Microcracks UHMWPE assessment using the wavelet transform

Previous studies have indicated that one of the main problems in the prosthesis inserts of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene UHMWPE, is the destruction apparently by delamination, due to wear. Fatigue in polymeric materials is the leading cause of failure due to the cyclic or random application of the load in a component. Damage inspection techniques, such as ultrasound and microtomography, are used to detect internal microscopic damage. However, the high cost of these two techniques allows us to propose new inspection methods. The present work shows a simulation of signal processing techniques, as well as the use of the wavelet transform to obtain a representative image of the possible emergence of microcracks. The results show a low-cost test of the acoustic impedance contrasts, which represent the changes in velocity propagation in the medium, which translates into cracking.