Investigating the Flexural Behavior of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene at a Low Bending Rate: Experimental and Numerical Study
Mechanics of Solids, vol.59, no.8, pp.3968-3984, 2024 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 59 Issue: 8
- Publication Date: 2024
- Doi Number: 10.1134/s0025654424605032
- Journal Name: Mechanics of Solids
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, INSPEC
- Page Numbers: pp.3968-3984
- Keywords: dissimilar material behavior, finite element modeling, SAMP-1, three-point bending, Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
- Yozgat Bozok University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Abstract: This study examines the mechanical behavior of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) under three-point bending at a low strain rate, with a particular focus on evaluating the influence of its distinct tensile and compressive properties on its bending response through finite element analysis. The tensile and compressive stress-strain characteristics of UHMWPE were experimentally determined at a strain rate of 5 × 10−3 s–1, complemented by three-point bending tests conducted at a constant loading speed of 0.05 mm/s. To predict the flexural behavior of UHMWPE, two finite element models were constructed using the SAMP-1 material model in LS-DYNA: one incorporating the Von-Mises yield surface, which assumes similar material behavior in tension and compression, and the other employing the Drucker-Prager yield surface, which accounts for dissimilar material behaviors between tension and compression. Results of the numerical analyses revealed substantial discrepancies between the predictions of the Von-Mises and Drucker-Prager models, with the latter offering a more precise prediction of the flexural response of UHMWPE, thereby underscoring the critical importance of accounting for dissimilar material behaviors to achieve enhanced predictive accuracy.