A Nonlinear Finite Element Inverse Approach to Characterize the Material Properties of Tracheal Cartilage: Preliminary Study

Tracheal cartilage is a form of hyaline cartilage. Mature hyaline cartilage is classified by miniature aggregations of chondrocytes implanted in an amorphous matrix of ground substance reinforced by collagen fibres designated as collagen type II. The adjacent layer, the perichondrium, consists of collagen fibers and spindle-shaped cells which are similar to fibroblasts. It has been determined that collagen is a nonlinear material[1], and consequently, tracheal cartilage is also nonlinear. Previous research on tracheal cartilage has treated the material as both linear and nonlinear[2].