Sensitivity of Finite Element Models to Relationship Between T2 Relaxation and Modulus in Articular Cartilage

Correlating articular cartilage material properties to quantitative magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers is a powerful approach to biofidelic finite element models. However, subject-specific relationships between imaging biomarkers such as T2 and material properties like dynamic modulus are uncertain. To evaluate the sensitivity of finite element models to this uncertainty, we shifted the slope and intercept of a linear T2-dynamic modulus relationship used to define cartilage properties. Modulus shifts led to notable percent changes in the top 1% of calculated stress and strain while modulating slope had a negligible impact, together supporting the use of physiologically relevant moduli ranges in subject-specific models.