Technical Challenge
New total joint replacement prostheses often use ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in load bearing components. Design engineers need to understand the stress and strain distributions in order to extend device life.
Veryst Solution
Veryst used an the time-dependent Three Network material model to represent the UHMWPE and determine the stresses and deformations within a total knee replacement component.
The advanced material model provided more accurate design stresses and strains then an off-the-shelf material model. The above figure shows the stress contours in the UHMWPE bearing component.