BME 271

Winter 2012

INTRODUCTION TO BIOMECHANICS
Professor: Office: Phone: Email: Office Hours: Wendy Murray, Ph.D. Tech M313 (312) 238-6965 (RIC office) w-murray@northwestern.edu Wednesday 3:30 5:30 pm. (also available by appointment)

Teaching Assistant: Sarah Wohlman Email: sarahwohlman2014@u.northwestern.edu Office Hours: to be determined by online survey Course Description: This course is an introductory biomechanics course. The course covers basic topics in biomechanics, including biological and physiological applications of statics and strength of materials. This course is designed for undergraduates in Biomedical Engineering and is intended to be taken during the sophomore year. This course is required for all BME undergraduates. Prior to taking this course students should know: Concepts of free-body diagrams and classical (Newtonian) mechanics Concepts of vector analysis, differentiation, and integration Learning Objectives: At the end of this course, the student should be able to: Analyze the strength of materials of biomechanical systems by applying the following concepts and problem-solving tools: - Stress and strain - Stress transformation, finding principal stresses - Properties of biological materials, material failure - Models of material behavior, Hook's law - Stress concentration - Axial loading - Bending, bending stresses Demonstrate a deeper understanding of fundamental physics and statics. Specifically, the student should be capable of applying fundamental knowledge, obtained from prerequisite and preparatory courses and briefly reviewed in this course, to unfamiliar problems. In particular, at the end of this course, the student should be better at:: Apply fundamental physics to biological (human) systems, including: - Review of fundamental laws of mechanics - Biomechanics and applications - Working with dimensions, units and conversions - Relevant measurements of biological systems (Anthropometry) - Understanding how human musculoskeletal structures are involved in biomechanics. - Force classifications in biomechanics - Calculating forces, moments, and couples - Resultant and equivalent force systems - Computing center of gravity of composite bodies and centroid of distributed loads.

BME 271

Winter 2012

Analyze static biomechanical systems by applying the following concepts and problem-solving tools: - Equilibrium - Free body diagrams - Constraints, supports, and reactions - Musculoskeletal machines and lever systems - Biomechanical applications of the Method of Sections - Muscle forces and joint reaction forces Text: Other reading: Lectures: Grading: Class participation Homework Midterm #1 Midterm #2 Final exam Homework Policy:

Fundamentals of Biomechanics, 2nd Edition Ozkaya and Nordin, Springer, 1998. Class handouts MWF 2:00-2:50pm Tech M152 Important dates to remember: 5% 10% 25% 25% 35% F, 2/3: M, 2/27: Fr, 3/16, 3-5 pm: Midterm #1 Midterm #2 Final Exam

Homework assignments will be announced in class and via Blackboard. Late homework will not be accepted. There will be no makeup assignments for missed homework. The lowest homework grade will be dropped when calculating your final grade You may discuss homework problems in groups, but when you sit down to write up the solutions, you should do so separately and individually. TO BE VERY CLEAR, each student must turn in an individual homework assignment.

Test Policy: There will be no make-up midterm exams.