Biomechanical study of a drop foot brace

A person specific drop foot brace was simulated in the commercial finite element code Abaqus.The geometry was imported from a 3D optical scan of the actual surface and modeled as a composite material layup defined in a local discrete material coordinate system. The finite
element model was used in order to model the stance phase in a normal walking. The material
choice is a challenging task giving flexibility to the brace together with sufficiently stiffness and
fatigue strength. The simulation has been compared with measurements from a strain gauge
mounted foot brace tested in use. Based on simulations, a large number of expensive trial and
error iterations can be avoided. Simulations show a strong geometry interaction with the loading of the material.