Finite elements/Taguchi method based procedure for the identification of the geometrical parameters significantly affecting the biomechanical behavior of a lumbar disc

• Published in: Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering Vol. 19; no. 12; pp. 1278 - 1285
• Main Authors: Cappetti, N., Naddeo, A., Naddeo, F., Solitro, G. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 09.09.2016
• Subjects: Algorithms; Biomechanical Phenomena; Finite Element Analysis; geometrical parameters; Humans; intervertebral disc; Intervertebral Disc - anatomy & histology; Intervertebral Disc - physiology; Lumbar Vertebrae - anatomy & histology; Lumbar Vertebrae - physiology; Motor Endplate - physiology; Spine; subject-specific finite element models; Taguchi method; intervertebral disc; Spine; geometrical parameters; Taguchi method; subject-specific finite element models
• ISSN: 1025-5842; 1476-8259; 1476-8259
• DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2015.1128529

The aim of this work is to show a quick and simple procedure able to identify the geometrical parameters of the intervertebral disc that strongly affect the behavior of the FEM model. First, we allocated a selection criterion for the minimum number of geometrical parameters that describe, with a good degree of approximation, a healthy human vertebra. Next, we carried out a sensitivity analysis using the 'Taguchi orthogonal array' to arrive at a quick identification of the parameters that strongly affect the behavior of the Fem model.