Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5 Graphs of tensile stress, σ , versus tensile strain, ε ,representing( a ) Five initial loading-un-
loading cycles and final loading until failure of non-degraded sample ( T
=
0 days) and samples
degraded for 10 and 30 days, respectively ( T
10, 30 days) and ( b ) Close-up of five initial load
cycles of non-degraded sample ( T = 0 days) and samples degraded for 30 days ( T = 30 days),
showing decrease of stress at upper limit of cyclic strain of 20 % with increasing number of cycles.
The graph for the sample with T
=
= 10 days degradation was omitted to improve clarity of the
illustration
value of strain of ε
0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 18 %. Stress-strain graphs are presented
in Fig. 5 (a) for the entire strain range of the tests for samples at degradation time
points T
=
0, 10, and 30 days and in Fig. 5 (b) for limited to the strain range of the
load cycles with upper limit of ε
=
=
20 % for degradation time points of T
=
0 and
30 days.
The maximum stress σ max and associated strain ε max versus degradation time T
are illustrated in Fig. 6 (a). The stress did not exhibit a change after the first five days
of degradation and decreased steadily thereafter. The maximum stress ranged from
σ max =
0 . 52
±
0 . 12 MPa at T
=
0 days to σ max =
0 . 033
±
0 . 028 MPa after a degra-
dation period of T
=
34 days. When compared to T
=
0 days, the decrease in σ max
was statistically non-significant up to T =
14 days but became statistical significant
thereafter. The strain ε max decreased statistically significantly between T
=
0 days
( ε max =
176 . 8
±
21 . 9 %) and T
=
14 days ( ε max =
46 . 72
±
2 . 35 %). After T
=
14
days, the decrease of ε max to the minimum of 24 . 6
34 days occurred
at a reduced rate and was non-significant. Figure 6 (b) illustrates the stress σ 20 % ,i
for each repetitive loading event ( i =
±
3 . 0%at T
=
1 to 6) at each degradation time point. Gener-
ally, the stress σ 20 % ,i decreased with repeated loading. The reduction in stress due
to repeated loading (cycling) was less pronounced, and not statistically significant,
for the degradation periods up to T
=
18 days. During the sixth loading, the stress
σ 20 % , 6 reached between 92 . 4
18
days) of the initial value at the first loading σ 20 % , 1 , see Fig. 6 (c). At degradation of
T
±
2 . 1%(at T =
0 days) and 90 . 6
±
1 . 9%(at T =
22 days and longer, the reduction of σ 20 % ,i due to repeated loading increased
with degradation time and the ratios σ 20 % , 6 20 % , 1 became statistically significant
at T
=
=
30 and 34 days ( p
=
0 . 00016 and 0.00014, respectively, when compared
to T
=
18 days). At T
=
34 days, the ratio σ 20 % , 6 20 % , 1 was at a minimum of
28 . 5
±
16 . 4%.
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