Publication: Deformation of cortical bone under impact loading
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Date
2024-07-01
Authors
Gooi Zhen Quan
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Abstract
Cortical bone plays a crucial role in the human musculoskeletal system, providing structural support and enabling movement. Understanding its mechanical response to high-impact events is essential for improving injury prevention strategies, prosthetic design, and treatment approaches for bone-related injuries. Despite extensive research on cortical bone's response to impact loading, aspects of its deformation mechanisms and failure behaviours require further investigation. This research project aims to address this critical gap by investigating the deformation mechanisms and failure behaviours of cortical bone under dynamic impact loading conditions. The research project utilizes a comprehensive methodology combining experimental techniques and advanced imaging analysis. Custom-designed impactors and supports were fabricated to accommodate the specific requirements of bone specimens. Natural bovine bone specimens were prepared and subjected to impact loading tests using a drop impact tower, with a high-speed camera capturing the rapid deformation processes in real time. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) techniques were used to analyze strain fields, providing detailed insights into the distribution of maximum shear strain and absolute strain rate. The research project examined the effects of varying drop heights and impact forces on fracture patterns and strain distributions. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was utilized to investigate the microstructural characteristics of bone specimens, particularly focusing on porosity. Key findings include the observation of increasingly complex fracture patterns with higher impact forces, the characterization of strain field evolution under different impact loading conditions, and the identification of a significant relationship between bone porosity and its deformation behaviour. The results demonstrate that higher porosity correlates with increased maximum shear strain and absolute strain rate, likely due to reduced load-bearing capacity and increased stress concentrations. These findings will contribute to the field of bone biomechanics by providing a detailed understanding of cortical bone's response to impact loading, which has implications for improving bone injury prevention and treatment strategies.