Numerical and analytical model of long tubular bones with anisotropic distribution of elastic properties

Abstract

Elastic parameters of a cortical bone tissue at the macrolevel can vary for various bones, as well as in different parts or anatomical quadrants, of the same bone. In this paper, an approach to finite-element modelling of the nonlinear anisotropic and isotropic distribution of elastic properties of tubular bones is proposed. Dependences of the Young's moduli, shear moduli and the Poisson's ratios on the spatial coordinates determining the position of the element in the bone model are used. They were obtained on the basis of experimental data on anisotropic elastic properties of tubular bone. A comparative finite-element analysis of the principal stresses and deformations caused by the action of own weight on the human femur was carried out for nonlinear anisotropic and isotropic distributions of elastic properties. Differences between the levels of maximum principal stresses and deformations for the three cases of elastic properties can reach approximately 10% and 30%, respectively.