Heterogeneous linear elastic trabecular bone modelling using micro-CT attenuation data and experimentally measured heterogeneous tissue properties

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Harrison, Noel M.^1,2; McDonnell, Pat F.^1,2; O’Mahoney, Denis C.¹; Kennedy, Oran D.^3,4; O’Brien, Fergal J.^3,4; McHugh, Peter E.^1,2

Heterogeneous linear elastic trabecular bone modelling using micro-CT attenuation data and experimentally measured heterogeneous tissue properties

J Biomech. August 7, 2008;41(11):2589-2596

©2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Affiliations

¹National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

²Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

³Department of Anatomy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

⁴Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
Abstract and keywords

High-resolution voxel-based finite element software, such as FEEBE developed at the NCBES, is widely used for studying trabecular bone at the micro-scale. A new approach to determine heterogeneous bone tissue material properties for computational models was proposed in this study. The specimen-specific range of tissue moduli across strut width was determined from nanoindentation testing. This range was mapped directly using linear interpolation to that specimen's micro-computed tomography (μCT) grey value range as input material properties for finite element analysis. The method was applied to cuboid trabecular bone samples taken from eight, 4-year-old (skeletally mature) ovine L5 vertebrae. Before undergoing experimental uniaxial compression tests, the samples were μCT scanned and 30 μm resolution finite element models were generated. The linear elastic finite element models were compressed to 1% strain. This material property assignment method for computational models accurately reproduced the experimentally determined apparent modulus and concentrations of stress at locations of failure.

Keywords: Trabecular; Cancellous; Voxel; Vertebra; Nanoindentation; Grey values; μCT
Links

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2008.05.014

PubMed: 18602110

WoS: 000259129000034
History

Accepted: 2008-05-13

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