FIG. 1.

Venn diagram emphasizing the distinct fields of (1) hydrogels in tissue engineering, (2) cartilage biomechanics, and (3) fracture mechanics. The purpose of this review is to identify the common ground for these distinct fields, more specifically, to understand how to best identify fracture mechanics methods most suitable for evaluating both hydrogels and cartilage. The urgency for identifying this common ground is high in light of the advanced state of hydrogels in cartilage regeneration, where fracture is ready to stand alongside stiffness as a functional design requirement. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/teb