A computational two-scale approach to cancellous bone remodelling

Steinmann P, Schmidt I, Pivonka P, Papastavrou A (2024)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Advanced Modeling and Simulation in Engineering Sciences Springer Open

Book Volume: 11

Article Number: 13

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1186/s40323-024-00267-1

Abstract

We propose a novel two-scale (meso-macro-scale) approach to computationally capture cancellous bone remodelling allowing for efficient and effective numerical implementation. Therein, the macro-scale is governed by the well-established kinematics and kinetics of one-scale continuum bone remodelling. However, the constitutive behaviour is not postulated phenomenologically at the macro-scale, but rather follows from the meso-scale. There, for the sake of computational efficiency, the trabecular architecture is idealised as a truss network with the cross-sectional area of the trabeculae adapting to mechanical loading. Then, the meso- and the macro-scale are coupled through up- and down-scaling. Computational results on benchmark problems from bio-mechanics demonstrate that the proposed two-scale approach is effective from a modelling perspective and efficient from a computational perspective. In particular, it automatically captures anisotropy resulting from the irregular trabecular architecture at the meso-scale, and, most importantly, enables the direct investigation of different trabecular structures at the meso-scale, thereby serving as a virtual “magnifiying glass”. As an outlook, the proposed two-scale approach to cancellous bone remodelling provides an excellent launch pad for further extension, e.g., by considering more complex trabecular architectures and/or through inclusion of micro-scale bone cellular activities.

Authors with CRIS profile

Paul Steinmann Lehrstuhl für Technische Mechanik (LTM) Ina Schmidt Lehrstuhl für Technische Mechanik (LTM)

Involved external institutions

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) AU Australia (AU) Technische Hochschule Nürnberg "Georg Simon Ohm" DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Steinmann, P., Schmidt, I., Pivonka, P., & Papastavrou, A. (2024). A computational two-scale approach to cancellous bone remodelling. Advanced Modeling and Simulation in Engineering Sciences, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40323-024-00267-1

MLA:

Steinmann, Paul, et al. "A computational two-scale approach to cancellous bone remodelling." Advanced Modeling and Simulation in Engineering Sciences 11.1 (2024).

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