BIOMENG 7044 - Biomechanical Engineering

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

What exactly was Grandma's hip replaced with? How does my skeleton reinvent itself continuously? How are my car's occupant safety features evaluated? What is an ACL and why does it rupture? Engineering biomechanics is involved in every movement we make, and is critical to many areas of medicine and safety. This course will explore the function, structure and mechanics of tissues in the musculoskeletal system (e.g. bone, tendon, cartilage, etc.), the function and design principles of orthopaedic implants and artificial joints, and the fundamentals of injury biomechanics. In each of these areas, the experimental, analytical and computational research methods used to study function, dysfunction and trauma will be discussed. Learning opportunities will include hands-on laboratory activities, facility visits and demonstrations. Contemporary examples and case studies will be used to explore new and emerging orthopaedic and injury biomechanics technologies.

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Course Details

Course Code	BIOMENG 7044
Course	Biomechanical Engineering
Coordinating Unit	Biomedical Engineering
Term	Semester 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 6 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Assessment	Assignments, Laboratory experiments, Project, Final Exam

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Claire Jones

Course Coordinator & Instructor: Dr Claire Jones

Instructors: Mr Simon Thwaites, Dr Rami Aldirini, Dr Ryan Quarrington

Tutor: Mr Darcy Thompson-Bagshaw

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

A week-to-week schedule is provided on MyUni.

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1	Demonstrate understanding of the biomechancal functions of the musculoskeletal system;
2	Explain the function of diathroidal joints, and the function, design, limitations and failure mechanisms of artifical joints;
3	Explain the mechanical principles of fracture and spinal fixation, and compare/contrast associated implant design and action;
4	Undertake fundamental calculations in the areas of tissue, orthopaedic and injury biomechanics;
5	Demonstrate understanding of musculosketal tissue (e.g. bone, ligament, tendon, cartilage, disc) function, structure, microstructure and mechanics, and the relationships between these;
6	Demonstrate understanding of the principles of injury biomechanics, and the function of standardised safety testing and injury criteria.
7	Evaluate the relevant literature and identify a clinical problem, and take the first steps towards formulating a research hypothesis and designing appropriate experimental methods/analytical models to test the hypothesis.
8	Critically analyse, interpret, evaluate and synthesise relevant literature and other information (e.g. equipment documentation, alternative information sources) to explain applications of biomechanics.
9	Investigate emerging new technologies in the biomechanics field; and,
10	Appreciate the multi-disciplinary collaborative nature of biomechanics research and practice.

The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia . The course develops the following EA Elements of Competency to levels of introductory (A), intermediate (B), advanced (C):

1.1	1.2	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.6	2.1	2.2	2.3	2.4	3.1	3.2	3.3	3.4	3.5	3.6
B	A	C	C	C	—	C	C	B	A	C	C	C	C	C	C

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1-3
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	3-5
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	4, 5
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	4, 5
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	4, 5
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	3-5

Learning Resources

Recommended Resources

Reading lists and resources will be posted on MyUni.

Online Learning

Course materials will be made available on MyUni, assessments will be submitted via MyUni.
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Three teaching and learning modes are used in this course.
- Recorded materials will be available on MyUni and should be viewed prior to workshop attendence.
- Workshops typically take the form of a series of Small Group Learning activities, expanding on the theme of the corresponding recorded materials. These interactive workshops reinforce and broaden the concepts covered in the recorded materials, and are designed to allow students to deepen their understanding of the topics and develop critical thinking skills.
- Workshops also include incursions/excursions to demonstrate practical application of biomechanical engineering in industry and research contexts.
- Practical/laboratory sessions focus on use of contemporary computational modelling techniques in biomechanical engineering.
Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

The required time commitment from the beginning of semester to the end of the final exam is around 40 hours attendance at workshops and practicals, 40 hours of self directed learning, 40 hours completing assessments and 40 hours of revising course material and preparing for the exam.

Learning Activities Summary
1. Basic analysis of muscle and joint loads
2. Biomechanics (structure and function) of bone, ligament, tendon, cartilage and disc.
3. Viscoelasticity of biological tissues
4. Basic biomechanics of synovial joints
5. Basic spine biomechanics
6. Biomechanics and design of joint replacements
7. Fracture fixation and healing, spinal fusion
8. Injury biomechanics
9. Introduction to computational approaches in biomechanics
Specific Course Requirements
Field trips and practical sessions will be undertaken at:
- Biomechanics Laboratory and/or Gait Laboratory at AHMS Building, University of 新浪彩票
- Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR), Kent Town
Students are required to travel independently to these locations. Directions are provided on MyUni.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Weighting (%)	Individual/ Group	Formative/ Summative	Due (week)*	Hurdle criteria	Learning outcomes
MyUni quizzes	1% per quiz, to a maximum of 10% total	Individual	Summative	Weekly	No
Workshop assessed tasks	1% per task, to a maximum of 10% total	Individual	Summative	Weekly	No
Injury Biomechanics Discovery Project - proposal	0%	Individual	Formative	~ Week 8	No
Injury Biomechanics Discovery Project - final report	16%	Individual	Summative	~ Week 9	No

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