ABSTRACT
The mechanical properties of cortical bone have been examined using destructive, mechanical testing as well as non-destructive, ultrasound testing to obtain the elastic coefficients. By measuring the sample density and velocities of sound waves in a number of different directions, ultrasonic testing allows characterization of the anisotropy of a single, small specimen not possible by traditional destructive mechanical testing techniques. Furthermore, the comparison of ultrasonic and mechanical testing properties for cortical bone demonstrates that ultrasound is a high strain rate test. 1 Ultrasonic techniques offer a method to examine the high strain rate elastic properties of a single cortical bone specimen in all directions.
