PREDICTING FRACTURE FROM THE TENSILE PROPERTIES OF A COMPOSITE BIOMATERIAL

Fracture and tensile tests were conducted on a composite biomaterial c onsisting of polycarbonate matrix and calcium phosphate fibers. The fi bers were short and randomly oriented. Test results were compared for composites with and without a surface treatment of the fibers. A nonli near finite element method was used to predict the maximum loads on pr e-cracked panels. The method used the unnotched stress-strain behavior to predict the failure process in notched panels. A cohesive stress z one near the crack tip was used to model damage, stable crack growth, and failure. As in the experiments, the predicted loads were lower for the composite with coated fibers. For both materials, the predicted m aximum loads were within the 6% of the experimental loads. (C) 1998 Pu blished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.