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This tutorial focuses on simulating crack growth in bone under three-point bending using Abaqus. The structural analysis of bones has become a significant area of research, particularly through the application of finite element methods (FEM), aimed at gaining insights into the mechanisms of bone fractures. While many previous studies have successfully mapped stress or strain distribution, they often fall short of illustrating how fractures initiate, progress, and the paths they take as they grow.

Bone fractures can occur in various ways. For instance, a closed fracture is one where the bone breaks without damaging surrounding tissue or breaking the skin. In contrast, a compound fracture (or open fracture) damages the surrounding skin and penetrates it. Compound fractures are generally more severe than simple fractures, primarily due to the risk of infection they carry.

In this simulation, the bone is modeled as a two-dimensional part with elastic material properties coupled with a traction-separation law to define crack growth during the analysis. The static analysis combined with an Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is suitable for this type of investigation.