Waller, Alexander Jeffrey2021-10-082021-10-082007-08-31https://hdl.handle.net/1808/32130Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kansas, Mechanical Engineering, 2007.The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of an MRI-based modeling technique for use in joint contact mechanics. First, the accuracy and repeatability of two experimental measures, Fuji-scale film and a piezoelectronic sensor, were tested. It was found that the piezoresistive sensor was the more accurate technique for measuring joint contact loads. Then, segmented and projected cartilage modeling techniques were compared. It was found that the two techniques had highly different contact mechanics. Finally, the MRI-based modeling technique was tested using 5 cadaveric specimens. It was found the MRI-based models and the direct measurement from MR image sets showed similar results for contact area. The Tekscan and MRI-based model technique showed similar measures of contact force, and the Pressurex and MRI-based technique showed similar measures of peak pressure. It is therefore believed that the MRI-based modeling technique is a feasible method of analyzing joint contact mechanics.This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.Applied sciencesThesisopenAccess