High strain-rate tensile behavior of pig bones

Abstract
The high strain-rate behavior of pig bone under tensile loading was determined at nominal strain rates of 300–1000 s⁻¹ using a Kolsky (split Hopkinson) tension bar. In this device, a striking tube impacts on a flange at the end of the incident bar through pulse shapers, generating desired loading pulses for the specimen to deform under equilibrated stress at nearly constant strain rates. The specimens are dumbbell shaped in an attempt to make the eventual fracture occur in the gage section. The cross section of the gage section was approximately 2 mm by 2 mm. The samples were stored in a solution such that the minerals in the samples remained in equilibrium conditions. Experimental results show that the axial ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the pig bone increased from 50 MPa to 220 MPa with increasing strain rates within the dynamic testing range. It was also found that the ultimate strength in the pig bones decreases significantly when the gage section is dehydrated.