Fracture analysis of a total hip prosthesis based on reverse engineering

Abstract

A reverse engineering procedure based on optical 3D scanning was implemented to generate a total hip prosthesis CAD model needed to create the finite element model of the femoral component cemented into cortical bone. Finite element fracture analyses of a loosened femoral component shaft of the total hip prosthesis damaged with a crack was performed assuming loading and boundary conditions given by the standard ISO 7206-4. In the femoral component shaft a damage crack was modelled, where several crack depths were considered. Mode I stress intensity factor KI values were calculated for nodes along the crack front for each of the considered crack depths. It was demonstrated that for the given loading conditions a critical crack size associated with fracture onset can be estimated.