Research on damage in trabecular bone of the healthy human acetabulum at small strains using nonlinear micro-finite element analysis

Abstract

The mechanical properties of the pelvic trabecular bone have been studied at the continuum level. However, nothing is known about the tissue-level damage in the trabecular bone of the healthy human acetabulum at apparent small strains characteristic of habitual. By a DAWING 4000 A supercomputer, nonlinear micro-finite element (μFE) analysis was performed to quantify tissue-level damage accumulation in trabecular bone at small strains. The data indicate that damage in trabecular bone commence at 0.2% apparent strain. The findings imply that tissue yielding can initiate at very low strains in the trabecular bone of the healthy acetabulum and that this local failure has negative consequences on the apparent mechanical properties of trabecular bone.