Advances and challenges in the mechanics of biological soft tissues: test methods, modeling, and applications

The mechanical properties of biological soft tissues play a critical role in the study of biomechanics and the development of protective measures against human injury. Various testing techniques at different scales have been employed to characterize the mechanical behavior of soft tissues, which is essential for developing accurate tissue simulants and numerical models. This review comprehensively explores the mechanical properties of soft tissues, examining experimental methods, mechanical models, numerical simulations, and the progress in materials that mimic the mechanical performance of soft tissues. Finally, it reviews the damage and protection of human tissues under kinetic impacts, anticipating the future construction of soft tissue surrogate targets. The aim is to provide a systematic theoretical foundation and the latest advancements in the field, addressing the design, preparation, and quantitative modeling of biomimetic materials, thereby promoting the in-depth development of soft tissue mechanics and its applications. (Figure presented.)