Optimization of prosthetic knee joint under static and cyclic strength tests

Abstract

Knee joint consists of different components, i.e. femur, tibia, patella and menisci which make it a complex structure, undergoing different critical loads in human body performing motions and physical activities. The present study focuses on the analysis of stress magnitude on knee joint and knee implant when these are introduced with different loads acting upon it with varying angles of inclination. 3-D model of the knee joint and knee implant were designed using 3-D modeling software i.e. CAD. These models were imported to ANSYS to get the specific results of stress magnitude using finite element analysis. This study has revealed that with a load range of 540N to 790 N and change in angle from 10° to 90°, the knee implant could be able to sustain a load of 540-640 N at an angle of 10°-50° demonstrating a stable stress value of 1.27E+08 – 6.11E+08 Pa. At steady state of the knee i.e. when the knee is at 90° position, stress value reaches to 1.28E+08 Pa.