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This work focuses on basic research into a P/M processed, porous-surfaced and functionally graded material (FGM) destined for a permanent skeletal replacement implant with improved structural compatibility. Based on a perpendicular gradient in porosity the Young's modulus of the material is adapted to the elastic properties of bone in order to prevent stress shielding effects and to provide better long-term performance of the implant-bone system. Using coarse Ti particle fractions the sintering process was accelerated by silicon-assisted liquid-phase sintering (LPS) resulting in a substantial improvement of the neck geometry. A novel evaluation for the strength of the sinter contacts was proposed. The Young's modulus of uniform non-graded stacks ranged from 5 to 80 GPa as determined by ultrasound velocity measurements. Thus, the typical range for cortical bone (10-29 GPa) was covered. The magnitude of the Poisson's ratio proved to be distinctly dependent on the porosity. Specimens with porosity gradients were successfully fabricated and characterized using quantitative description of the microstructural geometry and acoustic microscopy.

a b s t r a c tThe effect of ISO 834 fire on the mechanical properties of granite rock specimen submitted to uniaxial loading is numerically investigated. Based on Newton's second law, the rate-equation model of granite rock specimen under mechanical load and fire is established. The effect of heat treatment on the mechanical performance of granite is analyzed at the center and the ends of specimen. At the free end of granite rock specimen, it is shown that from 20 C to 500 C, the internal stress and internal strain are weak; whereas above 500 C, they start to increase rapidly, announcing the imminent collapse. At the center of specimen, the analysis of the internal stress and internal strain reveals that the fire reduces the mechanical performance of granite significantly. Moreover, it is found that after 3 min of exposure to fire, the mechanical energy necessary to fragment the granite can be reduced up to 80%.

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