Electrically reversible cracks in an intermetallic film controlled by an electric field.

Cracks in solid-state materials are typically irreversible. Here we report electrically reversible opening and closing of nanoscale cracks in an intermetallic thin film grown on a ferroelectric substrate driven by a small electric field (~0.83 kV/cm). Accordingly, a nonvolatile colossal electroresistance on-off ratio of more than 108 is measured across the cracks in the intermetallic film at room temperature. Cracks are easily formed with low-frequency voltage cycling and remain stable when the device is operated at high frequency, which offers intriguing potential for next-generation high-frequency memory applications. Moreover, endurance testing demonstrates that the opening and closing of such cracks can reach over 107 cycles under 10-µs pulses, without catastrophic failure of the film.

Multiscale structure and damage tolerance of coconut shells.

We investigated the endocarp of the fruit of Cocos nucifera (i.e., the inner coconut shell), examining the structure across multiple length scales through advanced characterization techniques and in situ testing of mechanical properties. Like many biological materials, the coconut shell possesses a hierarchical structure with distinct features at different length scales that depend on orientation and age. Aged coconut was found to have a significantly stronger (ultimate tensile strength, UTS = 48.5MPa), stiffer (Young's modulus, E = 1.92GPa), and tougher (fracture resistance (R-curve) peak of KJ = 3.2MPa m1/2) endocarp than the younger fruit for loading in the latitudinal orientation. While the mechanical properties of coconut shell were observed to improve with age, they also become more anisotropic: the young coconut shell had the same strength (17MPa) and modulus (0.64GPa) values and similar R-curves for both longitudinal and latitudinal loading configurations, whereas the old coconut had 82% higher strength for loading in the latitudinal orientation, and >50% higher crack growth toughness for cracking on the latitudinal plane. Structural aspects affecting the mechanical properties across multiple length scales with aging were identified as improved load transfer to the cellulose crystalline nanostructure (identified by synchrotron x-ray diffraction) and sclerification of the endocarp, the latter of which included closing of the cell lumens and lignification of the cell walls. The structural changes gave a denser and mechanically superior micro and nanostructure to the old coconut shell. Additionally, the development of anisotropy was attributed to the formation of an anisotropic open channel structure throughout the shell of the old coconut that affected both crack initiation during uniaxial tensile tests and the toughening mechanisms of crack trapping and deflection during crack propagation.

Giant panda׳s tooth enamel: Structure, mechanical behavior and toughening mechanisms under indentation.

The giant panda׳s teeth possess remarkable load-bearing capacity and damage resistance for masticating bamboos. In this study, the hierarchical structure and mechanical behavior of the giant panda׳s tooth enamel were investigated under indentation. The effects of loading orientation and location on mechanical properties of the enamel were clarified and the evolution of damage in the enamel under increasing load evaluated. The nature of the damage, both at and beneath the indentation surfaces, and the underlying toughening mechanisms were explored. Indentation cracks invariably were seen to propagate along the internal interfaces, specifically the sheaths between enamel rods, and multiple extrinsic toughening mechanisms, e.g., crack deflection/twisting and uncracked-ligament bridging, were active to shield the tips of cracks from the applied stress. The giant panda׳s tooth enamel is analogous to human enamel in its mechanical properties, yet it has superior hardness and Young׳s modulus but inferior toughness as compared to the bamboo that pandas primarily feed on, highlighting the critical roles of the integration of underlying tissues in the entire tooth and the highly hydrated state of bamboo foods. Our objective is that this study can aid the understanding of the structure-mechanical property relations in the tooth enamel of mammals and further provide some insight on the food habits of the giant pandas.

Sclerostin-antibody treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis maintained bone mass and strength.

