Contributions on the Modeling and Simulation of the Human Knee Joint with Applications to the Robotic Structures

The main objective of this chapter is to develop a three-dimensional solid finite element model of the healthy knee joint to predict stresses in its individual components and to study the effects of the frontal plane tibio-femoral angle on the stress distribution in the knee cartilages and menisci. It was developed the geometric models of the joint which shows different tilt in varus and valgus with 5 degrees, the joint being affected by osteoarthritis in the medial and lateral compartment. For geometric modeling of the human knee joint was used the embedded applications: Design Modeler, SpaceClaim under Ansys Workbench 14.5 software package. For each model a non-linear analysis was performed. The non-linearities are due to the presence of the contact elements modeled between components surfaces. The applied force was equal with 800 N. Finally the results obtained for normal knee and for OA knee joint are compared.