Finite Element Analysis of an Electro-Mechanical Knee Loading Device

Abstract

The mechanical loading of knee is an effective regimen for treatment of bone related ailments like fractures, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis [1–2]. Efficacy of knee loading is evident from the previous studies done on rodents and other small animals [3]. In order to test this loading concept on human subjects, a prototype of a portable and compact device was designed previously. In this study, the prototype device was re-designed with a modified slider crank mechanism. Since this device has multiple moving parts, durability of the parts under stress is a key factor for its success. Thus, this paper focuses on its mechanical characteristics using finite element analysis (FEA). In particular, structural deformities and modal frequency characteristics are analyzed. The FEA analysis is performed on a CAD model of the device. The static structural and modal analyses are performed on two different configurations, in which different materials were used for selected components. Individual parts were meshed and solved extensively to obtain useful results under maximum loading conditions, such as total deformation, Von Mises stress, and modal frequencies. The analysis results show that ABS plastic based design provides an optimal solution in terms weight, cost, and usability.