UNLABELLED: This study was to determine if antibody against sclerostin (Scl-Ab) could prevent glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis in mice. We found that Scl-Ab prevented GC-induced reduction in bone mass and bone strength and that the anabolic effects of Scl-Ab might be partially achieved through the preservation of osteoblast activity through autophagy. INTRODUCTION: Glucocorticoids (GCs) inhibit bone formation by altering osteoblast and osteocyte cell activity and lifespan. A monoclonal antibody against sclerostin, Scl-Ab, increased bone mass in both preclinical animal and clinical studies in subjects with low bone mass. The objectives of this study were to determine if treatment with the Scl-Ab could prevent loss of bone mass and strength in a mouse model of GC excess and to elucidate if Scl-Ab modulated bone cell activity through autophagy. METHODS: We generated reporter mice that globally expressed dsRed fused to LC3, a protein marker for autophagosomes, and evaluated the dose-dependent effects of GCs (0, 0.8, 2.8, and 4 mg/kg/day) and Scl-Ab on autophagic osteoblasts, bone mass, and bone strength. RESULTS: GC treatment at 2.8 and 4 mg/kg/day of methylprednisolone significantly lowered trabecular bone volume (Tb-BV/TV) at the lumbar vertebrae and distal femurs, cortical bone mass at the mid-shaft femur (FS), and cortical bone strength compared to placebo (PL). In mice treated with GC and Scl-Ab, Tb-BV/TV increased by 60-125 %, apparent bone strength of the lumbar vertebrae by 30-70 %, FS-BV by 10-18 %, and FS-apparent strength by 13-15 %, as compared to GC vehicle-treated mice. GC treatment at 4 mg/kg/day reduced the number of autophagic osteoblasts by 70 % on the vertebral trabecular bone surface compared to the placebo group (PL, GC 0 mg), and GC + Scl-Ab treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with Scl-Ab prevented GC-induced reduction in both trabecular and cortical bone mass and strength and appeared to maintain osteoblast activity through autophagy.

Effects of sequential osteoporosis treatments on trabecular bone in adult rats with low bone mass.

UNLABELLED: We used an osteopenic adult ovariectomized (OVX) rat model to evaluate various sequential treatments for osteoporosis, using FDA-approved agents with complementary tissue-level mechanisms of action. Sequential treatment for 3 months each with alendronate (Aln), followed by PTH, followed by resumption of Aln, created the highest trabecular bone mass, best microarchitecture, and highest bone strength. INTRODUCTION: Individual agents used to treat human osteoporosis reduce fracture risk by ∼ 50-60%. As agents that act with complementary mechanisms are available, sequential therapies that mix antiresorptive and anabolic agents could improve fracture risk reduction, when compared with monotherapies. METHODS: We evaluated bone mass, bone microarchitecture, and bone strength in adult OVX, osteopenic rats, during different sequences of vehicle (Veh), parathyroid hormone (PTH), Aln, or raloxifene (Ral) in three 90-day treatment periods, over 9 months. Differences among groups were evaluated. The interrelationships of bone mass and microarchitecture endpoints and their relationship to bone strength were studied. RESULTS: Estrogen deficiency caused bone loss. OVX rats treated with Aln monotherapy had significantly better bone mass, microarchitecture, and bone strength than untreated OVX rats. Rats treated with an Aln drug holiday had bone mass and microarchitecture similar to the Aln monotherapy group but with significantly lower bone strength. PTH-treated rats had markedly higher bone endpoints, but all were lost after PTH withdrawal without follow-up treatment. Rats treated with PTH followed by Aln had better bone endpoints than those treated with Aln monotherapy, PTH monotherapy, or an Aln holiday. Rats treated initially with Aln or Ral, then switched to PTH, also had better bone endpoints, than monotherapy treatment. Rats treated with Aln, then PTH, and returned to Aln had the highest values for all endpoints. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that antiresorptive therapy can be coupled with an anabolic agent, to produce and maintain better bone mass, microarchitecture, and strength than can be achieved with any monotherapy.

How tough is brittle bone? Investigating osteogenesis imperfecta in mouse bone.

The multiscale hierarchical structure of bone is naturally optimized to resist fractures. In osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, genetic mutations affect the quality and/or quantity of collagen, dramatically increasing bone fracture risk. Here we reveal how the collagen defect results in bone fragility in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta (oim), which has homotrimeric α1(I) collagen. At the molecular level, we attribute the loss in toughness to a decrease in the stabilizing enzymatic cross-links and an increase in nonenzymatic cross-links, which may break prematurely, inhibiting plasticity. At the tissue level, high vascular canal density reduces the stable crack growth, and extensive woven bone limits the crack-deflection toughening during crack growth. This demonstrates how modifications at the bone molecular level have ramifications at larger length scales affecting the overall mechanical integrity of the bone; thus, treatment strategies have to address multiscale properties in order to regain bone toughness. In this regard, findings from the heterozygous oim bone, where defective as well as normal collagen are present, suggest that increasing the quantity of healthy collagen in these bones helps to recover toughness at the multiple length scales.

