A determination of the minimum sizes of representative volume elements for the prediction of cortical bone elastic properties

摘要: At its highest level of microstructural organization—the mesoscale or millimeter scale—cortical bone exhibits a heterogeneous distribution pores (Haversian canals, resorption cavities). Multi-scale mechanical models rely on the definition representative volume element (RVE). Analytical homogenization techniques are usually based an idealized RVE microstructure, while finite using high-resolution images is realistic size. The objective this paper was to quantify size and content possible cortical RVEs. defined as minimum size: (1) for which apparent (homogenized) stiffness tensor becomes independent applied boundary conditions (2) variance elastic properties set microstructure realizations sufficiently small. field coefficients in RVEs derived from one acoustic microscopy image human femur sample with overall porosity 8.5%. homogenized were computed technique. It found that tissue about 1.5 mm. Smaller (~0.5 mm) can also be considered estimate local mesoscopic strongly depend fraction. This result provides sound basis application model heterogeneity microstructures. An findings case gradient briefly presented.