FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
BIOM9561
THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF BIOMATERIALS
SESSION 2, 2014
1
Table of Contents
1. Information about the Course ......................................................................................................... 3
2. Staff Involved in the Course ............................................................................................................ 3
3. Course Details ................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Rationale and Strategies Underpinning the Course .................................................................... 5
5. Course Schedule ............................................................................................................................. 6
6. Assessment Tasks and Feedback ................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
7. Additional Resources and Support ............................................................................................... 9
8. Required Equipment, Training and Enabling Skills ..................................................................... 9
9. Course Evaluation and Development .......................................................................................... 10
10. Administration Matters ................................................................................................................. 11
11. UNSW Academic Honesty and Plagiarism ............................................................................... 12
2
1. Information about the Course
NB: Some of this information is available on the UNSW Handbook1
Year of Delivery
2014
Course Code
BIOM9561
Course Name
Mechanical Properties of Biomaterials
Academic Unit
Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering
Level of Course
Postgraduate
Units of Credit
6UOC
Session(s) Offered
S2
Assumed Knowledge,
Prerequisites or Corequisites
Introductory Biomechanics, Introductory Biomaterials, Statics and Mechanics/Strength of
Materials
Hours per Week
3HPW
Number of Weeks
12 weeks
Commencement Date
4 August 2014
Summary of Course Structure (for details see 'Course Schedule')
Component
HPW
Lecture
Lab
TOTAL
2
1
Time
9 – 11 am
11 am – 12 pm
Day
Monday
Monday
Location
Mathews 312
Mathews 312
3
Students will be provided with pre-recorded lectures reviewing fundamentals of mechanics
of materials; assessment of basic competency should be completed prior to the first course
lecture on 4 August.
Some course lectures will be provided in a pre-recorded format to enable student feedback
and questions in anticipation of interactive classroom lectures via skype and/or
videoconference.
Special Details
2. Staff Involved in the Course
Staff
Course Convenors
Additional Teaching
Staff
1
Role
Lecturers &
Facilitators
Tutors &
Demonstrators
Name
Prof M
Knothe Tate
Contact Details
Sam509
m.knothetate@unsw.edu.au
Dr P Martens
Sam511
p.martens@unsw.edu.au
Dr O
Standard
Consultation Times
Email for appointment
Email for appointment
o.standard@unsw.edu.au
UNSW Online Handbook: http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au
3
3. Course Details
Course Description2
(Handbook Entry)
Biological and biomaterials exhibit novel structure function relationships. The capacity to
understand, exploit, and engineer such materials and their intrinsic properties requires an
understanding of mechanics that goes beyond the scope of linear, elastic, and or idealised
material properties covered in introductory mechanics of materials courses. BIOM9561 builds on
the fundamentals of mechanics of materials (which can be refreshed through pre-taped lectures*),
to provide a theoretical and practical understanding of the mechanical properties of biomaterials
and their clinical application, for example in devices, implants, surgical tools, and catheters. Case
studies on specific biomaterials will not only address their unique multi-scale (length, time)
structure:function properties but also the rationale behind their choice for specific applications.
In parallel with lecture attendance, active participation in the engineering innovation lab will enable
students to elucidate structure-function relationships in a natural system that inspires them
personally as well as to create potential approaches to reverse engineer those properties for
specific biomedical applications.
Course Aims3
Student Learning
Outcomes4
The aims of this course are to:

provide a theoretical and practical understanding of the mechanical properties of
biological materials and biomaterials as well as their clinical application;

use this knowledge to reverse engineer specific natural structure:function properties to
engineer smart materlals that address currently intractable biomedical problems
On completion of this course, you should:




