Course program
LECTURES
• Introduction to the course and historical notes
Biomechanics: definition, application areas and origins of Biomechanics. From classical Greece to Alfonso Borrelli. The method for the study of movement. Etienne-Jules Marey and chronophotography.
• Reference system for biomechanical analysis
Reference planes and axes for multi-body systems. Degrees of freedom for an articulated system. Plane joints and spatial joints. Description of positions and positions of a reference system attached to a moving body. Choice of local and anatomical reference systems. Systems for the analysis of posture and movement. Application to the skeletal and muscular structures of the human body.
• Joints
Degrees of freedom in the joints: shoulder, elbow and wrist. The elementary movements of the lower limb: hip, knee and ankle joints.
• Elements of kinematics
Analysis of a quadrilateral planar joint system: example of the cruciate ligaments in the knee. Jointed system with two segments: lumped parameter model of the lower limbs. Planar kinematic model of the lower limb.
• Geometry of masses
Center of gravity of regular solids: position of the center of gravity in the segments of the human body. Center of gravity of irregular bodies: bent leg. Moment of inertia of regular plane sections.
• Elements of statics
Application of the principles of statics to biomechanics. As an example, shoulder balance and elbow balance.
NUMERICAL EXERCISES - Learning by doing -
Examples of application of biomechanical analysis to the multi-link model of the human body. Use of Open Source platform for modeling and simulation of lower or upper limbs, single or coupled, for the analysis of human movement.
Prerequisites
The topics related to the examination of Analysis I, II, Geometry, Physics I, are indispensable in order to understand the contents and achieve the learning objectives of the teaching.
Books
• Lecture notes by the Teacher.
• "Fondamenti di Meccanica e Biomeccanica del Movimento", Giovanni Legnani e Giacomo Palmieri, CittàStudi Torino 2016.
• "Multiscale Modeling in Biomechanics and Mechanobiology", De Suvranu, Hwang Wonmuk, Kuhl Ellen, Springer-Verlag London 2015.
• Nordin M., Frankel V.H. "Basic biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system" 4th Editions.2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Frequency
Frequency modality is optional.
Exam mode
The examination procedure is oral and provides for the verification of the topics covered in the classroom.
Lesson mode
The activities are organized in lectures integrated with classroom exercises analyzed according to the numerical methods of biomechanical analysis.
