1.

BME 302L (202L), Biomechanics and Biomaterials: Biomaterials Section

2. Credits and contact hours

One course credit
2 lectures: 1 hr 15 min per week; 1 lab: 3 hr per week

3. A.) Instructor’s or course coordinator’s name

Biomaterials: Brenton Hoffman
brenton.hoffman@duke.edu
Office: 1379 CIEMAS
Office Phone: 660 5154
Office hours: See Sakai

B.) Biomaterials Laboratory Teaching Assistants

Ishaan Puranam: ishaan.puranam@duke.edu

Arnold Tao: arnold.tao@duke.edu
Office Hours: See Sakai

4. Text book, title, author, and year

None
a. other supplemental materials
Lectures, Articles, Resources, Laboratory manual, posted in the course website
b. Suggested Reading: Introductory Biomechanics: Cells to Organisms. Ethier and
Ross, Cambridge University Press.

5. Specific course information

a. brief description of the content of the course (catalog description)
This course will cover principles of physiology, materials science and mechanics
with particular attention to topics most relevant to biomedical engineering. Areas
of focus include the structure-functional relationships of biocomposites including
biological tissues and biopolymers; extensive treatment of the properties unique to
biomaterials surfaces; behavior of materials in the physiological environment, and
biomechanical failure criterion. The course includes selected experimental
measurements in biomechanical and biomaterial systems.
b. prerequisites or co-requisites
Math 353 and Engineering 201L and Mechanical Engineering 221L
c. indicate whether a required, elective, or selected elective (as per Table 5-1)
course in the program
Selected elective: students choose 2 out of 4 Area Core electives

6. Specific goals for the course

a. specific outcomes of instruction
Goals in Biomaterials:
 I. Use principles of basic mechanics to describe physical properties of several
human tissues [PC (1)].
II. Identify aspects of these physical properties that are critically important for
function or altered in disease states [SO (j)].
III. Identify materials that can be used to successfully mimic most critical aspects
of human tissue [PC (5)].
IV. Draw accurate free-body diagrams and use them in solving problems in
biomechanics [SO (a)].

Goal is Biomechanics:
V. Apply the principles of dynamics to models of human physiology and injury
[PC (1,2)].
VI. Formulate and solve lumped-parameter models and equations of motion for
dynamic biomechanical systems [PC (2)].
VII. Understand biomechanical implications of viscoelasticity [SO (a)].
VIII. Successfully acquire data from static, dynamic, and living systems [SO
(b,k), PC (4)].
IX. Apply statistical methods (descriptive statistics, linear regression, hypothesis
testing, ANOVA, and power analysis) to analyze results of experimental
measurements [PC (3)].

b. Pertinent student outcomes

Student Outcomes and I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX

Program Criteria
(a) apply knowledge of math,
x x x
science and engineering
(e) identify/formulate/solve
X x X
engineering problems
(k) use
techniques/skills/modern x X
engineering tools
(1) understand biology and
X X X
physiology
(2) apply math/science/egr to
X X X X X
interface of egr and biology
(3) apply statistics to interface
X
of egr and biology
(4) measure/interpret data from
x X x
living systems
(5) address interactions between
x X
living/non-living systems
 x ‒ course addresses the Outcome/Criterion
X ‒ course addresses the Outcome/Criterion and collects assessment data

7. Brief list of topics to be covered

Lectures:
Biomechanics:
a) Static applications in orthopedic biomechanics: mechanical loads on hips and knees
with implications for joint replacement
b) Single degree of freedom impact: mass, spring and dashpot models for impact
modeling with applications to helmet design and motor vehicle safety
c) Introduction to mechanical vibrations: base and force excitation with application in
response magnification, transmission and vibration control.
d) Planar kinematics: relative displacement, velocity and acceleration with application
sin rollover crashes.
e) Viscoelasticity: creep, stress relaxation, rate dependence, Maxwell, Kelvin and three
parameter models
Biomaterials:
f) Biological and mechanical properties of polysaccharides, extracellular matrix
proteins, and cells
g) Understanding and mimicking the biological and mechanical properties of ligaments,
bone, vasculature, skin, brain/skull, and muscle.
h) Introduction to biocompatibility, protein deposition on biomaterial surfaces

Materials Labs: 1) Mechanical properties of common materials in biomaterials (titanium

foil, Dacron, PMMA-Plexiglass, Mylar, Polyurethane foam) in response to tension,
compression, and three-point bending. 2) Tissue harvesting. 3) Mechanical properties of
tissues (cartilage, tendon, bone, and skin) in comparison to synthetic materials.

8. Grading

Homework – 7.5%
In-class Quizzes – 15%
Lab Reports – 40%
Final Project – 30%
Report on current topic
Class Participation – 7.5%

9. Homework Policies

Students can work together, but must submit their own work. If turned in during class, a
maximum of 75% can be achieved. Homeworks turned in after class but received in the
 instructor’s office by the end of the day (5 PM) will be eligible for a maximum of 50%
credit. Homeworks submitted by 5 PM the due after it is due are eligible for 25% credit.
Homeworks submitted after this time will not be given credit, unless there is notification
and clearance by the instructor prior to the due date. All homeworks will be counted
towards the final grade.

