A Study on the Mathematical Modeling of Human Pharyngeal Tissue Viscoelasticity

A mathematical model of viscoelasticity on the material property of human pharyngeal tissue utilizing Y.C. Fung's Quasi-linear viscoelastic theory is proposed based on cyclic load, stress relaxation, incremental load, and uniaxial tensile load tests. The material properties are characterized and compared with other biological materials' results. The mathematical model is proposed by combining two characteristic functions determined from the stress relaxation and uniaxial tensile load tests. The reduced stress relaxation function G(t) and elastic response function S(t) are obtained from stress relaxation test and uniaxial tensile load test results respectively. Then the model describing stress-time history of the tissue is implemented utilizing two functions. The proposed model is evaluated and validated by comparing the model's cyclic behaviour with experimental results. The model data could be utilized as an important information for constructing 3-dimensional biomechanical model of human pharynx using FEM(Finite Element Method).ope