The effect of mechanical load-induced intraosseous pressure gradients on bone remodeling

It is well established that changes in bone blood and interstitial fluid flows are associated with changes in the bone remodeling process. These flows in bone are a result not only of trans-cortical pressure gradients produced by vascular and hydro-static pressure, but also of mechanical loadings. Mechanical load-induced intraosseous pressure gradients may result in some fluid stimuli effects which, in turn, may enable bone cells to detect external mechanical signals. In this paper, the exploitation of a 2D continuum model based on classical poroelasticity is presented within a variational framework. The investigation is aimed at describing how mechanical actions can affect the remodeling process of a bone tissue. The focus is on the introduction of a physically motivated strain energy contribution aimed to take into account the presence of saturating fluid in the interconnected pores of bone tissue. The interaction with a bio-resorbable organic ceramic material like those used in bone graft implants is also considered in presented model. Numerical results are provided in a relevant exemplary case.