Mode I fracture characterization of human bone using the DCB test

Abstract

Fracture characterization of human cortical bone under pure mode I loading is performed in this work. Aminiaturized version of the double cantilever test (DCB) test was used for the experimental tests. A datareduction scheme based on crack equivalent concept and Timoshenko beam theory is proposed to overcomedifficulties inherent to crack length monitoring during the test. The application of the method propitiates aneasy determination of the Resistance-curves that allow defining the fracture energy under mode I loadingfrom the plateau region. The average value of fracture energy was subsequently used in a numerical analysiswith element method involving cohesive zone modelling. The aim is to validate the proposed test andprocedure concerning fracture characterization of human cortical bone under pure mode I loading. A bilinearcohesive zone model was used to simulate damage initiation and growth. The cohesive parameters weredetermined by an inverse procedure involving the fitting of numerical and experimental load-displacementcurves. The excellent agreement obtained reveals that the proposed test and associated methodology is quiteeffective concerning fracture characterization of human cortical bone under pure mode I loading.