As a first step toward development of a multiaxial failure criterion for human trabecular bone, the Tsai-Wu quadratic failure criterion was modified as a function of apparent density and applied to bovine tibial trabecular bone. Previous data from uniaxial compressive, tensile, and torsion tests (n = 139 total) were combined with those from new triaxial tests (n = 17) to calibrate and then verify the criterion. Combinations of axial compression and radial pressure were used to produce the triaxial compressive stress states. All tests were performed with minimal end artifacts in the principal material coordinate system of the trabecular network. Results indicated that the stress interaction term F12 exhibited a strong nonlinear dependence on apparent density (r2 > 0.99), ranging from -0.126 MPa-2 at low densities (0.29 g/cm3) to 0.005 MPa-2 at high densities (0.63 g/cm3). After calibration and when used to predict behavior of new-specimens without any curve-fitting, the Tsai-Wu criterion had a mean (+/- SD) error of -32.6 +/- 10.6 percent. Except for the highest density triaxial specimens, most (15/17 specimens) failed at axial stresses close to their predicted uniaxial values, and some reinforcement for transverse loading was observed. We conclude that the Tsai-Wu quadratic criterion, as formulated here, is at best only a reasonable predictor of the multiaxial failure behavior of trabecular bone, and further work is required before it can be confidently applied to human bone.

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To improve the understanding of the functional requirements of trabecular bone substitutes, the structure-function relationships of coralline hydroxyapatite were determined and compared to those of trabecular bone from a variety of anatomic sites. Mechanical properties and permeability of cylindrical coralline hydroxyapatite specimens were measured and related to various morphological parameters that were obtained from analysis of high-resolution (20 microm) computer reconstructions of each specimen. Results indicated the average (+/-SD) Young's modulus (2900 +/- 1290 MPa, n = 20) and permeability (0.50 +/- 0.19 x 10(-9) m2, n = 21) of the coralline hydroxyapatite were within the range of values exhibited by high density trabecular bone; ultimate stress (5.87 +/- 1.92 MPa, n = 13), while in the range of mid-density trabecular bone, was low considering its high volume fraction (31.3 +/- 1.9%, n = 49); and ultimate strain (0.22 +/- 0.03%, n = 13) was much lower than that of trabecular bone from any anatomic site. The only correlation found between mechanical and morphological parameters was between Young's modulus and "fabric" (a scalar measure of architecture that combined the degree of microstructural anisotropy with orientation). These results provide insight into the in vivo performance of this implant, as well as the biomechanical requirements for successful trabecular bone substitutes in general.