scholarly journals Viscoelastic material models for more accurate polyethylene wear estimation

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 302-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gioacchino Alotta ◽  
Olga Barrera ◽  
Elise C Pegg
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Viscoelastic Material ◽  
Polyethylene Wear ◽  
Material Model ◽  
Elastoplastic Material ◽  
Material Behaviour ◽  
Material Models ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight ◽  
Implant Wear

Wear debris from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene components used for joint replacement prostheses can cause significant clinical complications, and it is essential to be able to predict implant wear accurately in vitro to prevent unsafe implant designs continuing to clinical trials. The established method to predict wear is simulator testing, but the significant equipment costs, experimental time and equipment availability can be prohibitive. It is possible to predict implant wear using finite element methods, though those reported in the literature simplify the material behaviour of polyethylene and typically use linear or elastoplastic material models. Such models cannot represent the creep or viscoelastic material behaviour and may introduce significant error. However, the magnitude of this error and the importance of this simplification have never been determined. This study compares the volume of predicted wear from a standard elastoplastic model, to a fractional viscoelastic material model. Both models have been fitted to the experimental data. Standard tensile tests in accordance with ISO 527-3 and tensile creep recovery tests were performed to experimentally characterise both (a) the elastoplastic parameters and (b) creep and relaxation behaviour of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Digital image correlation technique was used in order to measure the strain field. The predicted wear with the two material models was compared for a finite element model of a mobile-bearing unicompartmental knee replacement, and wear predictions were made using Archard’s law. The fractional viscoelastic material model predicted almost ten times as much wear compared to the elastoplastic material representation. This work quantifies, for the first time, the error introduced by use of a simplified material model in polyethylene wear predictions, and shows the importance of representing the viscoelastic behaviour of polyethylene for wear predictions.

Derivation of the material models for ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene fiber-reinforced armor-grade composites with different architectures

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mica Grujicic ◽  
Jennifer Snipes ◽  
S. Ramaswami ◽  
Vasudeva Avuthu ◽  
Chian-Fong Yen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Fiber Reinforcement ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Transverse Impact ◽  
Material Models ◽  
Polyethylene Fiber ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight

Purpose To overcome the problem of inferior through-the-thickness mechanical properties displayed by armor-grade composites based on 2-D reinforcement architectures, armor-grade composites based on 3D fiber-reinforcement architectures have recently been investigated experimentally. Design/methodology/approach The subject of the present work is armor-grade composite materials reinforced using ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers and having four (two 2D and two 3D) prototypical architectures, as well as the derivation of the corresponding material models. The effect of the reinforcement architecture is accounted for by constructing the appropriate unit cells (within which the constituent materials and their morphologies are represented explicitly) and subjecting them to a series of virtual mechanical tests. The results obtained are used within a post-processing analysis to derive and parameterize the corresponding homogenized-material models. One of these models (specifically, the one for 0°/90° cross-collimated fiber architecture) was directly validated by comparing its predictions with the experimental counterparts. The other models are validated by examining their physical soundness and details of their predictions. Lastly, the models are integrated as user-material subroutines, and linked with a commercial finite-element package, in order to carry out a transient non-linear dynamics analysis of ballistic transverse impact of armor-grade composite-material panels with different reinforcement architectures. Findings It is found that the reinforcement architecture plays a critical role in the overall ballistic limit of the armor panel, as well as in its structural and damage/failure response. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first reported attempt to assess, computationally, the utility and effectiveness of 3D fiber-reinforcement architectures for ballistic impact applications.

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Wear Debris Generated in Vivo and in Laboratory Tests; the Influence of Counterface Roughness

1996 ◽  
Vol 210 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
J L Hailey ◽  
E Ingham ◽  
M Stone ◽  
B M Wroblewski ◽  
J Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Wear Debris ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Polyethylene Wear ◽  
Uhmwpe Wear ◽  
Major Variable ◽  
Ultra High Molecular Weight ◽  
Counterface Roughness

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of counterface roughness and lubricant on the morphology of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear debris generated in laboratory wear tests, and to compare this with debris isolated from explanted tissue. Laboratory tests used UHMWPE pins sliding against stainless steel counterfaces. Both water and serum lubricants were used in conjunction with rough and smooth counterfaces. The lubricants and tissue from revision hip surgery were processed to digest the proteins and permit filtration. This involved denaturing the proteins with potassium hydroxide (KOH), sedimentation of any remaining proteins, and further digestion of these proteins with chromic acid. All fractions were then passed through a 0.2 μm membrane, and the debris examined using scanning electron microscopy. The laboratory studies showed that the major variable influencing debris morphology was counterface roughness. The rougher counter-faces produced larger numbers of smaller particles, with a size range extending below 1 μm. For smooth counterfaces there were fewer of these small particles, and evidence of larger platelets, greater than 10 μm in diameter. Analysis of the debris from explanted tissues showed a wide variation in the particle size distribution, ranging from below 1 μm up to several millimetres in size. Of major clinical significance in relation to osteolysis and loosening is roughening of the femoral components, which may lead to greater numbers of the sub-micron-sized particles.

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