[Mechanics of damage and biomechanical tensile strength of the femur].

The properties of the femur are represented by the micromechanics of composites and the mechanics of damage. A consideration of the femur as a composite the Young's modul is dependent on the density. The biomechanical behavior of the femur can be simulated by a one-dimensional model of the mechanics of damage. It is shown that the maximal tolerable stress and the yield stress are not direct material properties. Material behavior is determined by a damage variable that is dependent on the current strain. The results of this investigation are in good agreement with experimental results.