Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the effects of anisotropy on bone mechanical properties measured by nanoindentation

Abstract

A three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) model with elastic–plastic anisotropy was built to investigate the effects of anisotropy on nanoindentation measurements for cortical bone. The FEA model has demonstrated a capability to capture the cortical bone material response under the indentation process. By comparison with the contact area obtained from monitoring the contact profile in FEA simulations, the Oliver–Pharr method was found to underpredict or overpredict the contact area due to the effects of anisotropy. The amount of error (less than 10% for cortical bone) depended on the indentation orientation. The indentation modulus results obtained from FEA simulations at different surface orientations showed a trend similar to experimental results and were also similar to moduli calculated from a mathematical model. The Oliver–Pharr method has been shown to be useful for providing first-order approximations in the analysis of anisotropic mechanical properties of cortical bone, although the indentation modulus is influenced by anisotropy.