Deep vertical collagen fibrils play a significant role in mechanics of articular cartilage

Abstract The primary orientation of collagen fibrils alters along the cartilage depth; being horizontal in the superficial zone, random in the transitional zone, and vertical in the deep zone. Commonly used confined and unconfined (when with no underlying bone) testing configurations cannot capture the mechanical role of deep vertical fibril network. To determine this role in cartilage mechanics, an axisymmetric nonlinear fibril‐reinforced poroelastic model of tibial cartilage plateaus was developed accounting for depth‐dependent properties and distinct fibril networks with physical material properties. Both creep and relaxation indentation models were analyzed which results were found equivalent in the transient period but diverged in post‐transient periods. Vertical fibrils played a significant role at the transient period in dramatically increasing the stiffness of the tissue and in protecting the solid matrix against large distortions and strains at the subchondral junction. This role, however, disappeared both with time and at loading rates slower than those expected in physiological activities such as walking. The vertical fibrils demonstrated a chevron‐type deformation pattern that was further accentuated with time in creep loading. Damages to deep vertical collagen fibril network or their firm anchorage to the bone, associated with bone bruises, for example, would weaken the transient stiffness and place the tissue at higher risk of failure particularly at the deep zone. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:608–615, 2008