An Integrated Musculoskeletal-Finite-Element Model to Evaluate Effects of Load Carriage on the Tibia During Walking

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun Xu ◽  
Amy Silder ◽  
Ju Zhang ◽  
Julie Hughes ◽  
Ginu Unnikrishnan ◽  
...  

Prior studies have assessed the effects of load carriage on the tibia. Here, we expand on these studies and investigate the effects of load carriage on joint reaction forces (JRFs) and the resulting spatiotemporal stress/strain distributions in the tibia. Using full-body motion and ground reaction forces from a female subject, we computed joint and muscle forces during walking for four load carriage conditions. We applied these forces as physiological loading conditions in a finite-element (FE) analysis to compute strain and stress. We derived material properties from computed tomography (CT) images of a sex-, age-, and body mass index-matched subject using a mesh morphing and mapping algorithm, and used them within the FE model. Compared to walking with no load, the knee JRFs were the most sensitive to load carriage, increasing by as much as 26.2% when carrying a 30% of body weight (BW) load (ankle: 16.4% and hip: 19.0%). Moreover, our model revealed disproportionate increases in internal JRFs with increases in load carriage, suggesting a coordinated adjustment in the musculature functions in the lower extremity. FE results reflected the complex effects of spatially varying material properties distribution and muscular engagement on tibial biomechanics during walking. We observed high stresses on the anterior crest and the medial surface of the tibia at pushoff, whereas high cumulative stress during one walking cycle was more prominent in the medioposterior aspect of the tibia. Our findings reinforce the need to include: (1) physiologically accurate loading conditions when modeling healthy subjects undergoing short-term exercise training and (2) the duration of stress exposure when evaluating stress-fracture injury risk. As a fundamental step toward understanding the instantaneous effect of external loading, our study presents a means to assess the relationship between load carriage and bone biomechanics.

Author(s):  
Eduardo A. Rebelo ◽  
Grigoris Grigoriadis ◽  
Diagarajen Carpanen ◽  
Anthony M. J. Bull ◽  
Spyros D. Masouros

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used in the battlefield cause damage to vehicles and their occupants. The injury burden to the casualties is significant. The biofidelity and practicality of current methods for assessing current protection to reduce the injury severity is limited. In this study, a finite-element (FE) model of the leg was developed and validated in relevant blast-loading conditions, and then used to quantify the level of protection offered by a combat boot. An FE model of the leg of a 35 years old male cadaver was developed. The cadaveric leg was tested physically in a seated posture using a traumatic injury simulator and the results used to calibrate the FE model. The calibrated model predicted hindfoot forces that were in good correlation (using the CORrelation and Analysis or CORA tool) with data from force sensors; the average correlation and analysis rating (according to ISO18571) was 0.842. The boundary conditions of the FE model were then changed to replicate pendulum tests conducted in previous studies which impacted the leg at velocities between 4 and 6.7 m/s. The FE model results of foot compression and peak force at the proximal tibia were within the experimental corridors reported in the studies. A combat boot was then incorporated into the validated computational model. Simulations were run across a range of blast-related loading conditions. The predicted proximal tibia forces and associated risk of injury indicated that the combat boot reduced the injury severity for low severity loading cases with higher times to peak velocity. The reduction in injury risk varied between 6 and 37% for calcaneal minor injuries, and 1 and 54% for calcaneal major injuries. No injury-risk reduction was found for high severity loading cases. The validated FE model of the leg developed here was able to quantify the protection offered by a combat boot to vehicle occupants across a range of blast-related loading conditions. It can now be used as a design and as an assessment tool to quantify the level of blast protection offered by other mitigation technologies.


Author(s):  
Jami M. Saffioti ◽  
Brittany Coats

Current finite element (FE) models of the pediatric eye are based on adult material properties [2,3]. To date, there are no data characterizing the age dependent material properties of ocular tissues. The sclera is a major load bearing tissue and an essential component to most computational models of the eye. In preparation for the development of a pediatric FE model, age-dependent and anisotropic properties of sclera were evaluated in newborn (3–5 days) and toddler (4 weeks) pigs. Data from this study will guide future testing protocols for human pediatric specimens.


