A characterization of composite materials of a polyester matrix reinforced with natural fibers of Cuban henequen and organophilized Cuban bentonite was carried out, the experimental results of which are used to formulate, implement, and validate a scalar damage model. The fibers were added on a weight basis of 15, 20, and 25% as a reinforcing material, and organophilized Cuban bentonite, in amounts of 3, 5, and 7% by weight, was added. Samples containing only polymer and fibers showed the best mechanical performance for 25% of fiber, with increases of 51% in the tensile strength and 169% on the impact resistance. Samples containing polymer and clay showed the best results for 5% of bentonite, with increases of 89% in the tensile strength and 83% on the impact resistance, and samples containing 25% fiber and 5% clay were also prepared and achieved a 98% increase in the tensile strength and 219% in the impact strength. The scalar damage model deals with an internal variable, which corresponds to the damage variable, together with a failure surface that allows identifying the mechanical state of the material dependent on the mechanical stress, obtaining an adequate correlation with the results of the experimental tests.

This study applied the finite element method (FEM) and the moiré strip projection method to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of healthy and endodontic-treated premolar teeth. The finite element method and the moiré strip projection method were applied to evaluate the influence of restored materials in association with cervical lesions and were considered as strain estimates for a tooth sample with 21 units, under loads of 25, 50, 75, and 100 N, frontal and oblique applied. The focused cases were: tooth H healthy; tooth A-MOD amalgam; tooth AL-MOD amalgam + lesion; tooth ALR-MOD amalgam + injury restored; tooth R-MOD resin; tooth RL-MOD resin + lesion; tooth RLR-MOD resin + injury restored. The results obtained by FEM simulation can be considered perfectly validated by the results presented by the experimental moiré projection analysis, demonstrating that the FEM numerical analysis can be used to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of healthy and endodontically treated teeth. Developing an alternative protocol to generate FEM three-dimensional models will lead to a ready and inexpensive tool since there is no need for costly equipment for tooth extraction prognosis.