Proposed pathogenesis for atypical femoral fractures: lessons from materials research.

Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) have been well defined clinically and epidemiologically. Less clear are the underlying mechanisms responsible. This commentary points out the likely sources of decreased resistance to fracture using lessons from bone material studies and biomechanics. We hypothesize that the key element in the cascade of events leading to failure of the largest and strongest bone in the human body is long-term suppression of normal bone turnover caused by exposure to potent anti-remodeling agents, most notably the bisphosphonates (BPs). Suppressed bone turnover produces changes in bone that alter its material quality and these changes could lead to adverse effects on its mechanical function. At the submicroscopic [<1 µm] level of collagen fibrils, suppression of bone turnover allows continued addition of non-enzymatic cross links that can reduce collagen's plasticity and this in turn contributes to reduced bone toughness. Further, adverse changes in hydroxyapatite crystalline structure and composition can occur, perhaps increasing collagen's brittleness. At the microscopic level [~1-500 µm] of the bone-matrix structure, suppressed bone turnover allows full mineralization of cortical bone osteons and results in a microstructure of bone that is more homogeneous. Both brittleness and loss of heterogeneity allow greater progression of microscopic cracks that can occur with usual physical activity; in crack mechanical terms, normal mechanisms that dissipate crack tip growth energy are greatly reduced and crack progression is less impeded. Further, the targeted repair of cracks by newly activated BMUs appears to be preferentially suppressed by BPs. We further hypothesize that it is not necessary to have accumulation of many cracks to produce an AFF, just one that progresses - one that is not stopped by bone's several protective mechanisms and is allowed to penetrate through a homogeneous environment. The remarkable straight transverse fracture line is an indicator of the slow progression of a "mother crack" and the failure of usual mechanisms to bridge or deflect the crack. Research in AFF mechanisms has been focused at the organ level, describing the clinical presentation and radiologic appearance. Although today we have not yet connected all the dots in the pathophysiology of BP-induced AFF, recent advances in measuring bone mechanical qualities at the submicroscopic and tissue levels allow us to explain how spontaneous catastrophic failure of the femur can occur.

Changes to the cell, tissue and architecture levels in cranial suture synostosis reveal a problem of timing in bone development.

Premature fusion of cranial sutures is a common problem with an incidence of 3-5 per 10,000 live births. Despite progress in understanding molecular/genetic factors affecting suture function, the complex process of premature fusion is still poorly understood. In the present study, corresponding excised segments of nine patent and nine prematurely fused sagittal sutures from infants (age range 3-7 months) with a special emphasis on their hierarchical structural configuration were compared. Cell, tissue and architecture characteristics were analysed by transmitted and polarised light microscopy, 2D-histomorphometry, backscattered electron microscopy and energy-dispersive-x-ray analyses. Apart from wider sutural gaps, patent sutures showed histologically increased new bone formation compared to reduced new bone formation and osseous edges with a more mature structure in the fused portions of the sutures. This pattern was accompanied by a lower osteocyte lacunar density and a higher number of evenly mineralised osteons, reflecting pronounced lamellar bone characteristics along the prematurely fused sutures. In contrast, increases in osteocyte lacunar number and size accompanied by mineralisation heterogeneity and randomly oriented collagen fibres predominantly signified woven bone characteristics in patent, still growing suture segments. The already established woven-to-lamellar bone transition provides evidence of advanced bone development in synostotic sutures. Since structural and compositional features of prematurely fused sutures did not show signs of pathological/defective ossification processes, this supports the theory of a normal ossification process in suture synostosis - just locally commencing too early. These histomorphological findings may provide the basis for a better understanding of the pathomechanism of craniosynostosis, and for future strategies to predict suture fusion and to determine surgical intervention.

Mo-Si-B alloys for ultrahigh-temperature structural applications.

