Crack Propagation in the Human Bone. Mode I of Fracture

The problem of crack propagation in human bone is studied. We for- mulate and solve the mathematical problem for the pre-stressed crack in Mode I of classical fracture. Using the boundary conditions on the crack faces in the bone, regarded as an elastic composite material, we solve our Riemann-Hilbert problem. Using generalized Sih's strain energy density generalized and maximum stress criteria we find the direction of the crack path in Iliac bone, regarded as a pre-stressed orthotropic composite.