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March 5, 2020

3D-printed polymer models of trabeculae

Researchers 3D-printed polymer models of trabeculae – a spongy structure made up of a network of interconnected vertical plate-like struts and horizontal rod-like struts that act as columns and beams, giving bones their durability -- in human bone and applied loads to them, investigating if certain structures play more significant roles in bone durability than previously thought.

[Research supported by National Science Foundation grants CMMI 1068260 and CMMI 1254864.]

Learn more about this research in the Purdue University news story 'Buildings' in human bone may hold key to stronger 3D-printed lightweight structures. (Date image taken: Nov. 25, 2019; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: March 5, 2020)

Credit: Purdue University photo/Pablo Zavattieri


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