On the Optimality of Bone Microstructure

Abstract

This paper attempts to answer the question: “Does bone microstructure have optimal stiffness?” In order to answer the question, stiffness optimized microstructures are qualitatively compared with bone structure and quantitatively compared with theoretical bounds on material stiffness. The answer to the question is no - in most cases bone does not have optimal stiffness and thus there must be other objectives at work.