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Publications in Scientific Journals:

A.G. Reisinger, D. H. Pahr, P.K. Zysset:
"Sensitivity Analysis and Parametric Study of Elastic Properties of an Unidirectional Mineralized Bone Fibril-Array Using Mean Field Methods";
Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, 9 (2010), 5; 499 - 510.



English abstract:
The key parameters determining the elastic properties of an unidirectional mineralized bone fibril-array decomposed in two further hierarchical levels are investigated using mean field methods. Modeling of the elastic properties of mineralized micro- and nanostructures requires accurate information about the underlying topology and the constituents´ material properties. These input data are still afflicted by great uncertainties and their influence on computed elastic constants of a bone fibril-array remains unclear. In this work, mean field methods are applied to model mineralized fibrils, the extra-fibrillar matrix and the resulting fibril-array. The isotropic or transverse isotropic elastic constants of these constituents are computed as a function of degree of mineralization, mineral distribution between fibrils and extra-fibrillar matrix, collagen stiffness and fibril volume fraction. The linear sensitivity of the elastic constants was assessed at a default set of the above parameters. The strain ratios between the constituents as well as the axial and transverse indentation moduli of the fibril-array were calculated for comparison with experiments. Results indicate that the degree of mineralization and the collagen stiffness dominate fibril-array elasticity. Interestingly, the stiffness of the extra-fibrillar matrix has a strong influence on transverse and shear moduli of the fibril-array. The axial strain of the intra-fibrillar mineral platelets is 30-90% of the applied fibril strain, depending on mineralization and collagen stiffness. The fibril-to-fibril-array strain ratio is essentially ~1. This study provides an improved insight in the parameters, which govern the fibril-array stiffness of mineralized tissues such as bone.


"Official" electronic version of the publication (accessed through its Digital Object Identifier - DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10237-010-0190-1



Related Projects:
Project Head Franz G. Rammerstorfer:
Mikromechanik von Lamellenknochen


Created from the Publication Database of the Vienna University of Technology.