Bearing of geometric and material properties to bone strength in bending

Osteoporosis is characterized by decreasing of bone mass and bone strength with advanced age. For characterization of material properties of bone the volumetric bone mineral density is one of the most important contributing factors to bone strength. Often bending tests of whole bone are used to get information about the state of osteoporosis. From an uniaxial test of a bone specimen it is assumed that an elastic region exists up to initial yield stress and a following hardening region. In bending tests beside material properties geometric properties like shape and cortical thickness appropriate the non-linear moment-curvature curve. The aim of this contribution is to show how an elastic-plastic material law including tensile damage influences the global bending behavior. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)