Determination of stiffness properties of braided composites for the designof a hip prosthesis

This paper describes an experimental procedure used to determine the stiffn ess properties of two different composites made of braided glass and hybrid carbon-glass fibre reinforced epoxy resin. Tubular specimens manufactured by reinforcing an epoxy resin system with commercial braided preforms were used to determine the elastic constants. All specimens were manufactured us ing compression moulding technique assisted with internal pressure. The sti ffness properties were determined from axial and circumferential strains re corded from strain gauges using internal water pressure tests. Identical ty pes of composite laminates were used to manufacture two prototypes of a com posite femoral prosthesis with controlled stiffness. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.