Case Study: Smith & Nephew achieves accurate in vivo knee implant contact modeling and wear prediction with Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA (Abaqus)

Analyzes replacement joints with SIMULIA

Smith & Nephew, through its European Centre for Knee Research, faced the challenge of accurately simulating total knee arthroplasty kinematics and the interactions between biological tissues and implant materials to improve mobility, longevity and patient outcomes. To address this they used Abaqus unified FEA from Dassault Systemes’ SIMULIA brand to model patient-specific motions and material behavior that videofluoroscopy alone could not reveal.

Dassault Systemes’ Abaqus FEA allowed Smith & Nephew to validate highly accurate contact-point predictions, including the first in vivo analysis of the femoral cam–tibial post, producing smoother and more consistent contact patterns that informed design refinements and surgical guidance. The simulation work yielded measurable impact—enabling virtual wear testing that simulated five years of walking in under a week—and helped accelerate development cycles and improve confidence in implant performance.

Smith & Nephew

Bernardo Innocenti

Lead Project Manager for Numerical Kinematics