Bone remodeling
General: Bone is a living material which is able to remodel itself in consequence of changing load conditions over time. Mechanical and thermal stimuli of the bone play an important role in its interaction with implants, which need to be considered in numerical modelling.
Object of a bone remodelling analysis is the determination of the bone reaction on the mechanical and thermal stimuli caused by the interaction with implants.
Method: In complex numerical simulation models, both, the implant and the surrounding bone structure, including the contact surface with corresponding friction and heat transfer are modelled and analysed under defined load conditions.
As result of the finite element analysis, three-dimensional distributions of stresses and strains within the bone as well as information about the strain-induced bone remodelling (change of stiffness properties) and heat transfer and temperature distribution in the bone are delivered. The consequences of an unphysiological temperature rise on possible necrosis is considered with a prediction of the biocompatibility.