Author(s):  
Jason P. Halloran ◽  
Anthony J. Petrella ◽  
Paul J. Rullkoetter

The success of current total knee replacement (TKR) devices is contingent on the kinematics and contact mechanics during in vivo activity. Indicators of potential clinical performance of total joint replacement devices include contact stress and area due to articulations, and tibio-femoral and patello-femoral kinematics. An effective way of evaluating these parameters during the design phase or before clinical use is via computationally efficient computer models. Previous finite element (FE) knee models have generally been used to determine contact stresses and/or areas during static or quasi-static loading conditions. The majority of knee models intended to predict relative kinematics have not been able to determine contact mechanics simultaneously. Recently, however, explicit dynamic finite element methods have been used to develop dynamic models of TKR able to efficiently determine joint and contact mechanics during dynamic loading conditions [1,2]. The objective of this research was to develop and validate an explicit FE model of a TKR which includes tibio-femoral and patello-femoral articulations and surrounding soft tissues. The six degree-of-freedom kinematics, kinetics and polyethylene contact mechanics during dynamic loading conditions were then predicted during gait simulation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek A. Jones ◽  
James P. Gaewsky ◽  
Mona Saffarzadeh ◽  
Jacob B. Putnam ◽  
Ashley A. Weaver ◽  
...  

The use of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) for calculating injury risk of occupants in spaceflight scenarios is crucial for ensuring the safety of crewmembers. Finite element (FE) modeling of ATDs reduces cost and time in the design process. The objective of this study was to validate a Hybrid III ATD FE model using a multidirection test matrix for future spaceflight configurations. Twenty-five Hybrid III physical tests were simulated using a 50th percentile male Hybrid III FE model. The sled acceleration pulses were approximately half-sine shaped, and can be described as a combination of peak acceleration and time to reach peak (rise time). The range of peak accelerations was 10–20 G, and the rise times were 30–110 ms. Test directions were frontal (−GX), rear (GX), vertical (GZ), and lateral (GY). Simulation responses were compared to physical tests using the correlation and analysis (CORA) method. Correlations were very good to excellent and the order of best average response by direction was −GX (0.916±0.054), GZ (0.841±0.117), GX (0.792±0.145), and finally GY (0.775±0.078). Qualitative and quantitative results demonstrated the model replicated the physical ATD well and can be used for future spaceflight configuration modeling and simulation.


Author(s):  
Anand Hammad ◽  
Anil Kalra ◽  
Prashant Khandelwal ◽  
Xin Jin ◽  
King H. Yang

Injuries to the upper extremities that are caused by dynamic impacts in crashes, including contact with internal instrument panels, has been a major concern, especially for smaller female occupants, and the problem worsens with increasing age due to reduced strength of the bones. From the analysis of 1988–2010 CDS unweighted data, it was found that risk of AIS ≥ 2 level for the arm was 58.2±20.6 percent higher in females than males, and the injury risk for a 75-year-old female occupant relative to a 21-year-old subjected to a similar physical insult was 4.2 times higher. Although injuries to upper extremities are typically not fatal, they can have long-term effects on overall quality of life. Therefore, it is important to minimize risks of injuries related to upper extremities, especially for elderly females, who are most at risk. Current anthropomorphic surrogates, like crash-test dummies, cannot be directly used to study injury limits, as these dummies were developed mainly to represent the younger population. The current study is focused on the development of a finite element (FE) model representing the upper extremity of an elderly female. This can be further used to analyze the injury mechanisms and tolerance limits for this vulnerable population. The FE mesh was developed through Computer Tomography (CT) scanned images of an elderly female cadaver, and the data included for validation of the developed model were taken from the experimental studies published in scientific literature, but only the data directly representing elderly females were used. It was found that the developed model could predict fractures in the long bones of elderly female specimens and could be further used for analyzing injury tolerances for this population. Further, it was determined that the developed segmental model could be integrated with the whole body FE model of the elderly female.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 205970022093695
Author(s):  
Marshall Kendall ◽  
Anna Oeur ◽  
Susan E Brien ◽  
Michael Cusimano ◽  
Shawn Marshall ◽  
...  

Objective Impacts to the head are the primary cause of concussive injuries in sport and can occur in a multitude of different environments. Each event is composed of combinations of impact characteristics (striking velocity, impact mass, and surface compliance) that present unique loading conditions on the head and brain. The purpose of this study was to compare falls, collisions, and punches from accident reconstructions of sports-related head impacts using linear, rotational accelerations and maximal principal strain of brain tissue from finite element simulation. Methods This study compared four types of head impact events through reconstruction. Seventy-two head impacts were taken from medical reports of accidental falls and game video of ice hockey, American football, and mixed-martial arts. These were reconstructed using physical impact systems to represent helmeted and unhelmeted falls, player-to-player collisions, and punches to the head. Head accelerations were collected using a Hybrid III headform and were input into a finite element brain model used to approximate strain in the cerebrum associated with the external loading conditions. Results Significant differences ( p < 0.01) were found for peak linear and rotational accelerations magnitudes (30–300 g and 3.2–7.8 krad/s2) and pulse durations between all impact event types characterized by unique impact parameters. The only exception was found where punch impacts and helmeted falls had similar rotational durations. Regression analysis demonstrated that increases to strain from unhelmeted falls were significantly influenced by both linear and rotational accelerations, meanwhile helmeted falls, punches, and collisions were influenced by rotational accelerations alone. Conclusion This report illustrates that the four distinct impact events created unique peak head kinematics and brain tissue strain values. These distinct patterns of head acceleration characteristics suggest that it is important to keep in mind that head injury can occur from a range of low to high acceleration magnitudes and that impact parameters (surface compliance, striking velocity, and impact mass) play an important role on the duration-dependent tolerance to impact loading.


