Effects of extreme cyclic loading on the cushioning performance of human heel pads under engineering test condition

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Luquan Ren¹  Xiangyu Liu¹  Zhihui Qian¹  Zhiqiang Zhuang¹  Lei Ren²  Haotian Bai³ 

[1] Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China;Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China;School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom;Orthopedic Medical Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China;

关键词: heel pad;    cyclic loading;    cushioning performance;    dynamic mechanical properties;    finite element simulations;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fbioe.2023.1229976

 received in 2023-05-27, accepted in 2023-10-11,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Human heel pads commonly undergo cyclic loading during daily activities. Low cyclic loadings such as daily human walking tend to have less effect on the mechanical properties of heel pads. However, the impact of cyclic loading on cushion performance, a vital biomechanical property of heel pads, under engineering test condition remains unexplored. Herein, dynamic mechanical measurements and finite element (FE) simulations were employed to explore this phenomenon. It was found that the wavy collagen fibers in the heel pad will be straightened under cycle compression loading, which resulted in increased stiffness of the heel pad. The stiffness of the heel pads demonstrated an inclination to escalate over a span of 50,000 loading cycles, consequently resulting in a corresponding increase in peak impact force over the same loading cycles. Sustained cyclic loading has the potential to result in the fracturing of the straightened collagen fibers, this collagen breakage may diminish the stiffness of the heel pad, leading to a reduction in peak impact force. This work enhances understanding of the biomechanical functions of human heel pad and may provide potential inspirations for the innovative development of healthcare devices for foot complex.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Qian, Zhuang, Liu, Bai, Ren and Ren.