Acquire a working understanding of stress and strain tensor concepts and the ability to analyze the results of uniaxial/biaxial tensile tests on biomaterials. Understand viscoelastic phenomena and the ability to use the corresponding rheological models.
Understanding the mechanical characteristics of biological tissues and the mechanical models used to study their behavior: knowledge of prototype examples such as biological tissues, the cardiac pump, joint prostheses (hip, knee, or elbow), and stents for biostructures.
Understanding the mechanical characteristics of biological tissues and the mechanical models used to study their behavior: knowledge of prototype examples such as biological tissues, the cardiac pump, joint prostheses (hip, knee, or elbow), and stents for biostructures.
teacher profile teaching materials
Part I. Concepts familiar from the science of building blocks and the mechanics of biological systems are reviewed and explored, using specific examples of various natural and synthetic biomaterials. Through lectures and exercises, students will be guided through the study of the mechanics of biomaterials: from the concepts of stress and strain to the analysis of the mechanical behavior of materials. Specific rheological models will be studied, partly in class and partly at home, as well as experimental evidence on the stiffness and strength of certain biological materials, emerging from the analysis of appropriate stress-strain curves, which are the subject of articles published in scientific journals in the biomedical field. Expected learning outcomes: understanding the stress and strain states emerging from a uniaxial and/or biaxial tensile test and their relationship to the strength of the material under test; understanding the phenomena of "creep" and "relaxation" using the standard solid rheological model.
Part II. The study continues with the analysis of the mechanical behavior of several BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS and BIOMATERIALS, divided into two classes: hard materials and soft materials. In the hard materials class, special attention will be given to bone and its ability to remodel. In the soft materials class, the study will focus on vascular and tendon tissue, as well as biological tissues that have been studied in more recent years, such as muscle tissue, with its ability to contract. Partly in class and partly at home, the study will be developed through the analysis of scientific articles published in biomedical journals. Expected learning outcomes: understanding the mechanical characteristics of the biological tissues analyzed.
Part III. Finally, the analysis of elementary BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES and BIOSTRUCTURES will be presented. The prototypical examples that will be examined are the cardiac pump, for biological structures, and joint prostheses (hip, knee, or elbow) and stents, for biostructures. The study of specific biological structures reported in the relevant literature will serve as a starting point for class discussion, which may also serve as a basis for further study, including group discussions. We will use models proposed in the most recent literature as a basis to develop an appropriate understanding of the concept of biomaterial resistance. Expected learning outcomes: ability to understand and evaluate the resistance of a simple biological structure (or biostructure).
Extracurricular seminars will be held by external researchers/instructors, who may be included in the AAF (Article of the Academic Year) programs for which the program requires the acquisition of 1 credit.
Programme
The course is divided into three parts.Part I. Concepts familiar from the science of building blocks and the mechanics of biological systems are reviewed and explored, using specific examples of various natural and synthetic biomaterials. Through lectures and exercises, students will be guided through the study of the mechanics of biomaterials: from the concepts of stress and strain to the analysis of the mechanical behavior of materials. Specific rheological models will be studied, partly in class and partly at home, as well as experimental evidence on the stiffness and strength of certain biological materials, emerging from the analysis of appropriate stress-strain curves, which are the subject of articles published in scientific journals in the biomedical field. Expected learning outcomes: understanding the stress and strain states emerging from a uniaxial and/or biaxial tensile test and their relationship to the strength of the material under test; understanding the phenomena of "creep" and "relaxation" using the standard solid rheological model.
Part II. The study continues with the analysis of the mechanical behavior of several BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS and BIOMATERIALS, divided into two classes: hard materials and soft materials. In the hard materials class, special attention will be given to bone and its ability to remodel. In the soft materials class, the study will focus on vascular and tendon tissue, as well as biological tissues that have been studied in more recent years, such as muscle tissue, with its ability to contract. Partly in class and partly at home, the study will be developed through the analysis of scientific articles published in biomedical journals. Expected learning outcomes: understanding the mechanical characteristics of the biological tissues analyzed.
Part III. Finally, the analysis of elementary BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES and BIOSTRUCTURES will be presented. The prototypical examples that will be examined are the cardiac pump, for biological structures, and joint prostheses (hip, knee, or elbow) and stents, for biostructures. The study of specific biological structures reported in the relevant literature will serve as a starting point for class discussion, which may also serve as a basis for further study, including group discussions. We will use models proposed in the most recent literature as a basis to develop an appropriate understanding of the concept of biomaterial resistance. Expected learning outcomes: ability to understand and evaluate the resistance of a simple biological structure (or biostructure).
Extracurricular seminars will be held by external researchers/instructors, who may be included in the AAF (Article of the Academic Year) programs for which the program requires the acquisition of 1 credit.
Core Documentation
Free pdf notes, comprehensive of exercises .Attendance
Attendance is optional but strongly recommended.Type of evaluation
Student performance is evaluated with an oral discussion with some random questions about the program.