Finite element analysis of biomechanics of human femur during gait

YANG Ting; ZHENG Jian-he; YAO Zi-long; MA Li-min; ZHANG Yu

Abstract：Objective To simulate the optimal boundary conditions with the utilization of finite element, and to explore biomechanics of human femur during gait.Methods Volunteer′s femoral CT data was extracted before three-di-mensional reconstruction and meshing.A computer simulation software, Anybody, was used to simulate the normal move-ments during gait and export the muscle force exerted on femur during the activity.Geomagic studio and Hypermesh were used to match the coordinates between the target model and the model provided by AnyBody and load the muscle force to femur.After that, finite element analysis in Abaqus was performed to analyze the magnitude and concentration region of von Mises stress and strain on femur in gait process.Results The magnitude of von Mises reached the maximum of 27.70 MPa during the midstance phase of the gait cycle, which was located inferoposteriorly to the lesser trochanter.The stress magnitude reached the minimum of 0.62 MPa during the contralateral loading phase.The stress on femur during the swing phase concentrated on the medial mid-diaphysis, with a magnitude of 3.52 MPa.It was also during the mid-stance phase when the maximum of strain of 0.39 mm was observed at the femoral head.The maximum strain of 0.12 mm during the swing phase concentrated on femoral mid-diaphysis.The minimum strain of femur occurred in the contralateral load-ing phase.Conclusion During the mid-stance phase of gait cycle, the magnitude of stress reaches the maximum, which is located inferoposteriorly to the lesser trochanter of femur.The maximum strain of femur is located on the femoral head.