Motion of Low Viscosity Liquids in Cortical Bone Subjected to Cyclic Loading

Abstract

The viscoelastic properties of cortical beef bone were determined by measuring the strain0time relationship of bone under a constant stress of 2 kgm/mm2. From the strain-time diagrams, numerical expressions for the creep compliance and complex compliance of bone were derived. It is postulated that when bone is subjected to a cyclic stress that in each cycle energy is expended in moving low viscosity liquids in bone. It is proposed that this motion of low viscosity liquids is of prime importance in supplying nutrients to the living bone cells.