Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning Property
In the existing research on prosthetic footplates, rehabilitation insoles, and robot feet, the cushioning parts are basically based on simple mechanisms and elastic pads. Most of them are unable to provide adequate impact resistance especially during contact with the ground. This paper developed a b...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Bioengineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/1/49 |
| _version_ | 1797445935586869248 |
|---|---|
| author | Jianqiao Jin Kunyang Wang Lei Ren Zhihui Qian Xuewei Lu Wei Liang Xiaohan Xu Shun Zhao Di Zhao Xu Wang Luquan Ren |
| author_facet | Jianqiao Jin Kunyang Wang Lei Ren Zhihui Qian Xuewei Lu Wei Liang Xiaohan Xu Shun Zhao Di Zhao Xu Wang Luquan Ren |
| author_sort | Jianqiao Jin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the existing research on prosthetic footplates, rehabilitation insoles, and robot feet, the cushioning parts are basically based on simple mechanisms and elastic pads. Most of them are unable to provide adequate impact resistance especially during contact with the ground. This paper developed a bioinspired heel pad by optimizing the inner structures inspired from human heel pad which has great cushioning performance. The distinct structures of the human heel pad were determined through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology and related literatures. Five-layer pads with and without inner structures by using two materials (soft rubber and resin) were obtained, resulting in four bionic heel pads. Three finite element simulations (static, impact, and walking) were conducted to compare the cushioning effects in terms of deformations, ground reactions, and principal stress. The optimal pad with bionic structures and soft rubber material reduced 28.0% peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) during walking compared with the unstructured resin pad. Human walking tests by a healthy subject wearing the 3D printed bionic pads also showed similar findings, with an almost 20% decrease in peak vertical GRF at normal speed. The soft rubber heel pad with bionic structures has the best cushioning performance, while the unstructured resin pad depicts the poorest. This study proves that with proper design of the inner structures and materials, the bionic pads will demonstrate distinct cushioning properties, which could be applied to the engineering fields, including lower limb prosthesis, robotics, and rehabilitations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:33:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b476572a92748a6adb31efca84373a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-5354 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:33:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b476572a92748a6adb31efca84373a42023-11-30T21:14:44ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542022-12-011014910.3390/bioengineering10010049Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning PropertyJianqiao Jin0Kunyang Wang1Lei Ren2Zhihui Qian3Xuewei Lu4Wei Liang5Xiaohan Xu6Shun Zhao7Di Zhao8Xu Wang9Luquan Ren10Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaSchool of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UKKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, ChinaIn the existing research on prosthetic footplates, rehabilitation insoles, and robot feet, the cushioning parts are basically based on simple mechanisms and elastic pads. Most of them are unable to provide adequate impact resistance especially during contact with the ground. This paper developed a bioinspired heel pad by optimizing the inner structures inspired from human heel pad which has great cushioning performance. The distinct structures of the human heel pad were determined through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology and related literatures. Five-layer pads with and without inner structures by using two materials (soft rubber and resin) were obtained, resulting in four bionic heel pads. Three finite element simulations (static, impact, and walking) were conducted to compare the cushioning effects in terms of deformations, ground reactions, and principal stress. The optimal pad with bionic structures and soft rubber material reduced 28.0% peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) during walking compared with the unstructured resin pad. Human walking tests by a healthy subject wearing the 3D printed bionic pads also showed similar findings, with an almost 20% decrease in peak vertical GRF at normal speed. The soft rubber heel pad with bionic structures has the best cushioning performance, while the unstructured resin pad depicts the poorest. This study proves that with proper design of the inner structures and materials, the bionic pads will demonstrate distinct cushioning properties, which could be applied to the engineering fields, including lower limb prosthesis, robotics, and rehabilitations.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/1/49bionic designheel padcushioning effectfinite element analysishuman walking |
| spellingShingle | Jianqiao Jin Kunyang Wang Lei Ren Zhihui Qian Xuewei Lu Wei Liang Xiaohan Xu Shun Zhao Di Zhao Xu Wang Luquan Ren Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning Property Bioengineering bionic design heel pad cushioning effect finite element analysis human walking |
| title | Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning Property |
| title_full | Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning Property |
| title_fullStr | Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning Property |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning Property |
| title_short | Optimization Design of the Inner Structure for a Bioinspired Heel Pad with Distinct Cushioning Property |
| title_sort | optimization design of the inner structure for a bioinspired heel pad with distinct cushioning property |
| topic | bionic design heel pad cushioning effect finite element analysis human walking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/1/49 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jianqiaojin optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT kunyangwang optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT leiren optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT zhihuiqian optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT xueweilu optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT weiliang optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT xiaohanxu optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT shunzhao optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT dizhao optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT xuwang optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty AT luquanren optimizationdesignoftheinnerstructureforabioinspiredheelpadwithdistinctcushioningproperty |