Evaluation of Compressive and Permeability Behaviors of Trabecular-Like Porous Structure with Mixed Porosity Based on Mechanical Topology

Abstract

The mechanical properties and permeability properties of artificial bone implants have high-level requirements. A method for the design of trabecular-like porous structure (TLPS) with mixed porosity is proposed based on the study of the mechanical and permeability characteristics of natural bone. With this technique, the morphology and density of internal porous structures can be adjusted, depending on the implantation requirements, to meet the mechanical and permeability requirements of natural bone. The design parameters mainly include the seed points, topology optimization coefficient, load value, irregularity, and scaling factor. Characteristic parameters primarily include porosity and pore size distribution. Statistical methods are used to analyze the relationship between design parameters and characteristic parameters for precise TLPS design and thereby provide a theoretical basis and guidance. TLPS scaffolds were prepared by selective laser melting technology. First, TLPS under different design parameters were analyzed using the finite element method and permeability simulation. The results were then verified by quasistatic compression and cell experiments. The scaling factor and topology optimization coefficient were found to largely affect the mechanical and permeability properties of the TLPS. The corresponding compressive strength reached 270–580 MPa; the elastic modulus ranged between 6.43 and 9.716 GPa, and permeability was 0.6 × 10−9–21 × 10−9; these results were better than the mechanical properties and permeability of natural bone. Thus, TLPS can effectively improve the success rate of bone implantation, which provides an effective theory and application basis for bone implantation.

Keywords

• trabecular-like porous structure
• mixed porosity
• mechanical topology
• permeability
• compressive strength
• elastic modulus