Size effect method application for modeling of human cancellous bone using geometrically exact Cosserat elasticity

In the present study, the method of size effect was used to describe the hierarchical multi-scale behavior of trabecular human bone using micro-CT image. The micro-CT images extracted from a 98-year old male patient were used to provide the 3D-model of cancellous bone, which involves one of the most complex natural pore network. The non-linear or so-called geometrically exact Cosserat elasticity including Augmented Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method has been used to handle the multi-scale behavior of trabecular human bone involving size effect in explicit manner. We have chosen the conformal energy density within micro-randomness issue in which the heterogeneous deformations at small scales are inherently sustained.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The real geometry of trabecular or spongy bone has been successfully created using 2D micro-CT images, 3D reconstruction algorithms, orphan mesh-to-geometry creation algorithm and analytical geometry re-meshing issue. ► Smoothly-motivated hierarchical multi-scale modeling based upon the method of size effect on the cancellous bone has been proposed and put into practice.