A continuing quest in science is the development of materials capable of operating structurally at ever-increasing temperatures. Indeed, the development of gas-turbine engines for aircraft/aerospace, which has had a seminal impact on our ability to travel, has been controlled by the availability of materials capable of withstanding the higher-temperature hostile environments encountered in these engines. Nickel-base superalloys, particularly as single crystals, represent a crowning achievement here as they can operate in the combustors at ~1100 °C, with hot spots of ~1200 °C. As this represents ~90% of their melting temperature, if higher-temperature engines are ever to be a reality, alternative materials must be utilized. One such class of materials is Mo-Si-B alloys; they have higher density but could operate several hundred degrees hotter. Here we describe the processing and structure versus mechanical properties of Mo-Si-B alloys and further document ways to optimize their nano/microstructures to achieve an appropriate balance of properties to realistically compete with Ni-alloys for elevated-temperature structural applications.

Impact of thermomechanical texture on the superelastic response of Nitinol implants.

The phenomenon of superelasticity in near-equiatomic NiTi, which originates from a first-order martensitic phase transition, is exploited in an increasing number of biomedical devices, most importantly endovascular stents. These stents are often manufactured from microtubing, which is shown to be highly textured crystallographically. Synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction provided microstructural, phase, and strain analysis from Nitinol tube sections that were deformed in situ along longitudinal, circumferential, and transverse orientations. We show that the large variation in the superelastic response of NiTi in these three tube directions is strongly influenced by the path that the martensitic transformation follows through the microstructure. Specifically, in severely worked NiTi, bands of [100] grains occur whose orientation deviates markedly from the surrounding matrix; these bands have an unusually large impact on the initiation and the propagation of martensite, and hence on the mechanical response. Understanding the impact of these local microstructural effects on global mechanical response, as shown here, leads to a much fuller understanding of the causes of deviation of the mechanical response from predictions and unforeseen fracture in NiTi biomedical devices.

Effect of aging on the transverse toughness of human cortical bone: evaluation by R-curves.

The age-related deterioration in the quality (e.g., strength and fracture resistance) and quantity (e.g., bone-mineral density) of human bone, together with increased life expectancy, is responsible for increasing incidence of bone fracture in the elderly. The present study describes ex vivo fracture experiments to quantitatively assess the effect of aging on the fracture toughness properties of human cortical bone specifically in the transverse (breaking) orientation. Because bone exhibits rising crack-growth resistance with crack extension, the aging-related transverse toughness is evaluated in terms of resistance-curve (R-curve) behavior, measured for bone taken from a wide range of age groups (25-74 years). Using this approach, both the ex vivo crack-initiation and crack-growth toughness are determined and are found to deteriorate with age; however, the effect is far smaller than that reported for the longitudinal toughness of cortical bone. Whereas the longitudinal crack-growth toughness has been reported to be reduced by almost an order of magnitude for human cortical bone over this age range, the corresponding age-related decrease in transverse toughness is merely ~14%. Similar to that reported for X-ray irradiated bone, with aging cracks in the transverse direction are subjected to an increasing incidence of crack deflection, principally along the cement lines, but the deflections are smaller and result in a generally less tortuous crack path.

Changes in cortical bone response to high-fat diet from adolescence to adulthood in mice.

UNLABELLED: Diabetic obesity is associated with increased fracture risk in adults and adolescents. We find in both adolescent and adult mice dramatically inferior mechanical properties and structural quality of cortical bone, in agreement with the human fracture data, although some aspects of the response to obesity appear to differ by age. INTRODUCTION: The association of obesity with bone is complex and varies with age. Diabetic obese adolescents and adult humans have increased fracture risk. Prior studies have shown reduced mechanical properties as a result of high-fat diet (HFD) but do not fully address size-independent mechanical properties or structural quality, which are important to understand material behavior. METHODS: Cortical bone from femurs and tibiae from two age groups of C57BL/6 mice fed either HFD or low-fat diet (LFD) were evaluated for structural and bone turnover changes (SEM and histomorphometry) and tested for bending strength, bending stiffness, and fracture toughness. Leptin, IGF-I, and non-enzymatic glycation measurements were also collected. RESULTS: In both young and adult mice fed on HFD, femoral strength, stiffness, and toughness are all dramatically lower than controls. Inferior lamellar and osteocyte alignment also point to reduced structural quality in both age groups. Bone size was largely unaffected by HFD, although there was a shift from increasing bone size in obese adolescents to decreasing in adults. IGF-I levels were lower in young obese mice only. CONCLUSIONS: While the response to obesity of murine cortical bone mass, bone formation, and hormonal changes appear to differ by age, the bone mechanical properties for young and adult groups are similar. In agreement with human fracture trends, adult mice may be similarly susceptible to bone fracture to the young group, although cortical bone in the two age groups responds to diabetic obesity differently.

