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BIOMECHANICS OF BONES
Farhod Turaev Warsaw University of Technology
Contents
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Introduction
The Skeleton System
Types of the Bones
Composition of Bones
Functions of Bones
Bone Biomechanics
Introduction
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Bone tissue, or osseous tissue, - a type of connective
tissue used in forming bones.
Bones protect the vital organs and help support the
body.
Bone is composed mainly of collagen, or ossein,
fibers, and bone cells called osteocytes. There are two
types of bone tissue, referred to as cortical bone and
cancellous bone.
The Skeleton System
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299 bones (baby), 209 bones (adults)
4 basic shapes
Types of the Bones
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4 basic shapes:
Long bones (femur)
Types of the Bones
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4 basic shapes:
Short bones (wrist, ankle)
Types of the Bones
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4 basic shapes:
Flat bones (skull, scapula)
Types of the Bones
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4 basic shapes:
Irregular bones (vertebrae)
Composition of Bones
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Functions of Bones
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Mechanical properties of bone
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Relatively hard;
Lightweight;
Composite material;
high compressive strength of about
170 MPa (1800 kgf/cm²);
poor tensile strength of 104–121 MPa;
very low shear stress strength (51.6 MPa).
Basic Biomechanics
Material Properties Structural Properties
Elastic-Plastic Bending Stiffness
Yield point Torsional Stiffness
Brittle-Ductile Axial Stiffness
Toughness Depends on Shape
Independent of and Material!
Shape!
Basic Biomechanics
Force, Displacement & Stiffness
Force
Slope Stiffness =
Force/Displacement
Displacement
Basic Biomechanics
Force
Area L
Stress = Force/Area Strain Change Height (L) /
Original Height(L0)
Basic Biomechanics
Stress-Strain & Elastic Modulus
Stress =
Force/Area
Elastic Modulus =
Stress/Strain
Strain =
Change in Length/Original Length (L/ L0)
Basic Biomechanics
Elastic Modulus (GPa) of Common Materials
in Orthopaedics
Stainless Steel 200
Titanium 100
Cortical Bone 7-21
Bone Cement 2.5-3.5
Cancellous Bone 0.7-4.9
UHMW-PE 1.4-4.2
Basic Biomechanics
Elastic Deformation Elastic Plastic
Plastic Deformation
Energy Force
Energy
Absorbed
Displacement
Basic Biomechanics
Elastic Plastic
Failure
• Stiffness-Flexibility Yield
• Yield Point
Force
• Failure Point
• Brittle-Ductile
Stiffness
• Toughness-Weakness
Displacement
Flexible
Brittle Flexible
Strong Ductile
Tough
Strong
Flexible Flexible
Stress Brittle Ductile
Weak Weak
Strain
Basic Biomechanics
Load to Failure Fatigue Failure
Continuous application Cyclical sub-threshold
of force until the loading may result in
material breaks failure due to fatigue.
(failure point at the Common mode of
ultimate load). failure of orthopaedic
Common mode of implants and fracture
failure of bone and fixation constructs.
reported in the implant
literature.
Basic Biomechanics
Material properties of bones:
Anisotropic Viscoelastic
Mechanical properties Stress-Straincharacter
dependent upon dependent upon rate
direction of loading of applied strain (time
dependent).
Bone Biomechanics
Bone is anisotropic - its modulus is dependent upon
the direction of loading.
Bone is weakest in shear, then tension, then
compression.
Ultimate Stress at Failure Cortical Bone
Compression < 212 N/m2
Tension < 146 N/m2
Shear < 82 N/m2
Bone Biomechanics
Bone is viscoelastic: its force-
deformation characteristics are
dependent upon the rate of loading.
Trabecular bone becomes stiffer in
compression the faster it is loaded.
Bone Mechanics
Bone Density
Subtle density
Cortical Bone
changes greatly
changes strength and
elastic modulus Trabecular Bone
Density changes
Normal aging
Disease
Use
Figure from: Browner et al: Skeletal Trauma
Disuse 2nd Ed. Saunders, 1998.
Basic Biomechanics
Bending
Axial
Loading
Tension
Compression
Torsion
Bending Compression Torsion
Fracture Mechanics
Figure from: Browner et al: Skeletal Trauma 2nd Ed, Saunders, 1998.
Fracture Mechanics
Bending load:
Compression strength
greater than
tensile strength
Fails in tension
Figure from: Tencer. Biomechanics in Orthopaedic
Trauma, Lippincott, 1994.
Fracture Mechanics
Torsion
The diagonal in the direction of the applied force is in
tension – cracks perpendicular to this tension diagonal
Spiral fracture 45º to the long axis
Figures from: Tencer. Biomechanics in Orthopaedic
Trauma, Lippincott, 1994.
Fracture Mechanics
Combined bending
& axial load
Oblique fracture
Butterfly fragment
Figure from: Tencer. Biomechanics in Orthopaedic
Trauma, Lippincott, 1994.
Conclusion
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• Stress-Strain-Strength properties;
• Elastic Deformation Analyses;
• Plastic Deformation Analyses;
• Hardness of the parts;
• Resistance of bones.
THANKS !!!
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