A Review of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites for Lower-Limb Prosthetic Designs

Polymers (Basel). 2024 May 5;16(9):1293. doi: 10.3390/polym16091293.

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs) for lower-limb prosthetic designs. It covers the characteristics, types, and properties of natural fiber-reinforced composites as well as their advantages and drawbacks in prosthetic designs. This review also discusses successful prosthetic designs that incorporate NFRCs and the factors that make them effective. Additionally, this study explores the use of computational biomechanical models to evaluate the effectiveness of prosthetic devices and the key factors that are considered. Overall, this document provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in using NFRCs for lower-limb prosthetic designs.

Keywords: ISO standards; biomechanics; computational modeling; fatigue strength; finite-element analysis; impact resistance; lower-limb prosthesis; mechanical properties; natural fiber-reinforced composites; polymer matrix composites.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.