Strengthening mechanism of PDLLA coated titania foam

• Mechanical characterisation of innovative third generation biomaterial.
• Use of micro-computed tomography for the geometrical characterisation of the complex material meso-structure.
• Comparison between experimental and numerical results.
• Micro-structure modelling to study the effect of micro-cracks on macroscopic strength.

This paper addresses the numerical analysis of the mechanical properties of titania foam intended for use in tissue engineering scaffolds. Special focus is given to a PDLLA coating that has been shown to distinctly increase the mechanical strength of the scaffold. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) data of a real scaffold are obtained and converted into numerical calculation models. Finite element simulations are performed alternately with and without the PDLLA coating. In addition, a strut model containing a single micro-crack is analysed. Numerical results indicate that filling the crack with PDLLA significantly increases the strength of the strut by attenuating stress concentrations.