Impact induced failure of cartilage-on-bone following creep loading: A microstructural and fracture mechanics study

Cartilage-on-bone samples obtained from healthy bovine patellae, with or without prior static compression (i.e. creep) at 2 MPa for 3 h, were delivered a single impact via an instrumented pendulum indenter at a velocity of 1.13 m/s and an energy of 2.2 J. Mechanical data was obtained and microstructural assessment of the region of failure was carried out using differential interference contrast (DIC) optical imaging. In addition, a fibrillar-level structural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted on a control batch of non-impacted samples that were subjected to either creep or non-creep loading protocols. Arising from the impact event the deepest levels of crack penetration into the articular cartilage occurred in those samples subjected to prior creep loading. Further the crack depth was inversely proportional to the rebound velocity of the indenter. By contrast, those impacted samples not subjected to prior creep loading had only short obliquely patterned microcracks confined to the upper one-third of the full cartilage depth. Ultrastructurally the creep-loaded cartilage matrix exhibited a substantial radial collapse or compaction of the fibrillar network in its primary radial zone. The increase in crack length in the prior creep-loaded cartilage is consistent with a reduction in its dissipative properties as indicated by a reduction in rebound velocity. An interpretation is offered in terms of classical fracture mechanics theory.