VIBRATION TECHNIQUES TO TEST AVIAN BONE IN-VIVO

Non-destructive vibrational material testing has been used to monitor changes in chicken wing bone stiffness as altered by a calcium deficie nt diet. A mechanical inertance spectrum was obtained for the radii of the test birds and was analyzed as a single degree of freedom mass-sp ring-damper system. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that th e natural frequency of the bone was reduced as well as the bone's stif fness. Calculations of viscous parameters were not very successful and more study is needed. Geometrical changes in the radii were determine d using imaging techniques and were used to insure that the calcium de ficient diet affects the skeletal system.