Anisotropy is an essential attribute exhibited by most biological materials. Based on the recent work on anisotropy of a wide range of crystals and polycrystals, we propose an appropriate measure (A) to quantify the extent of elastic anisotropy in biomaterials by accounting the tensorial nature (both stiffness-based and compliance-based) of their elastic properties. Next, we derive a relationship between A and an empirically defined existing measure. Also, the preceding measure is used to quantify the extent of anisotropy in select biological materials that include bone, dentitional tissues, and a variety of woods. Our results indicate that woods are an order of magnitude more anisotropic than hard tissues and apatites. Finally, based on the available data, it is found that the anisotropy in human femur increases by over 40% when measured between 30% and 70% of the total femur length.
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November 2011
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Quantifying the Anisotropy in Biological Materials
Shivakumar I. Ranganathan,
Shivakumar I. Ranganathan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, American University of Sharjah
, Sharjah, 26666, United Arabic Emirates
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Martin Ostoja-Starzewski,
e-mail: martinos@illinois.edu
Martin Ostoja-Starzewski
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Institute for Condensed Matter Theory, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, Urbana, IL
61801 e-mail:
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Mauro Ferrari
Mauro Ferrari
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
, 6670 Bertner St., M.S. R2-216, Houston, TX
77030; President, Alliance for Nanohealth, Houston, TX 77030 e-mail:
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Shivakumar I. Ranganathan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, American University of Sharjah
, Sharjah, 26666, United Arabic Emirates
e-mail:
Martin Ostoja-Starzewski
Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Institute for Condensed Matter Theory, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, Urbana, IL
61801 e-mail: e-mail: martinos@illinois.edu
Mauro Ferrari
The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
, 6670 Bertner St., M.S. R2-216, Houston, TX
77030; President, Alliance for Nanohealth, Houston, TX 77030 e-mail: J. Appl. Mech. Nov 2011, 78(6): 064501 (4 pages)
Published Online: August 25, 2011
Article history
Received:
May 27, 2010
Revised:
November 7, 2010
Posted:
July 11, 2011
Published:
August 25, 2011
Online:
August 25, 2011
Citation
Ranganathan, S. I., Ostoja-Starzewski, M., and Ferrari, M. (August 25, 2011). "Quantifying the Anisotropy in Biological Materials." ASME. J. Appl. Mech. November 2011; 78(6): 064501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4004553
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