Purpose: this study aimed to explore the failure criterion that can accurately simulate the compression and tension fracture of hollow cortical bone structure. Methods: based on previous bending and compression experiments, the predicted results using different failure criteria were compared to determine the simulation accuracy. Results: under compression load, the differences in fracture load and pattern between the simulations using the equivalent and invariant strain failure criteria and the experiment were minimal, indicating that these two failure criteria were suitable for predicting the cortical bone failure; under bending load, the differences in fracture load and pattern between the simulations using the equivalent and invariant strain failure criteria and the experiment were minimal, indicating that these two failure criteria can accurately predict the failure process. Conclusions: the prediction accuracy using different failure criteria mainly depended on whether the strain growth rate conformed to the actual bone deformation. Unbefitting strain growth rate will lead to premature or delayed structural fracture. The fracture simulation adopted in this study was suitable for most cortical bone structures, and can be used to determine the suitable failure criterion under different loads, so as to assist in obtaining the strength limit of cortical bone in various parts and provide data support for improving the simulation accuracy and grasping the condition of fracture occurrence in clinical practice.