chanical model. The mechanical model, which consisted of elastic, viscoelastic, and ratchet or contractile elements, was developed from cyclic-stress fatigue data. By compar ing experimental data with the simulated results, it is shown that the proposed model satisfactorily describes the complex behavior of the tissue.