Identification of mechanical properties of bovine bones by combining PS-ESPI and global optimization

Identification of mechanical properties of materials is a complicated reverse engineering problem which can be solved by minimizing the difference between displacements measured experimentally and their counterpart predicted by FEM analysis. Non-linearity entailed by identification problem leads to combine global optimization techniques with full-field experimental techniques. This paper presents an example of application of a hybrid identification procedure to cortical bone specimens cut from bovine long bones. Specimens can be modeled in fashion of a transversely orthotropic material. In-plane displacements are measured by means of Phase Shifting Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry while stiffness parameters are determined by means of Simulated Annealing. Results show that material properties are in good agreement with data recently published in literature.