title: Effects of the microcrack shape, size and direction on the poroelastic behaviors of a single osteon: a finite element study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this work, a finite element study is proposed by using the Comsol Multiphysics software to evaluate the effects of microcrack shape, size and direction on the poroelastic behaviors of a single osteon.
  
  
  METHODS
  This finite element model is established by using the Comsol Multiphysics software, and we just focus on the comparison of the influences of those microcrack geometric parameters on the osteonal fluid pressure and velocity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show that: (1) microcracks in the osteon wall can induce a release of the fluid pressure, but enlarge the velocity in this region; (2) equal-area microcrack with ellipsoid-like shape produced a larger fluid pressure and velocity fields in the osteon than that of rectangular shape; (3) in the elliptic microcracks, the longer of the length (major semi-axis) induces a smaller fluid pressure and velocity amplitudes, whereas the width (minor axis) has little effect; (4) the direction of the microcracks (major axial direction) has an limited influence area around about 1/15 of the osteon cross-sectional area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This model permits the linking of the external loads and microcracks to the osteonal fluid pressure and velocity, which can be used for other purpose associate microcracks with the mechanotransduction and bone remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Material Strength & Structural Impact, and College of Mechanics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-Peng
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Cen
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Material Strength & Structural Impact, and College of Mechanics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Material Strength & Structural Impact, and College of Mechanics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei-Lun
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Mechanical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Zu
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Key Laboratory of Material Strength & Structural Impact, and College of Mechanics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yue-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006253:Haversian System / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D016062:Porosity; D011312:Pressure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical