The failure modelling of knee ligaments in the finite element model

Abstract

Lateral bending and shearing were considered as principal injury mechanisms to knee joint of pedestrians. This study aims to establish a failure modelling method to predict the injuries of knee ligaments whilst properly considering the complex loading conditions composed of lateral bending and shearing. Due to the specific model characteristics, ultimate strain of tensile loading test could not be implemented directly in the model as strain failure parameters. To obtain the proper strain failure parameters, we firstly established them with the iterative simulations by approaching the global failure strain in the simulation to the ultimate strain reported by the tensile test. Then, these failure parameters were evaluated against the published experimental tests concerning combined lateral bending and shearing loadings as well as pure lateral bending and shearing. Overall results from the finite element simulations showed a good adoptability of the established failure properties for predicting the ligament failures.

Keywords:

• knee
• ligament
• failure strain
• bending
• shearing
• human finite element model

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge “Fondation en Sécurité Routière”, for funding and providing administrative support for the ASP (Amélioration de la Sécurité des Piétons) project.