This research work reports an experimental study on the mechanical behavior of bovine calcaneous tendons. A total number of 03 cyclic relaxation tests with 10 cycles respectively at 2,5%, 3%, and 4% of deformation were performed for each specimen. The specimens were kept at rest for 300 s between tests. Deformation rates were maintained at 10% of initial length per second. Cyclic relaxation tests carried on all tendons showed that the average force correspondent to the first cycle was statistically significatively greater than the average force correspondent to the tenth cycle. This also emphasizes the occurrence of a force relaxation phenomena. It can be concluded that tendons pre-tensionning by means of specific deformations stands for a safer parameter because it acts within the tendon biological limits avoyding the overtensioning negative effects.
Cyclic stress relaxation
