College of Biomedical Engineering & Applied Sciences

BIOMECHANICS
BEG .... BM
Semester IV Year II
Teaching Examination Schedule

Remarks
Marks
Total
Schedule Final Internal
Hours/Week Theory Practical Theory Practical
Assessment
Marks Marks
L T P Duration Marks Duration Marks
4 1 3 60 40 100

Course objectives
• To provide basic mechanical features of human body and tissues.
• To provide basic idea on application of mechanics to study human body (different joints,
hard and soft tissues as well as body fluids) and movement.

Course contents:

1. Introduction (2 hours)
1.1. Review of Mechanics
1.2. Definition of Biomechanics
1.3. Applications

2. Force in Joint (12 hours)

2.1. Classification of joints based on movability& axial movement
2.2. Elbow: Loads on elbow, Forces in elbow joint, Derivation of joint reaction force,
Problems
2.3. Shoulder: Shoulder joints and problems
2.4. Hip: Forces in hip joints, Derivation of joint reaction force, Problems
2.5. Knee: Features of knee joint, Screw home mechanism, Forces in patellofemoral &
tibiofemoral joints, Biomechanical functions of patella, Problems
2.6. Spine: Introduction, Loads on Spine, Pressure on spinal column, Stability while
standing, Problems
2.7. Ankle: Ankle joints, Loads on the foot, Ankle Injuries, Problems
2.8. Wrist: Radiocarpal and Midcarpal joints, Motion, Wrist injury
2.9. Additional problems

3. Skeletal Biology (6 hours)

3.1. Introduction: Skeletal system, Bone
3.2. Organization, composition and types of bones. Bone cells, Quantitative representation
of bone composition
3.3. Cartilage: Types, Composition, Mechanical significance, Organization of Articular
Cartilage
3.4. Modeling and Remodeling, Problems
3.5. Fracture healing: Methods, Factors, Biological phases, Torsion test, Electrical
phenomena
4. Mechanical Properties of Tissues (6 hours)
4.1. Bone: Elastic Constants & Stiffness matrices, Ultrasonic wave propagation, Strength
of a whole bone, problems, Mechanical Failure of Whole bones
4.2. Material properties of cortical bone: Effects of osteons on mechanical properties,
Determinants of osteonal bone mechanical
4.3. Properties, Anisotropy of cortical bone mechanical properties
4.4. Material properties of cancellous bone: Mechanical testing, Stress-strain curve,
Continuum Limit, Determinants of cancellous bone mechanical properties,
Comparison with cortical bone properties, Invariance of yield strength
4.5. Ligaments & Tendons: Functional considerations & differences, Mechanical behavior,
Quasistatic tensile properties:
4.6. Load-deformation curve, Viscoelastic properties, Age vs. Mechancial behavior,
Mechanical testing-difficulties

5. Mechanics of Soft Tissues (6 hours)

5.1.Collagen: Fibrils, fibers, Stress-strain relationship, Stress relaxation, Preconditioning,
Change in mechanical properties with life cycle
5.2. Elastin: Functions, Incomplete fixation in aldehyde
5.3. Resilin and Abductin
5.4. Thermodynamics of elastic deformation
5.5. Quasi-linear viscoelasticity

6. Synovial Joint Mechanics (6 hours)

6.1. Introduction and functions
6.2. Mechanical properties of cartilage: Structure, Permeability, Indentation testing,
Tensile tests, Confined compression creep and relaxation test, Effect of strain rate-
tension test and compression test
6.3. Lubrication of Joints: Wear, Types of Lubrication
6.4. Use of Reynold’s equation & feasibility of hydrodynamic lubrication

7. Muscle Mechanics (6 hours)

7.1. Introduction: Skeletal, Cardiac, Smooth muscle
7.2. Functional arrangement of Muscles: force transmission in parallel and in pinnate
arrangement, Problems
7.3. Structure of skeletal muscles: Sliding element theory of muscle action, Cross-bridge
theory, Hill’s equation for tetanized skeletal muscle
7.4. Cardiac Muscle: Features, Comparison with skeletal muscles, Properties of an
Unstimulated Heart Muscle, Hill’s Equation and its modification

8. Modalities of Elastic and Viscoelastic Solids, Constitutive Equations (10 hours)

8.1. Introduction: Stress Traction and Tensor, Index notation, Kronecker delta
8.2. Strain tensor: Derivation of Green’s and Almansi’s strain tensors, Deduction of
Cauchy’s infinitesimal strain tensor from Almansi’s
8.3. Constitutive Equation: Newtonian Viscous Fluid, Hookean Elastic Solid
8.4. Mechanical models for viscoelastic solids: Viscoelasticity, Maxwell model, Voigt
model, Kelvin (Linear Standard Solid) model, Derivation of creep and stress relaxation
functions
9. Introduction to Bio-Fluid Mechanics (6 hours)
9.1. Introduction to bio-fluids and types
9.2. Basics of Blood Rheology: Rheology, viscosity, Characterization of liquids, blood,
blood flow, blood viscosity, medical applications of blood rheology

