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Cyclic compressive loading results in fatigue cracks in ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
Author(s) -
Pruitt L.,
Koo J.,
Rimnac C. M.,
Suresh S.,
Wright T. M.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100130121
Subject(s) - materials science , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , ultra high molecular weight polyethylene , polyethylene , fracture (geology) , compressive strength , cyclic stress , fatigue limit , fatigue testing , paris' law , fracture mechanics , crack closure
Wear damage to the articulating surfaces of total joint components made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is associated with a fatigue fracture mechanism, despite the fact that these surfaces are subjected to primarily compressive and compressive‐tensile cyclic stresses. The question arises as to whether fatigue cracks will form under such loading conditions. In this study, we experimentally demonstrated that fatigue cracks could be initiated and propagated in notched ultra high molecular weight polyethylene specimens subjected to fully compressive and compressive‐tensile cyclic loading. Under these loading conditions, growth of fatigue cracks was limited: the cracks arrested without catastrophic failure of the test specimens. The final length of the crack was dependent on the load ratio of the fatigue cycle; fatigue cracks propagated to greater lengths as the load ratio was increased.