Prediction of the mechanical response of canine humerus to three-point bending using subject-specific finite element modelling

Subject-specific finite element models could improve decision making in canine long-bone fracture repair. However, it preliminary requires that finite element models predicting the mechanical response of canine long bone are proposed and validated. We present here a combined experimental–numerical approach to test the ability of subject-specific finite element models to predict the bending response of seven pairs of canine humeri directly from medical images. Our results show that bending stiffness and yield load are predicted with a mean absolute error of 10.1% (±5.2%) for the 14 samples. This study constitutes a basis for the forthcoming optimization of canine long-bone fracture repair

A generic anisotropic continuum damage model integration scheme adaptable to both ductile damage and biological damage-like situations

This paper aims at presenting a general versatile time integration scheme applicable to anisotropic damage coupled to elastoplasticity, considering any damage rate and isotropic hardening formulations. For this purpose a staggered time integration scheme in a finite strain framework is presented, together with an analytical consistent tangent operator. The only restrictive hypothesis is to work with an undamaged isotropic material, assumed here to follow a J2 plasticity model. The only anisotropy considered is thus a damage-induced anisotropy. The possibility to couple any damage rate law with the present algorithm is illustrated with a classical ductile damage model for aluminium, and a biological damage-like application. The later proposes an original bone remodelling law coupled to trabecular bone plasticity for the simulation of orthodontic tooth movements. All the developments have been considered in the framework of the implicit non-linear finite element code Metafor (developed at the LTAS/MN2L, University of Liège, Belgium - www.metafor.ltas.ulg.ac.be)