Bulge test method for measuring the hyperelastic parameters of soft membranes

Sheng, Jun-Yuan; Zhang, Li-Yuan; Li, Bo; Wang, Gangfeng; Feng, Xi‐Qiao

doi:10.1007/s00707-017-1945-x

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In terms of instrumentation, the AFM method requires a specific setup for each biological material to be tested, particularly the cantilevers used. The bulge test is an alternative method for the determination of the average stiffness of freestanding membranes . In this study, we demonstrate that this nondestructive technique is a valuable tool to determine the Young’s modulus of thin and soft membranes, in particular those with low stiffness (in the kPa range).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…The bulge test is an alternative method for the determination of the average stiffness of freestanding membranes. 22 In this study, we demonstrate that this nondestructive technique is a valuable tool to determine the Young's modulus of thin and soft membranes, in particular those with low stiffness (in the kPa range). The Young's modulus determined for the collagen-elastin hydrogel membrane (0.79 ± 0.36 kPa) is in the range of the values found in the literature for collagen based hydrogel (about 0.5−2.4 kPa 30,34−36 of similar concentration (about 3 mg/mL)).…”

Section: ■ Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Furthermore, AFM provides local stiffness values that do not necessarily reflect the average stiffness of the material. Sheng et al recently reported the use of the bulge test, a method developed for rigid thin films, for the mechanical characterization of soft membranes. In this nondestructive method, the mechanical properties of the analyzed material are determined by measuring the relationship between the deflection of freestanding membranes and the applied pressures. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanical Properties of Soft Biological Membranes for Organ-on-a-Chip Assessed by Bulge Test and AFM

Zamprogno

Thoma

Cencen

et al. 2021

ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng.

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Advanced in vitro models called “organ-on-a-chip” can mimic the specific cellular environment found in various tissues. Many of these models include a thin, sometimes flexible, membrane aimed at mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold of in vivo barriers. These membranes are often made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a silicone rubber that poorly mimics the chemical and physical properties of the basal membrane. However, the ECM and its mechanical properties play a key role in the homeostasis of a tissue. Here, we report about biological membranes with a composition and mechanical properties similar to those found in vivo. Two types of collagen-elastin (CE) membranes were produced: vitrified and nonvitrified (called “hydrogel membrane”). Their mechanical properties were characterized using the bulge test method. The results were compared using atomic force microscopy (AFM), a standard technique used to evaluate the Young’s modulus of soft materials at the nanoscale. Our results show that CE membranes with stiffnesses ranging from several hundred of kPa down to 1 kPa can be produced by tuning the CE ratio, the production mode (vitrified or not), and/or certain parameters such as temperature. The Young’s modulus can easily be determined using the bulge test. This method is a robust and reproducible to determine membrane stiffness, even for soft membranes, which are more difficult to assess by AFM. Assessment of the impact of substrate stiffness on the spread of human fibroblasts on these surfaces showed that cell spread is lower on softer surfaces than on stiffer surfaces.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: ■ Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mechanical Properties of Soft Biological Membranes for Organ-on-a-Chip Assessed by Bulge Test and AFM

Zamprogno

Thoma

Cencen

et al. 2021

ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng.

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“…Nowadays a lot of different techniques are used to determine the stress-strain curve, from the most traditional uniaxial tensile-compressive tests, through indentation and equibiaxial tests, up to the bulge tests. Among these, the bulge test is a consolidated technique for the investigation of membranes subjected to an equibiaxial tension state [7], [8]. Such method allows avoiding those edge damages commonly occurring when the specimen is stressed during other types of tests [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison between 3D-reconstruction optical methods applied to bulge-tests through a feed-forward neural network

Alizzio

Bonfanti

Garozzo³

et al. 2021

ACTA IMEKO

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The mechanical behaviour of rubber-like materials can be investigated through numerous techniques that differ from each other in costs, execution times and parameters described. Bulge test method proved helpful for hyperelastic membranes under plane and equibiaxial stress state. In the present study, bulge tests in force control were carried out on SBR 20% CB-filled specimens. 3D reconstructions of the dome were achieved through two different stereoscopic techniques, the epipolar geometry and the Digital Image Correlation. Through a Feed-Forward Neural Network (FFNN), these reconstructions were compared with the measurements by a laser triangulation sensor taken as reference. 3D-DIC reconstruction was found to be more accurate. Indeed, bias errors of the 3D-DIC and epipolar techniques with respect to the relative reference values, under creep condition, were 0.53 mm and 0.87 mm, respectively.<br /><br />

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“…Here, an applied differential pressure causes a thin material to enlarge under equi-biaxial stretch conditions. While traditionally employed for characterizing sheet metals and thin strips [28][29][30] , recently, it has begun to be considered for soft materials such as hydrogels and PDMS 31,32 . The biaxial state of strain calls for a separate derivation of the stress vs. stretch-ratio relation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonlinear modeling and characterization of ultrasoft silicone elastomers

Das,

Breuer,

Mathai

2020

Preprint

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We introduce a strain-energy based nonlinear hyper-elastic formulation to model the material properties of ultrasoft dielectric elastomers over a wide range of elastic properties, prestretch, and thicknesses. We build on the uniaxial Gent formulation, and under the conditions of equi-biaxial strain, derive an expression for the bulge deformation versus pressure. A circular bulge test methodology is developed to experimentally measure the mechanical response of the silicone membranes. The Gent model captures both neo-Hookean and strain-stiffening behaviors, and gives predictions which are in agreement with experimental measurements. Membranes with different thinner fractions are characterized over nearly one order of magnitude variation in shear modulus. Stiffer membranes are observed to harden at lower stretch ratios due to the increased fraction of polymer chains in them. The present approach offers a simple and costeffective procedure for characterizing soft membranes under commonly encountered biaxial deformation conditions.

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Bulge test method for measuring the hyperelastic parameters of soft membranes

Cited by 19 publications

References 24 publications

Mechanical Properties of Soft Biological Membranes for Organ-on-a-Chip Assessed by Bulge Test and AFM

Mechanical Properties of Soft Biological Membranes for Organ-on-a-Chip Assessed by Bulge Test and AFM

Comparison between 3D-reconstruction optical methods applied to bulge-tests through a feed-forward neural network

Nonlinear modeling and characterization of ultrasoft silicone elastomers

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