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On the description of anisotropy and evolutionary phenomena in bone
Arch. Mech. 51 (3-4), 447-467, 1999
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Abstract
A mathematical formulation is outlined for describing the mechanical properties of bone, including the process of age-related degradation as well as functional adaptation. Bone is considered as an anisotropic material, with the microstructure described in terms of distribution of void space. Both the elastic and elastoplastic formulations are provided, relevant to cortical and highly porous cancellous bone, respectively. The description of aging process invokes the concept of a physiological time whose evolution depends, among other factors, on the level of activity of a living bone. Short term remodelling due to hyperphysiological stress is described within a framework which is conceptually similar to that of age-related degradation, with bone being considered as a hypoelastic/plastic material.