Open Access

ARTICLE

Three dimensional BEM and FEM stress analysis of the human tibia under pathological conditions

C.M. Müller-Karger¹, C.González², M.H.Aliabadi³, M.Cerrolaza⁴

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Simón Bolívar University, Caracas, Venezuela. Email: cmuller@usb.ve
2 Universitary Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
3 Department of Engineering, Queen Mary College, University of London, UK. Email: m.h.aliabadi@qmc.ac.uk
4 Bioengineering Center, Faculty of Engineering, Central University of Venezuela, PO Box. 50.361, Caracas 1050-A, Venezuela. Email: mcerrola@reacciun.ve

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2001, 2(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2001.002.001

Abstract

In this paper, a three-dimensional Boundary Element model of the proximal tibia of the human knee is described and stresses and displacements in the tibial plateau under static loading are computed. The geometry is generated via three-dimensional reconstruction of Computerized Tomographies and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Various models of different lengths from the tibia plateau are calculated. The BEM results are compared with a Finite Element model having the same geometry and tibia FE models available in the literature. Also reported are investigations of some pathological situations, including fractures. The results of the comparisons show that BEM is an efficient and suitable numerical technique for bone structure modeling.

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Keywords

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