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BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional finite element simulation analysis of human body is widely used in human biomechanical research because of its own superiority, but the assignment of bone material properties has not been definitive. OBJECTIVE: To explore a more practical method of material attribute assignment by conducting finite element analysis of ankle joint biomechanics. METHODS: Three-dimensional reconstruction of the ankle joint CT data from a normal male volunteer was performed and underwent surface fitting. Then the finite element model was meshed, and the two methods of uniform assignment and gray value assignment were used to give the material properties of bones. The biomechanical response of the ankle joint in five working conditions: double leg standing, single foot standing, normal gait, upstairs and downstairs were simulated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In the five working conditions, the peak stress of body of talus in the uniformity group was obviously higher than that in the gray value assignment group. The stress value of the fibular joint surface was similar in the two methods. (2) In the uniform assignment group, the stress distribution was concentrated and the distribution area was narrow in the talar neck. The gray value assignment group had a uniform stress distribution at the talar neck and the distribution area covered the entire talar neck. (3) The tibial deformation was greater than fibula in the uniform assignment group, and the fibula deformation was greater than tibia in the gray value assignment group. (4) The uniform assignment group was larger than the gray value assignment group in the difference between the deformation of the tibia and the fibula. (5) In summary, in the finite element analysis of the ankle joint biomechanics, the gray value assignment method is more in line with the clinical actual situation, which has high accuracy and can solve the modeling error caused by the individual difference to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]