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The response surface method-genetic algorithm for identification of the lumbar intervertebral disc material
XiuPing Yang1, XiaoMin Cheng2, Qing Liu2
1Tianjin Key Laboratory for Advanced Mechatronic System Design and Intelligent Control, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, PR China; National Demonstration Center for Experimental Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Education, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin, 300384, PR China.
This study developed an optimization method to identify material parameters for lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs). The approach accurately simulated disc behavior, revealing mechanical property differences in degenerative versus normal IVDs.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Computational Mechanics
Background:
- Long-term lumbar disc compression can cause herniation.
- Understanding the mechanical properties of normal and degenerative intervertebral discs (IVDs) is crucial for studying disc herniation.
- Porous material parameters are key to analyzing lumbar IVD mechanical behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an optimization method for identifying lumbar IVD porous material parameters using finite element inverse analysis.
- To investigate the mechanical property differences between normal and enucleated lumbar IVDs.
Main Methods:
- Established poroelastic finite element models based on compression creep experiments.
- Utilized Box-Behnken design (BBD) for material parameter combinations.
- Constructed response surface (RS) models with a quadratic polynomial and optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA).
Main Results:
- The optimized material parameters showed good agreement between simulation and experimental results.
- Enucleated lumbar IVDs exhibited decreased elastic modulus and permeability, and increased Poisson's ratio compared to normal IVDs.
- The proposed algorithm reduced parameter identification error and the number of finite element simulations.
Conclusions:
- The developed optimization method effectively identifies lumbar IVD material parameters.
- Significant differences in mechanical properties exist between normal and degenerative (enucleated) lumbar IVDs.
- This approach enhances the accuracy and efficiency of studying lumbar disc mechanics.
