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An improved method for the automatic mapping of computed tomography numbers onto finite element models
Fulvia Taddei1, Alberto Pancanti, Marco Viceconti
1Laboratorio di Tecnologia Medica, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, Via di Barbiano, 1/10, 40136 Bologna, Italy. taddei@tecno.ior.it
Medical Engineering & Physics
|December 4, 2003
Summary
The material mapping algorithm affects bone tissue distribution in finite element models. While peak stress differences were minor, larger variations in stress were observed in bone volumes, impacting overall mesh behavior.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Computational modeling
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Subject-specific finite element models (FEM) require accurate bone material property assignment from computed tomography (CT) data.
- The choice of material mapping algorithm can influence FEM outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different material mapping algorithms on FEM results.
- To assess the influence of material properties on mesh convergence behavior.
Main Methods:
- Generated coarse and refined FEMs of human ileum, femur, and tibia from CT data.
- Performed convergence analysis on a femur model across six mesh refinement levels.
- Compared FEM results obtained using different material mapping algorithms.
Main Results:
- Material mapping algorithms influenced material distribution within bone models.
- Maximum Von Mises stress differences between algorithms were generally below 10%, with one instance reaching 13%.
- Significant differences (>10%) in Von Mises stress were found in 20-30% of the bone volume in finer meshes of long bones.
- Introducing inhomogeneous material properties did not negatively affect mesh convergence.
Conclusions:
- Material mapping algorithm choice impacts bone FEM results, particularly in global mesh behavior and regional stress distribution.
- The observed differences did not consistently alter peak stress values but affected larger bone volumes.
- Mesh convergence is robust to the inclusion of inhomogeneous material properties.