Fracture toughness of compact bone

Bonfield, W.; Datta, P. K.

Affiliations

¹Department of Materials Queen Mary College, London, England

²Current address: Department of Chemistry and Metallurgy, Glasgow College of Technology, Glasgow, Scotland

Abstract

The tensile fracture stress (σ_fr) of longitudinal bovine tibia compact bone specimens was measured as a function of the length (c) and radius of curvature (r) of machined edge cracks. It was established that, for a given value of r, then

σ_fr = Ae^10.5 - B

where A and B are constants. A fracture mechanics method was utilised to derive values of the fracture toughness (as defined by the critical stress intensity factor, K_IC), the specific surface energy (7) and the “intrinsic” flaw size (c₀). The advantages and limitations of this approach are discussed.

Links

DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(76)90151-2

PubMed: 1254608

WoS: A1976BH09400003

History

Received: 1975-05-04

Revised: 1975-06-06

Cited Works (6)

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Cited By (37)

Year	Entry
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1978	Robertson DM, Robertson D, Barrett CR. Fracture toughness, critical crack length and plastic zone size in bone. J Biomech. 1978;11(8-9):359-364.
1978	Bonfield W, Grynpas MD, Young RJ. Crack velocity and the fracture of bone. J Biomech. 1978;11(10-12):473-479.
1979	Alto A, Pope MH. On the fracture toughness of equine metacarpi. J Biomech. 1979;12(6):415-421.
1984	Behiri JC, Bonfield W. Fracture mechanics of bone: the effects of density, specimen thickness and crack velocity on longitudinal fracture. J Biomech. 1984;17(1):25-34.
1984	Moyle DD, Bowden RW. Fracture of human femoral bone. J Biomech. 1984;17(3):203-213.
1986	Park HC, Lakes RS. Cosserat micromechanics of human bone: strain redistribution by a hydration sensitive constituent. J Biomech. 1986;19(5):385-397.
1987	Bonfield W. Advances in the fracture mechanics of cortical bone. J Biomech. 1987;20(11-12):1071-1081.
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2011	Abdel-Wahab AA-GM. Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Deformation and Fracture of Cortical Bone Tissue [PhD thesis]. Loughborough University; August 2011.
2012	Jimenez Palomar I. Mechanical Properties of Bone At the Sub-lamellar Level [PhD thesis]. London, England: Queen Mary University of London; September 2012.
1984	Bertram JE. Fracture Toughness Design in Equine Hoof Wall [Master's thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; June 1984.
2011	Barth HD. A Hierarchical Approach to Characterizing the Fracture Behavior of Bone Utilizing Synchrotron Radiation [PhD thesis]. Berkeley, CA: Berkeley, University of California; F 2011.
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1994	Jepsen KJ. Characterization of the Hierarchical Composite Properties of Cortical Bone: A Transgenic Approach [PhD thesis]. University of Michigan; 1994.
2022	Snow TJ. An Investigation of the Role of Collagen Network on the Dynamic Fracture Initiation Toughness of Bovine Cortical Bone [Master's thesis]. University of Utah; December 2022.
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1993	Sedman AJ. Mechanical Failure and Antler: The Accumulation of Bone of Damage [PhD thesis]. York, UK: University of York; September 1993.