Numerical analysis of displacements in mandible bone: comparison of two types of test stands

Research of biological structures such as bones are important part of concern of nowadays engineering. Finite element method is commonly utilized tool in such analyses, alongside traditional laboratory tests. Increasingly frequent utilization of numerical methods results from the accuracy of their results, as well as the difficult access to real samples. An important aspect of every analysis is correct mimic of the boundary conditions. Due to the high complexity of the biological structures, many simplifications are introduced to the instrumentation systems. In the article is presented comparison of two test stands utilized in research of mandible bone. The first one recreates simplified load conditions, the second one, more precise, accurately mimics real working conditions. Comparison was performed basing on distribution of the displacement on the line situated around the bone. The displacement distribution indicates the differences between two stations. For the simplified one, symmetrical work of the mandible can be noticed, while in detailed system, there is significant difference in deformation on both sides of the mandible bone (up to 42%). The simplified measuring station could characterize by more reproducible results regardless of the considered mandible side. The results obtained from the detailed test station may be affected by an error resulting from the initial asymmetry of the model’s geometry.