Author(s):  
Andrew D. Smyth

A cause of failure within end-of-car (EOC) arrangements for cushioned cars with F-shank couplers is that of the yoke bolt failing in shear. This mode of EOC failure is of particular concern due to the concealed nature of the bolt not easily allowing for early detection of the onset of failure. To this end, a finite element analysis (FEA) was performed on a 7/8” bolt and F-bracket assembly to determine the stress state developed within the bolt in an effort to understand the potential cause or causes for the bolt failure. Several parameters, including bolt strength, bolt preload (initial torque), and external loading were varied to determine their effects on bolt performance. The subsequent results indicate that both inherent strength and initial preload have a significant effect on whether a bolt can effectively withstand the various external loading conditions encountered in the field. In addition, it is also apparent that some of the simulation loading scenarios analyzed contain the potential to initiate bolt shearing during operation. From these results, some failure mechanism theories are proposed to describe the type of failure encountered by each bolt grade, either ductile or brittle depending on the inherent material properties.


2011 ◽  
Vol 223 ◽  
pp. 733-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Linke ◽  
Michael Duscha ◽  
Anh Tuan Vu ◽  
Fritz Klocke

The grinding process is one of the most important finishing processes to obtain high surface quality. Nowadays, grinding is also considered as a high performance process with high material removal rates. Nevertheless, to avoid thermally-induced structural changes poses a major challenge for this manufacturing technology. Until now, the Finite Element Method (FEM) has been widely applied as a proper numerical technique to predict workpiece properties in machining processes. However, actual models in grinding are limited to conventional grinding processes with simple workpiece profiles and low table speeds. In this paper, finite element simulations are expanded to 3-dimensional (3D) models with temperature-dependent material properties and heat source profiles derived from experimental results, i.e. tangential forces. Both temperature simulation and measurement were conducted for deep grinding, pendulum grinding and speed stroke grinding in the table speed range of vw= 12 m/min to 180 m/min and specific material removal rates of Q’w= 40 mm³/mms. Overall, the simulation results show a good agreement with the measured temperature and surface integrity after grinding. This research indicates that a 3D FE model with temperature dependent material properties can predict realistic temperature fields in speed stroke grinding. Therefore, the experiment and measurement costs and time can be reduced by FEM simulation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Kiapour ◽  
Ata M. Kiapour ◽  
Vikas Kaul ◽  
Carmen E. Quatman ◽  
Samuel C. Wordeman ◽  
...  

Multiple computational models have been developed to study knee biomechanics. However, the majority of these models are mainly validated against a limited range of loading conditions and/or do not include sufficient details of the critical anatomical structures within the joint. Due to the multifactorial dynamic nature of knee injuries, anatomic finite element (FE) models validated against multiple factors under a broad range of loading conditions are necessary. This study presents a validated FE model of the lower extremity with an anatomically accurate representation of the knee joint. The model was validated against tibiofemoral kinematics, ligaments strain/force, and articular cartilage pressure data measured directly from static, quasi-static, and dynamic cadaveric experiments. Strong correlations were observed between model predictions and experimental data (r > 0.8 and p < 0.0005 for all comparisons). FE predictions showed low deviations (root-mean-square (RMS) error) from average experimental data under all modes of static and quasi-static loading, falling within 2.5 deg of tibiofemoral rotation, 1% of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) strains, 17 N of ACL load, and 1 mm of tibiofemoral center of pressure. Similarly, the FE model was able to accurately predict tibiofemoral kinematics and ACL and MCL strains during simulated bipedal landings (dynamic loading). In addition to minimal deviation from direct cadaveric measurements, all model predictions fell within 95% confidence intervals of the average experimental data. Agreement between model predictions and experimental data demonstrates the ability of the developed model to predict the kinematics of the human knee joint as well as the complex, nonuniform stress and strain fields that occur in biological soft tissue. Such a model will facilitate the in-depth understanding of a multitude of potential knee injury mechanisms with special emphasis on ACL injury.


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