Hyperelastic mechanical behavior of chitosan hydrogels for nucleus pulposus replacement—Experimental testing and constitutive modeling

Chitosan hydrogels (CHs) have been considered as a potential implant material for replacement and repair of the Nucleus Pulposus (NP) within the intervertebral disk. The nonlinear mechanical behavior of a CH material is investigated experimentally and computationally in this study. A series of confined and unconfined compression tests are designed and conducted for this hydrogel. Hyperelastic strain energy density functions (SEDFs) are calibrated using the experimental data. A hyperelastic constitutive model is selected to best fit the multi-axial behavior of the hydrogel. Its general prediction ability is verified using finite element (FE) simulations of hydrogel indentation experiments conducted using a spherical tip indentor. In addition, digital image correlation (DIC) technique is also used in the indentation test in order to process the full-field surface strains where the indentor contacts the hydrogel. The DIC test results in the form of top-surface strains compared well with those predicted by the FE model. Results show repeatability for the examined specimens under the applied tests. Confined and unconfined test results are found to be sufficient to calibrate the SEDFs. The Ogden model was selected to represent the nonlinear behavior of the CH material which can be used in future biomechanical simulations of the spine.