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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
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Finite Element Analysis Model for Assessing Expansion Patterns from Surgically Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion
Published on: October 20, 2023
Uncertainty Quantification and Global Sensitivity Analysis of a Patient-Specific Mandibular Finite Element Model
Lilian Baugnon1, Romain Nicot1, Nicolas Bethune2
1CNRS, Centrale Lille, UMR 9013 LaMcube, Université de Lille, Laboratoire de Mécanique, Multiphysique, Multiéchelle, Lille, Hauts-de-France, 59000, France.
Medical Engineering & Physics
|August 13, 2026
Summary
This study introduces an automated workflow to analyze variability in patient-specific mandibular finite element models. Muscle force and disc stiffness significantly impact stress, guiding future biomechanical research.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Computational modeling
- Finite Element Analysis
Background:
- Traditional mandibular finite element models often neglect biological and modeling variability.
- Understanding variability is crucial for accurate patient-specific biomechanical simulations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an automated, uncertainty-aware computational workflow for patient-specific mandibular finite element models.
- To identify key input parameters influencing stress variability in mandibular models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Latin Hypercube Sampling and sparse Polynomial Chaos Expansion for uncertainty quantification.
- Investigated 24 input parameters across 2,400 simulations.
- Performed global and regional sensitivity analyses using Spearman rank correlations and Sobol indices.
Main Results:
- Muscle force magnitudes and articular disc stiffness were identified as dominant sources of von Mises stress variability.
- High-resolution bone property classification showed negligible influence within the studied ranges.
- Condylar regions require larger sample sizes (N>2,000) for stable sensitivity estimates.
Conclusions:
- The developed workflow provides a scalable pipeline for patient-specific biomechanical studies.
- Identified critical modeling parameters for improving the accuracy and reliability of mandibular FE models.
- Highlights the importance of considering uncertainty in computational biomechanics.