Have a broad understanding of mechanical properties of biological materials as well as
biomaterials
Be able to apply fundamental engineering principles to understand and, conceptually, to
reverse engineer mechanical strucure:function relationships of materials occurring in
nature
Be able to discuss, develop and apply mechanical principles to a range of problems and
medical applications.
Clearly summarise and communicate findings from engineering analyses using oral
and written methods.
Graduate Attributes Developed in this Course5
UNSW Graduate
Attributes5
Select the level of
FOCUS
Activities / Assessment
0 = NO FOCUS
1 = MINIMAL
2 = MINOR
3 = MAJOR
Understanding of their
discipline in its
interdisciplinary context
3
Lectures, practical activities, block tests, major assignment, and final exam.
Capable of independent
and collaborative enquiry
3
Major assignment.
Rigorous in their analysis,
critique and reflection
3
Practical activities, major assignment.
Able to apply their
knowledge and skills to
solving problems
3
Lectures, practical activities, block tests, major assignment and final exam.
2
UNSW Handbook: http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au
Learning and Teaching Unit: Course Outlines
4
Learning and Teaching Unit: Learning Outcomes
5
UNSW Graduate Attributes: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/GraduateAttributes.html
3
4
Capable of effective
communication
1
Collaborative team
workers
1
Capable of independent,
self-directed practice
2
Major Topics
(Syllabus Outline)
Relationship to Other
Courses within the
Program




Major assignment.
Practical activities, major assignment.
Major assignment.
Statics
Mechanics of Materials
Kinematics
Kinetics
BIOM9561 is part of the biomechanics courses stream offered by the Graduate School of
Biomedical Engineering, which includes BIOM9510 Introduction to Biomechanics, BIOM9541
Mechanics of the Human Body, BIOM9551 Biomechanics of Physical Rehabilitation and
BIOM9701 Dynamics of the Cardiovascular System.
4. Rationale and Strategies Underpinning the Course
Teaching Strategies
Lectures (one per week) will involve interactive learning, problem solving and discussion
sessions. These will cover the theory supporting experimental methods and the practical
research problems. Tutorials (one per week) are designed to review problems handed out in
lectures (it is expected that you will have attempted the tutorial questions prior to the tutorial)
and explain the concepts using more practical approaches. These strategies are intended to
support you in attaining the learning outcomes. Lecture notes will be available via Moodle 2.
Assessments and feedback on tutorial work will be provided to you regularly.
Suggested Approach to
Learning
This course requires you to understand the lecture material and then apply the knowledge to
engineer innovative solutions. It is important to understand the fundamental concepts as soon
as possible and to ask for help if you do not understand. Attend all the lectures and if something
is unclear, please ask questions. Make sure you review lecture notes and read all material that
is suggested or handed out. Class participation through attendance at lectures and participation
in class exercises and group work is expected and will allow for alternative methods of
absorbing the relevant information.
5
5. Course Schedule
Some of this information is available on the Online Handbook6 and the UNSW Timetable7.
6
7
UNSW Virtual Handbook: http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au
UNSW Timetable: http://www.timetable.unsw.edu.au/
6
Date
Wk
Lectures
(Mon 9 – 11 am)
Topics
Lecturers
Design & Innovation Lab
(Mon 11 am - 12 pm)
Topics
Other
Review of pre-recorded lecture assessments (OS)
Completion of prerecorded fundamentals
lectures and related assessments
(completion must be documented in Moodle
to continue with course)
Introduction to the Innovation Lab Process (MKT)
1.1 Intro Lecture 1 and assessment
Introduction to course
2.1 Course outline and general overview
4 Aug
2
2.2 Hooke's Law and ideal elastic materials
MKT/OS/PM
2.3 Biomaterials case studies and where
idealisations and assumptions break down
in biomedical application
Assignment and Submission dates
(see also 'Assessment Tasks &
Feedback')
1.2 Intro Lecture 2 and assessment
1.3 Intro Lecture 3 and assessment
Role of stiffness in choice of materials
for biological applications
11 Aug
3
3.1 Case studies: the delicate balance
between mitigating risk of failure and stress
shielding; length and time scale effects
1 'Inspired by nature'
MKT
2 Using the engineering rubric to understand and
reverse engineer nature's paradigms
MKT
Design and Innovation Lab
Meet at the Australian Museum at 9:30
3.2 Challenge: Assessment and engineering
of interfaces
18 Aug
25 Aug
4
5
1 Sept
6
8 Sept
7
15 Sept
8
22 Sept
29 Sept
9
10
Design and Innovation Lab
Lab will take lecture and lab time
Meet at the Australian Museum at 9:30
Advanced Biomaterials Concepts from
the Materials Scientist's Perspective
5.1 Case Studies from biomedical
applications
5.2 Critical analysis and current challenges
Composite material mechanics
with biological and biomaterials case studies
Engineering Polymeric Materials for
Biological Function
Engineering Polymeric Materials for
Biological Function
Midterm exam (9 - 10 a.m.)
OS
Lecture will continue through lab time
Thought Lab
Assignment 1
released
Thought Lab
Assignment 2
released
Thought Lab
Assignment 3
released
Start thought Lab 1: independent
engineering analysis of three natural
inspirations
Thought Lab 1 due (upload to Moodle):
independent engineering analysis of three
natural inspirations
Thought Lab 2 due (upload to Moodle): In
depth Engineering Analysis of Natural
Material chosen from three
OS
Lecture will continue through lab time
Thought Lab 3 draft due for feedback:
Application of engineered material to
biomedical problem
PM
Lecture will continue through lab time
Feedback on Thought Lab 3 will be
distributed
PM
Lecture will continue through lab time
Thought Lab 3 due: Application of
engineered material to biomedical problem
MKT/OS/PM
Pitch session and peer review
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Innovation Team Lab: formation of tech
start ups, spin offs and or licence
development agreements will be based on
peer review data
Mid term break
7
Smart materials and functional
architectures
6 Oct
11
11.1 The role of length and time scale an
emergent behaviour
MKT
11.2 Challenges and opportunities of next
generation prototyping and manufacturing
methods
13 Oct
12
Materials Technology Investor Summit
Technology pitches to 'Angel Investors'
20 Oct
13
Advanced Materials Technologies in a
Commercialisation Context
MKT/OS/PM
Innovation Lab: SWOT analysis for tech
assessment, IP analysis, spin offs vs. start ups vs.
licensing; market analysis, perfecting the pitch for
next week's investor summit
Innovation Team Lab draft due for
feedback
Innovation Team Lab due
S. Brodie
A. MartinezColl - NSi
Final Exam
*NB: As stated in the UNSW Assessment Policy: ‘one or more tasks should be set, submitted, marked and returned to students by the mid-point of a course, or no later than the
end of Week 6 of a 12-week session'
8
7. Additional Resources and Support
Useful reference books that are held in the UNSW Library are:
Basic Principles




