A stochastic homogenization approach to estimate bone elastic properties

The mechanical properties of bone tissue depend on its hierarchical structure spanning many length scales, from the organ down to the nanoscale. Multiscale models allow estimating bone mechanical properties at the macroscale based on information on bone organization and composition at the lower scales. However, the reliability of these estimates can be questioned in view of the many uncertainties affecting the information which they are based on. In this paper, a new methodology is proposed, coupling probabilistic modeling and micromechanical homogenization to estimate the material properties of bone while taking into account the uncertainties on the bone micro- and nanostructure. Elastic coefficients of bone solid matrix are computed using a three-scale micromechanical homogenization method. A probabilistic model of the uncertain parameters allows propagating the uncertainties affecting their actual values into the estimated material properties of bone. The probability density functions of the random variables are constructed using the Maximum Entropy principle. Numerical simulations are used to show the relevance of this approach.