Reference Books:

1. Biomechanics-Mechanical Properties of Living Tissues Y.C. Fung

2. Skeletal Tissue Mechanics, Martin, Burr & Shatkey
3. Basic Biomechanics, Susan J Hall

Evaluation Scheme:

The questions will cover all the chapters of the syllabus. The mark distribution will be as
indicated in the table below:

Chapters Hours Mark Distribution* Question Type

1 2 2 very short
2 12 4+10=14 short, long
3 6 2+4=6 very short, short
4 6 2+4=6 very short, short
5 6 2+4=6 short
6 6 4 short
7 6 4 short
8 10 10 long
9 6 4+4=8 short
Total 60 60 -
* Note: There may be minor deviation marks distribution.
Note: There will be one extra long question and two extra short questions from chapters 4, 5, 6
and 7.
 College of Biomedical Engineering & Applied Sciences
BIOMECHANICS
BEG .... BM
Semester IV Year II
Teaching Examination Schedule

Remarks
Marks
Total
Schedule Final Internal
Hours/Week Theory Practical Theory Practical
Assessment
Marks Marks
L T P Duration Marks Duration Marks
4 1 3 60 40 100

Content Depth
Hou Remar
Title
rs D Ds D I A E N ks
r x
1. Introduction

1.1. Review of Mechanics ✔ ✔

2
1.2. Definition of Biomechanics ✔ ✔
1.3. Applications ✔ ✔ ✔
2. Forces in Joint
2.1. Classification of joints based on movability& ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
axial movement

2.2. Elbow: Loads on elbow, Forces in elbow joint,

Derivation of joint reaction force, Problems ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

2.3. Shoulder: Shoulder joints and problems ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

2.4. Hip: Forces in hip joints, Derivation of joint
reaction force, Problems ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

2.5. Knee: Features of knee joint, Screw home

mechanism, Forces in patellofemoral &
12
tibiofemoral joints, Biomechanical functions of ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
patella, Problems

2.6. Spine: Introduction, Loads on Spine, Pressure

on spinal column, Stability while standing, ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Problems
2.7. Ankle: Ankle joints, Loads on the foot, Ankle
Injuries, Problems ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

2.8. Wrist: Radiocarpal and Midcarpal joints,

Motion, Wrist injury ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

2.9. Additional problems

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
 Content Depth
Hou Remar
Title
rs D Ds D I A E N ks
r x
3. Skeletal Biology

3.1. Introduction: Skeletal system, Bone

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
3.2 Organization, composition and types of bones.
Bone cells, Quantitative representation of bone ✔ ✔
composition
3.3. Cartilage: Types, Composition, Mechanical 6
significance, Organization of Articular ✔ ✔
Cartilage
3.4. Modeling and Remodeling, Problems
✔ ✔ ✔
3.5. Fracture healing: Methods, Factors, Biological
phases, Torsion test, Electrical phenomena ✔ ✔ ✔

4. Mechanical Properties of Tissues

4.1. Bone: Elastic Constants & Stiffness matrices,

Ultrasonic wave propagation, Strength of a
whole bone, problems, Mechanical Failure of ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Whole bones

4.2. Material properties of cortical bone: Effects of

osteons on mechanical properties,
Determinants of osteonal bone mechanical ✔ ✔ ✔
Properties, Anisotropy of cortical bone
mechanical properties

4.3. Material properties of cancellous bone: 6

Mechanical testing, Stress-strain curve,
Continuum Limit, Determinants of cancellous
bone mechanical properties, Comparison with ✔ ✔ ✔
cortical bone properties, Invariance of yield
strength

4.4. Ligaments & Tendons: Functional

considerations & differences, Mechanical
behavior, Quasistatic tensile properties:
load-deformation curve, Viscoelastic ✔ ✔ ✔
properties, Age vs. Mechancial behavior,
Mechanical testing-difficulties

5. Mechanics of Soft Tissues

 Content Depth
Hou Remar
Title
rs D Ds D I A E N ks
r x
5.1. Collagen: Fibrils, fibers, Stress-strain
relationship, Stress relaxation, 6
Preconditioning, Change in mechanical ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
properties with life cycle

5.2. Elastin: Functions, Incomplete fixation in

aldehyde ✔ ✔ ✔

5.3. Resilin and Abductin

✔ ✔ ✔
5.4. Thermodynamics of elastic deformation
✔ ✔
5.5. Quasi-linear viscoelasticity
✔ ✔
6. Synovial Joint Mechanics

6.1. Introduction and functions

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
6.2. Mechanical properties of cartilage: Structure,
Permeability, Indentation testing, Tensile tests,
Confined compression creep and relaxation test, ✔ ✔ ✔
Effect of strain rate- tension test and 6
compression test