All homework problems should be written up neatly. Work should be as clear as possible
with short explanations of the approach. This will ensure that we can follow your logic. If
an answer box is provided, answers should fit within the box. For all assignments be
sure to:
d. Start each homework problem on a separate page. Write your name on all pages.
Staple the pages for the entire assignment.
e. Box answers and label units of numeric answers. A significant number of points
will be deducted if units are omitted or incorrect

10. Quizzes

In place of a formal exam, there will be several pop and/or announced quizzes
throughout the class. The basis of these quizzes will be the assigned reading material as
well as information presented in the lectures. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of
class and material presented in the class (or from a several lectures before) can be
covered. Make-up quizzes will only be offered if the instructor has been informed of an
absence prior to the quiz being given (i.e an excused absence). All make-up quizzes will
be conducted as an oral exam in the instructor’s office.

11. Lab and Lab Reports

Attendance at all lab sessions is mandatory, and all labs must be completed to pass the
course, regardless if the absence is excused or unexcused.

Lab reports should be formatted and completed as instructed by your TAs. Lab reports
are generally due approximately two weeks (the second Wednesday after a Thursday
lab) the after the completion of lab. The lab reports are a significant fraction of your
grade and are a significant amount of work. A large part of this course is designed for you
learn about and complete a significant amount of data analysis. This can be a time
consuming process as you will not be given sample code to work from. DO NOT WAIT
UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO COMPLETE THE LAB REPROTS.

Lab reports are due NO LATER than 5 pm on the due date. A hard copy of the lab
reports should be turned into the BME 302 drop box labeled “Hoffman” in Hudson annex
by 5 pm. Additionally, your lab reports should be uploaded to your drop box folder on
Sakai by 5 pm on the due date. 10 points will be deducted from lab reports submitted
after 5 on the due date, and 20 points will be deducted from reports for each day late.
Also, if you do not turn in a paper copy 5 points will be deducted.

12. Piazza
 Piazza is an online discussion board that will be used throughout the course to answer
questions about homework, lab reports, and any other course material. Students can
submit questions anonymously and other students, TAs or the course professor may post
a response. Note: If your post includes your name, it may be counted towards your
participation grade. Please go to piazza.com and search for BME302 at Duke to
create an account. This discussion board will be used in both the Biomechanics and
Biomaterials sections.

13. Final Project

NOTE: An extended version of problem statement, as well as the grading rubric, can be
found in the resources folder on Sakai. Briefly, Students will create a report on a tissue of
choice and its mechanical properties. The report will consist of three parts. First the
report will contain a review of relevant mechanical properties of the tissue, how it
functions physiologically, and aspects that lead to pathological function. Students will
then identify a recent paper from the literature that addresses how biomaterials are being
used to improve pathological function OR enhances the understanding of the mechanical
properties of human tissue. Students should use principles and techniques discussed in
the class to summarize and evaluate the paper. Finally, students should then suggest a
novel “next step” in the research or product development. The final project should be 5-8
single spaced pages in length. Late policy for labs applies to the final. Thus, your final is l
should be uploaded to your electronic drop box folder on Sakai and a paper copy should
be turned into the dropboxes by 5 pm on the due date. 10 points will be deducted from
lab reports submitted after 5 PM, but before midnight, on the due date, and 20 points will
be deducted from reports for each day late. Also, if you do not turn in a paper copy 5
points will be deducted.

The final project is a major fraction of your grade and is thus expected to represent a
significant effort on your part. Do not wait until the last minute to start the project.

14. Duke University Community Standards

In all assignments students are expected to adhere to the Duke University community
standards. These can be found on the website: http://www.integrity.duke.edu/new.html.
Two principles to guide your decisions are:

1. I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors, nor will I accept the actions of
those who do.
2. I will conduct myself responsibly and honorably in all my activities as a Duke student.

The following is the general policy for assignments. Group work on homework problems
is acceptable. BUT, you must be able to explain your work. Such efforts can be beneficial
learning experiences. Exams will represent the work of each individual.
If you are suspected of academic dishonesty (e.g. cheating on an exam, copying a lab
report, collaborating inappropriately on an assignment, etc.) you will typically be
contacted by the instructor of the course to alert you of the situation. The faculty member
is required to report the matter to the Office of Student Conduct, which will discuss with
the faculty the appropriate next steps. This may include resolution of the matter directly
between you and the instructor if certain criteria are met as determined by the Office of
Student Conduct. The Office of Student Conduct is involved to ensure your due process
rights are protected and to promote consistency of response across Duke. If the matter is
resolved directly between you and the instructor, no notation is made on your record
unless there is a subsequent offense. If the matter is addressed through the office of
student conduct, a student who is found responsible for academic dishonesty faces formal
disciplinary action, which may include suspension from the University. (Note: A student
who is suspended twice for Academic dishonesty automatically faces a minimum 5-year
separation from Duke.) Faculty will ultimately determine the grade of an individual who
accepts responsibility for, or who has been found responsible for academic dishonesty.

*These policies and guidelines may change