... with the experimental data. Using this healthy FE model as a baseline, single-level anterior LIF was initially simulated by removing the anterior longitudinal ligament, anterior portions of the annulus and entire nucleus pulposus at the L4–L5 level, 15 where an intervertebral cage (containing cancellous bone graft...

...-BY license. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) 2016 biomaterials mechanical properties simulation a_ij matrix element at position i,j B _HA(ϕ,ϑ) fourth-order stress concentration tensor of needle-shaped...

... distinct layers: an outer, keratin base shell; connected foam reinforcement; and a central hollow core. Seven factors, key material properties and geometries, were selected to analyse the simulated performance. Taguchi’s method of orthogonal arrays was utilised to determine the significance of main and two...

...) on three main mechanical parameters—strength, work to fracture and apparent stiffness—is investigated in a simple model system using computer simulations. The results show that the work to fracture is mainly determined by the number of SBs present in the system, while the apparent stiffness...