Finite Element Analysis of Shock Absorption of Porous Soles Established by Grasshopper and UG Secondary Development

Abstract

On the basis of computer aided modeling technology, this paper proposes a porous structure modeling method based on Grasshopper visual programming language and Unigraphics NX (UG) secondary development platform. The finite element model of the foot was established, and then models of shoe soles with four basic porous structures of cross, diamond, star, and x were established. Each structure was set with a cylindrical radius of 1, 2, and 3 mm, and a total of 12 porous structure sole models were established. The shock absorption effect of the sole on the foot was evaluated by the deformation of the sole, the peak plantar pressure, and the peak stress of metatarsal bones. It is found that the maximum value of the sole deformation of the diamond porous sole is 4.725 mm, the peak plantar pressure is 105.1 Pa, and the first and second metatarsal peak pressures are 2.230 MPa and 3.407 MPa, which have the best shock absorption effect. It shows that the porous structure plays an important role in the cushioning of the sole. The biomechanical effects of porous soles on feet are studied by computer-aided technology and finite element analysis. This study provides a new research method for the cushioning design of shoe soles and has important reference value for the design of footwear.

Physical Property of 3D-Printed N-Pointed Star-Shaped Outsole Prepared by FDM 3D Printer Using the Lightweight TPU

“…Normally, more extrusion time is required to produce a thicker specimen; the soft/hard segment was adjusted by applying heat; when the soft segment exceeded the hardness segment, the specimen was tuned to be softer to the touch with improved cushion properties; otherwise, the specimen was tuned to be harder in another case. The reduced hardness of 3DP TPU material has been reported to have strong mechanical characteristics [ 24 ]. In theory, the softness of the sole material can aid in enhancing the contact area with the floor surface, resulting in increased resistance and a lower chance of injury [ 15 ].…”

“…The physical properties, such as density [ 11 , 12 ], static compression [ 13 ], static/dynamic features of friction [ 14 ], abrasion [ 15 , 16 ], resilience [ 17 , 18 , 19 ], surface force, and plantal pressure [ 20 , 21 ], which mainly derive from the design geometry and material, offer comfort, safety, and effective gait to the foot. The outsole is the outmost part of the shoe, also known as the sole, the part directly in contact with the playground or floor surface; it is one of the basic footwear components and plays a role as a buffer layer of material between feet and ground, offering cushion and comfort to the feet of the end-user through shock absorbance [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Normally, the outsole is made of various materials and tread patterns, which were decided on depending on the shoe’s purpose.…”

A Review on Wearable Product Design and Applications

“…Liu et al [99] designed a shoe sole with an aim to achieve maximum absorption of ground vibrations. More specifically, using computational design, a form of sole was created with four different schematic structures (cross structure, diamond structure, star structure and X structure).…”

Product Design Trends within the Footwear Industry: A Review

“…Liu et al [23] introduced a novel approach to footwear design, specifically focusing on cushioning design for shoe soles. By leveraging new modeling technology and parametric software, they developed various models of elementary porous structures for shoe soles, each with distinct geometries and dimensions.…”