Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitations

High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) based micro-finite element (μFE) analysis allows accurate prediction of stiffness and ultimate load of standardised (∼1 cm) distal radius and tibia sections. An alternative homogenized finite element method (hFE) was recently vali...

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Main Authors: Mathieu Simon, Michael Indermaur, Denis Schenk, Benjamin Voumard, Ivan Zderic, Dominic Mischler, Michael Pretterklieber, Philippe Zysset
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-06-01
Series:Bone Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352187224000196
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author Mathieu Simon
Michael Indermaur
Denis Schenk
Benjamin Voumard
Ivan Zderic
Dominic Mischler
Michael Pretterklieber
Philippe Zysset
author_facet Mathieu Simon
Michael Indermaur
Denis Schenk
Benjamin Voumard
Ivan Zderic
Dominic Mischler
Michael Pretterklieber
Philippe Zysset
author_sort Mathieu Simon
collection DOAJ
description High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) based micro-finite element (μFE) analysis allows accurate prediction of stiffness and ultimate load of standardised (∼1 cm) distal radius and tibia sections. An alternative homogenized finite element method (hFE) was recently validated to compute the ultimate load of larger (∼2 cm) distal radius sections that include Colles' fracture sites. Since the mechanical integrity of the weight-bearing distal tibia is gaining clinical interest, it has been shown that the same properties can be used to predict the strength of both distal segments of the radius and the tibia. Despite the capacity of hFE to predict structural properties of distal segments of the radius and the tibia, the limitations of such homogenization scheme remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study is to build a complete mechanical data set of the compressive behavior of distal segments of the tibia and to compare quantitatively the structural properties with the hFE predictions. As a further aim, it is intended to verify whether hFE is also able to capture the post-yield strain localisation or fracture zones in such a bone section, despite the absence of strain softening in the constitutive model.Twenty-five fresh-frozen distal parts of tibias of human donors were used in this study. Sections were cut corresponding to an in-house triple-stack protocol HR-pQCT scan, lapped, and scanned using micro computed tomography (μCT). The sections were tested in compression until failure, unloaded and scanned again in μCT. Volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were correlated to compression test results. hFE analysis was performed in order to compare computational predictions (stiffness, yield load and plastic deformation field pattern) with the compressive experiment. Namely, strain localization was assessed based on digital volume correlation (DVC) results and qualitatively compared to hFE predictions by comparing mid-slices patterns.Bone mineral content (BMC) showed a good correlation with stiffness (R2 = 0.92) and yield (R2 = 0.88). Structural parameters also showed good agreement between the experiment and hFE for both stiffness (R2 = 0.96, slope = 1.05 with 95 % CI [0.97, 1.14]) and yield (R2 = 0.95, slope = 1.04 [0.94, 1.13]). The qualitative comparison between hFE and DVC strain localization patterns allowed the classification of the samples into 3 categories: bad (15 sections), semi (8), and good agreement (2).The good correlations between BMC or hFE and experiment for structural parameters were similar to those obtained previously for the distal part of the radius. The failure zones determined by hFE corresponded to registration only in 8 % of the cases. We attribute these discrepancies to local elastic/plastic buckling effects that are not captured by the continuum-based FE approach exempt from strain softening. A way to improve strain localization hFE prediction would be to use longer distal segments with intact cortical shells, as done for the radius. To conclude, the used hFE scheme captures the elastic and yield response of the tibia sections reliably but not the subsequent failure process.
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spelling doaj.art-a965c30dfbb544c8a3c877b0e89d50d02024-04-04T05:04:12ZengElsevierBone Reports2352-18722024-06-0121101752Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitationsMathieu Simon0Michael Indermaur1Denis Schenk2Benjamin Voumard3Ivan Zderic4Dominic Mischler5Michael Pretterklieber6Philippe Zysset7ARTORG Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Corresponding author.ARTORG Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandARTORG Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandARTORG Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, SwitzerlandAO Research Institute Davos, Davos, SwitzerlandDivision of macroscopical and clinical Anatomy, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaARTORG Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandHigh-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) based micro-finite element (μFE) analysis allows accurate prediction of stiffness and ultimate load of standardised (∼1 cm) distal radius and tibia sections. An alternative homogenized finite element method (hFE) was recently validated to compute the ultimate load of larger (∼2 cm) distal radius sections that include Colles' fracture sites. Since the mechanical integrity of the weight-bearing distal tibia is gaining clinical interest, it has been shown that the same properties can be used to predict the strength of both distal segments of the radius and the tibia. Despite the capacity of hFE to predict structural properties of distal segments of the radius and the tibia, the limitations of such homogenization scheme remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study is to build a complete mechanical data set of the compressive behavior of distal segments of the tibia and to compare quantitatively the structural properties with the hFE predictions. As a further aim, it is intended to verify whether hFE is also able to capture the post-yield strain localisation or fracture zones in such a bone section, despite the absence of strain softening in the constitutive model.Twenty-five fresh-frozen distal parts of tibias of human donors were used in this study. Sections were cut corresponding to an in-house triple-stack protocol HR-pQCT scan, lapped, and scanned using micro computed tomography (μCT). The sections were tested in compression until failure, unloaded and scanned again in μCT. Volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were correlated to compression test results. hFE analysis was performed in order to compare computational predictions (stiffness, yield load and plastic deformation field pattern) with the compressive experiment. Namely, strain localization was assessed based on digital volume correlation (DVC) results and qualitatively compared to hFE predictions by comparing mid-slices patterns.Bone mineral content (BMC) showed a good correlation with stiffness (R2 = 0.92) and yield (R2 = 0.88). Structural parameters also showed good agreement between the experiment and hFE for both stiffness (R2 = 0.96, slope = 1.05 with 95 % CI [0.97, 1.14]) and yield (R2 = 0.95, slope = 1.04 [0.94, 1.13]). The qualitative comparison between hFE and DVC strain localization patterns allowed the classification of the samples into 3 categories: bad (15 sections), semi (8), and good agreement (2).The good correlations between BMC or hFE and experiment for structural parameters were similar to those obtained previously for the distal part of the radius. The failure zones determined by hFE corresponded to registration only in 8 % of the cases. We attribute these discrepancies to local elastic/plastic buckling effects that are not captured by the continuum-based FE approach exempt from strain softening. A way to improve strain localization hFE prediction would be to use longer distal segments with intact cortical shells, as done for the radius. To conclude, the used hFE scheme captures the elastic and yield response of the tibia sections reliably but not the subsequent failure process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352187224000196BoneHR-pQCTTibiahFEOsteoporosis
spellingShingle Mathieu Simon
Michael Indermaur
Denis Schenk
Benjamin Voumard
Ivan Zderic
Dominic Mischler
Michael Pretterklieber
Philippe Zysset
Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitations
Bone Reports
Bone
HR-pQCT
Tibia
hFE
Osteoporosis
title Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitations
title_full Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitations
title_fullStr Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitations
title_full_unstemmed Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitations
title_short Homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections: Achievements and limitations
title_sort homogenized finite element analysis of distal tibia sections achievements and limitations
topic Bone
HR-pQCT
Tibia
hFE
Osteoporosis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352187224000196
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AT benjaminvoumard homogenizedfiniteelementanalysisofdistaltibiasectionsachievementsandlimitations
AT ivanzderic homogenizedfiniteelementanalysisofdistaltibiasectionsachievementsandlimitations
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