Orthopaedic devices using unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) laminates potentially offer several benefits over metallic implants including: anisotropic material properties; radiolucency and strength to weight ratio. However, despite FDA clearance of PEEK-OPTIMA™ Ultra-Reinforced, no investigation of the mechanical properties or failure mechanisms of a medical grade unidirectional laminate material has been published to date, thus hindering the development of first-generation laminated orthopaedic devices. This study presents the first investigation of the mechanical behaviour and failure mechanisms of PEEK-OPTIMA™ Ultra-Reinforced. The following multi-axial suite of experimental tests are presented: 0° and 90° tension and compression, in-plane shear, mode I and mode II fracture toughness, compression of ±45° laminates and flexure of 0°, 90° and ±45° laminates. Three damage mechanisms are uncovered: (1) inter-laminar delamination, (2) intra-laminar cracking and (3) anisotropic plasticity. A computational damage and failure model that incorporates all three damage mechanisms is developed. The model accurately predicts the complex multi-mode failure mechanisms observed experimentally. The ability of a model to predict diverse damage mechanisms under multiple loading directions conditions is critical for the safe design of fibre reinforced laminated orthopaedic devices subjected to complex physiological loading conditions.

使用单向碳纤维增强聚醚醚酮（PEEK）层压板的整形外科设备与金属植入物相比具有潜在的多项优势，包括：各向异性的材料特性；射线透过率和强度重量比。但是，尽管FDA批准了PEEK-OPTIMA™Ultra-Reinforced的批准，但迄今为止，尚未发表对医用级单向层压材料的机械性能或失效机理的研究，从而阻碍了第一代层压骨科器械的开发。这项研究是对PEEK-OPTIMA™超增强材料的力学行为和破坏机理的首次研究。提出了以下多轴实验测试套件：0°和90°拉伸和压缩，面内剪切，I和II型断裂韧性，压缩±45°层压板，并弯曲0°，90°和±45°层压板。揭示了三种破坏机理：（1）层间分层，（2）层内开裂和（3）各向异性可塑性。建立了包含所有三种损坏机制的计算损坏和故障模型。该模型可准确预测实验观察到的复杂多模式故障机制。模型在多种载荷方向条件下预测各种损伤机制的能力对于经受复杂生理载荷条件的纤维增强层压骨科器械的安全设计至关重要。建立了包含所有三种损坏机制的计算损坏和故障模型。该模型可准确预测实验观察到的复杂多模式故障机制。模型在多种载荷方向条件下预测各种损伤机制的能力对于经受复杂生理载荷条件的纤维增强层压骨科器械的安全设计至关重要。建立了包含所有三种损坏机制的计算损坏和故障模型。该模型可准确预测实验观察到的复杂多模式故障机制。模型在多种载荷方向条件下预测各种损伤机制的能力对于经受复杂生理载荷条件的纤维增强层压骨科器械的安全设计至关重要。