The School of Engineering
Biomechanical Engineering
People
Professor Jie Tong, Dr Jim Buick, Dr Ya Huang, Dr Krassimir Dotchev, Dr Andrea Bucchi, Dr Qinghang Zhang
Research Activities
Orthopaedic Biomechanics
We are concerned with the understanding of mechanics in artificial joints and musculoskeletal systems. Particular areas of current interest include: Influence of physiological loading on cement fixation; bone-cement interfacial behaviour; characterisation and mechanical behaviour of scaffolds; biphasic modelling of soft tissue; in situ micromechanics response; Digital Volume Correlation and computer simulation of impingement. We have a unique hip simulator for in-vitro fatigue testing of acetabular reconstructs; and a micro CT scanning system equipped with a loading stage as well as standard biomechanical testing systems. The work has been developed in collaboration with the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Smith and Nephew, DePuy CMW and Stryker; and supported by the Medical Research Council, the Royal Society, Arthritis Research UK and the University of Portsmouth.
Further details please visit the group web site: http://www.port.ac.uk/research/mbm/biomechanics/
Biodynamics of the human body under vibration
The research focuses on how motion is transmitted to and through the human body when exposed to vibration and mechanical shocks. Current investigations include: nonlinear dynamic properties of soft tissues in response to excitation; system identification and optimisation methods; biodynamic modelling of the human body to shocks; design of seating systems for mechanical shock mitigation and mechanical vibration testing and signal processing. We have a versatile electrodynamic shaker system for human vibration experiments, as well as mechanical vibration testing systems.
Simulation of Blood Flow in Human Arteries
Recent work has concentrated on blood flow in the region of the carotid bifurcation. Areas of interest include investigations of the blood flow and the wall stresses associated with the flow; changes in the flow pattern and wall forces between healthy and stenosed arteries; the interaction between flow parameters and the build-up of plaque on the artery wall and modelling of the non-Newtonian nature of blood. Areas of current interest include coupling the compliant nature of the artery walls into the model; studying plaque rupture (which can lead to the development of a stroke); investigating aneurysm formation and its effect on the blood flow pattern and extending the work to smaller scale arteries.
Design of Medical Device
The research aims to study the biomechanical behaviour of medical devices and the optimisation of their design, such as stents, using computational mechanics. Current interests include: effects of both material and geometrical nonlinearity on stent biomechanics, stent-vessel contact mechanics, solid-fluid interaction, effects of cell designs and surface defects on stent failure and clinical impact of stent failure on stress redistribution, restenosis and blood flow disruption.