Three-dimensional Deformation and Stress Distribution of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in the Knee: 2nd Report, Results of Model Analyses and Visual Simulation

This paper describes a new structurally-motivated phenomenological approach. Such assumption was made that the ACL can be idealized as being composed of a homogeneous matrix in which two non-interacting families of densely distributed extensible fibers are embedded. Then a constitutive equation for the ACL composite was formulated. Using the finite element method, the visual simulations were performed in terms of three-dimensional change in shape, stress distribution and intra-ligamentary stresses, as a function of knee angle. Variations in stress due to tibial anterior-posterior displacements were also introduced. All the results were compared and discussed with the previous studies, thereby verifying the validity and usefulness of our model.