Preliminary Version

Final Report of the Research Project Nonsmooth Modelling in Biomechanics

Scientific and Technical Cooperation Greece-Hungary Greek Group Georgios E. Stavroulakis, Professor, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece (head, formerly University of Ioannina), gestavr@dpem.tuc.gr Euripides Mistakidis, Associate Professor, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece Emistaki@civ.uth.gr Georgia Foutsitzi, Assoc. Professor, Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Preveza, Greece (formerly University of Ioannina), gfoutsi@cc.uoi.gr Aliki Muradova, Research Associate, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece Aliki@mred.tuc.gr 1. Summary of work

The effort of the group has been focused on theoretical and numerical implementation of nonsmooth mechanics problems suitable for the treatment of biomechanical applications. In particular, we first studied suitable algorithms for the solution of nonsmooth problems in mechanics. It turned out that trial and error methods are not reliable for large scale problems, such that the ones appearing in biomechanics. On the contrary numerical optimization provides us with reliable numerical algorithms. Furthermore two classes of biomechanical applications have been studied in details. First, a twodimensional model of a spine has been developed and solved. Second, a plate in bending model, suitable for delamination and skin effects has been developed and studied numerically. First results are summarized in preprints, which will be submitted for publication in the next months. 2. Some technical details

2.1. Nonsmooth mechanics The well-documented methods to treat problems of nonsmooth mechanics are based on techniques of nonsmooth and possibly nonconvex optimization. In this way stable algorithms of numerical optimization are used for driving the iterations. Blind iterative methods are able to treat general nonlinear problems in structural analysis but without guarantee that a stable convergent numerical scheme will result. In order to investigate the applicability of blind iterative techniques on difficult problems on nonsmooth mechanics we considered the following example. It is well known that for one-dimensional unilateral effects, like the s-unilateral behaviour of cables, one uses a smoothed constitutive relation instead of the on-off unilateral one. In terms of optimization one uses a penalized version of the constitutive law, which permits interpenetration (for unilateral contact) or compression (for s-unilateral, tensile-only behaviour). We tried to generalize this method for the treatment of twodimensional problems. Elastic constant E was used for the implementation of the s-unilateral behaviour in a two-dimensional plate. For simplicity E was considered to be a nonlinear function of sx only. The results for a cantilever-type plate in bending are documented in the following figures. The results have been obtained by means of blind, quasi-Newton-type iterations and the previously mentioned nonlinear constitutive relation. The results are, in general, very sensitive to the chosen penalty parameters. In addition, it should be mentioned here that the implementation of the same technique with the eigenvalues of the stress tensor, that would be the case for a real no-tension or no-compression material model, leads to unacceptable large computing times. Technical details can be found in [Stavroulakisetal2007].

A classical plane stress model in bending

A no-compression material model in bending.

Cross-section plots of elasticity modulus E and von Mises stresses along a line parallel to the support

(left-hand side of the plate) indicating the results.

2.2. Finite element models of spine A two-dimensional model of a spine has been developed. Although the literature review shows that a lot of three-dimensional models have been used in the last decade, the reliable application of highly nonlinear models, like the nonsmooth models of our investigation, requires first a thorough investigation on two-dimensional, simplified cases. First a linear elastic analysis has been performed. The suitable choice of the material constants seems to have a paramount influence on the results. In particular, the big difference of elastic moduli between the shell and core parts of the bone lead to a stress redistribution towards the shell of the bones. Furthermore, the very low elastic modulus of the end plates, if realistic, leads to high stress concentrations on the surrounding shell parts of the bone. Unilateral contact effects between the contacting discs are the first studied nonlinear effects. The most stable procedure has been the usage of static condensation techniques and, in turn, the solution of the quadratic optimization problem arising from the unilateral contact problem. Sample results with totally open and closed unilateral interfaces on the 'winds' of the discs are shown in the pictures. An extension of the model considers s-unilateral effects of ligaments. In this case the presence of prestressing of the ligaments may lead to different results. More experimental data in this direction are needed in order to produce useful results. Nevertheless the models works without severe numerical difficulties. More details are presented in the preprints [Kurutsetal2007] and [Stavroulakisetal2007].

Geometry of the two-dimensional spine model

Boundary conditions for the solution of the two-dimensional spine model

Finite element mesh for the two-dimensional model

Sample solution of the model under compression

Sample solution of the model under tension

2.3. A plate in bending with buckling and unilateral effects Thin structures with interfacial and skin effects appear in many areas of biomechanics. A representative example could be the delamination effect of lenses in eyes and the modelling of corresponding surgery operations. As a first model we studied plates in bending, including buckling, with unilateral contact, friction and delamination effects. The classical buckling pictures are suitably modified in the presence of contact (see figure). A suitable iterative algorithm of the Newton type, has been developed and used. Results can be found in the publication [Muradovaetal2007].

3. Working papers Kurutzetal2007 Muradovaetal2007 Stavroulakisetal2007 M. Kurutz, G.E. Stavroulakis: A. Muradova, M. Kurutz, G.E. Stavroulakis: Unilateral effects and delamination for plates in buckling. Preprint. G.E. Stavroulakis, M. Kurutz: