Variation of Stress Intensity Factor and Strain Energy Release Rate in Human Cortical Bone using Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

Finite element modelling and analysis is an alternative way to study human fracture behaviour in biomechanics field compared to experimental test in laboratory. The aim of this study is to analyse the stress intensity factor (K) and strain energy release rate (J-integral) when three-point bending test and tensile test are applied on a two-dimensional (2D) cortical bone model developed by using finite element software with different applied loads and crack-to-width ratios. Two methods are used to to evaluate the values of K and J-integral which are Displacement Extrapolation Method (DEM) and CINT method. The values then been compared with other theoretical expression done by other researchers for validation purposes. It has been proved that by using CINT method, the error is very small compared to DEM method. As a result, stress intensity factor values increased as crack-to-width ratio increased and strain energy release rate also increased as crack-to-width ratio and loads increased. It can be concluded that finite element analysis can be used to study the fracture behaviour of human cortical bone. Therefore, researchers can easily study the behaviour of cortical bone using simulation instead of mechanical experiment.