Bone is similar to other engineering materials in that it is a composite tissue consisting of an organic collagen matrix, a hydroxyapatite mineral phase, and water. This connective tissue is unique in that it is constantly remodeling its structure in response to applied loads. However, high mechanical stresses resulting from trauma can exceed the bone's material strength and cause fracture. Due to bone's unique structure, fractures often form distinct patterns and forensic scientists can analyze these patterns to determine the cause of an injury. This thesis explores two major topics in bone biomechanics. First, the effect of exercise on skeletal mechanical properties is studied, focusing on the contributions of material and geometrical properties to whole-bone strength and stiffness. Using these data, a model is developed to provide a predictive metric for whole-bone mechanical properties from a non-invasive computed tomography scan. Second, the fracture patterns of different bones under various traumatic scenarios are studied. One study advances the development of an infant porcine model for fracture in the developing human skull. In particular, the effects of fall height and impact interface on fracture severity are examined. A second study explores the fracture patterns generated from bending failure of long bones and introduces a novel mechanism for the formation of these fractures.
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