Mechanical Characterisation of Interface for Steel/Polymer Composite Using Pull-out Test: Shear-Lag and Frictional Analysis

Fibre-matrix interface is known to have contribution to the mechanical performance of fibre-reinforced composite by its potential for load transfer between the fibre and the matrix. Such load transfer is of great importance in dentistry when a post is used for fixing a ceramic crown on the tooth. In this study, a pull-out test was carried out to analyse the interfacial properties of a steel fibre embedded in a polyester and epoxy matrices. It was found that the fibre-matrix interface is debonded on the whole embedded length when the fibre stress reached the debonding stress. Then, the fibre stress fell down to the initial extraction stress required to pulling out the debonded fibre from the matrix. Both debonding stress and initial extraction stress initiated a linear increase with the implantation length after the debonding stress reached horizontal asymptotes. To analyse the fibre-matrix load transfer before debonding, an analytical shear-lag model was adopted to in this test conditions. Fitting the experimental results with the analytical model provided the interfacial shear strength. By considering the Coulomb friction at the fibre-matrix interface during the fibre extraction process, an analytical model which considers Poisson＇s effects on both fibre and matrix, was developed. In this model, knowledge of the initial extraction stress of the fibre provides the residual normal stress at the fibre-matrix interface.

Experimental and Numerical Analyses of the Pull-out Response of a Steel Post/Bovine Bone Cementless Fixation

Effect of initial interference fit on pull-out strength in cementless fixation between bovine tibia and smooth stainless steel post was investigated in this study. Compressive behavior of bovine spongious bone was studied using mechanical testing in order to evaluate the elastic-plastic properties in different regions of the proximal tibia. Friction tests were carried out in the aim to evaluate the friction behavior of the contact between bovine spongious bone and stainless steel. A cylindrical stainless steel post inserted in a pre-drilled bovine tibia with an initial interference fit was taken as an in vitro model to assess the contribution of post fixation to the initial stability of the Total Knee Arthroplasty （TKA） tibial component. Pull-out experiments were carried out for different initial interference fits. Finite Element Models （FEM） using local elastic-plastic properties of the bovine bone were developed for the analysis of the experimental ultimate pull-out force results. At the post/bone interface, Coulomb friction was considered in the FEM calculations with pressure-dependent friction coefficient. It was found that the FEM results of the ultimate force are in good agreement with the experimental results. The analysis of the FEM interfacial stresses indicates that the micro-slip initiation depends on the local bone properties.