Mechanistic aspects of the fracture toughness of elk antler bone.

Bone is an adaptive material that is designed for different functional requirements; indeed, bones have a variety of properties depending on their role in the body. To understand the mechanical response of bone requires the elucidation of its structure-function relationships. Here, we examine the fracture toughness of compact bone of elk antler, which is an extremely fast-growing primary bone designed for a totally different function than human (secondary) bone. We find that antler in the transverse (breaking) orientation is one of the toughest biological materials known. Its resistance to fracture is achieved during crack growth (extrinsically) by a combination of gross crack deflection/twisting and crack bridging via uncracked "ligaments" in the crack wake, both mechanisms activated by microcracking primarily at lamellar boundaries. We present an assessment of the toughening mechanisms acting in antler as compared to human cortical bone, and identify an enhanced role of inelastic deformation in antler which further contributes to its (intrinsic) toughness.

Reduced size-independent mechanical properties of cortical bone in high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Overweight and obesity are rapidly expanding health problems in children and adolescents. Obesity is associated with greater bone mineral content that might be expected to protect against fracture, which has been observed in adults. Paradoxically, however, the incidence of bone fractures has been found to increase in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Prior studies have shown some reduced mechanical properties as a result of high-fat diet (HFD) but do not fully address size-independent measures of mechanical properties, which are important to understand material behavior. To clarify the effects of HFD on the mechanical properties and microstructure of bone, femora from C57BL/6 mice fed either a HFD or standard laboratory chow (Chow) were evaluated for structural changes and tested for bending strength, bending stiffness and fracture toughness. Here, we find that in young, obese, high-fat fed mice, all geometric parameters of the femoral bone, except length, are increased, but strength, bending stiffness, and fracture toughness are all reduced. This increased bone size and reduced size-independent mechanical properties suggests that obesity leads to a general reduction in bone quality despite an increase in bone quantity; yield and maximum loads, however, remained unchanged, suggesting compensatory mechanisms. We conclude that diet-induced obesity increases bone size and reduces size-independent mechanical properties of cortical bone in mice. This study indicates that bone quantity and bone quality play important compensatory roles in determining fracture risk.

Indentation techniques for evaluating the fracture toughness of biomaterials and hard tissues.

Indentation techniques for assessing fracture toughness are attractive due to the simplicity and expediency of experiments, and because they potentially allow the characterization of both local and bulk fracture properties. Unfortunately, rarely have such techniques been proven to give accurate fracture toughness values. This is a concern, as such techniques are seeing increasing usage in the study of biomaterials and biological hard tissues. Four available indentation techniques are considered in the present article: the Vickers indentation fracture (VIF) test, the cube corner indentation fracture (CCIF) test, the Vickers crack opening displacement (VCOD) test and the interface indentation fracture (IIF) test. Each technique is discussed in terms of its suitability for assessing the absolute and relative toughness of materials or material interfaces based on the published literature on the topic. In general, the VIF and CCIF techniques are found to be poor for quantitatively evaluating toughness of any brittle material, and the large errors involved (approximately +/-50%) make their applicability as comparative techniques limited. Indeed, indentation toughness values must differ by at least by a factor of three to conclude a significant difference in actual toughness. Additionally, new experimental results are presented on using the CCIF test to evaluate the fracture resistance of human cortical bone. Those new results indicate that inducing cracking is difficult, and that the cracks that do form are embedded in the plastic zone of the indent, invalidating the use of linear elastic fracture mechanics based techniques for evaluating the toughness associated with those cracks. The VCOD test appears to be a good quantitative method for some glasses, but initial results suggest there may be problems associated with applying this technique to other brittle materials. Finally, the IIF technique should only be considered a comparative or semi-quantitative technique for comparing material interfaces and/or the neighboring materials.

Weakening of dentin from cracks resulting from laser irradiation.

