Biomechanics Principles and Applications - Donald R. Peterson & Joseph D. Bronzino
Preface
Engineering is the integration of art and science and involves the use of systematic knowledge based on the
principles of mathematics and the physical sciences to design and develop systems that have direct practical
applicability for the benefit of mankind and society. With this philosophy in mind, the importance of the
engineering sciences becomes obvious, and this is especially true for the biomedical aspects, where the
implications are easily identifiable. Of all the engineering sciences, biomedical engineering is considered
to be the broadest. Its practice frequently involves the direct combination of the core engineering sciences,
such as mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering, and requires a functional knowledge of other
nonengineering disciplines, such as biology and medicine, to achieve effective solutions. It is a multidisciplinary
science with its own core aspects, such as biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, and biomaterials,
which can be further characterized by a triage of subject matter. For example, the study of biomechanics,
or biological mechanics, employs the principles of mechanics, which is a branch of the physical sciences
that investigates the effects of energy and forces on matter or material systems. It often embraces a broad
range of subject matter that may include aspects of classical mechanics, material science, fluid mechanics,
heat transfer, and thermodynamics, in an attempt to model and predict the mechanical behaviors of any
living system. As such, it may be called the “liberal arts” of the biomedical engineering sciences.
Biomechanics is deeply rooted throughout scientific history and has been influenced by the research
work of early mathematicians, engineers, physicists, biologists, and physicians. Not one of these disciplines
can claim sole responsibility for maturing biomechanics to its current state; rather, it has been a conglomeration
and integration of these disciplines, involving the application of mathematics, physical principles,
and engineering methodologies, that has been responsible for its advancement. Several examinations exist
that offer a historical perspective on biomechanics in dedicated chapters within a variety of biomechanics
textbooks. For this reason, a historical perspective is not presented within this introduction and it is left
to the reader to discover the material within one of these textbooks. As an example, Y.C. Fung (1993)
provides a reasonably detailed synopsis of those who were influential to the progress of biomechanical
understanding. A review of this material and similar material from other authors commonly shows that
biomechanics has occupied the thoughts of some of the most conscientious minds involved in a variety of
the sciences.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the early pioneers of biomechanics, was the first to introduce the principle of
“cause and effect” in scientific terms as he firmly believed that “there is no result in nature without a cause;
understand the cause and you will have no need of the experiment” (1478–1518). Leonardo understood
that experimentation is an essential tool for developing an understanding of nature’s causes and the results
they produce, especially when the cause is not immediately obvious. The contemporary approach to
understand and solve problems in engineering expands upon Leonardo’s principle and typically follows a
sequence of fundamental steps that are commonly defined as observation, experimentation, theorization,
validation, andapplication. These steps are the basis of the engineering methodologies andtheir significance
is emphasized within a formal engineering education, especially in biomedical engineering. Each step is
considered to be equally important, and an iterative relationship between steps, with mathematics serving
as the common link, is often necessary in order to converge on a practical understanding of the system in
question. An engineering education that ignores these interrelated fundamentals will produce engineers
who are ignorant of the ways in which real-world phenomena differ frommathematical models. Since most
biomechanical systems are inherently complex and cannot be adequately defined using only theory and
mathematics, biomechanics should be considered a discipline whose progress relies heavily on research
and experimentation and the careful implementation of the sequence of steps. When a precise solution
is not obtainable, utilizing this approach will assist with identifying critical physical phenomena and
obtaining approximate solutions that may provide a deeper understanding as well as improvements to the
investigative strategy. Not surprisingly, the need to identify critical phenomena and obtain approximate
solutions seems to be more significant in biomedical engineering than any other engineering discipline,
which can be attributed to the complex biological processes involved.
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Preface
Engineering is the integration of art and science and involves the use of systematic knowledge based on the
principles of mathematics and the physical sciences to design and develop systems that have direct practical
applicability for the benefit of mankind and society. With this philosophy in mind, the importance of the
engineering sciences becomes obvious, and this is especially true for the biomedical aspects, where the
implications are easily identifiable. Of all the engineering sciences, biomedical engineering is considered
to be the broadest. Its practice frequently involves the direct combination of the core engineering sciences,
such as mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering, and requires a functional knowledge of other
nonengineering disciplines, such as biology and medicine, to achieve effective solutions. It is a multidisciplinary
science with its own core aspects, such as biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, and biomaterials,
which can be further characterized by a triage of subject matter. For example, the study of biomechanics,
or biological mechanics, employs the principles of mechanics, which is a branch of the physical sciences
that investigates the effects of energy and forces on matter or material systems. It often embraces a broad
range of subject matter that may include aspects of classical mechanics, material science, fluid mechanics,
heat transfer, and thermodynamics, in an attempt to model and predict the mechanical behaviors of any
living system. As such, it may be called the “liberal arts” of the biomedical engineering sciences.
Biomechanics is deeply rooted throughout scientific history and has been influenced by the research
work of early mathematicians, engineers, physicists, biologists, and physicians. Not one of these disciplines
can claim sole responsibility for maturing biomechanics to its current state; rather, it has been a conglomeration
and integration of these disciplines, involving the application of mathematics, physical principles,
and engineering methodologies, that has been responsible for its advancement. Several examinations exist
that offer a historical perspective on biomechanics in dedicated chapters within a variety of biomechanics
textbooks. For this reason, a historical perspective is not presented within this introduction and it is left
to the reader to discover the material within one of these textbooks. As an example, Y.C. Fung (1993)
provides a reasonably detailed synopsis of those who were influential to the progress of biomechanical
understanding. A review of this material and similar material from other authors commonly shows that
biomechanics has occupied the thoughts of some of the most conscientious minds involved in a variety of
the sciences.
Leonardo da Vinci, one of the early pioneers of biomechanics, was the first to introduce the principle of
“cause and effect” in scientific terms as he firmly believed that “there is no result in nature without a cause;
understand the cause and you will have no need of the experiment” (1478–1518). Leonardo understood
that experimentation is an essential tool for developing an understanding of nature’s causes and the results
they produce, especially when the cause is not immediately obvious. The contemporary approach to
understand and solve problems in engineering expands upon Leonardo’s principle and typically follows a
sequence of fundamental steps that are commonly defined as observation, experimentation, theorization,
validation, andapplication. These steps are the basis of the engineering methodologies andtheir significance
is emphasized within a formal engineering education, especially in biomedical engineering. Each step is
considered to be equally important, and an iterative relationship between steps, with mathematics serving
as the common link, is often necessary in order to converge on a practical understanding of the system in
question. An engineering education that ignores these interrelated fundamentals will produce engineers
who are ignorant of the ways in which real-world phenomena differ frommathematical models. Since most
biomechanical systems are inherently complex and cannot be adequately defined using only theory and
mathematics, biomechanics should be considered a discipline whose progress relies heavily on research
and experimentation and the careful implementation of the sequence of steps. When a precise solution
is not obtainable, utilizing this approach will assist with identifying critical physical phenomena and
obtaining approximate solutions that may provide a deeper understanding as well as improvements to the
investigative strategy. Not surprisingly, the need to identify critical phenomena and obtain approximate
solutions seems to be more significant in biomedical engineering than any other engineering discipline,
which can be attributed to the complex biological processes involved.
Download
*