I hope this finds you well.

I am currently looking at determining the amount of damage within bone using a vibrational technique.

My exp's will be carried out in-vitro using whole Bovine Tibia samples to begin.

I have manufactured a hexagonal fixture to hold the bone vertically in suspension, while eliminating possible degrees of freedom .

I wish to excite the bone at the bottom (dorsal end) and send the excitation through the bone to a piezoelectric accelerometer, mounted at the other extremity. Damage will be induced into the bone and the test repeated.

I would like to carry out a series of sine sweeps on each bone using an electromagnetic shaker.

1) I would like to know if anyone has carried out similar work be it on bone or otherwise, so i could base my methedology on it.

2) My lack of knowlegde his indering me in that i am hesitant to go straight into testing without understanding

3) Can i find resonant frequencies of the bone using such a swept sine method?

4) Could someone please put me in the right direction about how to interperate such results ?

5) What should be the optimum time to hold each frequency before it increments, i.e 2seconds etc.

6) I would very much like to hear anyones opinions on any issue that i have raised.

Any help received would be most greatfully appreciated.

Kind Regards