Elastic-plastic finite elements analysis of transient and residual stresses in ceramo-metal restorations

Transient and residual stresses occurring in partially fixed dental prostheses after the firing process can be calculated with elastic or elastic-plastic finite element analyses (FEA). In this study, firstly, the mechanical and thermal properties at various temperatures of the materials used in a porcelain fused metal (PFM) system were obtained by experimental and literature studies. The effects of viscoelastic and viscoplastic behaviours of the dental porcelain at the elevated temperatures were reflected onto its elastic properties. The equivalent heat transfer coefficients were determined experimentally by measuring temperatures and the results were supplied as input to the 3D finite elements analysis. It has been observed that the maximum stresses occur within a short time period after cooling begins and that stresses decrease during the cooling process and remain at a constant value at the end of cooling; these are the thermal residual stresses.