Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Traditional experimentation techniques cannot always be applied to investigate the mechanics of biological systems. As a medical engineer, you are often then required to use modelling and simulation techniques to understand the behaviour of biomechanical components and/or systems. This unit introduces you to some of the fundamental principles of modelling and simulation techniques and their applications in Biomedical Engineering.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to introduce you to the fundamental processes involved in the modelling and simulation of biomechanical components/systems.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Apply knowledge of the principles of modelling and simulation to study simple biomechanical systems
2. Describe and explain the sources of nonlinearity in biomechanical systems and strategies for modelling nonlinearity
3. Construct models of complex shapes derived from medical imaging
4. Apply commercial finite-element analysis software to solve medical engineering problems

Content

• Modelling and simulation of simple linear systems


• Introduction to finite-element analysis (FEA)


• Introduction to non-linear systems and sources of non-linearity


• Modelling non-linear biomechanical systems and solving non-linear FEA


• Kinetics and kinematics and FEA of biomechanical systems


• Case studies related to the behaviour of biomaterials in musculoskeletal systems


• Introduction to computational fluid mechanics and case examples

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode:
Hours per week: 4
Lectures: 1 hr/wk
Tutorials/Computer Laboratory: 3 hrs/wk

This unit is delivered through a combination of traditional lectures and hands on tutorials held in the computer laboratory. Lectures will present the fundamental principles involved in the modelling and simulation of biomechanical components/systems. The tutorials following the lecture will be held in the computer laboratory and provide you with the opportunity to learn by completing problem solving tasks of varying levels of complexity to put into practice the concepts covered in the lectures.

Assessment

This Unit will be assessed by problem solving tasks and report. Assessment will take place in the form of individual and group assignments.You will receive formative oral feedback on your progress throughout the semester in tutorials. Written and verbal summative feedback will be provided for project reports.

Assessment name: Critique
Description: Journal article critique
Relates to objectives: 1
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Report
Description: Nonlinear finite element investigation
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Report
Description: Computational Biomechanics
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Text books:
Nil

Reference books:
1. A first course in the finite element method / Daryl L. Logan. Logan, Daryl L
2. Biomechanics and Control of Human Movement, Winter DA
3. Biomechanics of the Musclo-Skeletal System Nigg BM, & Herzog W
4. Nonlinear Continuum Mechanics for Finite Element Analysis (E book) by Bonet, Javier; Wood, Richard
5. ANSYS software user guide

Risk assessment statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 17-Oct-2012