Mechanisms governing the inelastic deformation of cortical bone and application to trabecular bone

To understand the inelastic response of bone, a three-part investigation has been conducted. In the first, unload/reload tests have been used to characterize the hysteresis and provide insight into the mechanisms causing the strain. The second part devises a model for the stress/strain response, based on understanding developed from the measurements. The model rationalizes the inelastic deformation in tension, as well as the permanent strain and hysteresis. In the third part, a constitutive law representative of the deformation is selected and used to illustrate the coupled buckling and bending of ligaments that arise when trabecular bone is loaded in compression. (c) 2005 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.