Abstract:
"DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A HUMAN KNEE JOINT FINITE ELEMENT MODEL FOR TISSUE STRESS AND STRAIN PREDICTIONS DURING EXERCISE"
Osteoarthritis (OA) represents a significant degenerative condition affecting cartilage and stands as a leading cause of disability. This thesis describes the development and partial validation of a detailed total knee-joint finite element (FE) model designed to predict osteochondral (OC) tissue stress and strain during the stance phase of gait. The model was constructed by modifying open-source knee-joint geometries, specifically incorporating both tibiofemoral and patellofemoral articulations. The mesh development extensively utilized TrueGrid software to generate a continuous, linear hexahedral element mesh from SolidWorks part files, emphasizing the intricate process of projecting computational block dimensions onto imported geometry. This biomechanical FE model serves as a foundational tool to identify exercises that maintain safe OC loading levels for high-risk OA patients or those undergoing rehabilitation. While the model successfully predicted the timing and locations of maximum contact parameters (contact pressure, contact area, and principal Green-Lagrangian strain), it tended to overestimate absolute contact parameters compared to published in vivo studies and other FE analyses. This suggests that the chosen model geometry and kinematic boundary conditions are appropriate but highlights the need for improvements in material properties and potentially loading boundary conditions for enhanced accuracy in biomechanical predictions. The methodology underscores the critical role of TrueGrid in facilitating the complex mesh generation necessary for such detailed biomechanical simulations.
