Numerical analysis of the crack growth path in the cement mantle of the reconstructed acetabulum

In this study, we use the finite element method to analyze the propagation's path of the crack in the orthopedic cement of the total hip replacement. In fact, a small python statement was incorporated with the Abaqus software to do in loop the following operations: extracting the crack propagation direction from the previous study using the maximal circumferential stresses criterion, drawing the new path, meshing and calculating again (stresses and fracture parameters). The loop is broken when the user's desired crack length is reached (number of propagations) or the value of the mode I stress intensity factor is negative. Results show that the crack propagation's path can be influenced by human body posture. The existing of a cavity in the vicinity of the crack can change its propagation path or can absolutely attract it enough to meet it. Crack can propagate in the outward direction (toward the acetabulum bone) and cannot propagate in the opposite direction, the mode I stress intensity factor increases with the crack length and that of mode II vanishes.

► Cracks propagate mainly along the radial direction of the cement mantle.
► Cracks do not propagate in circumferential direction.
► Cracks initiation sites (cavity position) influence their propagation's paths.
► The stress intensity factor KI increase with the crack length and KII vanishes.