Assessment of Durability of Bone Cement Plates with Defects of Elliptic Shape: Effect of Configuration and Location of Defects

We determine the critical values of lengths of ellipse-like defects in plates made of bone cement produced with various additives. The analysis is performed by using previously studied samples subjected to different soaking periods (0; 3; 6 months) in simulated body fluid. This research is focused on the behavior of samples made of bone cement and containing different additives: diethylaminoethylacrylate, dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate, and diethylaminoethylmethacrylate. The models developed at present make it possible to determine the critical length of defects according to the values of the stress intensity factor. This, in turn, makes it possible to compute the critical number of loading cycles in specific mechanical elements containing elliptic defects. This class of calculations may serve as a basis for the engineering recommendations in the design and risk assessment of actual elements manufactured from this material.