A voxel-based formulation for contact finite element analysis.
To date, voxel-based finite element models have not been feasible for contact problems, owing to the inherent stair-step boundary discontinuities. New preprocessing techniques are reported herein to mesh these boundaries smoothly, for purposes of contact stress analysis. Further, new techniques are reported to concentrate the mesh resolution automatically near the articular surface, thus reducing the problem size to levels compatible with executing nonlinear problems on contemporary engineering workstations. Close approximations to Hertzian analytical solutions were obtained for spherical and cylindrical geometries meshed in this manner, and an illustrative anatomical contact problem of the human hip joint is presented.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 2181WL Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. nicole-grosland@uiowa.edu
Nicole M
NM
Grosland
Thomas D
TD
Brown
D003198:Computer Simulation; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties