Visual simulation on ligament's stress derived from the microstructural model

Abstract

This paper describes a new structurally motivated phenomenological approach. Such assumption was made that the ACL can be idealized as being composed of a homogeneous matrix in which two non-interacting families of densely distributed extensible fibers are embedded. A nonlinear stress-strain characteristic exhibited by multiple collagen fibers was represented by the tri-linear curve. Then a constitutive equation for the ACL composite was formulated. Using the finite element method, a 3-D finite deformation and stress distribution of the ACL as a function of knee flexion were introduced through simulation and their graphic representation was made.