Abstract
To investigate the mechanical responses of trabeculae in human lumber vertebra, this study proposes the visualization methodology of the load bearing function at the microscale. By virtue of the nature of the homogenization theory, the microscopic stress under various loading conditions can be calculated very easily. Together with the previously reported homogenized macroscopic properties, the mechanical characteristics of trabecular architecture have been summarized. Comparison between healthy and osteoporosis bones were made, and the mechanical contribution of plate-like trabeculae in healthy bone was carefully studied. It was found that the loss of plate-like trabeculae in osteoporosis bone resulted in the decrease of connectivity of load path network system.
