Stress analysis in single molar tooth

The human tooth faces different stresses under environments of different loading conditions, these loading produces major factors in weakness of the tooth and bone structure. The need to save natural teeth has prompted the development of novel and complex techniques in endodontology, prosthodontics and periodontology. Despite a poor long-term prognosis and some prejudice to local bone, considerable efforts have been exerted for the realization of these techniques. Nowadays, the 3D finite element analysis (FEA) is one of the more recently used techniques for stress analysis in single human tooth under different loading cases. The von Mises stress distribution indicated that the greatest effort area of tooth lies at the base of crown up to the gingival line with varying intensities in the different loading cases. The highest stress in the cortical bone was predominantly found around the cervical region of the tooth and lowest in the cancellous bone and periodontal ligament (PDL). The PDL is a soft tissue, and it could function as an intermediate cushion element which absorbs the impact force and uniformly transfers the occlusal forces into the surrounding bone.     

Stress analysis in bone tissue around single implants with different diameters and veneering materials: A 3-D finite element study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution on bone tissue with a single prosthesis supported by implants of large and conventional diameter and presenting different veneering materials using the 3-D finite element method. Sixteen models were fabricated to reproduce a bone block with implants, using two diameters (3.75 × 10 mm and 5.00 × 10 mm), four different veneering materials (composite resin, acrylic resin, porcelain, and NiCr crown), and two loads (axial (200 N) and oblique (100 N)). For data analysis, the maximum principal stress and von Mises criterion were used. For the axial load, the cortical bone in all models did not exhibit significant differences, and the trabecular bone presented higher tensile stress with reduced implant diameter. For the oblique load, the cortical bone presented a significant increase in tensile stress on the same side as the loading for smaller implant diameters. The trabecular bone showed a similar but more discreet trend. There was no difference in bone tissue with different veneering materials. The veneering material did not influence the stress distribution in the supporting tissues of single implant-supported prostheses. The large-diameter implants improved the transference of occlusal loads to bone tissue and decreased stress mainly under oblique loads. Oblique loading was more detrimental to distribution stresses than axial loading.     

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Prosthetic Finger Joint Implants

The purpose of this study was to develop high resolution three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models of the Swanson^® (No. 2) and NeuFlex^® (No. 10) joint implants to: simulate implant function; evaluate stress distributions and bending stiffness of these implants; and assess their comparative potential for fracture and range of motion (ROM) in flexion and extension. Geometric representations of the implants accurate to within 20 μm were achieved using digital laser imaging technology. Images were transferred to ANSYS 5.7 using appropriate interfacing software and 3D FE models of the implants were constructed. Hyperelastic material properties of the silicone elastomers were derived experimentally from uniaxial tensile tests on implant sections. Both implants experienced maximum von Mises stresses at 90° of flexion and minimum stresses at the neutral position of flexion (Swanson: 0°, NeuFlex: 30°). Within the reported functional ROM (33°–73°), the NeuFlex implant exhibited lower maximum von Mises stress and bending stiffness than the Swanson. The Swanson implant, which has a straight hinge, exhibited lower peak stresses and bending stiffness than the NeuFlex for flexion less than 20°. Areas of high von Mises stress for the Swanson implant included the stem–hinge junction and the peripheral zone of the body of the hinge, corresponding to clinical reports of fractures. In the NeuFlex implant, the maximum stress occurred on the dorsal surface of the hinge. Bending stiffness of the NeuFlex implant was modelled to be substantially less than that of the Swanson throughout the functional ROM (33°–73° of flexion). The resting position of the Swanson implant is at 0° of flexion. A moment was required to extend the NeuFlex implant from 30° to 0° of flexion. These results suggest that the NeuFlex may potentially facilitate flexion of the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint, whereas the Swanson may promote a more extended position of the joint.     

Material selection in the design of the tibia tray component of cemented artificial knee using finite element method

Aseptic loosening of the tibial component; which may be caused by mechanical stress shielding in the bone and may require revision surgery; is the primary concern of total knee replacement (TKR). The stiffness of the implant material had a marked influence on the stresses developed in the constituents and surrounding bones of the artificial knee and then will affect the bone stress shielding. Therefore, the functionally graded materials had been developed as a potential tibia tray material of TKR due to its improved capability of stress distribution. In the current investigation two dimensional finite element models have been developed to study bone and interface stresses for six different tibial prothesises (titanium, CoCrMo and four functional graded materials “FGM” models). The utilization of FGM tibia tray with elastic modulus changing gradually in vertical direction downwardly showed a favorable stress distribution outcome. Furthermore, the results has revealed that the FGM tibia tray will reduce the stress shielding in the surrounding bones of the artificial knee which will increase the life of the total knee prosthesis.     

