HL2035 Biomechanics and Neuronics 7.5 credits

Basic anatomy and physiology. Mechanical properties of biological material. Numerical modelling of biological tissue. In particular the brain and cervical spine. Injury criteria.

To integrate medical and technical knowledge by providing the students insight into anatomy, biological materials, and their properties. To give knowledge of injury mechanics and injury criteria for biological tissues, in particular the central nervous system. Further to give knowledge of how numerical modelling of soft and hard biological tissue can be used to calculate deformations, strains and stresses in the tissue in effort to predict injury/instability of the tissue.

During this course you are expected to acquire the following skills:

·         Describe the human anatomy and the function of the nervous system.

·         Describe the basic constituents of human tissues and their mechanical properties.

·         Explain the mechanical properties of human tissues based on their design, purpose, and structure of the basic constituents.

·         Derive the simple viscoelastic material models and describe how the more complex viscoelastic relations can be modeled.

·         Explain the fundamental theories and the equations of motion for static and dynamic FEA.

·         Perform a dynamic FEA and evaluate the reliability of the results.

·         Analyze an accident, predict the injury outcome and suggest preventive strategies.

·         Describe the energy absorption of foam materials and discuss how this can be used to protect the human, for example in helmet design.

Basic knowledge of solid mechanics of minimum 7,5 credits.

English B

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• LAB1 - Laboratory Work, 3.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Approved project report and experimental lab (3 credits), and passed written exam (4.5 credits).

Svein Kleiven

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.