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Contribution, development and morphology of microcracking in cortical bone during crack propagation
D Vashishth1, K E Tanner, W Bonfield
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jonnson Engineering Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180-3590, USA. vashid@rpi.edu
Journal of Biomechanics
|June 16, 2000
Summary
Bovine bone exhibits greater toughness due to more microcracks, while human bone optimizes toughness with longitudinal microcracks. A new model explains microcrack formation during bone fracture propagation.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Materials Science
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Cortical bone's fracture behavior is critical for skeletal integrity.
- Understanding microcracking is key to explaining bone toughness and failure mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microcrack morphology and its contribution to cortical bone fracture.
- To compare microcracking patterns in human and bovine bone during crack propagation.
Main Methods:
- Fracture mechanics analysis of compact tension specimens.
- Post-hoc analysis of microcrack orientation, propagation velocity, and fracture surface roughness.
Main Results:
- Bovine bone, with higher toughness, showed more microcracks (longitudinal, transverse, inclined) than human bone.
- Human bone predominantly formed longitudinal microcracks, enhancing toughness.
- Both bone types exhibited similar crack propagation velocity patterns and a mineralized collagen fibril fracture element.
Conclusions:
- Microcrack characteristics significantly influence bone toughness.
- A novel model for crack propagation, detailing microcrack formation, has been proposed.
- Differences in microcracking contribute to variations in human and bovine bone fracture toughness.