SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF HUMAN FOOT

PRESENTED BY: S.SATHISH (1531110030) GUIDED BY : Dr.D.KINGSLY JEBA SINGH, Ph.D

ABSTRACT
The goal of this study is to evaluate the stresses acting in human foot during standing position. Anatomy of foot and its properties were studied. A three dimensional (3D) finite element model of the human foot was developed using the 3D reconstruction of CT scan. The bony structures were embedded in a volume of soft tissues. Both the foot models were meshed using 3D tetrahedral elements and its material properties incorporated. The effect of stress distribution of the plantar surface and bony structures during balanced standing were investigated.

FINITE ELEMENT MODELING

RESULT
FOOT DURING STANCE
LOADING CONDITION VON MISES STRESS

Region of Interest Points taken in foot soft tissue

Node number

INTRODUCTION
Biomechanics is the area of science where the laws, principles and methods of mechanics are applied to the structure and function of the human body. The study of biomechanics ranges from the inner workings of a cell to the movement and development of limbs, to the mechanical properties of soft tissue, and bones. The human foot with ankle is a strong and complex mechanical structure containing 26 bones, 33 joints (20 of which are actively articulated), and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Experimental Plantar Pressure Distribution (MPa)

Obtained Plantar Pressure Distribution (MPa)

Difference %

1st Metatarsal 2nd Metatarsal 3rd Metatarsal 4th Metatarsal 5th Metatarsal
Calcaneus

7283 7584 5063 7598 6801 4843

.090 .094 .125 .120 .140 .171

.085 .074 .116 .126 .163 .191

5.8 27 7.7 5 16.4 11.6

FOOT SKELETON DURING STANCE

LOADING CONDITION VON MISES STRESS

OBJECTIVES
To develop a 3D model of the human foot. To analyse the stress distribution of the plantar surface and bony structure.

Points taken in foot bone

MESHING

METHODOLOGY OF WORK
ELEMENT TYPE

Region of Interest
No. OF ELEMENTS 92842 38444 3783 315 No. OF NODES 23561 10062 1571 512

Node number

Peak Von Mises stress MPa Lit.Result Obtained 2.42 4.72 7.33 2.74 3.10 3.77

Difference %

Literature survey CT scan of human foot Conversion of CT image into surface models using Geomagic Meshing the foot models Finite Element Analysis under loading condition

COMPONENTS

ELEMENT TYPE

BONE SOFT TISSUE CARTILAGE BRICK

3D Tetrahedral 3D Tetrahedral 3D Tetrahedral 3D Tetrahedral

1st Metatarsal 2nd Metatarsal 3rd Metatarsal 4th Metatarsal

6263

2.3 4.47 7.94 2.32 2.42 3.94

5.2 5.6 8.3 18.1 28.1 4.5

2390
6392 11267 6424 6529

MATERIAL PROPERTIES
COMPONENTS YOUNGS MODULUS (Mpa) 7300 0.15 1 260 72000 POISSONS RATIO 0.3 0.45 0.4 0.4 0.33 CROSS SECTION (mm2)

5th Metatarsal Calcaneus

BONE SOFT TISSUE CARTILAGE LIGAMENTS BRICK

18.4

CONCLUSION
This study developed a 3D FE model of the human foot that can predict the stresses and strains on bone and soft tissue for different walking conditions. In foot skeleton third metatarsal region indicates maximum stress nearly 2 times more than the heel region but in plantar surface third metatarsal region is having lower stress than the heel region. This shows the effect of plantar soft tissue on the bone structure. This model can be enhanced by introducing non-linearity to the soft tissue. This is certainly a prerequisite to further enhance the treatment of joint degeneration, bone fractures, ligament injuries and the design of proper foot supports and footwear.

REFERENCES
1. Emmanuel Brilakis, MSc, Evaggelos Kaselouris, Frank Xypnitos, Christopher G. Provatidis, Nicolas Efstathopoulos. Effects of Foot Posture on Fifth Metatarsal Fracture Healing: A Finite Element Study. 2. Jason Tak-Man Cheung, Ming Zhang ,Aaron Kam-Lun Leung, Yu-Bo Fan. Three-dimensional Finite Element Analysis of the Foot during Standing A Material Sensitivity Study. J Biomech 2005;38(5):104554.