Figure 5.

Discrete prestressed fiber model for clot subjected to uniaxial strain. (A) The actomyosin contractile elements in platelets compact the fibrin fibers onto the aggregates. Given is the representative image of a single platelet aggregate with fibers emanating from the aggregate (scale bars, 5 μm) (inset). (B) Compaction strain is added to externally applied strain such that the effective modulus E_eff is higher than nominal; (C) Euclidean geometric representation of a fibrin fiber compacted by platelet contraction. (D) Representative finite element simulation of fiber deformation in the vicinity of a platelet aggregate, shown with a 5-μm aggregate radius, 0.5 compaction ratio, 2.0 relative modulus, and 25% applied strain. (E) Strain energy density due to prestress as a function of compaction strain for applied strain up to 50%. (F) Predicted strain energy density as a function of compaction strain and relative modulus.