Continuum Biomechanics
Term: Fall 2004
Course: BE/MEAM 455
Day/Time: Mondays & Wednesdays 3:00--4:30 PM, Towne 303
Instructor
George Biros
email:
biros@seas.upenn.edu
Class description
Biological and non-biological systems are both subject to several
basic physical balance laws of broad engineering importance.
Fundamental conservation laws are introduced and illustrated using
examples from animate as well as inanimate systems. Topics include
kinematics of deformation, the concept of stress, conservation of
mass, momentum, and energy. Mechanical constitutive equations for
fluids, solids, and intermediate types of media are described and
complemented by hands-on experimental and computational laboratory
experiences. Practical problem-solving using numerical methods will
be introduced.
Topics covered:
-(1)- Mathematics and continuum mechanics: Tensor
analysis, Deformation and Strain, Conservation Laws, Invariance;
Constitutive Laws (Elastic Solids, Newtonian Fluids), bending and
buckling, fluid-solid interaction. -(2)- Biomechanics: Arterial wall
mechanics, heart valves, blood rheology, biopolymer mechanics,
cytoskeleton, tissue engineering, remodeling and growth, -(3)-
Numerical methods: Introduction to MATLAB and Finite Element Methods.
Grading
Homeworks (70%), midterm (10%) and final project (20%).
Textbooks
- YC Fung, A First Course in Continuum Mechanics
- YC Fung, Biomechanics: Mechanical Properties of Living Tissues
Prerequisites
Statics, linear algebra, and differential equations
Old web site
fall 2000