Tensile testing of bone over a wide range of strain rates: Effects of strain rate, microstructure and density

Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on standardized longitudinal specimens of bovine compact bone at strain rates from 5. 3 multiplied by 10** minus **4 to 237 s** minus **1. After testing, the microstructure and dry density of each specimen was determined. The test results demonstrated highly significant (P less than 0. 01) positive correlations between ultimate strength and strain rate, and between ultimate strength and density. A highly significant negative correlation between ultimate strength and the extent of secondary Haversian remodeling was also found. The modulus of elasticity showed similar correlations with the test parameters. The extent of secondary Haversian remodeling showed a significant (P less than 0. 01) negative correlation with the energy-absorption capacity. Strain rate also had a significant effect on the energy-absorption capacity. Specimens tested at higher strain rates generally absorbed more energy during failure. There was no evidence of a critical velocity at which the energy absorption capacity attained a maximum.