Fatigue crack growth in locking compression plates. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sedmak, Aleksandar; Vučetić, Filip; Čolić, Katarina; Grbović, Aleksandar; Bozić, Željko; Sedmak, Simon; Lozanović Šajić, Jasmina
• Is Part Of: International journal of fatigue. Volume 157(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Fatigue Crack Growth -- Locking Compression Plates -- xFEM -- Ti-6Al-4V; Materials -- Fatigue -- Periodicals; Materials -- Fatigue; Periodicals; 620.1122
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2022.106727
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-1123

Abstract

Highlights: Comparison of fatigue life between LCP plates with different geometries. Numerical simulation of fatigue crack growth, through both depth and width. Increased body weights affect the number of cycles significantly, up to several times compared to the initial weight. A quick and reliable methodology for determining the behavior of LCP plates in the presence of a fatigue crack was developed. Abstract: Fatigue crack growth in orthopaedic locking compression plates (LCP), under four-point bending, has been simulated by the extended finite element method (xFEM) to assess LCP optimal geometry in respect to remaining life. Loads corresponded to those occurring in human tibia during gait cycle for different body weights (60, 90 and 120 kg). Experimental investigation consisted of tensile testing and fatigue crack growth rate testing of Ti-6Al-4 V alloy, as used for LCP, by standard testing using tensile testing machine and Fractomat, respectively. Results showed that the remaining life of LCPs strongly depend on plate geometry and patient body weight (load).