Abstract:
This paper presents a physiologically grounded, multilevel finite element model for simulating the deformation of human skeletal muscle, emphasizing accurate biomechanical behavior under both passive and active conditions. By integrating anatomical detail and physiological activation mechanisms, the model simulates the three-dimensional deformation of muscle fibers and associated connective tissues during contraction. Special attention is paid to the tibialis anterior muscle, where simulated muscle force, fiber architecture, and pennation angle are validated against experimental ultrasound and MRI data. The study introduces a control strategy using activation relations that account for muscle compartmentalization and non-linear force summation, vital for realistic muscle function analysis. The model demonstrates predictive power in capturing muscle force generation and deformation under varied activation levels, establishing a biomechanically relevant tool for virtual human simulation and movement analysis.
