Finite element simulation of anisotropic damage accumulation and creep in acrylic bone cement

Acrylic bone cement is used to fixate hip replacement implants into the bone. Creep and fatigue failure of the cement promote failure of the implant. For the purpose of implant testing, we derived a finite element algorithm that simulates creep and damage accumulation in acrylic bone cement. The simulation combines a Maxwell creep model, with a 3-D continuum damage mechanics approach modeling anisotropic damage accumulation. The technical details of the simulation are described. In a first application tensile fatigue tests on tubular cement specimens are simulated. The creep elongation and fatigue life of the specimens, as predicted by the simulations, are successfully correlated to the experimental results. In a second application, the simulation is used to predict creep and fatigue failure of the cement mantle around two hip implants with different clinical outcomes. It is shown how the simulation is able to predict the locations of cement damage around the implants, and the amounts of implant migration attributable to creep. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.