This study aims to establish a multi-segment foot model which can be applied in dynamic gait simulation. The effectiveness and practicability of this model were verified afterwards by comparing simulation results with those of previous researches. Based on a novel hybrid dynamic gait simulator, bone models were imported into automatic dynamic analysis of mechanical systems (ADAMS). Then, they were combined with ligaments, fascia, muscle and plantar soft tissue that were developed in ADMAS. Multi-segment foot model was consisted of these parts. Experimental data of human gait along with muscle forces and tendon forces from literature were used to drive the model and perform gait simulation. Ground reaction forces and joints revolution angles obtained after simulation were compared with those of previous researches to validate this model. It showed that the model developed in this paper could be used in the dynamic gait simulation and would be able to be applied in the further research.
Utilized coefficient of friction (UCOF), which is calculated with ground reaction forces (GRF), is an effective factor to predict the possibility of slip. For researching the UCOF values of different turning strategies and then predicting the possibility of slip, this study selected 10 healthy young men to perform straight walking and 60° and 90° turning using two turning strategies (step turning and spin turning). ATMI force plate was used to collect the data of GRF, and then the UCOF values of different walking conditions were calculated. The study showed that difference of the medial-lateral force in different walking conditions was great; the slip possibility of turning was significantly greater than that of straight walking. For spin turn, turning angle had no significant effect on peak UCOF values. For step turn, the propulsive force decreased with the increase of turning angle, which caused a result that the peak UCOF values of 60° turn were significantly greater than that for 90° turn. This suggests that turning angle had little effect on possibility of slip of spin turning but great effect on that of step turning, and the greater angle led smaller possibility of slip.