On the modelling of long bones in structural analyses.

Results of experimental strain gauge and theoretical stress analysis methods are used to investigate the mechanical behavior of the human femur as a structural element under loading. It is shown that when the cortical bone material is assumed to demonstrate linear elastic, homogeneous and transversely isotropic behavior excellent agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions is obtained. It also follows that the bone shaft can, by reasonable approximation, be represented by an axisymmetric model.