Abstract
Bioactive ceramics/poly-L-lactide (PLLA) composites have been expected as a material for the bone fracture fixations. In this study, the effects of strain rates on the mechanical behavior of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/PLLA composites with three different β-TCP contents was clarified analytically. Analysis based on micromechanics and damage mechanics were conducted to predict the stress-strain curves at the strain rates ranging from 10^<-4> to 10^<-1>[/s]. Critical energy release rate associated, G_c, with debonding between β-TCP and PLLA became larger with strain rate. Predictions of tensile stress-strain curves using G_c values fitted with 15wt% specimens were in good agreement with the experimental results of 5 and 10 wt% specimens.
