Fracture of Femur: Simulation and Photoelasticity Analysis

Bones, particularly long ones, are among the most fascinating and intriguing materials, not only because of the complicated structure, but also because of their mechanical behavior, which is still not completely understood.Finite Element computer simulations of the modal behaviour of human femur were compared to experimental results of the resonance frequencies of actual bones, indicating that the details of the boundary conditions and the cross section are key if a better understanding of the mechanical properties of bones is to be achieved. Fractures do not present a defined path, neither when they first appear, nor in their evolution along the cross section, but rather show a totally irregular section. FEM simulations point out the need of taking into account possible changes in cross section and boundary conditions of the epiphysis of femoral human bones. Finite Element computer simulations of the modal behaviour of human femur were compared to experimental results of the resonance frequencies of actual bones, indicating that the details of the boundary conditions and the cross section are key if a better understanding of the mechanical properties of bones is to be achieved. The stress distribution, in both epiphysis and diaphysis femoral regions, was determined by photoelasticity experiments.