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Indirect determination of trabecular bone effective tissue failure properties using micro-finite element simulations.
E Verhulp1, B van Rietbergen, R Müller
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Journal of Biomechanics
|April 22, 2008
Summary
This study developed a micro-finite element (micro-FE) method to predict trabecular bone
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Materials Science
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Trabecular bone strength involves both yielding and post-yield behavior.
- Accurate prediction requires micro-finite element (micro-FE) models with post-yield properties.
- Experimental data on post-yield behavior is challenging to obtain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To indirectly determine trabecular bone tissue failure behavior using micro-FE modeling.
- To develop a method for predicting post-yield behavior in bone tissue.
- To assess the accuracy of averaged tissue properties for predictive modeling.
Main Methods:
- Utilized materially and geometrically nonlinear micro-FE models for seven bovine bone specimens.
- Iteratively fitted FE simulations to experimental results to determine failure parameters.
- Employed an isotropic plasticity model based on Hill's yield function.
Main Results:
- Compression softening must be included at the tissue level for accurate apparent-level behavior prediction.
- Simulated response was less sensitive to post-yield property variations than elastic/yield properties.
- Specimen-specific fitting accurately reproduced apparent-level behavior.
Conclusions:
- Micro-FE modeling can indirectly determine bone tissue failure behavior.
- Accurate prediction of apparent bone behavior requires specimen-specific tissue properties.
- Averaged tissue properties yield less accurate predictions due to inter-specimen variability.
