Development and experimental validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of the human scapula

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Gupta, S.¹; van der Helm, F. C. T.¹; Sterk, J. C.¹; van Keulen, F.¹; Kaptein, B. L.¹

Development and experimental validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of the human scapula

Proc Inst Mech Eng Part H-J Eng Med. March 2004;218(3):127-142

©2004 IMechE

Affiliations

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology, Faculty of Design, Engineering and Production, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
Abstract and keywords

A new modelling approach, using a combination of shell and solid elements, has been adopted to develop a realistic three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of the human scapula. Shell elements were used to represent a part of the compact bone layer (i.e. the outer cortical layer) and the very thin and rather at part of the scapula—infraspinous fossa and supraspinous fossa respectively. Solid elements were used to model the remaining part of the compact bone and the trabecular bone. The FE model results in proper element shapes without distortion. The geometry, material properties and thickness were taken from quantitative computed tomography (CT ) data. A thorough experimental set-up for strain gauge measurement on a fresh bone serves as a reference to assess the accuracy of FE predictions. A fresh cadaveric scapula with 18 strain gauges fixed at various locations and orientations was loaded in a mechanical testing machine and supported at three locations by linkage mechanisms interconnected by ball joints. This new experimental set-up was developed to impose bending and deection of the scapula in all directions unambiguously, in response to applied loads at various locations. The measured strains (experimental ) were compared to numerical (FE) strains, corresponding to several load cases, to validate the proposed FE modelling approach. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the accuracy of the results. The percentage error in the regression slope varies between 9 and 23 per cent. It appears, as a whole, that the two variables (measured and calculated strains) strongly depend on each other with a confidence level of more than 95 per cent. Considering the complicated testing procedure on a fresh sample of scapula, the high correlation coeficients ( 0.89–0.97), the low standard errors (29–105 íå) and percentage errors in the regression slope, as compared to other studies, strongly suggest that the strains calculated by the FE model can be used as a valid predictor of the actual measured strain. The model is therefore an alternative to a rigorous three-dimensional model based on solid elements only, which might often be too expensive in terms of computing time.

Keywords: finite element method, shoulder, scapula, strain gauge, computed tomography
Links

DOI: 10.1243/095441104322984022

PubMed: 15116900

WoS: 000221365400005
History

Received: 2003-10-17

Accepted: 2004-01-09

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