Analyzing and Simulating the Mechanical Behavior of the Femur Using 3D Printing

The application of three-dimensional (3D) printing in the medical field is recognized as a significant innovation in healthcare technology. This technology has revolutionized medical science by enhancing diagnostic methods, treatment approaches, and the production of human body components. The fabrication of bone tissue prostheses holds particular importance, with the reduction of production time and costs being a critical research priority. The primary objective of this study is to design and analyze the mechanical behavior of a femur bone produced via 3D printing. The analysis encompasses evaluating the mechanical performance of the bone with a porous structure resembling natural bone under compression testing, dynamic simulation, fatigue assessment, and comparison with other porosity configurations. The average results from compression tests, in terms of fracture force (kN), fracture stress (MPa), fracture strain (mm), and fracture energy (kJ), were 9.456, 11.76, 8.68, and 42.6, respectively. The designed bone with bone-like porosity exhibited excellent resistance to compression and fracture, outperforming a comparable sample with differing porosity. Fatigue simulation indicated an infinite lifespan for the designed bone in in vivo applications. Additionally, in the fracture region identified from the compression test (outer ridge of the specimen) and the region derived from fatigue simulation (inner ridge of the specimen), a 5 mm diameter crack was applied, yielding stresses of 12.82 and 11.89 MPa, respectively, in fatigue simulation for these two samples.