Background:
Finite Element (FE) models have become a powerful tool for spinal research. Many authors have investigated spinal pathologies with this biomechanical approach and a large plethora of models have been created and published during the last years. However, the informative value of FE models is only given when applied loading conditions represent well the situation that occurs in-vivo. For this reason some authors have recently tried to improve their FE models by combining it with multibody dynamics (MD) simulations 1,2. MD software such as OpenSim provides a tool to compute muscle forces on a simplified rigid body model, working with sophisticated mathematical muscles models in the background.
In our biomechanical research group we are working with both, Finite Element and Multibody Dynamics (OpenSim). However, the feasibility of the interaction of these two domains has never been tested yet, but has the potential to improve both fields considerably.
Tasks:
- A Matlab Script is developed to adjust a generic MD model (OpenSim) of the spine to match the patient specific FE-models. This involves adaption of muscle insertions, scaling and positioning of the rigid vertebral bodies and their center of rotations and also the joint stiffnesses.
- Analog, an already existing FE model is extended with imposed loads corresponding to muscle forces and gravity forces as occurring in the MD model, again using Matlab.
- Muscular loads originating from OpenSim are applied (and maybe optimized) to simulate a quasi-static loading scenario of the spine.
- The feasibility of this interaction is evaluated.
Background:
Finite Element (FE) models have become a powerful tool for spinal research. Many authors have investigated spinal pathologies with this biomechanical approach and a large plethora of models have been created and published during the last years. However, the informative value of FE models is only given when applied loading conditions represent well the situation that occurs in-vivo. For this reason some authors have recently tried to improve their FE models by combining it with multibody dynamics (MD) simulations 1,2. MD software such as OpenSim provides a tool to compute muscle forces on a simplified rigid body model, working with sophisticated mathematical muscles models in the background. In our biomechanical research group we are working with both, Finite Element and Multibody Dynamics (OpenSim). However, the feasibility of the interaction of these two domains has never been tested yet, but has the potential to improve both fields considerably.
Tasks:
- A Matlab Script is developed to adjust a generic MD model (OpenSim) of the spine to match the patient specific FE-models. This involves adaption of muscle insertions, scaling and positioning of the rigid vertebral bodies and their center of rotations and also the joint stiffnesses.
- Analog, an already existing FE model is extended with imposed loads corresponding to muscle forces and gravity forces as occurring in the MD model, again using Matlab.
- Muscular loads originating from OpenSim are applied (and maybe optimized) to simulate a quasi-static loading scenario of the spine.
- The feasibility of this interaction is evaluated.
The scope of this project is to test the feasibility of an interaction between an existing Finite Element model and an existing OpenSim model.
The scope of this project is to test the feasibility of an interaction between an existing Finite Element model and an existing OpenSim model.
jonas.widmer@hest.ethz.ch
(Please don't apply for paid internships.)
jonas.widmer@hest.ethz.ch (Please don't apply for paid internships.)