Total hip arthroplasty-finite element analysis validation

A three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) was performed on a carbon reinforced epoxy model of a human femur/femoral prosthesis using the PATRAN FEA program. The model had been strain gaged and tested previously using forces simulating femoral heat and trochanteric abductor loads. The geometry for the finite element analysis was obtained by digitizing 0.34 CT scan sections taken of the epoxy model. Three dimensional meshes of the prothesis and the femur were created using hex and wedge elements and merged to form the femur/prosthesis system. Loads and boundary conditions were applied to simulate the test configuration. Stresses obtained from strain gages are compared to stresses generated by the FEA, with reasonable correlation observed.<
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