BIOMECHANICS

Description

This is an introductory level course in biomechanics. Topics taught in modules on solid and fluid mechanics are reviewed and then used to analyse certain aspects of the functioning of the human body. The topics covered are: Biomechanics of movement and analysis of the musculoskeletal system. An introduction to the material behaviour of biological tissues. An introduction to the fluid mechanics of the cardiovascular system. Mechanics of locomotion; walking and running. Statics of the musculoskeletal system. Kinematics of linkage systems applied to the human body; link-segment models of the human body. Dynamics of the musculoskeletal system. Synthesis of movement analysis. Stress analysis applied to long bones. An introduction to the material behaviour of soft tissue. An introduction to the fluid mechanics of the cardiovascular system. An understanding of how the human body can be represented as a mechanical system at various levels of detail depending on the application, and then analysed quantitatively using principles of mechanics. An understanding of the way in which muscles and joints act as structures to provide equilibrium or generate movement. An understanding of how the principles of statics and dynamics are applied to calculate forces generated in the joints for a range of situations. An understanding of the techniques that humans use in locomotion to move with a minimum of energy expenditure. An in-depth understanding of all the steps involved in the analysis of human movement and the practical skills needed to conduct that analysis. An understanding of how stress analysis can be applied to the long bones to examine their functional behaviour, fracture modes, and resilience. An introduction to the material behaviour of soft tissue. An introduction to the analysis of the cardiovascular system from the perspective of fluid dynamics Attributes Developed 001 On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: determine joint forces, joint moments, bone-on-bone forces and muscle forces using the methods of static analysis in which the body is in equilibrium. KCP 002 Be familiar with simple models for the analysis of running and walking and understand the mechanisms through which energy expenditure in locomotion is minimized. KC 003 Be able to experimentally determine some anthropometric parameters such as the position of the centre of mass of the whole body. KP 004 Be able to conduct structural analysis of long bones, understand fracture patterns for different types of loading, understand the concept of resilience to fracture, and understand the role of muscles in preventing bone fracture as well as be familiar with the concepts of viscoelasticity and non-linear elasticity of soft tissue. KC 005 Analyze experimental data to calculate joint angles, joint moments, and joint reaction forces in motion from marker position data and anthropometric data using engineering principles and computer-based data processing. CPT 006 Be able to apply the concept of hydraulic resistance to the vascular system, in order to analyse pressure drop in the microcirculation, and understand the concept of capacitance and elastance of arteries and veins and their role in regulating pressure and flow in the cardiovascular system and the concept of pulse speed in the arteries. KC