# BONE MECHANICAL LOADING AND BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE

> **NIH NIH R01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $196,144

## Abstract

The long range objective of this research program is to establish the
structural, material and microstructural mechanics of bone in response to
various loading histories and relate these characteristics to growth and
remodelling phenomena.  The knowledge gained will improve our understanding
of the contribution of mechanical forces and exercise activity to normal
bone growth, turnover, osteopenia due to bed rest or "strain shielding" of
bone with implants, hypertrophy in response to exercise, and fatigue
fracture.  In addition, an understanding of bone mechanics which is based
on microstructural and molecular events may influence our interpretation of
the causes of deformities and fractures observed in pathologic bones.  The
specific plans of this research proposal include:  (1) conduct creep,
creep-recovery and creep-fatigue tests of small, devitalized human bone
tissue specimens, (2) conduct creep and creep-fatigue tests of whole human
and rabbit femora specimens, (3) develop mathematical models to explain the
creep, fatigue and impact deformation and fracture response of devitalized
bone tissue and whole bones, (4) adapt and improve an in vivo
cost-immobilized rabbit femur model to relate bone atrophy and recovery to
bone strain histories and alterations of bone structural characteristics.
The experimental and theoretical studies on devitalized bone will be
conducted within the framework of continuous damage theory.  This approach
will be an innovation in constitutive and failure modelling of bone which
is based on the premise that microstructural damage events provide an
important mechanism for energy dissipation.  Microdamage events may
constitute one class of cellular stimuli for affecting structural
adaptation in bone.  The rabbit animal model will be used to test some of
the current hypotheses of bone remodelling in response to loading changes.
Unilateral casts will be applied to create bone loss in the femur.  The
casts will then be removed to allow recovery of bone mass.  These processes
will be related to mechanical demands and bone structural characteristics
using in vivo strain recordings, in vitro mechanical testing and
histomorphometric analysis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156292
- **Project number:** 5R01AR032377-05
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HJD6G4D6TJY5
- **Principal Investigator:** DENNIS R. CARTER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $196,144
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-09-01 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156292

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156292, BONE MECHANICAL LOADING AND BIOLOGICAL RESPONSE (5R01AR032377-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156292. Licensed CC0.

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