Fundamental principles of mechanical testing

To understand the principles of mechanical testing of implants, one must first appreciate the basic principles of force, deformation, and bending moments and how they relate to stress and strain in a structure. It is also imperative to understand how transducers are used to measure physical parameters and how transducer selection can dramatically influence one's ability to accurately quantify specimen performance. This chapter will introduce you to the fundamental concepts upon which orthopedic implants are designed and tested. Included are the basics definitions of mechanical testing terms, an introduction to transducers, elements of common test systems, testing of orthopedic biomaterials, and the construction and testing of orthopedic implants, followed by a case study and points for further discussion.