Secondary crack propagation in cortical bone

D. Vashishth, J. Trifonas, J. C. Behiri, W. Bonfield

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Secondary crack propagation, associated with microcracking in the vicinity of the main crack, has been studied in adult human and young bovine bone in relation to fracture toughness, as represented by the critical stress intensity factor, Kc increased with crack length and was considerably higher for bovine bone (4.0-7.6 MNm-3/2) as compared to human bone (1.6-2.5 MNm-3/2). A detailed post-testing analysis with scanning electron microscopy into the nature and amount of damage, indicated that secondary cracks increased cumulatively with crack length and fracture toughness, in both human and bovine bone. However, bovine bone was characterized by a greater number of secondary cracks, due to the rupture of Volkmann's canals and failure of transverse osteons, as compared to human bone, for which fewer secondary cracks occurred as a result of splitting between the individual lamellae of longitudinal osteons. A correlation was established between Kc and the number of secondary cracks.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBioengineering
EditorsA. Faghri, M.A. Yaghoubi
PublisherPubl by ASME
Pages37-41
Number of pages5
Edition4
ISBN (Print)0791812804
StatePublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of the 2nd Biennial European Joint Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis. Part 1 (of 8) - London, Engl
Duration: 4 Jul 19947 Jul 1994

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers, Petroleum Division (Publication) PD
Number4
Volume64

Conference

ConferenceProceedings of the 2nd Biennial European Joint Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis. Part 1 (of 8)
CityLondon, Engl
Period4/07/947/07/94

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Secondary crack propagation in cortical bone'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this