Abstract
The processing of barbs in sutures introduces cracks, reducing the fracture resistance of the barbed sutures. In this study, an equivalent model was established by analyzing the key features of the barbed suture. A mesh partition method was utilized to define the inclined straight-fronted edge crack region. Then, a three-dimensional finite element model for the barbed suture was constructed. The contour integral method was employed to explore the correlation between cutting parameters and the breaking strength of barbed sutures, elucidating the stress intensity factors under mixed-mode conditions at the crack front. To comprehensively evaluate the effects of the three crack modes on the barbed suture, the equivalent stress intensity factors were calculated according to two fracture criteria. The most susceptible locations, that is, the midpoint of the crack front, for crack propagation were identified. Establishing the relationship between the dimensions, material properties, and equivalent stress intensity factors can provide robust data to achieve the optimal design of cutting angles and cutting depth of barbed sutures. This also gives deep insights into fracture issues in round structures with straight-fronted edge cracks.