Behaviour of healthy versus symptomatic diarthrodial joints

双关节是两块骨头相互连接的部位（例如膝盖、臀部和肩膀）。关节的完整性是维持个人健康生活方式的重要因素。有不同的被动承载组件的diarthodial关节。韧带限制骨骼之间允许的相对运动，并充当过度关节变形的传感器。关节软骨在两个关节面之间传递压缩载荷。关节的流体有助于保持非常低的摩擦系数，并且最终外围结构（分别在膝关节、肩关节和髋关节中的半月板、关节盂唇和髋臼唇）限制关节并增强整个关节的承载。目前的提案分为两个分组。第一部分是研究关节健康部分的力学性能和结构要求，并与有症状的部分进行比较。还将研究机械性能对年龄的依赖性。将检查不同关节部件的设计和修复标准。第二个小组是研究不同健康与不健康关节的整体行为。将通过有限元分析软件进行数值建模。将使用数字图像分析软件导入几何结构，该软件能够将二维图像堆栈转换为三维对象。将研究不同组件在健康关节与有症状关节之间的载荷传递中的作用。将分析关节面之间接触压力的位置和大小。将研究结果对文献中可用材料特性范围的依赖性，以了解结果的可重复性。将评估控制这种接头的载荷传递和健康与稳定性的力学。该项目的长期目标是能够达到计算力学可以有效地用于帮助诊断和修复患者特定病例的建议的水平。

Diarthrodial joints are the site of articulation of two bones against each other (e.g. knee, hip and shoulder). The integrity of diarthrodial joints is an important factor for maintaining healthy lifestyles for individuals. There are different passive load bearing components for diarthrodial joints. Ligaments limit the allowed relative motions between the bones and act as sensors for excessive joint deformations. Articular cartilage transfers the compressive load between the two articulating surfaces. The fluid of the joint helps maintain a very low coefficient of friction and finally peripheral structures (meniscus, glenoid labrum and acetabular labrum in the knee, shoulder and hip respectively) confine the joint and enhance load bearing across the joint. The current proposal is divided into two subgroups. The first is the study of the mechanical properties of and the structural requirements for the healthy components of diarthrodial joints and comparing them with those of symptomatic ones. The dependence of the mechanical properties on age will also be investigated. The design and repair criteria for different diarthrodial joints components will be examined. The second subgroup is the study of the global behaviour of different healthy versus unhealthy joints. Numerical modelling will be conducted via finite element analysis software. The geometry will be imported using digital image analysis software that are capable of transferring stacks of two dimensional images into three dimensional objects. The role of the different components in load transmission across healthy versus symptomatic joints will be investigated. The location and magnitude of the contact pressure between articulating surfaces will be analyzed. The dependence of the results on the ranges of material properties available in the literature will be studied to understand the repeatability of the results. The mechanics governing the load transmission and the health and stability of such joints will be evaluated. The long term objective of the project is to be able to reach to a level where computational mechanics can be effectively used to aid the diagnosis and repair recommendations for patient specific cases.