Microstructural modelling of grain-boundary stresses in Alloy 600

The stress distribution in a random polycrystalline material (Alloy 600) was studied using a topologically correct microstructural model. The distributions of von Mises and hydrostatic stresses, which could be important factors when studying the intergranular stress corrosion cracking, at the grain vertices were analysed as a function of microstructure, grain orientations and loading conditions. The grain size, shape, and orientation had a more pronounced effect on stress distribution than the loading conditions. The stress concentration factor was higher for hydrostatic stress (1.7) than for von Mises stress (1.5). Hydrostatic stress showed more pronounced dependence on the disorientation angle than von Mises stress. The observed stress concentration is high enough to cause localized plastic microdeformation, even when the polycrystalline aggregate is in the macroscopic elastic regime. The modelling of stresses and strains in polycrystalline materials can identify the microstructures (grain-size distributions, texture) intrinsically susceptible to stress/strain concentrations and justify the correctness of applied stress state during the stress corrosion cracking tests.     

Direct metal fabrication of titanium implants with tailored materials and mechanical properties using electron beam melting technology

The design of custom or tailored implant components has been the subject of research and development for decades. However, the economic feasibility of fabricating such components has proven to be a challenge. New direct metal fabrication technologies such as Electron Beam Melting (EBM) have opened up new possibilities. This paper discusses the design and fabrication of titanium implant components having tailored mechanical properties that mimic the stiffness of bone to reduce stress shielding and bone remodeling. Finite Element Analysis was used to design the tailored structures, and results were verified using mechanical testing.     

Design optimization of functionally graded dental implant for bone remodeling

Despite a great success, one of the key issues facing in dental implantation clinic is a mismatch of mechanical properties between engineered and native biomaterials, which makes osseointegration and bone remodeling problematical. Functionally Graded Material (FGM) has been proposed as a potential upgrade to some conventional implant materials like titanium for selection in prosthetic dentistry. The idea of FGM dental implant is that the property would vary in a certain pattern to match the biomechanical characteristics required at different regions in the hosting bone. However, mating properties do not necessarily guarantee the best osseointegration and bone remodeling. No existing report has been available to develop an optimal design of FGM dental implant for promoting a long-term success. This paper aims to explore this critical issue by using the computational bone remodeling and design optimization. A buccal–lingual sectional model, which consists of a single unit implant and four other adjacent teeth, was constructed from computerized tomography (CT) scan images. Bone remodeling induced by use of various FGM dental implants is calculated over the period of 4 years. Based upon remodeling results, response surface method (RSM) is adopted to develop a multi-objective optimal design for FGM implantation FGM designs.     

Investigation of elastic stresses in an adhesively bonded single lap joint with functionally graded adherends in tension

In this study three-dimensional elastic stress state of an adhesively bonded single lap joint with functionally graded adherends in tension was investigated. The adherends compose of a functionally gradient layer between a pure ceramic (Al₂O₃) layer and a pure metal (Ni) layer. Stress concentrations are observed along the free edges of the adhesive layer and through the corresponding zones in the upper and lower adherends. The adhesive layer experiences stress concentrations along the left and right free edges in the horizontal plane, and the normal stresses and the shear stress σ_xy are critical. Whereas the middle overlap region has a uniform low stress distribution the zones in the upper adherend corresponding to the left free edge of the adhesive layer and the zones in the lower adherend corresponding to the right free edge of the adhesive layer are subjected to higher stresses. The normal stress σ_xx among the normal stresses and the shear stress σ_xy among the shear stresses are dominant in both upper and lower adherends. The normal stress σ_xx changes uniformly from compression in the ceramic layer to tension in the metal layer through the upper plate-thickness and from tension in the ceramic layer to compression in the metal layer through the lower plate-thickness. In the adhesive layer, the normal stress σ_yy becomes peak at the left free edge of the upper adherend–adhesive interface and at the right free edge of the lower adherend–adhesive interface and then decreases uniformly across the adhesive layer towards the other adherend–adhesive interface. The functionally gradient region across the adherend thickness was modelled using the layers with the mechanical properties calculated based on the power law. However, a layer number larger than 20 has a minor effect on the through-thickness profiles and magnitudes of von Mises and normal stresses in both the adherends and the adhesive. In addition, increasing the ceramic phase in the material composition (compositional gradient exponent n) of the functionally gradient region does not affect the through-thickness profiles of von Mises and normal stresses in the adherends and adhesive whereas their magnitudes in the ceramic rich layer of both adherends and along the adherend–adhesive interfaces increase considerably. On the contrary, the layer number and compositional gradient exponent have an evident effect on the through-thickness profiles and magnitudes of the critical stress components in the adherends and adhesive layer of the functionally graded adhesively bonded joints.     

