Numerical complexity of selected biomechanical problems

The paper describes various aspects of numerical modeling of biomechanical problems by the finite element method. The authors would like to present what they mean by the numerical complexity of modeling of biomechanical problems. The attention is focused on numerical simulation of dental implants and human lumbar spine motion segment (L4-L5). In both cases, acquisition and creation of geometry, number of DOFs, combining different types of elements, properties of the material, contact definitions, loads and boundary conditions are difficult tasks. The acquisition of geometric data of living body parts can be realized only by using noninvasive techniques like NMR or CT. The processing of these data requires specialized software and methods. The methodologies of defining mechanical parameters of human tissues are usually inaccurate and have to be used in practice on living people very carefully. The constitutive data in literature are usually grossly inconsistent. In num erical simulations, custom material formulations and modeling techniques should be used. It is difficult to describe real-world loads and boundary conditions since both are very complex and changing. Load scheme models are global and force values are very difficult to obtain. Boundary conditions are necessarily very simplified but they should reflect specific biological behaviors and conditions. Nevertheless, the numerical simulation by means of the finite element method can be helpful and useful during solving biomechanical problems like fatigue analysis of dental implants or estimating the stiffness of human lumbar spine segment.