Material Bone: Structure-Mechanical and Function Relations

Abstract

An assemblage of parts produced up of mineralized collagen fibrils is referred to as "bone." They have very complex organizational structures, with up to seven hierarchical organizational levels. These materials have evolved to perform a broad variety of mechanical functions, and their structures have most likely been fine-tuned to do this. It may be challenging to fit structure to function. In this part, we look at the structure-mechanical connections at each of the organization's hierarchical levels, highlighting both underlying strategies and knowledge gaps when feasible. The knowledge gained from researching these fascinating materials is not only important for human health, but it may also lead to new synthetic material concepts. Bone refers to a family of materials, each with a somewhat distinct structural pattern but all having the same basic building block, the mineralized collagen fibril. There are additional members of this family of minerals that have various names due to historical causes.