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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
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Design and evaluation of a novel bioinspired prosthetic foot for running applications in lower limb amputees

Noor K. Faheed1* ,  Rasha Abdul-Hassan Issa2 ,  Qahtan A. Hamad3 ,  Maryam J. Jaafar1 ,  Mahmood S. Mahmood4
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1 Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Misan, Amarah, Iraq
2 Department of Construction and Projects, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Baghdad, Iraq
3 Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Misan, Amarah, Iraq
BMT, 00016 https://doi.org/10.12336/bmt.25.00016
Submitted: 11 April 2025 | Revised: 25 May 2025 | Accepted: 26 May 2025 | Published: 8 July 2025
Copyright © 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike 4.0 License.
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Abstract

With the rise in transtibial and transfemoral amputations, the number of athletic amputees has steadily increased. This study aims to develop an alternative prosthetic foot for the lower limb to address the limitations of conventional prosthetic designs and better meet user requirements. The proposed prosthetic foot offers a promising solution by incorporating cost-effective materials and mechanisms. The primary objective is to create a prosthetic device suitable for sports activities – particularly running – allowing lower limb amputees to participate in endurance sports using mechanically enhanced limbs that closely mimic the function and characteristics of natural biological limbs. The mechanical and miscibility properties of the prosthetic foot were evaluated through experimental, theoretical, and numerical approaches. Polyester matrix laminates reinforced with both natural and synthetic fibers were fabricated using a vacuum-assisted system and subjected to tensile, hardness, bending, fatigue, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy tests. To assess loading behavior and user comfort, force plate measurements during the gait cycle provided insight into ground reaction forces, moments, and abutment interface pressures, supplemented by F-Socket testing. Finite element analysis was used to determine the distribution of safety factors, strain energy, total deformation, and equivalent von Mises stress and strain. Laminates reinforced with hybrid glass, carbon, and linen fibers demonstrated optimal tensile strength, bending resistance, fatigue performance, and hardness. FTIR spectroscopy analysis further indicated significant interaction between the fibers and the resin. Gait cycle analysis revealed that the prosthesis made from composites reinforced with carbon, glass, and linen fibers exhibited superior comfort, with a maximum applied force of 610 N and acceptable interface pressure values – making it suitable for prosthetic applications. In conclusion, the selected materials meet established safety standards, confirming their suitability for prosthetic foot design. This study underscores the orthopedic potential of biodegradable materials and highlights advancements in biomedical engineering through enhanced biocompatibility and durability.

Keywords
Amputation
Biomaterials
Finite element methodology
Foot; Sport prosthetics
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The researchers declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest concerning this publication.
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