An intermediate loading rate technique for the determination of mechanical properties of human femoral cortical bone

An experimental method to evaluate the mechanical properties of human femoral cortical bone under an intermediate strain rate of 4 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ is presented. The dynamic loading was developed by dropping weights from various heights; results were obtained for Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio when the specimens were loaded along the longitudinal axis of the femur. The results were compared with those under a slow strain rate of 2 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ and a fast strain rate of 1 × 10⁻² s⁻¹. It was found that Young's modulus for the intermediate strain rate is 10.5% higher than for the slow strain rate and 10% lower than for the fast strain rate. Poisson's ratio did not show any significant variation for the above three strain rates. The results were compared with those given previously by other investigators.