Project Details
Projekt
Mechanobiologie von Geweben
Applicant
Dr. Dirk Hartmann
Subject Area
Mathematics
Term
from 2008 to 2009
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 114994956
The goal of this research project is to investigate the importance of mechanical factors in the development of complex morphologies found in many biological systems. Within this project we will concentrate on the emergence of folds and wrinkles in the primate cerebal cortex during its development. Continuum mechanical models for mechanics of growing biological materials, i.e. active materials, will be developed for the considered system. These models allow a mathematical description in realistic terms based on well studied constitutive relations. Due to the complexity of the models and geometries, analytical approaches can hardly be used. Therefore, we will employ sophisticated finite element tools to investigate the proposed models. A central difficulty will be the treatment of the highly complex geometries, which we plan to address using Lagrangian as well as Eulerian methods (levelset methods). In combination with experiments available from the Lab Prof. H. Barabas, Boston University, the proposed approach offers the unique opportunity to understand the formation of complex morphologies in a qualitative as well as quantitative manner.
DFG Programme
Research Fellowships
International Connection
USA
