A theoretical model of the effect of continuum damage on a bone adaptation model

Throughout life, bone is continuously turning over by the well-regulated processes of bone formation and resorption. Everyday activities damage bone, and this damage is normally repaired in a continuous remodelling process. When an imbalance in this remodelling process occurs, bones may become more susceptible to fracture. This paper is devoted to a theoretical modelling of the competition between damage and internal remodelling in bones. The general theory of adaptive damaged-elastic materials proposed here as a model for the physiological process of damaged-bone remodelling follows the general framework of continuum thermodynamics where new damaged-bone remodelling law and associated thermodynamical restrictions are stated, and specialized to the case of small strain in isothermal processes. An attempt is also made to derive: (a) the damage force (adaptive damage energy release rate) which controls the microcracks propagation and arrest, and (b) the damage rule by introducing damage thresholds and loading/unloading conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.