Projects
Selected Past Research Projects
Characterization and Modeling of Bone
I. Jasiuk
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
We study bone as a hierarchical material and predict its local fields and constitutive responses at different structural scales in healthy and disease states. More specifically, we characterize the hierarchical structure of normal and osteoporotic bone at several structural levels from nano to macro scales, identify failure and fracture mechanisms in bone at different structural scales, measure in vitro and in vivo bone’s properties at different scales and develop micromechanics and computational models to predict local fields and constitutive responses of bone from nano to macro scales.
Students working on this project:
Liang Feng, Elham Hamed, Yikhan Lee, John Jast
Modeling of Bone Adaptation
I. Jasiuk, J. A. Dantzig, C. H. Turner (Indiana University)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
We study how bone adapts to mechanical stimuli. Our modeling is based on the experiments on rat ulna which identified the dependence of bone modeling on the frequency of loading. We use evolution model to describe the dependence of the rate of shape change in cortical bone on the applied mechanical loading and compare these computational results with the experiments. We analyze this problem computationally using a finite element software ABAQUS. We obtain finite element meshes of actual tibia using micro-CT images. We model bone as linear elastic or poroelastic materials. The goal of this research is to identify important physical parameters that influence bone remodeling.
Students working on this project:
Natarajan Kumar
Repair by Regeneration of Large Bone Defects
I. Jasiuk, N. Fang, J. Cameron
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
We study the repair by regeneration of large bone defects in the adult frog Xenopus laevis limb. Xenopus tadpoles have the ability to regenerate limbs but, with age, they lose this capacity. Thus, in a single animal system we have regeneration capacity and then lack of it. The approach involves the use of new osteo-inductive bioartificial scaffolds with optimally designed microstructures for vascularization, cell growth and mechanical support, in combination with cell transplantation, and chemical induction to promote regeneration. This research includes in vitro and in vivo experiments integrated with analytical and computational modeling.
Students working on this project:
Liang, Deepika Chitturi
Novel Biocompatible Bone Adhesion Technology
Iwona Jasiuk, E. Loth, I. Bayer
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
We propose novel biocompatible adhesives to bond bone to other bone, repair plates or to implants using a novel orthopedic adhesion technology. More specifically, we propose to design biomimetics-based biocompatible nanocomposite materials, which will provide adhesion in wet environment, quickly set or cure, maintain strength comparable to bone when set and not inhibit bone growth or healing. This technology is of importance in orthopedics for securing scaffolds and implants as well as in dental applications involving gluing implanted teeth or other implants to bone.
Students working on this project:
Kevin Schreader, Liang Feng
Characterization and Modeling of Cr3C2-Ni Cermets
I. Jasiuk, I. Hussainova (Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Experimental investigation of chromium carbide based Cr3C2-Ni cermets with different compositions uses several experimental approaches: scanning electron microscopy to obtain microstructure information, EDS to identify special chemical composition, and nanoindentation technique to obtain local mechanical properties. These ceramic-metal composites consist of 80% (by weight) of ceramic Cr3C2 phase and the 20% (by weight) of Ni-based binder phase. The binder phase is either pure nickel or nickel combined with either molybdenum or copper. Local spatially varying elastic modulus and hardness are measured for using the nanoindentation. Modeling involves micromechanics approaches to determine constitutive model response of such materials.
Characterization and Modeling of Polymer Matrix Nanocomposite Materials
I. Jasiuk
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Polymer matrix composites with nano and micron size reinforcement are considered in order to assess how the size of reinforcement contributes to the overall mechanical properties. Characterization tools include electron microscopy to assess the arrangement and size distribution of particles. Then, we conduct nanoindentation measurements to determine local properties. Tensile testing focuses on mechanical properties such as elastic modulus, ultimate strength, fracture toughness, and strain to failure. Modeling includes the micromechanics continuum-based analysis and molecular level simulations.
Students working on this project:
Sabrina