Just published in this month's Journal of Materials Research--a study on poroelastic nanoindentation characterization for hydrated bone samples.  Poroelastic problems are notoriously difficult to incorporate into routine materials characterization due to the paucity of problems with closed-form solutions.  However, in some cases, a master-curve does exist and parameter identification can be accomplished without requiring inverse finite element analysis and optimization for every condition.  The abstract follows, linked from here .

Poroelastic nanoindentation responses of hydrated bone, J. Mater. Res. 23 (2008) 1307.

One of the most common problems in older people is the fragility of the bones. Human bones are prone to fracture, and fracture of certain bones in the body such as the cortical bone may be fatal. Understanding of the fracture mechanism of bones is essential for the medical profession, and plays a major role in the study of osteoporosis as well.  

Nanoindentation testing of time-dependent materials is becoming increasingly relevant with advances in areas such as polymer science and the study of materials in biological systems. However, mechanical characterization at micrometer or nanometer length scales is not trivial in such materials that may be highly compliant, heterogeneous, or possess unique morphological characteristics. Although many researchers have made progress in overcoming key challenges that are involved in testing non-traditional materials, significant advancements must still be made to optimize testing methodologies and analytical techniques.

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a good comprehencive overview about bio-mechanics and numerical simulation in

bio-mechanics. I'm mainly interested in the following topics:

-- mathematical models for bone simulation

-- contact problems and corresponding models (e.g., bone-prosthesis models, etc.)

-- corresponding numerics/simulations

and corresponding state-of-the-art.

Thanks in advance! 

Post-Graduate Research Scientist Position
in Musculoskeletal Biomechanics

Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery,
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
________________

Numerical and Clinical Evaluation of
Bone Remodelling Processes
________________

The Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery is searching for a highly

A viscous-elastic-plastic indentation model was used to assess the local variability of properties in healing porcine bone. Constant loading- and unloading-rate depth-sensing indentation tests were performed and properties were computed from nonlinear curve-fits of the unloading displacement-time data. Three properties were obtained from the fit: modulus (the coefficient of an elastic reversible process), hardness (the coefficient of a nonreversible, time-independent process) and viscosity (the coefficient of a nonreversible, time-dependent process). The region adjacent to the dental implant interface demonstrated a slightly depressed elastic modulus along with an increase in local time-dependence (lower viscosity); there was no clear trend in bone hardness with respect to the implant interface.