Abstract

An algorithm for the mathematical representation of bone adaptation is proposed. This model can be used at bone tissue level (local level) as well as at whole bone level (global level). The boundary element method is used for the numerical analysis of trabecular bone tissue together with the remodeling algorithm presented by (Fridez P., Rakotomanana L., Terrier A., Leyvraz P.F., Three dimensional model of bone external adaptation, Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Eng, 2, 189-196, 1998, [1]). Some numerical examples are given to show the versatility and power of the algorithm here discussed. Additionally, the method converges rapidly to the solution, which is one of the main advantages of the proposed numerical scheme. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.