Phenomenological modelling of soft biomaterials: The fundamental link between theory and experiment
Speaker: Dr. Michele Terzano
University Assistant, Institute of Biomechanics, Graz University of Technology (Austria)
When: April, 24, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: CEME Building, room 1203 (6250 Applied Science Lane, Vancouver)
Zoom: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/97206574075?pwd=b0tpc3czNmV0YmJ5dUhmcGwya0RjZz09
This talk is part of the Structural Matter Seminar Series.
Abstract:
Soft biomaterials are finding increasing applications in engineering and medical sciences due to their ability to replicate and replace soft tissues for a wide range of applications, including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug delivery, and tissue phantoms. Their mechanical behaviour is characterised by a complex interplay of various dissipative effects, arising from viscous interactions and the presence of fluid. Phenomenological models developed within the framework of classical continuum mechanics provide a variety of approaches to describe such behaviour. However, the experimental calibration of these models is not trivial and is often overlooked. This talk highlights the importance of linking theoretical modelling to experimental design, showing applications from our latest research on polymeric scaffolds and brain-mimicking hydrogels.
Biography:
Michele Terzano is a University Assistant in the Institute of Biomechanics at Graz University of Technology (Austria). He earned his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Parma (Italy), with a research visit at Imperial College London (UK). His research focuses on various aspects of solid mechanics, including the mechanical behaviour of soft polymers, hydrogels, and biological tissues, as well as computational mechanics with an emphasis on fracture and cutting.