Stability of a one-dimensional morphoelastic model for post-burn contraction (Q2047177)

The authors analyze a 1D morphoelastic continuum hypothesis-based model deduced from the papers by \textit{DC. Koppenol} and \textit{FJ. Vermolen} in [``Biomedical implications from a morphoelastic continuum model for the simulation of contracture formation in skin grafts that cover excised burns'', Biomech. Model Mechanobiol. 16, No. 4, 1187--1206 (2017; \url{doi:10.1007/s10237-017-0881-y})] and \textit{DC. Koppenol} et al., [``A mathematical model for the simulation of the formation and the subsequent regression of hypertrophic scar tissue after dermal wounding'', Biomech. Model Mechanobiol. 16, No. 1, 15--32 (2017; \url{doi:10.1007/s10237-016-0799-9})] and accounting for the evolution of burn wound. They write the evolution equations for the four constituents which are considered: signaling molecules (\(c\)), fibroblasts (\(N\)), myofibroblasts (\(M\)) and collagen (\(\rho \)). Initial conditions are added. They first analyze the stability of the 1D morphoelastic model for skin contraction around an equilibrium. They write the linearized equations around equilibria \( (c,N,M,\rho ,v,\varepsilon )=(0,\overline{N},0,\rho ,0,\overline{\varepsilon })\), where \(v\) is the velocity of the dermal layer and \(\varepsilon \) the effective strain present in the dermal layer. The main result presents conditions which ensure the linear stability of the continuous model. The authors also analyze the stability of the discrete problem. In the last part of their paper, the authors propose a numerical resolution to this problem, which is based on appropriate finite element methods, following the book by \textit{J. van Kan} et al. [Numerical methods in scientific computing. Delft: VSSD (2005; Zbl 1103.65001)]. They quote values of the data from the literature and they analyze the evolution of the solution during 400 days.