Study of plantar pressure distribution on a foot in a dynamic landing scenario, while subjected to contact with a Spira shoe sole, using finite element analysis
Abstract
A nonlinear dynamic finite element study of the contact pressure of running shoes was performed. The forces under consideration were those between the foot and the shoe. In particular, the methodology was employed to consider the merits of running shoes with passive springs in the heel and at the heads of the metatarsals. The main objective of the study was to verify how well the pressure was distributed on the foot in a dynamic landing, under dynamic loading, and general contact scenarios while walking and running wearing a Spira shoe sole. At the same time, a second analysis, with the same conditions, was performed employing a shoe sole. The computational analysis showed that higher plantar pressure concentrations were present when the foot dynamically interacted with the Spira shoe sole when walking and running. A three dimensional solid foot model was obtained from www.3dcadbrowser.com. The foot model was exported to Altair HyperMesh and discretized into ten node tetrahedral elements. The foot model was divided into two parts: an upper part that possessed osseous mechanical properties, and a lower part, which consisted of mechanical properties resembling those of the soft tissue. In addition, a Spira midsole was modeled employing NX4. In the same way as the foot model, the midsole model was exported to Altair HyperMesh and discretized into ten node tetrahedral elements. Three sinusoidal wave springs, one insole, and one shoe cover were modeled using Altair HyperMesh and incorporated into the Spira midsole to complete the Spira shoe sole. A filling was also modeled using Altair HyperMesh and it was assimilated into an identical midsole in order to generate a normal shoe sole. LS-DYNA was employed to compute the non linear finite element analysis, due to interfacial general contact, in order to obtain the plantar pressure distribution on foot. The peak pressures experienced at the heel when walking and wearing the normal shoe sole and the Spira shoe sole were 29.63 psi and 47.36 psi, respectively. The peak pressure on the heel area of the foot in the normal shoe sole, when running, was 30.30 psi, and the peak pressure on the heads of the metatarsals was 39.14 psi. The peak pressure experienced, when running, on the foot heel with the Spira sole was 59.80 psi, and the peak pressure on the heads of the metatarsals was 56.80 psi. Although higher pressure concentrations were present on the foot wearing the Spira shoe sole, the analysis also verified that the pressure distribution behavior was more favorable since it dispersed the high pressure concentration around the heel of the foot.
Subject Area
Mechanical engineering
Recommended Citation
Valenzuela, Jonathan A, "Study of plantar pressure distribution on a foot in a dynamic landing scenario, while subjected to contact with a Spira shoe sole, using finite element analysis" (2007). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1449732.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1449732