Summary: | The analysis of the bone fracture behaviour is fundamental for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of traumas. In the present paper, an experimental analysis of the fracture behaviour of a bovine femoral cortical bone is carried out, where specimens are extracted from a diaphysis. Fracture toughness is computed by employing a two-parameter fracture model originally proposed for concrete. In order to take into account the possibility of crack deflection (kinked crack) due to osteons orientation, a modified version of such a model is here discussed. The fracture toughness results are then compared with those reported in the literature, related to a femur of an 18-month-old bovine.
|