Viscoelastic Characterisation of the Temporomandibular Joint Disc in Bovines

Abstract: The aim of this paper was to develop a biomechanical model to reproduce the viscoelastic behaviour of the material of the bovine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc, as a substitute material to be applied in subsequent experimental studies of possible human TMJ disorders. As the mechanical properties of the disc change due to different factors, this study is focussed on evaluating its viscoelastic response under compression in stress–relaxation, creep and cycling loading tests, using an equipment that allows us to simulate the real function conditions of the material in a liquid medium at 37 °C. In order to fit the data obtained from the relaxation and creep tests, generalised Maxwell and Kelvin models of eight terms are proposed, leading to Prony’s series of practical interest for subsequent numerical calculations.