Figure 1

Preparation of the articular cartilage blocks and assembly during bonding experiments. (a) Osteochondral fragments were harvested from the femoropatellar groove of bovine calves. Blocks of 10 × 10 × 20 mm³ were harvested. (b) These blocks were cut into cartilage slices of two precisely defined thicknesses, 0.25 and 0.3 mm, which were designated geometry 1 and 2 (G1 and G2) (in the diagram, only one thickness is shown). (c) These slices were cut into rectangles of 8 mm × 2.5 mm. (d) The integration specimens were assembled by positioning two cartilage rectangles in partial apposition, creating a defined overlap area of 4 mm × 2.5 mm for bonding. (e) When cartilage samples (either two G1 or two G2 blocks) were inserted into the chamber and fixed by the stamp, different compressive strains were applied.