Fluid-Structure Interactions Analysis of Tension in An Axon Using Finite Elements Modeling to Investigate Strain Related Neurological Damages

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 MSc student/University of Tehran

2 Associate professor/University of Tehran

Abstract

The study of axonal behavior under different environmental conditions can provide a better insight into the development of therapeutic approaches for healing after nerve damages. By modeling of sublayer in the form of a hyperelastic material and applying different pressures, the amount of strains tolerated by the axon was calculated. Strains were applied at three different time intervals to examine the effects of different strain rates. For axon, a model containing microtubules with linear elastic properties, neurofilament, and axolemma with linear viscoelastic properties was considered. The finite element method and COMSOL software were used for the discretization of the sublayer and the substructures of the axon. It was observed that the fluid regime in the channel did not affect the mechanical response of the axon. The strain was close to zero (at most 0.0001) and the stress was also negligible (at most, 70 N/m2). The results showed the major effect of microtubules on resisting mechanical forces and on the overall integrity of the axons. Most of the strains were seen inside the axolemma, indicating the importance of its mechanical response to injury. Regarding the response to the strain rate, the most probable damage to the axon, comparable with the former corresponding reports will occur at the strain of 42% and strain rate of 19.1 s-1, respectively.

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Main Subjects

References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 53, Issue 8
November 2021
Pages 4609-4632

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