Breast Implant Modeling using FEA in ABAQUS --- How to ??? Your Ideas

[cdeepakroy]

Hello,

I come from a computer science background and hence I am new to both
finite element analysis and ABAQUS.

GOAL ---- I want to study the deformation/change in the shape of a
breast implant under the action of gravity.

According to the shape, Breast implants are of two types:

1. Round Implants -- These are like a hemispherical membrane/balloon
filled with saline solution.

2. Anatomic Implants --- These resemble the shape of the breast more
closely.

The material used for the membrane enclosing the saline solution can
vary and can be assumed to be of rubber-like material for now.

Initially i am only trying to model the round implants.

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS: The back planar surface of the implant should
be completely fixed (ENCASTRE) from any deformation.

I am wondering of what is the correct way to model this problem and
your ideas and sugegstions would be greatly appreciated ...

WHAT I HAVE DONE:

I already have developed an application in C++/OpenGL in which i have
modelled the shape of the breast implant. It allows me to
interactively create various shapes for the breast implants.

From here i get a Triangular Surface Mesh, and i want to use FEA to
determine the change in the shape of this Triangular Surface Mesh
under the action of gravity (when filled completely with saline
solution).

I can convert this to a solid mesh with tetrahedral elements using an
open source mesh generator if a solid mesh is needed.

Your ideas would be greatly appreciated ....

Thanks in advance ....

Regards,

Deepak