Compression testing of biomimetic bones with 3D deformation measurements

Knowledge of mechanical properties of trabecular bones is important for the designing of bone replacements and implants as well as the research of bone diseases such as osteoporosis. However, due to difficulties on harvesting and preparing trabecular bone specimens, as well as uniqueness on microstructure and mechanical properties of each trabecular bone specimen, it is expensive to use real trabecular bone specimens to validate and to calibrate the experimental technique. In this research we use the open-cell aluminum foam as a replacement of the trabecular bone. Two 45° mirrors and two CCD cameras are used in our experimental setup to acquire images of four surfaces during the compression. Two-dimensional digital image correlation technique is used to measure surface deformations based on these images.