Smart pressure distribution estimation in biological joints for mechanical bio-inspired design

Designing new mechanical links using bio-inspiration requires the knowledge of operating contact pressure in biological joints. However, the contact pressure magnitude and distribution are difficult to measure experimentally without disrupting the functioning of the articulation. In this paper, a new methodology to estimate the pressure distribution in biological joints is presented. A robust finite element model was developed based on in-vitro precise measurements of shapes, relative positions and loads in order to get accurate results. Furthermore, the envelope of the contact area was obtained through thermal imaging for comparison with the numerical results and qualitative validation of the FE model.