Finite element modelling the natural human joint. (13th July 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walker, R.W.; Ingle, P.
• Is Part Of: International journal of computer aided engineering and technology. Volume 1:Number 3(2009)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 299
• Publication Date: 2009-07-13
• Subjects: cartilage properties -- finite element analysis -- FEA -- human joints -- stress distribution -- healthy joints -- defective joints -- articular cartilage -- strain -- physiological loads -- modelling; Computer-aided engineering -- Periodicals; 620.00285
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-2657

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in constructing FEA models of the natural joints of the human body to determine the stress distribution in both healthy and defective joints. A key requirement of these models is an accurate specification of the properties of the articular cartilage. There are wide variations in the published Young's modulus for human and animal cartilage ranging from 0.07 MPa to 150 MPa (see Table 1 for details). The lower values of Young's modulus imply large values of strain under normal physiological loads, which has been argued as unrealistic. The conclusion is that the higher value of Young's modulus is physiologically a more realistic value to use for stress analysis of cartilage.