Influence of cross-sectional design and dimension on mechanical behavior of nickel-titanium instruments under torsion and bending: a numerical analysis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the cross-sectional configuration and dimensions (size and taper) on the torsional and bending behavior of nickel-titanium rotary instruments, taking into account the nonlinear mechanical properties of material.


METHODS
Ten cross-sectional configurations, square, triangular, U-type, S-type (large and small), convex-triangle, and 4 proprietary ones (Mani NRT and RT2, Quantec, and Mtwo), were analyzed under torsion or bending by using a 3-dimensional finite element method. The von Mises stresses were correlated with the critical values for various phases of the nickel-titanium material.


RESULTS
Different loading conditions led to unequal patterns of stress distribution. Increasing the applied torque or bending angle resulted in a rise in the corresponding stresses in the instrument. Favorable stress distribution without dangerous stress concentration was observed if the material was undergoing superelastic transformation at that applied load. The ultimate strength of the material was not exceeded when the instrument was bent up to a 50-degree curvature. On the other hand, when a torsional moment of greater than 1.0 N*mm was applied, the maximum stresses developed in some designs would exceed the ultimate strength of the material. Little variation in the von Mises stresses was observed for instruments of different nominal sizes and tapers on bending to similar extent.


CONCLUSIONS
The cross-sectional design has a greater impact than taper or size of the instrument on the stresses developed in the instrument under either torsion or bending. Certain cross-sectional configurations are prone to fracture by excess torsional stresses.
Zhang
En-Wei
EW
State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex System and Department of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Cheung
Gary S P
GS
Zheng
Yu-Feng
YF
D003198:Computer Simulation; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008422:Materials Testing; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009532:Nickel / Q000737:chemistry*; D018583:Pliability; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D054159:Torsion, Mechanical
D003722:Dental Alloys; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium