Multiscale modeling of cancellous bone considering full coupling of mechanical, electric and magnetic effects

Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2022 Feb;21(1):163-187. doi: 10.1007/s10237-021-01525-6. Epub 2021 Oct 15.

Abstract

Modeling of cancellous bone has important applications in the detection and treatment of fatigue fractures and diseases like osteoporosis. In this paper, we present a fully coupled multiscale approach considering mechanical, electric and magnetic effects by using the multiscale finite element method and a two-phase material model on the microscale. We show numerical results for both scales, including calculations for a femur bone, comparing a healthy bone to ones affected by different stages of osteoporosis. Here, the magnetic field strength resulting from a small mechanical impact decreases drastically for later stages of the disease, confirming experimental research.

Keywords: Cancellous bone; Coupled problems; Maxwell equations; Multiscale modeling; Wave propagation.

MeSH terms

  • Bone and Bones*
  • Cancellous Bone*
  • Electricity
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Stress, Mechanical