The Mechanical Comparison of Artificial Bone and 3D Printed Bone Segments

Abstract

Bone is considered as an anisotropic structure due to the difference in its mechanical properties of cortical and spongiosal parts of the long bones. Researchers are attracted to bone related diseases and fractures in mechanical studies which leads them to seek alternative models. For decades artificial bones, especially Sawbones, are commonly preferred in biomechanical studies, which has similar density of natural bone. On the other hand, in the recent years there have been many studies by using 3D printer based bone models. In this study, we aimed to compare the artificial bone and 3D printed bone segments according to their mechanical properties. Cross sectional dimensions of an anatomical femur was examined with the Computed Tomography (CT) and a solid model was created by this data. Fused Deposit Manufacturing (FDM) technique and PLA filament was used in the specimen production. Two groups of bone segments produced by using a 3D printer at cortical thicknesses of 1.2 mm and 2.8 mm with a height of 10 mm. These groups were compared with sawbones cut in 10 mm heights. Biomechanical compression test was performed in three groups at a speed of 2 mm / min at 1000 N. As a result, the average of maximum force for sawbone, 1.2 mm and 2.8 mm thicknesses were 1006.3 N, 1009.5 N and 1010.6 N, respectively. Meanwhile, the average of maximum displacement for sawbone, 1.2 mm and 2.8 mm thicknesses were 0.203 mm, 0.183 mm and 0.191 mm, respectively. In conclusion, 3D printed bone models were found to be a good alternative for biomechanical analysis due to its similar force and displacement ratios.