Text Books
Biomaterials, J.B. Park and R.S. Lakes - MB617.95/39B
Biomaterials Science. BD Ratner, AS Hoffman, FJ Schoen and JE Lemons,
Elsevier San Diego, 2004 - MBQ 610.28/190
Engineering Materials 1 - An Introduction to their Properties and Applications M.F.
Ashby and D.R.H. Jones Second Edition Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford, 1996 P 620.11/213
Engineering Materials 2 - An Introduction to Microstructures, Processing, and
Design M.F. Ashby and D.R.H. Jones Second Edition, Butterworth Heinemann,
Oxford, 1996 - P 620.11/213
Biological Tissues

The Mechanical Properties of Biological Materials, SEB, Cambridge University
Press, 1980 - MB574.1912/6
Polymers

Polymer Materials, C. Hall, Macmillan, London, 1981. - P620.192/34

Polymers: Strength and physics of modern materials, JMG Cowie, Intertext,
London, 1933 - P547.84/170C

Strength and Stiffness of Polymers - P620.192/35

Estimation of Properties, DW van Krevelen - P620.192/16A

Wear and Friction of Elastomers, R.Denton & MK Keshavan, ASTM, Philadelphia,
1992 - P620.19492/1
Metals

Metal and Ceramic Biomaterials, P. Ducheyne & GW Hastings, CRC Press, Boca
Raton, 1984 - MB610.28/65
Ceramics and Composites

Metal and Ceramic Biomaterials, P. Ducheyne & GW Hastings, CRC Press, Boca
Raton, 1984 - MB610.28/65
Students seeking additional resources can also obtain assistance from the UNSW Library
at http://library.unsw.edu.au/.
Course Manual
None
Required Readings
None
Additional Readings
Additional readings will be made available via Moodle.
Recommended Internet
Sites
Recommended internet sites will be listed on Moodle.
Societies
Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics (www.anzsb.asn.au)
European Society for Movement Analysis in Adults and Children (www.esmac.org)
American Society of Biomechanics (www.asbweb.org)
International Society of Biomechanics (www.isbweb.org)
Computer Laboratories or
Study Spaces
Sam 513
8. Required Equipment, Training and Enabling Skills
Equipment Required
None
Enabling Skills Training
Suggested to Complete
this Course
ELISE (www.unsw.edu.au/elise)
You may find the following workshops, available through the Learning Centre, useful:

