TIMEDEPENDENT MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

LECTURE OUTLINE:
Definitions and Significance of:

time dependent mechanical properties:

Viscosity Viscoelasticity Stress relaxation Creep Fatigue

 Stress-strain curves

Used to compare materials mechanical properties whether in compression, tension or shear, especially when strain is independent of the length of time the load is applied

 Strain-time curves are sometimes used when strain depends on the time the load is maintained
(e.g. polymers, soft tissues)

PROPERTIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY TIME Viscosity

Viscoelasticity Creep Fatigue

 The study of flow or deformation of materials is measured by : Elasticity , Viscoelasticity, Creep : Solids Viscosity = shear stress/shear strain : Liquids

VISCOSITY
The resistance liquids to flow

Viscosity is high when the

forces binding molecules together are high
Shearing of a liquid Between 2 plates

Fluid Level

Fluid Flow

Measuring of Viscosity

A specified volume of the liquid is put in a container with an orifice of specific dimension in its bottom. The time required for the liquid to run out of the orifice is measured. The viscosity of the liquid is computed from standard table

VISCOELASTICITY
Viscoelasticity is the property of materials that exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing deformation.

Viscous materials, like honey, resist shear flow and strain linearly with time when a stress is applied. Elastic materials strain immediately when stretched and just as quickly return to their original state once the stress is removed.

STRAIN-TIME CURVE

Unlike purely elastic substances, a vicoelastic material l has an elastic component and a viscous component. The viscosity of a viscoelastic substance gives the substance a strain rate dependent on time.

Viscoelasticity
Viscoelastic materials are materials for which the relationship between the stress and strain depends on time. The stiffness depends on the rate of application of load. The mechanical energy is dissipated by conversion to heat in deformation of the material. Viscoelastic effect occurs at small or large stress

VISCOELASTICITY Clinical Significance :

Some synthetic and biologic materials have properties between that of a solid and a liquid, which makes them susceptible to distortion Synthetic materials: Polymers

Biologic materials: human soft tissues

STRESS RELAXATION
Gradual reduction in the stress when the material is held at constant strain (elongation)

CREEP
Is the flow of solids Permanent deformation under loads less

than elastic limit due to constant stress

maintained for a long period

CREEP
Is used to rate the resistance of a material to plastic deformation under sustained load.

Creep resistance should be considered for any part or structure that is subjected to sustained load in service.

SIGNIFICANCE OF CREEP
Creep of blood vessels is important since it have a steady state internal pressure that gives rise to circumferential stress. Creep occurs in polyethylene socket of total hip replacement. It gives indentation of the socket by ball joint.

FATIGUE
Cyclic (Dynamic) Fatigue Failure: is Failure of material by fracture due to repeated application of load below its proportional limit over time.

(Cyclic stress+ Small stress + Long period of time)

FATIGUE
Same as creep in that the stress is below the elastic limit but continuous Fatigue is a function of the stress level and the number of cycles
Stress

Time Repeated cyclic loading

MECHANISM OF FAILURE
Cyclic stress initiate micro-cracks at the
centre of stress concentration within the material or on the surface resulting in growth and propagation of the cracks, leading to failure.

Testing of materials Fatigue by 2 ways:

1. Fatigue life: application of stress cycles at a certain amount and frequency and observe number of cycles needed to cause failure.

2.

Fatigue limit: select a number of cycles (e.g. 107) and determine the value of the cyclic stress which is required to cause fracture within this number of cycles .

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SIGNIFICANCE OF FATIGUE:
Implants flexed many times during service ,
to avoid fatigue:

- during fabrication avoid notching and cracks

- design and sharp corners of the should be avoided.

REFERENCES
Biomaterials Science. An introduction to materials in Medicine. Ratner B,D, Hoffman A, Schoen F, Lemons J, E . First Edition,.1996 Biomaterials :An introduction Park j, Lakes R.S. Third Edition, 2007

HOME WORK
List the time dependant mechanical properties What is the significance of viscoelasticity? Define fatigue. Explain the fatigue mechanism.