AbstractIt is widely recognized that polyethylene wear debris is one of the main causes of long‐term prosthesis loosening. The noxious bioreactivity associated with this debris is determined by its size, shape, and quantity. The aim of this study was to develop a numerical tool that can be used to investigate the primary polyethylene wear mechanisms involved. This model illustrates the formation of varying flow of polyethylene debris with various shapes and sizes caused by elementary mechanical processes. Instead of using the classical continuum mechanics formulation for this purpose, we used a divided materials approach to simulate debris production and release. This approach involves complex nonlinear bulk behaviors, frictional adhesive contact, and characterizes material damage as a loss of adhesion. All the associated models were validated with various benchmark tests. The examples given show the ability of the numerical model to generate debris of various shapes and sizes such as those observed in implant retrieval studies. Most of wear mechanisms such as abrasion, adhesion, and the shearing off of micro‐asperities can be described using this approach. Furthermore, it could be applied to study the effects of friction couples, macroscopic geometries, and material processing (e.g. irradiation) on wear. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007