Numerous numerical methods have been developed in an effort to accurately predict stresses in bones. The largest group is the Finite Element Method, where both, low and high order Ansatz functions may be used. By contrast, we investigate the Finite Cell Method (FCM) and its application to computational steering. The FCM is an embedded domain approach for high order finite elements and allows for a direct use of CT data without the need for segmentation of the bone or mesh generation of its computer image. While the Finite Cell Method has been verified and validated in previous publications, this presentation demonstrates methods on how the FCM can be made computationally efficient to the extent that it can be used for patient specific, interactive bone simulations. This approach is called computational steering and allows to change input parameters such as the position of an implant, material or loads which in turn leads to an almost instantaneous change in the output (stress lines, deformations). This direct feedback gives the user an immediate impression of the impact of his actions to an extent which, otherwise, is hard to obtain by the use of classical non interactive computations.     «

Numerous numerical methods have been developed in an effort to accurately predict stresses in bones. The largest group is the Finite Element Method, where both, low and high order Ansatz functions may be used. By contrast, we investigate the Finite Cell Method (FCM) and its application to computational steering. The FCM is an embedded domain approach for high order finite elements and allows for a direct use of CT data without the need for segmentation of the bone or mesh generation of its compu...     »