Nonlinear Mathematical Modelling of Bone Damage and Remodelling Behaviour in Human Femur

Abstract

The simulation of bone remodelling is highly complex due to the high nonlinear coupled relations between the damage and repair behaviours. In this paper, a new bone remodelling model based on the fatigue damage mechanism is proposed. Then the repair process of the human femur is simulated based on the finite element method. The results show that the new damage model can well simulate the bone damage evolution caused by overloadings. This indicates that the new mathematical model suggested in this paper can simulate the effect of external load on the cortical bone density and the related mechanical properties of the cortical bone.

Keywords

• bone remodelling
• bone damage
• human femur
• finite element method
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