A novel progress of leg tissue properties modeling based on biomechanics

To describe strategies for addressing technical aspects of computational modeling of leg tissue with the finite element (FE) method, a patient's leg sample was selected and scanned by CT at the direction parallel to the Frankfort Horizontal plane. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the human leg was developed using the actual geometry of the leg skeleton and soft tissues, which were obtained from 3 D reconstruction of CT images. All joints were defined as contact surfaces, which allow relative articulating movement. The major ligaments were simulated using tension-only truss elements by connecting the corresponding attachment points on the bone surfaces. The bony and ligamentons structures were embedded in a volume of soft tissues.The muscles were defined as non-linear viscoelastic material, and the skin, ligaments and tendons were defined as hyperelastic, while the bony structures were assumed to be Linearly elastic. The muhilayer FEM model conraining thighbone, tibia, fibula, kneecap, soft tissue was formed after meshing. Diverse forces were imposed on the FEM model. The results show that the muhilayer FEM model can represent tissue deformation more accurately.