Finite Element Modeling of the Human Foot and Footwear

J. Cheung - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and University of Calgary
M. Zhang - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Because of the difficulties to understand the biomechanics of the complicated human foot and ankle structures from experimental studies alone, computational model is needed to provide a viable alternative to predict their biomechanical behavior. In this study, a 3D FE model of the human foot and ankle was developed from 3D reconstruction of MR images from the right foot of a male adult subject. The developed FE model, which took into consideration the nonlinearities from material properties, large deformations and interfacial slip/friction conditions consisted of 28 contacting bony structures, 72 ligaments and the plantar fascia embedded in a volume of encapsulated soft tissue. The developed geometrically accurate 3D FE models of the foot and ankle considered the first time in the literature the relative motion of all the major foot joints by a surface-to-surface contact approach as well as realistic nonlinear material properties of the encapsulated soft tissue.

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