Sub-Failure Damage in Rat Medial
Collateral Ligaments
Team Members: Sarah Bonham, Jeff Morelli, Valerie Walters
Advisor: Dr. Raffaella De Vita
The goal of this project is to examine the failure mechanism of
rat medial collateral ligaments, determine the sub-failure strain,
determine where damage originates, and use a model to predict
failure.
Key Features:
Project Scope: Determine where damage in the MCL begins
and incorporate this into a mathematical model. From the
results of the model, better preventative treatments can be
developed.
Deliverables:
•Write MATLAB code for stress and strain analysis
•Develop gripping mechanisms for tests
•Determine the testing protocol
•Produce stress-strain curves for all test phases
•Obtain scanning electron microscope images
•Incorporate experimental results into a mathematical model
Pictured from left to right: V. Walters, J. Morelli, and S. Bonham