αTC	Molecular cross-sectional area
βCox	Constant in the shear-lag model; appears in the argument of the trigonometrical functions
ε	Average strain in the fibril
γTC	Energy required to nucleate a slip pulse
λ	Axial overlap distance between two adjacent fibrils
ρ	Centre-to-centre lateral separation distance between two adjacent fibrils
ρColl	Collagen density
σc	Stress acting on the tissue in the direction of the fibril
σGrif	Applied tensile stress leading to the rupture of the MCT
σTC	Stress associated with F
σz	Collagen fibril axial stress
τβ	Shear stress at the fibril-matrix interface, generated during the mode β transition stage
τGAG	Shear stress for rupturing the bonds between proteoglycan glycosaminoglycans
τRP	Shear stress at the fibril-matrix interface, generated during the fibril rupture or pull-out
τ	Shear stress at the fibril-matrix interface
τTC	Shear resistance between the two collagen molecules
η	Ratio of LCL to LTC
χS	First critical molecular length
χR	Second critical molecular length