Prediction of the Structural Response of the Femoral Shaft under Dynamic Bending Loading using Geometric Subject-Specific Finite Element Models

The goal of this study was to predict structural responses of the femur under dynamic three point bending using the geometric SS-FE models, and to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the models, compared to that of various conventional techniques: mass-based and structure-based scaling. Geometric SS-FE models of the fifteen femur specimens were developed using a morphing technique. Dynamic three-point bending tests of fifteen bare femurs were simulated using the developed geometric SS-FE models the distal and proximal ends of the femur specimens were potted into cups, and the mid-span of the specimens were loaded in lateromedial direction by an impactor at 1.5 m/s. The geometric SS-FE model captured the response variations of the PMHS better than the scaling techniques; mass-based scaling technique even increased the prediction error. This result suggests a benefit of using geometric SS-FE models to capture the response variance shown from anthropometric variability compared to current scaling techniques.