The development of microcracking and failure in bone depends on the loading mode to which it is adapted.
Abstract: During locomotion, the anterior cortex of the equine radius is loaded predominantly in tension, the posterior predominantly in compression. The anterior cortex is relatively strong in tension, the posterior in compression. We investigated the pattern of failure of specimens from the two cortices using laser scanning confocal microscopy. All specimens were loaded in four-point bending to increasingly higher loads. We quantified the amount of diffuse microcracking on the tensile side of these specimens by observing the amount of light emitted under laser illumination. The amount of light emitted agreed well with subjective estimates of the amount of microcracking. Tensile microcracks first appeared at a strain of approximately 0.004, and all specimens showed considerable growth in microcrack density once the tensile strain had passed approximately 0.008. In specimens from the posterior cortex, there was little compressive microcracking, and such cracks as were present were small and diffuse. These specimens failed on the tensile side first. In specimens from the anterior cortex, compression cracks were more numerous, longer and less diffuse, and specimens failed initially in compression. The patterns of failure in the bone tissues of the two cortices are what would be expected assuming they were adapted to the mode of loading to which they are usually subjected.
Publication Date: 1999-02-04 PubMed ID: 9929457DOI: 10.1242/jeb.202.5.543Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research explores how the development of microcracking and failure in bone varies depending on the mode of loading it undergoes, with a focus on the equine radius bone.
Research Methodology
- Specimens from two cortices of the equine radius bone – anterior (front) and posterior (back) – were analyzed. While the anterior cortex is mainly loaded in tension, the posterior is predominantly loaded in compression.
- The researchers used laser scanning confocal microscopy to examine the pattern of failure in the cortical specimens.
- All the specimens were subjected to four-point bending at increasingly higher loads.
Microcracking Quantification
- The researchers quantified the extent of diffuse microcracking on the tensile side of the specimens by observing the amount of light emitted under laser illumination.
- The results from this light-emission method corresponded well with subjective estimates of the amount of microcracking.
- In the experiments, tensile microcracks started appearing at a strain of about 0.004, with a significant increase in microcrack density beyond the tensile strain of approximately 0.008.
Specimen Failures and Differences
- Contrary to the anterior samples, the specimens from the posterior cortex showed only minimal compressive microcracking. These tiny, diffuse cracks caused the specimens to fail first on the tensile side.
- In the anterior cortex specimens, they found more numerous, longer, and less diffuse compression cracks. These specimens initially failed in compression.
Findings and Conclusions
- The failure patterns in both anterior and posterior tissues were consistent with their adapted loading modes. Thus, the anterior tissue (adapted to tension) first fails under compression, while the posterior tissue (adapted to compression) first fails under tension.
- These outcomes support the idea that bone tissues develop microcracks and fail in ways based on the loading conditions to which they are typically exposed.
Cite This Article
APA
Reilly GC, Currey JD.
(1999).
The development of microcracking and failure in bone depends on the loading mode to which it is adapted.
J Exp Biol, 202(Pt 5), 543-552.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.202.5.543 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biology, University of York, PO Box 373, York YO10 5YW, UK. jdc1@york.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bone and Bones / injuries
- Bone and Bones / physiology
- Compressive Strength
- Horses
- Locomotion
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Radius / injuries
- Radius / physiology
- Stress, Mechanical
- Tensile Strength
Citations
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