Print Email Facebook Twitter Development of a Finite Element Model of the Achilles Tendon: Evaluating Local Displacement Estimation Title Development of a Finite Element Model of the Achilles Tendon: Evaluating Local Displacement Estimation Author Beinema, Rimke (TU Delft Mechanical Engineering; TU Delft Biomechanical Engineering) Contributor van der Kruk, E. (mentor) Tümer, N. (mentor) de Vos, Robert-Jan (mentor) Gijsen, F.J.H. (graduation committee) Degree granting institution Delft University of Technology Programme Mechanical Engineering | BioMechanical Design Date 2024-04-08 Abstract Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common Achilles tendon injury, yet its exact cause and the factors influencing progression of individuals remain unclear. Strain distribution is indicated to play a significant role in the progression, possibly linked to the twist of the subtendons. Pizzolato et al. (2020) proposed an integrated framework for studying Achilles tendon mechanics, including a finite element (FE) model estimating local displacements in the Achilles tendon. However, before im- plementing this in AT research, further testing and validation is necessary. Therefore, to make a start for future improvements, this study aims to build a foundational FE model of the Achilles tendon, verify it with in vivo local displacement data and assess the sensitivity to subtendon twist. 3D ultrasound and X-rays of the ankle provided the geometry and the moment arm of the Achilles tendon, respectively. By minimizing the error between the tendon’s elongation during contraction and the FE model prediction, the material properties were optimized. Local displacements in the sagittal and coronal plane were computed using estimated forces from in vivo studies. Simulated subtendon twists (11◦, 37◦, 65◦) examined the effect of the amount of twist on the displacement. Comparing the FE estimated local displacements to in vivo data indicated that additional substructure details are needed to accurately calculate the displacement behavior. Modifying fiber twist angles altered the uniformity of the displacements in the FE model. Therefore, further development of the FE model of the Achilles tendon is recommended before incorporating it into an Achilles tendon mechanics study. Subject Finite Element AnalysisAchilles TendonDisplacement To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b0470c3d-f922-4019-89cc-fdac1bb380ee Part of collection Student theses Document type master thesis Rights © 2024 Rimke Beinema Files PDF Thesis_Rimke_Beinema.pdf 27.56 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:b0470c3d-f922-4019-89cc-fdac1bb380ee/datastream/OBJ/view