I am thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research article, "Cyclic Flexural Fatigue of Porous Ti6Al4V Constructs for Use in Mandibular Reconstruction," in the International Journal of Fatigue, an Elsevier publication.
📖 Click on the photo to the left to access the full article (through your institution's credentials).
🔍 Study Overview:
Our research delves into the flexural fatigue properties of porous Ti6Al4V constructs, which are critical for mandibular bone replacement. These constructs were built using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and rigorously tested under cyclic flexural loading. Not only did we employ experimental methods, but we also developed and validated numerical models, using Simulia ABAQUS and FE-Safe, to predict the fatigue strength of these innovative constructs.
💡 Key Findings:
- The numerical models closely predicted the fatigue strength with only about a 10% deviation from experimental data.
- Fatigue strength of constructs with bone ingrowth showed remarkable improvement, doubling in strength, which could significantly enhance the longevity and durability of mandibular implants.
🚀 Implications:
This research not only advances our understanding of the mechanical properties of SLM-built constructs but also underscores the potential of numerical models in predicting long-term performance, offering a beacon of hope for maxillofacial and orthopaedic reconstruction.
👨🔬 Researchers involved in this article 👩🔬
The work here was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Amin Rizkalla at Western University, and co-authored by a multidisciplinary team of researchers affiliated with the School of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Faculty of Engineering at Western University, Department of Medical Physics at Western University, an Western University's Bone and Joint Institute.
