Intermediate strain rate behaviour of cancellous bone: Links between microstructural and mechanical properties

Relationships between the micro-architecture description of cancellous bone, obtained from medical imaging, and its mechanical properties can be used to assess the compression fracture risk at high and low strain rate. This study extends the rupture prediction to the intermediate strain rate regime. The micro-architecture description was obtained with a CT-scan, for which geometry, topology, connectivity and anisotropy parameters were computed and compared to mechanical identified parameters in order to confirm their usefulness. Three strain rates were investigated: 1/s, 10/s and 100/s using two different devices: a Wedge-Bar apparatus and a conventional split Hopkinson pressure bar implemented with a Cone-in-Tube striker and a tandem momentum trap. This setup provides a constant strain rate loading with routine specimen recovery allowing the fracture zone to be investigated. This study reveals that a transition in the response behaviour occurred in the intermediate regime and confirms the significant porous organization influence through the regimes.