Fatigue behavior of the equine third metacarpus:​ mechanical property analysis

Gibson, V. A.; Stover, S. M.; Martin, R. B.; Gibeling, J. C.; Willits, N. H.; Gustafson, M. B.; Griffin, L. V.

Affiliations

¹Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, U.S.A.

²Veterinary Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, U.S.A.

³Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, College of Engineering, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, U.S.A.

⁴Division of Statistics, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, U.S.A.

Abstract

This is the first in a series of experiments to study the fatigue properties of equine cannon (third metacarpal) bone specimens from Throughbred racehorses. Monotonic and fatigue tests to failure were performed in four-point bending on diaphyseal specimens in a 37°C saline bath to answer three initial questions. (a) Will a linear variable differential transducer yield the same elastic modulus as strain gauges? (b) Will fatigue results depend on whether the periosteal or endosteal side of the beam is in tension? (c) Are there regional variations in the monotonic and fatigue properties of the cannon bone midshaft? Eighteen left-right pairs of specimens from six horses were used. One beam of each pair was fitted with strain gauges. Fatigue tests were conducted on 24 specimens under load control at 2 Hz; an initial range of 0-10,000 microstrain was used so as to produce failure in a reasonable period of time. There were no left-right differences in the fatigue or monotonic properties, and the presence of a gauge had no effect on modulus measured by a linear variable differential transducer. However, gauge-measured moduli were about 1 GPa less than transducer-measured values. Fatigue life was independent of which side of the beam was in tension, and there were significant variations in mechanical properties around the cortex. The lateral region was stiffer than the dorsal region but the latter had a longer fatigue life. The fixed cylindrical supports used in this experimental eventually produced slight wear grooves, causing artifactual stiffening at the end of the load cycle in some specimens. A second experiment using roller supports confirmed the reason for this stiffening. It also showed that fatigue life was shorter when roller supports were used but regional differences were similar.

Links

DOI: 10.1002/jor.1100130609

PubMed: 8544022

WoS: A1995TQ03900008

History

Received: 1994-06-29

Accepted: 1995-04-25

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Cited By (15)

Year	Entry
2002	Currey JD. Bones: Structure and Mechanics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press; 2002.
1996	Martin RB, Gibson VA, Stover SM, Gibeling JC, Griffins LV. Osteonal structure in the equine third metacarpus. Bone. February 1996;18(2):165-171.
1996	Martin RB, Lau ST, Mathews PV, Gibson VA, Stover SM. Collagen fiber organization is related to mechanical properties and remodeling in equine bone: a comparsion of two methods. J Biomech. December 1996;29(12):1515-1521.
1997	Martin RB, Gibson VA, Stover SM, Gibeling JC, Griffin LV. Residual strength of equine bone is not reduced by intense fatigue loading: implications for stress fracture. J Biomech. February 1997;30(2):109-114.
2004	Sobelman OS, Gibeling JC, Stover SM, Hazelwood SJ, Yeh OC, Shelton DR, Martin RB. Do microcracks decrease or increase fatigue resistance in cortical bone? J Biomech. September 2004;37(9):1295-1303.
2006	Gibson VA, Stover SM, Gibeling JC, Hazelwood SJ, Martin RB. Osteonal effects on elastic modulus and fatigue life in equine bone. J Biomech. 2006;39(2):217-225.
2006	Bigley RF, Griffin LV, Christensen L, Vandenbosch R. Osteon interfacial strength and histomorphometry of equine cortical bone. J Biomech. 2006;39(9):1629-1640.
1996	Martin RB, Stover SM, Gibson VA, Gibeling JC, Griffin LV. In vitro fatigue behavior of the equine third metacarpus: remodeling and microcrack damage analysis. J Orthop Res. September 1996;14(5):794-801.
2003	Hiller LP, Stover SM, Gibson VA, Gibeling JC, Prater CS, Hazelwood SJ, Yeh OC, Martin RB. Osteon pullout in the equine third metacarpal bone: effects of ex vivo fatigue. J Orthop Res. May 2003;21(3):481-488.
2007	Doube M. Calcified Tissue Structure in the Distal Condyle of the Third Metacarpal Bone in Young Thoroughbred Horses [PhD thesis]. Queen Mary University of London; December 2007.
2000	Gibson VA. Fatigue Behavior of Equine Third Metacarpal Bone Tissue [PhD thesis]. Davis, University of California; 2000.
2001	Shelton DR. Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior in Equine Cortical Bone [PhD thesis]. Davis, University of California; 2001.
2007	Bigley RF. Volume Effects on Strength and Fatigue Life of Equine Cortical Bone [PhD thesis]. Davis, University of California; September 2007.
2019	Martig S. Compressive Fatigue Life and Micromorphology of Equine Metacarpal Subchondral Bone [PhD thesis]. University of Melbourne; June 2019.
2012	Banglmaier RF. Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of a Hydroxyapatite-Collagen Bone Surrogate [PhD thesis]. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University; August 2012.