Introduction to Computational Biomechanics MECE 4380.01 Spring 2007 Brief Course Description (catalog style): This course is designed to provide an introduction to the anatomy and functional anatomy of the human upper and lower extremities. The material is covered in a modular, challenge-based format in which the investigation of the musculoskeletal mechanics of the various joints comprising the upper and lower extremities follows a specific sequence of learning activities designed to answer a challenge(s) concerning that joint(s). Challenges include; What strength is required to hold the iron cross position in gymnastics?, How do your leg muscles activate when you walk?, How high can you jump?, and How can you tear your ACL? Target student population: Junior/Senior Mechanical Engineering majors in an elective course. Identify major COURSE OBJECTIVE(S): By the end of this course, students should have a basic understanding the musculoskeletal anatomy of the human upper and lower extremities be able to describe the functional anatomy of the upper and lower extremities, at least that associated with the specific motion tasks addressed by the covered modules be able to apply the fundamental principles of Mechanics to the analysis and simulation of the human movement have an awareness of the wealth of materials available for the study of human motion and their location. ABET Outcomes addressed by this module include: A. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, engineering and sciences at the interface of engineering and biology B. An ability to design and conduct experiments, including experiments on living systems; an ability to analyze and interpret data, including data from measurements on living systems. D. An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams. E. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems, including problems at the interface of engineering and biology. G. An ability to communicate effectively in writing and by speaking. K. An ability to use techniques, skills and tools in engineering practice and be prepared for further education in engineering, medicine or biomedical science. Identify-sub objectives necessary for achieving the major course objectives: The course is currently comprised of four HPL inspired modules structured according to the STAR Legacy format. Each of these modules and their specific objectives are listed below. Iron Cross At the end of this module, you will be able to: Understand that muscle contraction produces only tensile forces Distinguish between agonist and antagonist muscles Define the meaning of static indeterminate and identify statically indeterminate problems (SIP) Explain the reduction vs. optimization methods for solving SIP Find maximum resultant muscle force and torque Find resultant torque required to hold iron cross position Explain how moment arm and torque depend on arm position Understand the muscle force-length relationship
Explain how muscle force and torque depends on arm position Understand the concept of mechanical advantage
Virtual Biomechanics Laboratory The learning objectives for this module are: To be able to use the kinematic data in conjunction with anthropometric tables in order to calculate the position of the whole body center of mass (COM) and its trajectory while walking. To know what kinematic approximations can be made to calculate the whole body COM while walking. To be able to describe how joint motions contribute to sagittal plane movements of the whole body COM and head while walking. To be able to describe the method used to gather kinematic data in a biomechanics laboratory. To know the components of the gait cycle and their sequencing. To know what the ground reaction forces (GRFs)look like for a single step of normal gait. To be able to relate the vertical GRF pattern to the components of the gait cycle. To be able to describe how kinetic data are recorded in a biomechanics laboratory. To know the leg muscles that play a major role in gait. To know the lower limb muscle activation patterns and the sequencing of these patterns during a single gait cycle. To be able to describe the equipment needed to gather and study the data for lower limb muscle activation. To know what kinematic, kinetic and EMG data look like for normal gait and the reason why they look the way they do. To be able to identify the differences between normal gait and abnormal gait by looking at various data types: their variation with respect to time duration, sequencing and magnitudes. To be able to relate kinematic, kinetic and EMG data as a way of studying gait. Jumping Jack The learning objectives for this module are: to be able to describe the types of equipment used to measure the kinematics and kinetics of human movement to be able to apply the Impulse-Momentum method in mechanics to be able to describe the relationship between ground reaction force (GRF) and the position, velocity and acceleration of the whole body center of mass (COM) to be able to describe and explain the dependence of muscle force on length, contraction velocity, and activation level to be able to apply D'Alembert's Principle of Dynamic Equilibrium to obtain the equations of motion for a mathematical (computer) model of the human musculoskeletal system
Knee (Italicized items are not covered by the current set of challenges) By the end of this module students will be able to: Describe the musculoskeletal anatomy of the human knee joint. Understand the functional anatomy of the human knee joint. Draw appropriate free-body-diagrams of the knee. Create and use planar kinematic models of human musculoskeletal joints. In particular, a sagittal plane model of the knee comprised of the four revolute four-bar Cruciate linkage model of the tibiofemoral joint and a single point model of the patellofemoral joint.
Determine instant centers of rotation, and their paths, for free and constrained planar rigidbodies. Understand and deal with muscle-path changes resulting from a change in effective origin/insertion points during motion. Use muscle and ligament force models. Solve static equilibrium problems, both determinate and indeterminate. Determine/Estimate impact force. Determine contact stress and apply related failure theories. Understand that model fidelity requirements depend on the problem under investigation.