Bone composition inspires more resilient structures

The shape of 3D printed engineering components is often compared to bones, especially those of birds. Researchers from Purdue University have found that the internal structure of bone could also give an important clue to how to make additively-produced structures including buildings longer lasting.

Bones, like buildings, are supported by beams and struts. A spongy structure called trabeculae forms an interconnected network of vertical plate-like columns and horizontal rod-like struts which add stability to the material from the inside. The denser the trabeculae, the more resilient the bone. Disease and age can reduce the density.

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In a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Pablo Zavatierri of Purdue’s Lyles School of Civil Engineering, who worked with colleagues from Cornell and Case Western Universities, reports that it is the horizontal struts which increase the fatigue life of the bone, while the seemingly more substantial columns contribute more to strength and stiffness. Fatigue life is crucial to the longevity of the structure, as Christopher Hernandez, a member of the team from Cornell, explained: "When people age, they lose these horizontal struts first, increasing the likelihood that the bone will break from multiple cyclic loads.”