Introductory description

Biomechanics

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• Experimental methods for single cells. Introduction of various techniques for measuring the mechanical properties of single biological cells
• Cell mechanics. Mechanical models for cell deformation and their biomedical applications
• Cell adhesion and cell-material interaction. Mechanistic and adhesion mechanisms in cell-to-cell and cell-biomaterial interactions
• Tissue mechanics. Measurement and modelling of the deformation behaviours of biological tissues
• Multi-scale biomechanics. Mechanical characterisations bridging the gap between discrete cell level and continuous tissue level
• Kinematics, anatomical models and marker sets. Will include: the standard anatomical position, associated terms of location, axes and planes; the use of markers with motion capture to obtain kinematic variables, including a simple and Vicon’s Plug-in-Gait marker sets; conventions for kinematics, such as global and segment reference frames, and descriptions of segments in space; techniques for direct measurement of certain kinematic variables; calculation of other kinematic variables (such as limb-segment angles). Associated with these topics are training sessions (4 hours in total) in the use of the School of Engineering’s Gait Laboratory.
• Kinetics: Forces and moments. Will include: link-segment biomechanical models; ground reaction force and force plates; combining force plate data and kinematic data for a basic foot model, and then using the Gait Laboratory for inverse dynamics [this will form basis for related assignment]; centers of mass and pressure, and their differences; the inverted pendulum model.
• Mechanical Work, Energy and Power. Will include: the relationship between moments, angular velocity and joint power during normal gait; internal versus external work, and their calculation; sign convention for muscle work; mechanical energy transfer between segments, power balances at joints and within segments; forms of energy storage and the total energy of a multi-segment system.
• Forward dynamics. Lagrangian mechanics based formulation of so-called forward models to include: Generalised coordinates, degrees of freedom and reference systems; displacement and velocity vectors; system energy; external forces and torques.
• Muscle mechanics. Will include: Basic introduction to muscles; Hill-type mathematical models of muscles; force-length and force-velocity characteristics of muscles; processing of the electromyogram.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Be able to apply the core principles of biomechanics to mechanical systems in biology and medicine
• Demonstrate understanding of kinematics, and be able to determine key kinematic variables in human motion
• Use state-of-the-art data capture, via a Gait Laboratory, to determine and analyse key kinematic and kinetic variables in human motion
• Be able to derive basic link-segment equations; and perform a kinetic analysis of reaction forces and moments in 2D for human motion
• Understand the concepts of work, energy and power in human movement and how they relate to muscle function
• Demonstrate understanding of mechanical models in biological cells/ tissues; be able to derive force-balance equations
• Understand and evaluate modern experimental techniques for the measurements of cell and tissue/ mechanics; and be able to explain the working principles, merits and drawbacks of the techniques

Subject specific skills

TBC

Transferable skills

TBC