Optimización del diseño de una estructura reticular de titanio fabricada mediante manufactura aditiva para mejorar la resistencia a la fatiga debido a flexión en aplicaciones biomédicas

Additive manufacturing (AM), particularly 3D printing, is revolutionizing production by enabling the creation of complex geometries through successive layering. This technology is crucial in biomedical applications, reducing limitations in personalized manufacturing for implants and prostheses that require specific microstructures to mimic human tissue properties.

For dental or cranial implants, 3D printing with biocompatible metals offers complex, personalized parts with high precision and reduced cycles. It allows for the design of optimized lattice structures, crucial for mitigating stress shielding—a common phenomenon where the greater stiffness of traditional metal prostheses compromises bone integrity and induces premature fatigue failure.

Fatigue resistance tests are essential for assessing the lifespan and reliability of materials under cyclic loads. The four-point bend fatigue test is preferred as it concentrates maximum stress over a wide region, minimizing premature failures and ensuring repeatable results.

This research, in collaboration with Mexfix, has two stages: First, using Finite Element Methods (FEM), an optimized lattice model—only feasible via AM—is designed and simulated. Second, its performance is experimentally validated through fatigue resistance tests based on international standards. The goal is to compare the mechanical performance and competitive advantages of the proposed AM lattice structure against traditionally machined structures for biomedical use.