Mechanical properties of trabecular bone through compression and combined compression-torsion test: a comparative study

Abstract

In realistic service of life, trabecular bone is subjected to multiaxial stress histories during physiological routine activities thus investigation on the mechanical environment is important to evaluate the mechanistic aspects of bone failure in trauma. This study attempts to compare the material properties of trabecular bone with regard to mechanical properties in axial compression and combined compression-torsion. How superimposed axial compression and torsion loads would alter the axial mechanical properties is explained. Shear loading demonstrates tenfold reduction in modulus and 27% reduction in yield strength of bone in comparison to the properties of bone in pure compression. This condition shows that superimposed torsional loading is possible to accelerate bone yielding.