Abstract:
Flexor tendon repair has conventionally been done by suturing techniques. However, in recent
times, there have been attempts of using fibrous braided structures for the repair of
ruptured tendons. In this regard, the numerical analysis of the flexural stiffness of a braided
structure under bending moments is vital for understanding its capabilities in the repair of
flexor tendons. In this paper, the bending deflection, curvature, contact stresses and flexural
bending stiffness in the braided structure due to bending moments are simulated using Finite
Element (FE) techniques. Three dimensional geometry and FE models of five sets of
biaxial braided structures were developed using a python programming script. The FE
models of the hybrid biaxial braids were imported into ABAQUS (v17) for post-processing
and analysis. It was established that the braided fabric with largest braid angle, θ = 52.5˚ had
the highest flexural deflection while the lowest deflection was seen in the results of the
braided structure with the least braid angle, θ = 38.5˚. The results in this study also portrayed
that the curvature in biaxial braids will increase with a decrease in the angle between
the braided yarns. This was also consistent with the change of bending angle of the biaxial
structures under a bending moment. The deformation of the structures increased with increase
in the braid angles. This implies that the flexural bending stiffness decreased with
increase in braid angle. The stress limits during bending of the braided structures were established
to be within the range that could be handled by flexor tendons during finger
bending.
