TY - JOUR
T1 - New Analytical Model and 3D Finite Element Simulation for Improved Pressure Prediction of Elastic Compression Stockings
AU - Ye, Chongyang
AU - Liu, Rong
AU - Wu, Xinbo
AU - Liang, Fuyou
AU - Ying, Tin Cheung
AU - Lv, Jingyun
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the General Research Fund (GRF) of University Grants Committee (UGC) through project PolyU252153/18E, the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design through project RP1-5 Innovation and Technology Fund (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) through project RP1-5, Departmental General Research Fund of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University through project G-UAHB, and Youth Foundation of Beijing Polytechnic College through project BGY2021KY-05QT.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors
PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - Elastic compression stockings (ECSs) are essential for the prevention and treatment of venous disorders of the lower limbs. Finite element modeling (FEM) is an effective method for numerically analyzing ECS pressure performance for guiding ECS material design and pressure dose selection in treatment. However, existing FEM studies have primarily used the two-dimensional (2D) mechanical properties (i.e., properties along the wale and course directions) of ECS fabrics and ignored their three-dimensional (3D) mechanical properties (i.e., those along the thickness direction), causing deviations in pressure predictions. To address this limitation, the present study developed a new approach for determining the 3D mechanical properties of ECS fabrics through orthotropic theoretical analysis, analytical model development, FEM, and experimental testing and validation. The results revealed that the deviation ratios between the experimental and simulated pressure values of ECS fabrics was 19.3% obtained using the 2D material mechanical properties that was reduced to 10.3% obtained using the 3D material mechanical properties. Equivalently, the FEM simulation precision increased by 46.6%. These results indicate that the proposed approach can improve finite element analysis efficiency for ECS pressure prediction, thus facilitating the functional design of elastic compression materials for improving compression therapeutic efficacy.
AB - Elastic compression stockings (ECSs) are essential for the prevention and treatment of venous disorders of the lower limbs. Finite element modeling (FEM) is an effective method for numerically analyzing ECS pressure performance for guiding ECS material design and pressure dose selection in treatment. However, existing FEM studies have primarily used the two-dimensional (2D) mechanical properties (i.e., properties along the wale and course directions) of ECS fabrics and ignored their three-dimensional (3D) mechanical properties (i.e., those along the thickness direction), causing deviations in pressure predictions. To address this limitation, the present study developed a new approach for determining the 3D mechanical properties of ECS fabrics through orthotropic theoretical analysis, analytical model development, FEM, and experimental testing and validation. The results revealed that the deviation ratios between the experimental and simulated pressure values of ECS fabrics was 19.3% obtained using the 2D material mechanical properties that was reduced to 10.3% obtained using the 3D material mechanical properties. Equivalently, the FEM simulation precision increased by 46.6%. These results indicate that the proposed approach can improve finite element analysis efficiency for ECS pressure prediction, thus facilitating the functional design of elastic compression materials for improving compression therapeutic efficacy.
KW - Compression stockings
KW - Elastic compression materials
KW - Finite element modeling
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - Pressure prediction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129093288&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.matdes.2022.110634
DO - 10.1016/j.matdes.2022.110634
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0264-1275
VL - 217
JO - Materials & Design
JF - Materials & Design
IS - 2022
M1 - 110634
ER -