TY - JOUR
T1 - Micro-CT based finite element models for elastic properties of glass–ceramic scaffolds
AU - Tagliabue, Stefano
AU - Rossi, Erica
AU - Baino, Francesco
AU - Vitale-Brovarone, Chiara
AU - Gastaldi, Dario
AU - Vena, Pasquale
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - In this study, the mechanical properties of porous glass–ceramic scaffolds are investigated by means of three-dimensional finite element models based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scan data. In particular, the quantitative relationship between the morpho-architectural features of the obtained scaffolds, such as macroscopic porosity and strut thickness, and elastic properties, is sought. The macroscopic elastic properties of the scaffolds have been obtained through numerical homogenization approaches using the mechanical characteristics of the solid walls of the scaffolds (assessed through nanoindentation) as input parameters for the numerical simulations. Anisotropic mechanical properties of the produced scaffolds have also been investigated by defining a suitable anisotropy index. A comparison with morphological data obtained through the micro-CT scans is also presented. The proposed study shows that the produced glass–ceramic scaffolds exhibited a macroscopic porosity ranging between 29% and 97% which corresponds to an average stiffness ranging between 42.4 GPa and 36 MPa. A quantitative estimation of the isotropy of the macroscopic elastic properties has been performed showing that the samples with higher solid fractions were those closest to an isotropic material.
AB - In this study, the mechanical properties of porous glass–ceramic scaffolds are investigated by means of three-dimensional finite element models based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scan data. In particular, the quantitative relationship between the morpho-architectural features of the obtained scaffolds, such as macroscopic porosity and strut thickness, and elastic properties, is sought. The macroscopic elastic properties of the scaffolds have been obtained through numerical homogenization approaches using the mechanical characteristics of the solid walls of the scaffolds (assessed through nanoindentation) as input parameters for the numerical simulations. Anisotropic mechanical properties of the produced scaffolds have also been investigated by defining a suitable anisotropy index. A comparison with morphological data obtained through the micro-CT scans is also presented. The proposed study shows that the produced glass–ceramic scaffolds exhibited a macroscopic porosity ranging between 29% and 97% which corresponds to an average stiffness ranging between 42.4 GPa and 36 MPa. A quantitative estimation of the isotropy of the macroscopic elastic properties has been performed showing that the samples with higher solid fractions were those closest to an isotropic material.
KW - Finite element model
KW - Glass–ceramic
KW - Micro-CT
KW - Porosity
KW - Scaffold
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.08.020
DO - 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.08.020
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84984813423
VL - 65
SP - 248
EP - 255
JO - Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
JF - Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
SN - 1751-6161
ER -