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The metacarpal bone mineral density of 136 healthy feedlot beef cattle of four different breeds (Charolaise, Limousine, Irish Crossbreed and Slovakian Crossbreed) raised and fed on standard conditions was measured by means of a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique in an ex vivo study design. The average reference values (mean ± SD) of bone mineral density (BMD) for animals aged between 12 and 22 months and weighing between 236 and 546 kg have been reported and the effects of (i) breed, (ii) gender, (iii) age and (iv) body weight on bone mineral density have been considered. A significant difference (i) among different breeds and (ii) between genders resulted, whereas a high correlation between bone density and (iii) age and (iv) body weight was detected within the same breed and gender, with body weight being the most important factor affecting BMD. A modern new technological insight into the study of bovine bone physio-pathology is proposed.

Fire could dramatically reduce strength of reinforced concrete elements and it is considered one of the major threats for the structural safety of buildings: structural members may even collapse due to intensity and duration of fire. In this study, 3D finite element simulations of reinforced concrete elements under fire loading are presented. A quasi static one-way-coupled thermo-mechanical analysis is carried out, in which a heat transfer simulation is conducted first and then internal forces are computed. A phe- nomenological constitutive model based on damage-plasticity is used for concrete at high temperature. Transient creep strains are included in the model for elevated temperature. Extended Leon model is used for yield function and isotropic damage is assumed. Numer- ical results are compared with experimental data found in the literature, showing good agreement.