I know I probably posted too much. :P

I've always been searching an affordable simulation of living bone for gauging test cut result. There's an interesting read I've found online today.
http://science-mattersblog.blogspot.hk/2011/1...model.html

Well, I figure the sponge and clay would be negligible if the bone was small, like forearm and upper arm. Plus the newspapers rolls are denser than most skin and muscle. So I simplified it a bit and just use the 2 PVC pipes as bone simulator.

Here's the result, using a lung chuan cheapo sword due to the worry of damaging the expensive sword cutting PVC pipes. I tested cutting a simulated forearm and an upper arm with some combat cuts I used in sparring, to gauge what degree of damage those sparring cuts would cause.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSQ9whTdQuI

I think the model presented on that blog is intended more as a visual prop that students can look at, take apart and put back together to more easily conceptualize the structure and inner workings of bone, rather than an accurate simulator of the physical properties of it for the purposes of destructive testing... But then, certain grades of PVC pipe have also been used in many other contexts as a reasonable destructible bone analog, so it shouldn't be entirely off, either. :)

Getting it just right, as close as possible to the physical properties of living bone under sharp impact, would probably take a fair amount of testing, analysis and careful thought given to the type of plastic and the diameter and thickness of the pipe used. On the other hand, I'm almost certain most of the heavy lifting on that has already been done, probably several times by various individuals and organizations as the need arose (I could swear Mythbusters did this in several episodes and referenced previous work on the subject while they were at it). Might be worth looking into.

https://youtu.be/5hihvITxxRI
Students giving it a try.

https://youtu.be/DOZvsYlG6Xs
Triple pvc cored newspapers roll simulating thigh.

More students giving it a try on simulated forearm and upperarm.
https://youtu.be/NWnqK5be1A8