Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Orthopaedic Biomechanics: Projects

Copyright © 2008 University of Notre Dame

Project 1

Project 1 is an investigation of a tendon repair device for the elbow. Your task is to determine appropriate dimensions for a tendon repair device made from expanded PTFE by finding the maximum forces sustained in each of four muscles in the elbow.

Project 2

The goal of this project is to investigate the mechanical behavior of a whole bone, based on your knowledge of the mechanical properties of trabecular and cortical bone. When you complete the project you should understand:

• The role of modulus-density relationships in understanding bone mechanical properties
• How computed tomography data is related to bone density
• How to construct simple models of whole bones based on the properties of the underlying bone tissue
• How bone density and material propeties can be used to understand osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Last update: 20 Mar 2008