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Minimizing specimen length in elastic testing of end-constrained cancellous bone
W B Lievers1, S D Waldman, A K Pilkey
1Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
|November 3, 2009
Summary
Reducing cancellous bone specimen length is crucial for accurate mechanical property testing. This study found no effect of gauge length or aspect ratio, but diameter matters, with shorter specimens (<10 mm) potentially overestimating modulus.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Biomechanics
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate mechanical testing of cancellous bone requires end-constraint to minimize artifactual effects.
- Current end-constrained techniques often necessitate large specimens, limiting applicability.
- Reducing specimen size is desirable for broader application of testing methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of specimen gauge length and aspect ratio on elastic tensile properties of cancellous bone.
- To determine the optimal specimen dimensions for reliable mechanical testing.
- To identify potential sources of error in cancellous bone tensile testing.
Main Methods:
- Experimental tensile testing of bovine femoral condyle cancellous bone specimens.
- Evaluation of three nominal gauge lengths (10, 16, 22 mm) and two diameters (5.1, 10.7 mm).
- Validation using three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) modeling.
Main Results:
- No significant effect of gauge length or aspect ratio on elastic modulus was observed.
- Evidence suggests a diameter-dependent effect on mechanical properties.
- FEM models confirmed experimental findings and indicated modulus overestimation for specimens <10 mm.
Conclusions:
- Specimen gauge length and aspect ratio have minimal impact on elastic tensile properties of cancellous bone within tested ranges.
- Specimen diameter and overall length are critical factors influencing test results.
- Caution is advised for specimens shorter than 10 mm due to potential overestimation of the elastic modulus.
