Dynamic Analysis of a High-Performance Prosthetic Leg: Experimental Characterisation and Numerical Modelling

In recent years, significant improvements in the design of leg blade prosthetics have been carried out. After several advances in material and topological optimisations, sport-purpose feet prosthetics have reached high-level performances, allowing athletes with limb loss to participate in various sport activities at a competitive level. Since the knowledge of prosthetic mechanical behaviour is crucial for its optimal design, specific studies are required to meet the anthropometric characteristics of the athlete. This research work is focused on investigating the dynamic behaviour of a running blade prosthetic and developing a validated prosthetic model, placing particular emphasis on the definition of suitable material properties. An experimental modal analysis is performed on the Cheetah Xcel, ossur lower limb prosthetic. In contrast with what has already been presented in the literature, a roving hummer test under free-free conditions is proposed here to avoid the uncertainties due to constraint conditions. For the first time, blade prosthetic dynamic characteristics in free-free conditions are presented. Additionally, a novel Finite Element model of the prosthetic is developed and tuned on the basis of the experimental results. The modal assurance criterion index is exploited to compare experimental and numerical mode shapes. Starting from frequency response functions, the first six mode shapes are experimentally identified in the frequency range up to 750 Hz, including both bending and torsion. As expected, the bending in the vertical plane constitutes the primary mode shape: this kind of flexion enhances energy storage, enabling athletes to achieve an optimal running gait. This study shows the dynamic modal behaviour of a lower limb prosthetic in free-free conditions and demonstrates that a traditional isotropic material is not suitable in describing its dynamic features. The development of a model that exploits orthotropic material properties improves the alignment between experimental and numerical outcomes. This result is in agreement with the material composition of the prosthetic, which consists of carbon fibre layers.