Membrane inflation experiment

Equibiaxial characterization is achieved with this device, where a piece of membrane is clamped in a rig and fluid pressure is applied on one side, perpendicular to the plane of the membrane. The inflation experiment produces a biaxial state of stress, which more closely represents physiological loading conditions as compared to conventional uniaxial tensile experiments. The device consists of a short cylinder (inner diameter: 50 mm) in which a fluid is pumped up to a prescribed pressure, a CCD camera for measuring the deformation of the inflated membrane, a pressure sensor which measures the applied pressure, and a peristaltic pump for building the pressure inside the cylinder. The control algorithm allows applying different loading profiles, e.g. constant flow, creep, cyclic pressure. Detailed descriptions of the inflation device are given in [6s].

This set-up was applied for investigation of deformation and rupture behavior of fetal membranes, [18p].

02/24/09 | Stephan Kaufmann | ZfM | ETH