Abstract
The ankle is one of the most complicated joints in the human body. Its features a plethora of elements with complex behavior. Their functions could be better understood using a planar model of the joint with low parameter count and low numerical complexity. In this study, an accurate planar model of the ankle with optimized material parameters was presented. In order to obtain the model, we proposed an optimizational approach, which fine-tuned the material parameters of two-dimensional links substituting three-dimensional ligaments of the ankle. Furthermore, the cartilage in the model was replaced with Hertzian contact pairs. The model was solved in statics under moment loads up to 5 Nm. The obtained results showed that the structure exhibited angular displacements in the range of the ankle joint and that their range was higher in dorsiflexion than plantarflexion. The structure also displayed a characteristic ramp up of the angular stiffness. The results obtained from the optimized model were in accordance with the experimental results for the ankle. Therefore, the proposed method for fine-tuning the material parameters of its links could be considered viable.
Highlights
The interest in the mechanics of the human body is ever increasing
The obtained results showed that the structure exhibited angular displacements in the range of the ankle joint and that their range was higher in dorsiflexion than plantarflexion
Two main modeling trends can be distinguished in biomechanics: finite element method (FEM) and multibody system method (MBS)
Summary
The interest in the mechanics of the human body is ever increasing. Biomechanical models of various complexity are being employed in many industrial and scientific fields, such as surgical simulation [1], presurgical planning [2,3,4], safety systems for vehicles [5], support systems [6], implant design [7], and more. In the FEM models, such as in the work of [8], the components of the system are described as deformable structures composed of multiple finite elements. These models tend to describe the structures very accurately, both in terms of geometry and material behavior. Substituting more complex components of the body joints, such as the contact between the articular surfaces of the bones, is not trivial. This issue is very apparent in many models of the ankle joint
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