Objectives

i) To understand the multi-scale damage mechanisms of bones by performing mechanical tests inside the synchrotron and scanning the bone samples at increasing applied load;

ii) to develop multi-scale numerical models to quantify the stress and strain states close to cracks to determine the critical condition for damage initiation and propagation;

iii) to determine the initiation of damage in bones at micro-scale and the parameters that cause the initiation;

iv) to investigate the interactions of lacunae with cracks;

v) to define a numerical parameter that could be the basis for a damage criterion.

Topic in Brief

The scans performed during the increasing applied load give us the images of damage progression in bones.  The numerical models developed starting from the synchrotron images simulate the test conditions to obtain stress and strain values close to the cracks.

Enrolment &

Planned Secondments

Enrolment: POLIMI

Secondments:

1) Prof. G. Tromba, ELETTRA: Performing tests and scans in synchrotron;

2) Prof. D. Taylor, TCD: development and analysis of 3D models of bones.

Expected Results

i) the realization of a testing device suitable to perform mechanical tests in synchrotron on bone samples; ii) development of 3D numerical models starting from the synchrotron images and analysis to simulate the testing conditions; iii) definition of critical parameters and of a criterion for damage propagation; iv) comparison between the numerical and the experimental results and validation of the criterion.