FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Biomech / The fracture toughness of cancellous bone.
Journal of biomechanics2009; 42(13); 2054-2060; doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.06.001

The fracture toughness of cancellous bone.

Abstract: The mechanical capacity and integrity of cancellous bone is crucial in osteoporosis, a condition which is set to become more prevalent with increasing lifespan and population sizes. The fracture toughness (FT) of cancellous bone has never been examined before and the conditions associated with the growth of a major crack through the lattice of cancellous bone, a cellular solid, may improve our understanding for structural integrity of this material. The aim of this study is to provide (i) basic data on cancellous bone FT and (ii) the experimental support for the hypothesis of Gibson, L.J., Ashby, M.F. [1997a. Chapter 10: Wood. In: Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties, second ed. Cambridge University Press, pp. 387-428; Gibson, L.J., Ashby, M.F., 1997b. Chapter 11: Cancellous Bone. In: Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties, second ed. Cambridge University Press, pp. 429-52] that the FT of cancellous bone tissue is governed by the density of the tissue to a power function of between one and two. 294 SENB and 121 DC(T) specimen were manufactured from 45 human femoral heads, 37 osteoporotic and 8 osteoarthritic, as well as 19 equine thoracic vertebrae. The samples were manufactured in two groups: the first aligned with the trabecular structure (A( parallel)), the second orientated at 90 degrees to the main trabecular orientation (A( perpendicular)). The samples were tested in either tensile or bending mode to provide values of the stress intensity factor (K). The results which were obtained show a strong and significant link between the density of the cancellous bone tissue and that the critical stress intensity values are governed by the density of the tissue to a power function of between 1 and 2 (K(Q) vs. apparent density: A( perpendicular)=1.58, A( parallel)=1.6). Our results provide some fundamental values for the critical stress intensity factor for cancellous bone and also support the previous hypothesis as set by Gibson, L.J., Ashby, M.F., 1997a. Chapter 10: Wood. In: Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties, second ed. Cambridge University Press, pp. 387-428; Gibson, L.J., Ashby, M.F., (1997b). Chapter 11: Cancellous Bone. In: Cellular Solids: Structure and Properties, second ed. Cambridge University Press, pp. 429-52.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2009-07-29 PubMed ID: 19643417DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.06.001Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article examines the fracture toughness (FT) of cancellous bone, arguing that bone density plays a significant role in governing FT. The research supports a hypothesis by Gibson and Ashby and offers new data collected from human and equine bone samples.

Goal of the Research

  • The research aims to explore an area that hasn’t been extensively studied before: the Fracture Toughness (FT) of cancellous bone. Cancellous bone is the sponge-like material found at the end of long bones and in the pelvis, ribs, skull, and the vertebrae in the spine.
  • The authors argue that better understanding the conditions wherein significant cracks grow through this bone structure could enhance overall comprehension of its structural integrity, especially important in aging populations and conditions like osteoporosis.

Key Hypothesis

  • The researchers aim to provide experimental support for a hypothesis by Gibson and Ashby suggesting that the FT of cancellous bone tissue is chiefly governed by the tissue density, using a power function between one and two.

Methodology

  • The researchers produced 294 Single-Edge-Notch-Bend (SENB) and 121 Disk-shaped Compact Tension (DC(T)) samples from 45 human femoral heads and 19 equine thoracic vertebrae. Among the human samples, 37 were from osteoporotic bones and 8 were from osteoarthritic bones.
  • The samples were divided into two groups based on their alignment with the trabecular bone structure — either parallel or perpendicular to the main orientation.
  • These samples were then tested using tensile or bending procedures to provide stress intensity factor (K) values.

Findings

  • The results showed a strong correlation between the density of cancellous bone tissue and the governing of critical stress intensity values.
  • They also confirmed the previously set Gibson-Ashby hypothesis, indicating that the relationship between toughness and bone density conforms to a power function between 1 and 2. This means that denser bone tissue tends to be tougher, which is important information for understanding how to combat bone conditions like osteoporosis.
  • The research supports the idea that the strength and resilience of cancellous bone are heavily influenced by its physical density, providing key insights into the workings of bone health and development.