UNLABELLED: Cracking of tooth structure is a frequent mechanism of clinical failure necessitating treatment. Some laser conditions, particularly those without sufficient water cooling, may cause surface cracking of dentin. Surface cracks may serve as initiation sites for the onset of catastrophic fracture under mechanical stress, resulting in failure of the dentin. In this study, the hypothesis that laser initiated cracks result in lower bending strength of dentin was tested. Dentin beam specimens were prepared from human molar teeth, 1.1 mm x 1.1 mm x approximately 9 mm, and divided into groups C (control), W (wet), D (dry) of 12 beams each. In groups W and D, the middle of each beam on one surface (buccal) was irradiated with either a Er-YAG or Q-switched Er-YSGG laser and measured under a microscope, noting the dimensions in the irradiated area and immediately adjacent to irradiated area. Each beam was placed in a mechanical testing machine in a four-point bend jig and tested with a monotonically increasing load at a displacement rate of 1mm/min until failure. The bending strengths for groups C, W (Er-YAG laser) and D (Q-switched Er-YSGG laser) were, respectively, 141.6, 114.0, and 90.9 MPa. A one-way ANOVA determined a significant difference between groups C and D, p<0.001. CONCLUSION: The Q-switched Er-YSGG laser without water caused cracks in the surface that significantly decreased the bending strength of dentin.

Tough, bio-inspired hybrid materials.

The notion of mimicking natural structures in the synthesis of new structural materials has generated enormous interest but has yielded few practical advances. Natural composites achieve strength and toughness through complex hierarchical designs that are extremely difficult to replicate synthetically. We emulate nature's toughening mechanisms by combining two ordinary compounds, aluminum oxide and polymethyl methacrylate, into ice-templated structures whose toughness can be more than 300 times (in energy terms) that of their constituents. The final product is a bulk hybrid ceramic-based material whose high yield strength and fracture toughness [ approximately 200 megapascals (MPa) and approximately 30 MPa.m(1/2)] represent specific properties comparable to those of aluminum alloys. These model materials can be used to identify the key microstructural features that should guide the synthesis of bio-inspired ceramic-based composites with unique strength and toughness.

Atomic-resolution imaging of the nanoscale origin of toughness in rare-earth doped SiC.

Ultrahigh-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic-scale spectroscopy are used to investigate the origin of the toughness in rare-earth doped silicon carbide (RE-SiC) by examining the mechanistic nature of the intergranular cracking events which we find to occur precisely along the RE-decorated interface between the SiC grains and the nanoscale grain-boundary phase. We conclude that, for optimal toughness, the relative elastic modulus across the grain-boundary phase and the interfacial fracture toughness are the most critical material parameters; both can be altered with judicious choice of rare-earth elements.

Measurement of the toughness of bone: a tutorial with special reference to small animal studies.

Quantitative assessment of the strength and toughness of bone has become an integral part of many biological and bioengineering studies on the structural properties of bone and their degradation due to aging, disease and therapeutic treatment. Whereas the biomechanical techniques for characterizing bone strength are well documented, few studies have focused on the theory, methodology, and various experimental procedures for evaluating the fracture toughness of bone, i.e., its resistance to fracture, with particular reference to whole bone testing in small animal studies. In this tutorial, we consider the many techniques for evaluating toughness and assess their specific relevance and application to the mechanical testing of small animal bones. Parallel experimental studies on wild-type rat and mouse femurs are used to evaluate the utility of these techniques and specifically to determine the coefficient of variation of the measured toughness values.

The true toughness of human cortical bone measured with realistically short cracks.

Bone is more difficult to break than to split. Although this is well known, and many studies exist on the behaviour of long cracks in bone, there is a need for data on the orientation-dependent crack-growth resistance behaviour of human cortical bone that accurately assesses its toughness at appropriate size scales. Here, we use in situ mechanical testing to examine how physiologically pertinent short (<600 microm) cracks propagate in both the transverse and longitudinal orientations in cortical bone, using both crack-deflection/twist mechanics and nonlinear-elastic fracture mechanics to determine crack-resistance curves. We find that after only 500 microm of cracking, the driving force for crack propagation was more than five times higher in the transverse (breaking) direction than in the longitudinal (splitting) direction owing to major crack deflections/twists, principally at cement sheaths. Indeed, our results show that the true transverse toughness of cortical bone is far higher than previously reported. However, the toughness in the longitudinal orientation, where cracks tend to follow the cement lines, is quite low at these small crack sizes; it is only when cracks become several millimetres in length that bridging mechanisms can fully develop leading to the (larger-crack) toughnesses generally quoted for bone.