166 Computational Modelling of Biomechanics and Biotribology
microstructure, cell anisotropy, focal adhesions) being behind the aim of this
work.
A numerical model has been built up by considering a nite element
approach as described in Section 5.3.2. The partition of
To
employed for
numerical simulations consists of about 40 000 elements.
Plate IV contains some illustrative results in order to merely prove model
capability. The presence of cellular domains and the slight differences in local
ber arrangement is proved to induce a signi cant perturbation of the stress
and strain patterns at the microscale with respect to the case of a regular
RVE (see Plate III ). As a result, mechanical stimuli transferred in cell mem-
brane, cytoskeleton ...