Mechanical Properties of Human Tibia from Directional Viewpoint

Bone is known to be anisotropic and composite materials. We examined mechanical properties of human fresh tibia from the viewpoint of directional differences by the tensile, compressive and bending tests. The test pieces were cut from the compact bone of the middle part of the shaft. Seven specimens were obtained from one tibia every fifteen degrees from the longitudinal direction to the transverse direction. The results of the tests were discussed from the histological viewpoint on the composite materials. All bones show large values of modulus of elasticity and strength in the longitudinal direction and small ones in the transverse direction. The patterns of the mechanical properties resemble with those of the uni-directional fiber reinforced material.