Mechanical characterization of materials for dental applications

An study of the damage induced in dental materials and model multilayer sys tems by masticatory contact stresses, simulated by hertzian indentation tes t, have been performed. In particular, the nature of induced damage has bee n identified, and quantified from stress-strain curves and critical loads f or yielding or crack initiation, For Multilayer Systems, test have been num erically simulated using finite element techniques (FEM). FEM simulations c omplement indentation test, allowing to justify the observed fracture modes from calculated stress fields. Practical implications can be derived from our results, relevant tu the design of multilayer structures tolerant to co ntact damage.