OF THESIS REFERENCE POINT INDENTATION OF HUMAN TRABECULAR BONE TREATED WITH BISPHOSPHONATES FOR VARYING DURATIONS Reference point indentation (RPI), a novel form of micro-indentation, quantifies RPI material parameters which correlate with modulus, yield stress, strength, or toughness. Information linking bisphosphonate treatment length with the material properties of osteoporotic trabecular bo...

Descriptions of the mechanical behaviors of articular cartilage and their correlations with collagen, proteoglycan, water, and ions are summarized, with particular emphasis on understanding the osmotic effect inside the tissue. First, a descriptive explanation is presented of the biphasic theory required to understand how interstitial water contributes toward the viscoelastic behavior of any hy...

The remarkable mechanical performance of biological materials is based on intricate structure-function relationships. Nanoindentation has become the primary tool for characterising biological materials, as it allows to relate structural changes to variations in mechanical properties on small scales. However, the respective theoretical background and associated interpretation of the parameters m...