Keywords: finite element, modelling, biomechanics, skeletal muscle, fibers, muscle deformation.

During human locomotion the muscles are activated, as a result the skeletal muscles develop forces. The mechanisms that produce this force are still an open research topic. This lack of understanding has led to an underestimate of important properties in the mechanical models, such as the real distribution fibers in the muscle. This paper describes the influence of quantities (density) of fibers in the skeletal muscle during lengthening to generate force. To reproduce the mechanical behaviour of skeletal muscle a two-dimensional finite element model is implemented. It considers the active and passive non-linear mechanical behaviour of muscle during lengthening under dynamic conditions. The numerical algorithm used considers a simple finite element formulation based on position description and allows for the consideration of long fibers placed inside a continuum domain (passive). The passive properties are described by a hyperelastic constitutive material law. Numerical simulation of unipennate muscle is realized. The proposed model, with a more realistic distribution of fibers, is compared with a model widely used in the literature. Initial results show that the mechanical behavior is influenced by the fiber distribution.

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