Prosthetic Leg Analysis
Project Proposal
Max Willer
Summary
• The use of prosthetics in main stream sport applications is on the rise
• In some cases, athletes with prosthetics are at an advantage to those
without
• A famous example is the Flex Foot Cheetah prosthetic, which has
been reported to be more energy efficient than the human ankle.
• The Flex Foot is designed just for forward motion
• I’m looking to analyze the forces in this kind of lower leg prosthetic
for tennis and sports that require lateral (side to side) movements
Requirements
• Prosthetic needs to have the ability to mimic
ankle inversion and eversion to keep the
bottom friction surface facing down
• Prosthetic needs to be able to withstand the
greater forces seen by full side to side leg
forces
• Prosthetic needs to be able to withstand twist
about the lower leg axis
Design
• Design of the actual Flex Foot is
proprietary
• Study permutations of prosthetic
design that will satisfy requirements
• X-ply composite, with X-X-X fiber layer
directions
Additional Information
• Use of traction studies in shoe material
to illustrate the load condition
requirements on the prosthetic
• Additional look at stopping forces in
front direction
References