Credits: 7,5. Grading scale: TH. Cycle: A (Second Cycle). Main field: Technology. Language of instructions: The course will be given in English. Optional for: E4, E4mt, F4, F4bem, F4bm, F4mt, M4bem, MD4, N4, Pi4, Pi4bm, BME4. Prerequisites: Basic courses in mathematics, mechanics and solid mechanics and biomechanics (BMEN05 or equivalent). Course coordinator: Professor Hanna Isaksson, hanna.isaksson@bme.lth.se, Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Course fall 2022

The course continues where BMEN05 ends, and focuses primarily on skeletal tissue biomechanics. Information about the course, assignments and examination and the schedule is available under each heading on the side.

All ongoing course material (e.g. lecture notes, additional reading material, assignments and lab instructions) will be available on canvas for course participants only. 

Update August 2022; All lectures and lab activities will be held IRL on campus. 

Course plan

Aims: The aim of the course is to deepen the knowledge in biomechanics and mechanobiology of the skeletal tissues (bone, articular cartilage, tendons and ligaments) and to understand the pathomechanics of injury, adaption and degenerative changes with aging, as well as how biomaterials can be used in loaded regions of the body. Moreover, the course aims to provide an insight into current biomechanical research of skeletal tissues.

Assessment: One assignment is performed in a group and presented both in a written report and as an oral presentation. Two sets of laboratory exercises, both including experimental and finite element modeling exercise, is performed in group. These are reported individually in one combined report (exp + num) for each laboratory set. Each assignment and exercise will receive written feedback from the course coordinator, and be graded with the grades failed, 3, 4, 5. The final grade is given based on a combination of the course assignments and the laboratory report. Procedures for extra assignments to pass the course when failed, are arranged after contact with the course coordinator.

General information

The tissues in the human body that builds up the musculoskeletal system (i.e. bone, articular cartilage, ligaments and tendons) are largely mechanical in nature and are critical for our health. Their mechanical competence are affected by their composition-structure-function relationship.

This course is structured around solid mechanics of materials and their application to the study of mechanical behavior of skeletal tissues, bones, cartilage, bone-implant systems, joints and biomaterials. Topics include: mechanical behavior of tissues (anisotropy, viscoelasticity, fracture and fatigue) with emphasis on the role of the microstructure of these tissues; structural properties of whole bones and implants (composite and asymmetric beam theories); and mechanical function of joints (contact mechanics, lubrication and wear). The role of mechanobiology in the evolution and development of the musculoskeletal system is described, as well as its influence during tissue repair, remodeling and degeneration.

The course describes and applies the available methods to assess and understand these tissues both from an experimental and numerical approach, and how to use experimental data to develop theoretical models, as well as on using the knowledge gained to address common health related problems related to aging, disease and injury. The design and function of implants and prosthesis are also described and coupled to the mechanics and biology of the system.

Literature

Lecture notes and research based material (mostly review articles) are provided in the course and will be available at "Canvas"