A finite element model of an idealized diarthrodial joint to investigate the effects of variation in the mechanical properties of the tissues

Author(s):  
F H Dar ◽  
R M Aspden

The stiffness of articular cartilage increases dramatically with increasing rate of loading, and it has been hypothesized that increasing the stiffness of the subchondral bone may result in damaging stresses being generated in the articular cartilage. Despite the interdependence of these tissues in a joint, little is understood of the effect of such changes in one tissue on stresses generated in another. To investigate this, a parametric finite element model of an idealized joint was developed. The model incorporated layers representing articular cartilage, calcified cartilage, the subchondral bone plate and cancellous bone. Taguchi factorial design techniques, employing a two-level full-factorial and a four-level fractional factorial design, were used to vary the material properties and thicknesses of the layers over the wide range of values found in the literature. The effects on the maximum values of von Mises stress in each of the tissues are reported here. The stiffness of the cartilage was the main factor that determined the stress in the articular cartilage. This, and the thickness of the cartilage, also had the largest effect on the stresses in all the other tissues with the exception of the subchondral bone plate, in which stresses were dominated by its own stiffness. The stiffness of the underlying subchondral bone had no effect on the stresses generated in the cartilage. This study shows how stresses in the various tissues are affected by changes in their mechanical properties and thicknesses. It also demonstrates the benefits of a structured, systematic approach to investigating parameter variation in finite element models.

Author(s):  
Jingsi Jiao ◽  
Cheng Lu ◽  
Valerie Linton ◽  
Frank Barbaro

Abstract The mechanical performance of the pipe sample has a direct influence on their application in real environments and a significant economic impact on manufacturers, especially when the pipe products do not meet required specifications. There is often a change in the yield strength from plate to pipe due to strain hardening and the Bauschinger effect. The current work sets out to provide a critical knowledge base for this change, with emphasizing the important influence of the plate mechanical properties on the pipe. So that the quality of pipe can be further ensured. In the work, firstly, the historical data of the pipe yield strength were collected and plotted together from a wide range of published sources to provide a broad quantitative insight, which provides a quantitative review on the parameters that govern the final pipe yield strength. Secondly, a Finite Element model of the pipe forming and mechanical evaluation was developed and then validated with available industrial testing results, in where the effects of operational and testing parameters on the pipe yield strength were analysed and discussed in detail. Finally, using the validated Finite Element model, a parametric study was conducted to dissect the individual role that each of the material parameters plays on changing the yield strength from plate to pipe. We found that the yield strength of the pipe can differ significantly. This work sheds lights on the desired plate mechanical properties to optimize the final pipe yield strength.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Zhang ◽  
Shuo Yuan ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Bagen Liao ◽  
De Liang

Abstract Background Recent studies have pointed out that arthroscopy, the commonly-used surgical procedure for meniscal tears, may lead to an elevated risk of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The biomechanical factors of KOA can be clarified by the biomechanical analysis after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). This study aimed to elucidate the cartilage stress and meniscus displacement of the tibiofemoral joint under flexion and rotation loads after APM. Methods A detailed finite element model of the knee bone, cartilage, meniscus, and major ligaments was established by combining computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. Vertical load and front load were applied to simulate different knee buckling angles. At the same time, by simulating flexion of different degrees and internal and external rotations, the stresses on tibiofemoral articular cartilage and meniscus displacement were evaluated. Results Generally, the contact stress on both the femoral tibial articular cartilage and the meniscus increased with the increased flexion degree. Moreover, the maximum stress on the tibial plateau gradually moved backward. The maximum position shift value of the lateral meniscus was larger than that of the medial meniscus. Conclusion Our finite element model provides a realistic three-dimensional model to evaluate the influence of different joint range of motion and rotating tibiofemoral joint stress distribution. The decreased displacement of the medial meniscus may explain the higher pressure on the knee components. These characteristics of the medial tibiofemoral joint indicate the potential biomechanical risk of knee degeneration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (14) ◽  
pp. 1668-1685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vignesh Subramaniam ◽  
Snehal Jain ◽  
Jai Agarwal ◽  
Pablo Valdivia y Alvarado

The design and characterization of a soft gripper with an active palm to control grasp postures is presented herein. The gripper structure is a hybrid of soft and stiff components to facilitate integration with traditional arm manipulators. Three fingers and a palm constitute the gripper, all of which are vacuum actuated. Internal wedges are used to tailor the deformation of a soft outer reinforced skin as vacuum collapses the composite structure. A computational finite-element model is proposed to predict finger kinematics. Thanks to its active palm, the gripper is capable of grasping a wide range of part geometries and compliances while achieving a maximum payload of 30 N. The gripper natural softness enables robust open-loop grasping even when components are not properly aligned. Furthermore, the grasp pose of objects with various aspect ratios and compliances can be robustly maintained during manipulation at linear accelerations of up to 15 m/s2 and angular accelerations of up to 5.23 rad/s2.


Author(s):  
Arman Ahmadi ◽  
Narges Shayesteh Moghaddam ◽  
Mohammad Elahinia ◽  
Haluk E. Karaca ◽  
Reza Mirzaeifar

Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing technique in which complex parts can be fabricated directly by melting layers of powder from a CAD model. SLM has a wide range of application in biomedicine and other engineering areas and it has a series of advantages over traditional processing techniques. A large number of variables including laser power, scanning speed, scanning line spacing, layer thickness, material based input parameters, etc. have a considerable effect on SLM process materials. The interaction between these parameters is not completely studied. Limited studies on balling effect in SLM, densifications under different processing conditions, and laser re-melting, have been conducted that involved microstructural investigation. Grain boundaries are amongst the most important microstructural properties in polycrystalline materials with a significant effect on the fracture and plastic deformation. In SLM samples, in addition to the grain boundaries, the microstructure has another set of connecting surfaces between the melt pools. In this study, a computational framework is developed to model the mechanical response of SLM processed materials by considering both the grain boundaries and melt pool boundaries in the material. To this end, a 3D finite element model is developed to investigate the effect of various microstructural properties including the grains size, melt pools size, and pool connectivity on the macroscopic mechanical response of the SLM manufactured materials. A conventional microstructural model for studying polycrystalline materials is modified to incorporate the effect of connecting melt pools beside the grain boundaries. In this model, individual melt pools are approximated as overlapped cylinders each containing several grains and grain boundaries, which are modeled to be attached together by the cohesive zone method. This method has been used in modeling adhesives, bonded interfaces, gaskets, and rock fracture. A traction-separation description of the interface is used as the constitutive response of this model. Anisotropic elasticity and crystal plasticity are used as constitutive laws for the material inside the grains. For the experimental verification, stainless steel 316L flat dog bone samples are fabricated by SLM and tested in tension. During fabrication, the power of laser is constant, and the scan speed is changed to study the effect of fabrication parameters on the mechanical properties of the parts and to compare the result with the finite element model.


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