Research Article

A Microstructural Study of Load Distribution in Cartilage: A Comparison of Stress Relaxation versus Creep Loading

Figure 1

Schematic overview of the loading protocols used for stress relaxation and creep. Compression loading of either 7 MPa or 1 MPa was applied, indicated by the asterisks, followed by either (a) stress relaxation or (b) creep. For (a) stress relaxation, the position (strain) of the channel indenter was held constant while for (b) creep the load was held constant.
(a) Stress relaxation
(b) Creep