Multi-field Bone Remodeling under Axial and Transverse Loads

Internal and surface bone remodelling of inhomogeneous long cylindrical bone is studied both theoretically and numerically in this chapter. Based on the theory of adaptive elasticity, two solutions for thermoelectroelastic problems of bone remodelling, are presented to study effects of mechanical, thermal and electric loads on bone remodelling process. The external loads may be of coupled axial force, external lateral pressure, electric, magnetic and thermal loads or the load as a result of a force-fitted medullary pin. The analytical solution is used for investigating bone remodelling process on the basis of assuming a homogeneous bone material. Though all bone is heterogeneous, assumption of homogeneity is made to entail a smoothing over features such as osteons, lamellae, fibres, and other structural elements, so that a continuum representation can be obtained. In contrast, the semi-analytical solution is developed for analysing bone materials that are assumed to be radially inhomogeneous. These two solutions are then extended to include magnetic effect. Numerical results are presented to verify the proposed formulation and to show the effects of mechanical, thermal and electric loads on bone remodelling process.