Ultrasonic wave propagation in cancellous bone using Voronoi tessellation and elastodynamic finite integration technique

This study investigates ultrasonic wave propagation in cancellous bone using a numerical framework that combines Voronoi tessellation with the Elastodynamic Finite Integration Technique (EFIT). The proposed approach enables the generation of controlled trabecular-like microstructures while accounting for variations in porosity, seed density, trabecular thickness, and structural discontinuities. A two-dimensional computational model is employed as an initial framework to analyze the influence of microstructural parameters on fast and slow ultrasonic wave propagation under controlled conditions. The results demonstrate that porosity and trabecular network continuity significantly affect wave behavior, with increasing porosity leading to reduced fast-wave amplitude and velocity, while the slow-wave amplitude increases and its velocity remains relatively stable. These trends are consistent with previously reported theoretical predictions and experimental observations of ultrasonic propagation in cancellous bone. The proposed Voronoi-EFIT framework provides a computational approach for studying the relationship between trabecular microstructure and ultrasonic response, offering a valuable basis for quantitative ultrasound modeling and future investigations involving three-dimensional bone architectures.