Experimental and numerical analysis of 3D printed suture joints under shearing load

Abstract

The shear resistance of bio-inspired suture joints with different waviness is explored through an integrated experimental and numerical approach. Polymeric single lap shear specimens with different waviness are designed and fabricated via multi-material additive manufacturing. Quasi-static mechanical experiments are performed to quantify the effective shear stiffness and strength of the joints. SEM images show that the 3D printed suture joints fail under combined adhesive and cohesive failure mechanisms. To evaluate the effects of printing direction on the mechanical behaviors of suture joints, both tensile and single lap shear specimens are designed and printed in two orthogonal directions: parallel to the interface (H direction) and perpendicular to the interface (V direction). An inverse method was used to obtained the effective material properties of the interfacial layer printed in both directions. Nonlinear Finite Element models with cohesive interaction and mixed mode damage initiation and evolution are developed.