A visco-hyperelastic model with damage for the knee ligaments under dynamic constraints

The aim of this study was to identify the behaviour laws governing the knee ligaments, accounting for the damage incurred by the structure under dynamic constraints. The model is developed using a thermodynamic formulation based on the coupling between a viscoelastic model and a damage model. Identification is carried out using the results of dynamic traction tests performed on a bone ligament/bone complex to which traction velocities of around 1.98 m/s were applied. The results show the ability of the model to account for the brittle and ductile failure processes occurring in the cruciate and lateral ligaments, respectively.