Dynamic stiffness and damping of porcine muscle specimens

The aim of this study was to quantify the mechanical properties of the muscles of the buttock, using dynamic compression (5-->30 Hz). Tests were conducted in vitro on porcine muscles, using a lever arm device, which applied a dynamic load onto cylindrical samples. A two-parameter viscoelastic model allowed the calculation of stiffness and damping of the samples with respect to frequency. The average stiffness curve showed a monotonous increase (5 Hz: 8.5 kN/m-->30 Hz: 347 kN/m). Concerning damping, between 5 and 20 Hz, values were typically inferior to 300 Ns/m, which then increased till 30 Hz (556 Ns/m). The lever arm device may be used to evaluate dynamic properties of other biological tissues also.