Analytical modeling of bone-cement interface and failure prediction

Artificial joint replacement is becoming increasingly important in orthopedics. Several hundreds of thousands of operations, especially of the hip joint, have already been performed. The design of such joints depends largely on how accurately they can be modeled analytically such that their load transmission characteristics can be determined. One of the most critical areas of investigation is the interface existing between bone and implant in the orthopedic prostheses applications. This investigation examines the effect of varying modulus between bone and cement (PMMA) on the failure of the joint. An energy criterion is used rather than the stress criteria normally applied in the open literature.

The results of the present study show that the modulus variation within the interface can have a significant influence on the stress and energy fields in the region near a material interface. It is found that if the interface modulus has a gradual variation, the predicted stress fields resemble those with a single material interface model which has a higher (stiffer) average modulus. The interface modulus variation and average modulus are shown to have a significant effect on the predicted location and onset of failure which is of primary interest. The present modeling scheme is intended to demonstrate some of the effects which might locally be found near the bone and cement interface in a prosthetic joint.     

Influence of a Retaining Ring on Strain and Stress in the Chemical Mechanical Polishing Process

In this article, a two-dimensional axisymmetric quasi-static finite element wafer scale model for chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process involved in the wafer carrier, the carrier film, the wafer, the pad, and the retaining ring was developed to investigate the effect of a retaining ring surrounding the wafer carrier to the strain, stress, and nonuniformity of the wafer surface for the purpose of improving edge exclusion of wafer and preventing the wafer sliding from the carrier while grinding. Considering the same revolutions of the wafer and the pad and the axisymmetric distributed force forms of the wafer carrier and the retaining ring, and applying the principle of minimum potential energy, a two-dimensional axisymmetric quasi-static finite element model for CMP process was established. Following the developed model, the effects of the retaining ring on the strain components, the stress components, the von Mises stress, and the wafer's nonuniformity were investigated. The findings indicated that a retaining ring installed in the conventional CMP mechanism could reduce the variation of the von Mises stress distribution to reach the lower wafer's nonuniformity effectively, improve the over-grinding phenomenon and prevent the wafer sliding from the carrier while grinding.     

Two scale meshfree method for the adaptivity of 3-D stress concentration problems

 In this study, a meshfree method called Reproducing Kernel Particle Method (RKPM) with an inherent characteristic of multi-resolution is modified to develop structural analysis algorithm using two scales. The shape function of RKPM is decomposed into two scales, high and low. The two scale decomposition is incorporated into linear elastic formulation to obtain high and low scale components of von Mises stresses. The advantage of using this algorithm is that the high scale component of von Mises stress indicates the high stress gradient regions without posteriori estimation. This algorithm is applied to the analysis of 2- and 3-dimensional stress concentration problems. It is important to note that the two scale analysis method has been applied to 3-dimensional stress concentration problem for the very first time. Also, the possibility of applying this algorithm to adaptive refinement technique is studied. The proposed method is verified by analyzing typical 2- and 3-dimensional linear elastic stress concentration problems. The results show that the algorithm can effectively locate the high stress concentration regions and can be utilized as an efficient indicator for the adaptive refinement technique. Received 10 January 2000     

Analysis of the effect of load direction on the stress distribution in dental implant

In this work, the finite element method is used to compute the distribution of stresses in dental prosthesis. The stress analysis is particularly focused at the interface bone–implant in different positions: distal zone, medial zone and proximal zone of these components. The effects of the intensity and the direction of loading on the stress variation were highlighted.     

Evaluation of the stress distribution in CFR-PEEK dental implants by the three-dimensional finite element method

CFR-PEEK (carbon fiber reforced—poly ether ether ketone) has been demonstrated to be excellent substitute titanium in orthopedic applications and can be manufactured with many physical, mechanical, and surface properties, in several shapes. The aim of this study was to compare, using the three-dimensional finite element method, the stress distribution in the peri-implant support bone of distinct models composed of PEEK components and implants reinforced with 30% carbon fiber (30% CFR-PEEK) or titanium. In simulations with a perfect bonding between the bone and the implant, the 30% CFR-PEEK presented higher stress concentration in the implant neck and the adjacent bone, due to the decreased stiffness and higher deformation in relation to the titanium. However, 30% CFR-PEEK implants and components did not exhibit any advantages in relation to the stress distribution compared to the titanium implants and components.     

