Three-Dimensional Finite Element Simulation of Total Knee Joint in Gait Cycle

Based on CT scanning pictures from a volunteer's knee joint, a three-dimensional finite element model of the healthy human knee joint is constructed including complete femur, tibia, fibular, patellar and the main cartilage and ligaments. This model was validated using experimental and numerical results obtained from other authors. The pressure distribution of contact surfaces of knee joint are calculated and analyzed under the load action of ‘heel strike’, ‘single limb stance’ and ‘toe-off’. The results of the gait cycle are that the contact areas of medial cartilage are larger than that of lateral cartilage; the contact force and contact areas would grow larger with the load increasing; the pressure of lateral meniscus is steady, relative to the significant variation of peak pressure in medial meniscus; and the peak value of contact pressure on all components are usually found at about 45% of the gait cycle.