Sliding Contact Fatigue Damage in Layered Ceramic Structures

摘要

Porcelain veneered restorations often chip and fracture from repeated occlusal loading, making fatigue studies relevant. Most fatigue studies are limited to uniaxial loading without sliding motion. We hypothesize that biaxial loading (contact-load-slide-liftoff, simulating a masticatory cycle) as compared to uniaxial loading accelerates the fatigue of layered ceramics. Monolithic glass plates were epoxy joined to polycarbonate substrates as a transparent model for an all-ceramic crown on dentin. Uniaxial and biaxial cyclic contact was applied through a hard sphere in water with a mouth-motion machine. The uniaxial (contact-load-hold-liftoff) and traditional R-ratio fatigue (indenter never leaves the specimen surface) produced a similar lifespan, while biaxial fatigue was more severe. The accelerated crack growth rate in biaxial fatigue is attributed to enhanced tensile stresses at the trailing edges of a moving indenter. Fracture mechanics descriptions for damage evolution in brittle materials loaded repeatedly with a sliding sphere are provided. Clinical relevance is addressed.