A finite-element model study of occlusal schemes in full-arch implant restoration

A three-dimensional finite-element model of a human mandible is presented, and the stresses and deformations computed for loading states induced by two different gnathologic reconstructions using six and four implants are discussed. Occlusal canine guidance and posterior and anterior group functions on cantilevered and distally supported prostheses have been simulated. The stress distributions generated by the different loading conditions on either the osseointegrated prosthesis or the bone tissue surrounding the implants are described. The analysis of the stress distribution on the working side reveals that the posterior group function undergoes a reduction in stress intensity on the cortical bone surrounding the implants (especially for the distal implant) compared with the anterior group function and canine guidance in both gnathologic reconstructions. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

Hip Fracture Risk Assessment Based on Different Failure Criteria Using QCT-Based Finite Element Modeling

Precise evaluation of hip fracture risk leads to reduce hip fracture occurrence in individuals and assist to check the effect of a treatment. A subject-specific QCT-based finite element model is introduced to evaluate hip fracture risk using the strain energy, von-Mises stress, and von-Mises strain criteria during the single-leg stance and the sideways fall configurations. Choosing a proper failure criterion in hip fracture risk assessment is very important. The aim of this study is to define hip fracture risk index using the strain energy, von Mises stress, and von Mises strain criteria and compare the calculated fracture risk indices using these criteria at the critical regions of the femur. It is found that based on these criteria, the hip fracture risk at the femoral neck and the intertrochanteric region is higher than other parts of the femur, probably due to the larger amount of cancellous bone in these regions. The study results also show that the strain energy criterion gives more reasonable assessment of hip fracture risk based on the bone failure mechanism and the von-Mises strain criterion is more conservative than two other criteria and leads to higher estimate of hip fracture risk indices.     

Stress distribution modeling for interference-fit area of each individual layer around composite laminates joint

The discussion about nonuniform stress distribution around interference-fit joint is particular significance in the design of composite laminates structures. In order to investigate the stress distribution of interference-fit area around composite laminates joint, an analytical model is developed for stress distribution based on the Lekhnitskii's complex potential theory. The normal and tangential stresses of contact are achieved by the relationship of deformation between pin and hole. The effects of ply orientation and interference percentage on stress components distributions of each individual layer around symmetrical laminates joint are discussed. In order to verify the validity of the analytical model, extensive 3D finite element models are established to simulate the stress components of laminates interference-fit joint. The results show that the analytical model is valid, and the laminate property and ply orientation have a significant effect on stress distribution trend while interference percentage mainly affects stress magnitude.     

Improved mechanical long-term reliability of hip resurfacing prostheses by using silicon nitride

Although ceramic prostheses have been successfully used in conventional total hip arthroplasty (THA) for many decades, ceramic materials have not yet been applied for hip resurfacing (HR) surgeries. The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanical reliability of silicon nitride as a new ceramic material in HR prostheses. A finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to study the effects of two different designs of prostheses on the stress distribution in the femur–neck area. A metallic (cobalt–chromium-alloy) Birmingham hip resurfacing (BHR) prosthesis and our newly designed ceramic (silicon nitride) HR prosthesis were hereby compared. The stresses induced by physiologically loading the femur bone with an implant were calculated and compared with the corresponding stresses for the healthy, intact femur bone. Here, we found stress distributions in the femur bone with the implanted silicon nitride HR prosthesis which were similar to those of healthy, intact femur bone. The lifetime predictions showed that silicon nitride is indeed mechanically reliable and, thus, is ideal for HR prostheses. Moreover, we conclude that the FEA and corresponded post-processing can help us to evaluate a new ceramic material and a specific new implant design with respect to the mechanical reliability before clinical application.     

Numerical investigation of the effect of porous titanium femoral prosthesis on bone remodeling

Porous titanium is a promising orthopedic implant material. As a potential use in total hip replacement, the effect of a porous titanium femoral prosthesis on bone remodeling is investigated in this paper. The stress and strain fields of a post-operative femur with a hip replacement are calculated by applying the three-dimensional finite element method. The effect of the implant material on the bone remodeling is evaluated by analyzing the loss of bone density following a strain magnitude based bone remodeling theory. Different implant materials, including currently used solid cobalt–chrome and solid titanium, potential porous titanium with different porosities, are considered in this study. This investigation confirms that bone loss around the implant strongly depends on the value of the elastic modulus of the prosthesis. There will be a sharp drop of the volume of the bone with density loss if a cobalt–chrome implant is replaced by a porous titanium implant. The numerical results show that both of the bone volume with density loss and the bone density loss rate decrease linearly with the increase of the porosity. However, increasing porosity will reduce the strength of porous titanium. With regard to material design for porous titanium-based femoral prosthesis, stress analysis is required to meet the strength requirement.     

An extension of Gurson model incorporating interface stresses effects

The classical Gurson model for ductile porous media is extended to incorporate the surface/interface stresses effect at the nano-scale. For capillary forces, the yield surface is shown to be obtained by a mere translation of Gurson one. For interface stresses obeying a von Mises criterion, the parametric equations of the yield surface are derived. The magnitude of the interface effect is proved to be controlled by a non dimensional parameter depending on the voids characteristic size.