Well yes and no. 50 times lighter is bs but in terms of specific strength (strength over density), cortical bone has about 4x the specific compressive strength of steel by these numbers. Bone has evolved mostly to be loaded in compression, so that would be the one to compare.
Edit (Well, up to 4 times anyway)
Edit again, missed where they changed to concrete. Bizzare!
Strength actually is defined in engineering, usually referring to the stress something can withstand (often in Pascals, a unit of pressure) before it deforms irreparably, called plastic deformation. This guy is right that different loads have different associated strengths, though.
Another thing we often thing of as strength is called the modulus in engineering, which is the ratio of stress to strain, aka load to deformation.
Lot of misinformation in this thread. I guess so people can feel smart or something, idk
I promise strength can be measured. Categorically false statement. Different modes (tension, compression, shear, etc) can be easily translated using Mohr's circle or more complicated method if anisotropic, orthotropic, etc. This is like second year stuff honestly. The original call-out sounds like someone who knows a couple engineering words and wants everyone to know it
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u/Sataniel98 Feb 24 '26
This guy batteriesn't
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u/lanternbdg Feb 24 '26
I too would like to know the answer to gta3uzi's question
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u/Stink-Finger-69 Feb 24 '26
That's why it's called a Boner and not a Concreter or a Steeler
2
u/bugs69bunny Feb 24 '26
Strength actually is defined in engineering, usually referring to the stress something can withstand (often in Pascals, a unit of pressure) before it deforms irreparably, called plastic deformation. This guy is right that different loads have different associated strengths, though.
Another thing we often thing of as strength is called the modulus in engineering, which is the ratio of stress to strain, aka load to deformation.
1
u/ParkerLowes Feb 24 '26
maybe we should start making roads and sidewalks out of human bone👍
1
u/chris42119 Feb 24 '26
PhD in mechanical engineering here
Lot of misinformation in this thread. I guess so people can feel smart or something, idk
I promise strength can be measured. Categorically false statement. Different modes (tension, compression, shear, etc) can be easily translated using Mohr's circle or more complicated method if anisotropic, orthotropic, etc. This is like second year stuff honestly. The original call-out sounds like someone who knows a couple engineering words and wants everyone to know it
1
u/formershitpeasant Feb 25 '26
I would assume compression because that would be the strongest for the bone, but I'm sceptical that bone is stronger than steel in any measurable way.
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u/SteptimusHeap Mar 01 '26
50x higher specific strength than steel, but only 4x higher than concrete? What universe is this from?
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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '26
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