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Prot et al. How cancellous bone behaves at intermediate strain rates
DOI:10.1038/bonekey.2016.90
It is well established that the mechanical strength of cancellous bone is dependent on strain rate but data is lacking for the intermediate strain rate at which most non-fatal bone injuries occur. Prot et al. sought to redress this balance using 127 samples of bovine bone.
Three methods of compression were used; a Universal testing machine for quasi-static compression, an adapted wedge-bar apparatus and a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar, which was used with a tandem momentum trap and a cone-in-tube striker.
Data analysis from the experiments confirmed that bovine cancellous bone is sensitive to strain rate; when 8 strain rates were considered, a rate dependence of approximately 3.8 kPa per decade was noted. Novel data was generated in the intermediate regime. The samples are now being examined to investigate how strain rate impacts on the location of the initiation of fracture.
Editor’s comment: This experimental study reports the rate-dependent modulus and ultimate properties of bovine trabecular bone for a broad range of strain rates. The analysis of these interesting results would have benefited from taking account of the well-known boundary artifacts and from performing a proper normalization with respect to volume fraction and fabric.
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