6.3. Lubrication of Joints: Wear, Types of

Lubrication ✔ ✔ ✔

6.4. Use of Reynold’s equation & feasibility of

✔ ✔ ✔
hydrodynamic lubrication

7. Muscle Mechanics

7.1. Introduction: Skeletal, Cardiac, Smooth muscle

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
7.2. Functional arrangement of Muscles: force
transmission in parallel and in pinnate ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
arrangement, Problems 6
7.3. Structure of skeletal muscles: Sliding element
theory of muscle action, Cross-bridge theory, ✔ ✔ ✔
Hill’s equation for tetanized skeletal muscle

7.4. Cardiac Muscle: Features, Comparison with

skeletal muscles, Properties of an Unstimulated ✔ ✔
 Content Depth
Hou Remar
Title
rs D Ds D I A E N ks
r x
Heart Muscle, Hill’s Equation and its
modification

8. Modalities of Elastic and Viscoelastic Solids,

Constitutive Equations

8.1. Introduction: Stress Traction and Tensor, Index

notation, Kronecker delta ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

8.2. Strain tensor: Derivation of Green’s and

Almansi’s strain tensors, Deduction of
Cauchy’s infinitesimal strain tensor from ✔ ✔ ✔
Almansi’s 10
8.3. Constitutive Equation: Newtonian Viscous
Fluid, Hookean Elastic Solid ✔ ✔

8.4. Mechanical models for viscoelastic solids:

Viscoelasticity, Maxwell model, Voigt model,
Kelvin (Linear Standard Solid) model, ✔ ✔ ✔
Derivation of creep and stress relaxation
functions

9. Introduction to Bio-Fluid Mechanics

9.1. Introduction to bio-fluids and types

✔ ✔ ✔
6
9.2. Basics of Blood Rheology: Rheology, viscosity,
Characterization of liquids, blood, blood flow,
blood viscosity, medical applications of blood ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
rheology

D: Define, Ds: Describe, Dr: Derive, I: Illustration, A: Application, Ex: Explain, N: Numerical
 Model Question Exam Final

Purbanchal University Level BE Full Marks 60

Program Bio-Medical Pass Marks 24

2079
Year/Part II/IV Time 3 hrs

Subject: Biomechanics

✓ Candidates are required to give answer in their own words as far as possible.
✓ Attempt ALL questions.
✓ Assume suitable data if necessary.
✓ Fig in Margin Indicates Full Mark

Group A (VERY SHORT QUESTIONS) [4X2=8]

1) List out major areas of application of biomechanics.
2) How do you measure degree of mineralization of a bone tissue?
3) What do you mean by transversely isotropic material? Write down the stiffness matrix for
such materials.
4) What do you mean by the term “resilin”?

Group B (SHORT QUESTIONS) [8X4=32]

1) Derive an expression for the reaction force at hip joint.

2) Describe Hunter's stages in fracture healing.
3) Suppose a person’s femoral diaphysis is idealized as a circular cylinder with a periosteal
diameter of 3 cm and an endosteal diameter of 1.4 cm. Calculate the diaphyseal failure
moments for bending and torsion. Take ultimate stresses in bending and torsion to be 210
MPa and 70 MPa respectively.
Or
Draw stress-strain curve for cancellous bone. Why its testing is difficult? How do you
measure anisotropy of such bones?
4) With necessary equations, discuss thermodynamics of deformation in soft tissues.
Or
Discuss Fung’s QLV model of viscoelasticity.
5) Discuss confined compression test of cartilage.
6) Derive Hill's equation for tetanized skeletal muscle and convert it to dimensionless form.
7) Derive expressions for velocity and flow rate for laminar flow of blood in a long tube.
 8) What are the factors affecting blood viscosity? Discuss medical applications of blood
rheology.

Group C (LONG QUESTIONS) [2X10=20]

1) a) Discuss various loads acting on spine. A worker leans over and picks up a 90N box at a
distance of 0.7m from the axis of rotation in her spine. Neglecting the effect of body weight,
how much added force is required of the low back muscles with an average moment arm of
6 cm to stabilize the box in that position? [2+3]
b) Define the terms “plantarflexion” and “eversion”.
A load of 5 kg is held in one hand, with the lower arm horizontal. The lower arm has mass of
1.5 kg. The distance from the elbow to the hand is 30 cm and the COM can be assumed to be
40% of this distance. If the biceps muscle acts with a perpendicular moment arm of 5cm,
what force must it generate in order to maintain static equilibrium? Also calculate the reaction
force at the elbow. [1+4]

2) a) Determine the constitutive relation for an isotropic Newtonian fluid. [4]

b) Derive creep and stress relaxation solutions for a Voigt model of viscoelasticity.[6]
Or
3) a) Discuss feasibility of hydrodynamic lubrication using Reynolds’s equation. [5]
b) Compare the force transmission in parallel and in pinnate arrangement of muscle fibers,
and show the possible mechanical advantage of the pinnate arrangement. Assume both
muscles have same relaxed dimensions. Take α =300, L/y=2. [5]