Cite This Article

APA
Cook RB, Zioupos P. (2009). The fracture toughness of cancellous bone. J Biomech, 42(13), 2054-2060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.06.001

Publication

Journal of biomechanics
ISSN: 1873-2380
NlmUniqueID: 0157375
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 42
Issue: 13
Pages: 2054-2060

Researcher Affiliations

Cook, R B
  • nCATS, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. r.b.cook@soton.ac.uk
Zioupos, P

    MeSH Terms

    • Aged
    • Bone Density
    • Compressive Strength
    • Computer Simulation
    • Elastic Modulus
    • Female
    • Femoral Neck Fractures / physiopathology
    • Hardness
    • Humans
    • Male
    • Middle Aged
    • Models, Biological
    • Osteoarthritis / complications
    • Osteoarthritis / physiopathology
    • Osteoporosis / complications
    • Osteoporosis / physiopathology
    • Tensile Strength
    • Weight-Bearing

    Citations

    This article has been cited 10 times.
    1. Carson MD, Warner AJ, Hathaway-Schrader JD, Geiser VL, Kim J, Gerasco JE, Hill WD, Lemasters JJ, Alekseyenko AV, Wu Y, Yao H, Aguirre JI, Westwater C, Novince CM. Minocycline-induced disruption of the intestinal FXR/FGF15 axis impairs osteogenesis in mice.. JCI Insight 2023 Jan 10;8(1).
      doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.160578pubmed: 36413391google scholar: lookup
    2. Li J, Yang F, Long Y, Dong Y, Wang Y, Wang X. Bulk Ferroelectric Metamaterial with Enhanced Piezoelectric and Biomimetic Mechanical Properties from Additive Manufacturing.. ACS Nano 2021 Sep 28;15(9):14903-14914.
      doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05003pubmed: 34405669google scholar: lookup
    3. Morgan EF, Unnikrisnan GU, Hussein AI. Bone Mechanical Properties in Healthy and Diseased States.. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2018 Jun 4;20:119-143.
      doi: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-062117-121139pubmed: 29865872google scholar: lookup
    4. . Bone Research Society, Annual Meeting 2017 Proceedings. 25-27 June 2017, Bristol, UK.. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 2018 Mar 1;18(1):108-151.
      pubmed: 29504586
    5. Greenwood C, Clement JG, Dicken AJ, Evans JP, Lyburn ID, Martin RM, Rogers KD, Stone N, Adams G, Zioupos P. The micro-architecture of human cancellous bone from fracture neck of femur patients in relation to the structural integrity and fracture toughness of the tissue.. Bone Rep 2015 Dec;3:67-75.
      doi: 10.1016/j.bonr.2015.10.001pubmed: 28377969google scholar: lookup
    6. Dicken AJ, Evans JP, Rogers KD, Stone N, Greenwood C, Godber SX, Clement JG, Lyburn ID, Martin RM, Zioupos P. Classification of fracture and non-fracture groups by analysis of coherent X-ray scatter.. Sci Rep 2016 Jul 1;6:29011.
      doi: 10.1038/srep29011pubmed: 27363947google scholar: lookup
    7. Torres AM, Matheny JB, Keaveny TM, Taylor D, Rimnac CM, Hernandez CJ. Material heterogeneity in cancellous bone promotes deformation recovery after mechanical failure.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016 Mar 15;113(11):2892-7.
      doi: 10.1073/pnas.1520539113pubmed: 26929343google scholar: lookup
    8. Harmata AJ, Uppuganti S, Granke M, Guelcher SA, Nyman JS. Compressive fatigue and fracture toughness behavior of injectable, settable bone cements.. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2015 Nov;51:345-55.
      doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2015.07.027pubmed: 26282077google scholar: lookup
    9. Prygoski MP, Pasang T, Schmid SR, Lozier AJ. High speed insertion of bone fracture fixation pins: a finite element penetration model with experimental comparisons.. J Mater Sci Mater Med 2011 Dec;22(12):2823-32.
      doi: 10.1007/s10856-011-4461-xpubmed: 22042459google scholar: lookup
    10. Green JO, Wang J, Diab T, Vidakovic B, Guldberg RE. Age-related differences in the morphology of microdamage propagation in trabecular bone.. J Biomech 2011 Oct 13;44(15):2659-66.
      doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.08.006pubmed: 21880317google scholar: lookup
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 99,107 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.