Singularity-free finite element model of bone through automated voxel-based reconstruction
L Esposito1, P Bifulco2, P Gargiulo3
1a Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture (DiSt) , School of Engineering, University of Naples Federico II , via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples , Italy.
Abstract:
Computed tomography (CT) provides both anatomical and density information about tissues. Bone is segmented by raw images and Finite Element Method (FEM) voxel-based meshing technique is achieved by matching each CT voxel to a single finite element (FE). As a consequence of the automated model reconstruction, unstable elements - i.e. elements insufficiently anchored to the whole model and thus potentially involved in partial rigid body motion - can be generated, a crucial problem in obtaining consistent FE models, hindering mechanical analyses. Through the classification of instabilities on topological connections between elements, a numerical procedure is proposed in order to avoid unconstrained models.
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