How to Reference

How to Research for Your Assignments

Listening and Note-taking

Writing Summaries and Paraphrases

Essential Skills for Oral Presentations

Critical Reading and Writing

Avoiding Plagiarism
9
9. Course Evaluation and Development
Student feedback is gathered periodically by various means. Such feedback is considered carefully with a view to
acting on it constructively wherever possible. This course outline conveys how feedback has helped to shape and
develop this course.
Mechanisms of
Review
Last Review
Date
Comments or Changes Resulting from Reviews
Major Course Review
2014
This course was completely revised in 2014. It is evaluated every year,
and student input is used to steer its evolution.
CATEI8
July 2013
Your feedback is much appreciated and taken very seriously. Continual
improvements are made to the course based in part on such feedback
and this helps us to improve the course for future students.
Other
Continuous
Informal student feedback throughout the semester is frequently sought
and used to assist in the progression of the course.
8
CATEI process
10
10. Administration Matters
Expectations of
Students
Attendance at the practical activities is compulsory. Non-attendance for reasons other
than misadventure will preclude you from submitting the activity related to the activity
you missed. Attendance will be recorded by your demonstrator.
Assignment
Submissions
Assignments must be submitted in hard-copy to the front office of the Graduate School
of Biomedical Engineering. All assignments must have a non-plagiarism declaration
statement attached to the front. Non-plagiarism declaration statements are available
from www.gsbme.unsw.edu.au. Please note that the front office will not provide you
with this cover sheet; it is expected that you print your own.
Occupational Health and
Safety9
Each practical activity performed as part of this course has an associated risk
assessment. These will be uploaded to Moodle for your perusal, and you will be
expected to read this document prior to completing each practical activity.
Assessment Procedures
Applications for special consideration must be lodged through myunsw. In addition, it is
recommended that you discuss your circumstances with your lecturer.
UNSW Assessment
Policy10
Equity and Diversity
Those students who have a disability that requires some adjustment in their teaching or
learning environment are encouraged to discuss their study needs with the course
Convenor prior to, or at the commencement of, their course, or with the Equity Officer
(Disability)
in
the
Equity
and
Diversity
Unit
(9385
4734
or
http://www.studentequity.unsw.edu.au/ ).
Issues to be discussed may include access to materials, signers or note-takers, the
provision of services and additional exam and assessment arrangements. Early
notification is essential to enable any necessary adjustments to be made.
Student Complaint
Procedure11
School Contact
Faculty Contact
University Contact
A/Prof Socrates Dokos
Ethics Officer
Dr David Clements
Associate Dean
(Academic)
d.clements@unsw.edu.au
Tel: 9385 5230
Student Conduct and Appeals
Officer (SCAO) within the Office
of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Students) and Registrar.
s.dokos@unsw.edu.au
Tel: 9385 9406
Telephone 02 9385 8515, email
studentcomplaints@unsw.edu.a
u
University Counselling and
Psychological Services12
Tel: 9385 5418
9
UNSW OHS Home page
UNSW Assessment Policy
UNSW Student Complaint Procedure
12
University Counselling and Psychological Services
10
11
11
11. UNSW Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one’s own.
*Examples include:
 direct duplication of the thoughts or work of another, including by copying material, ideas or concepts from a
book, article, report or other written document (whether published or unpublished), composition, artwork, design,
drawing, circuitry, computer program or software, web site, Internet, other electronic resource, or another
person’s assignment without appropriate acknowledgement;
 paraphrasing another person’s work with very minor changes keeping the meaning, form and/or progression of
ideas of the original;
 piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole;
 presenting an assessment item as independent work when it has been produced in whole or part in collusion
with other people, for example, another student or a tutor; and
 claiming credit for a proportion a work contributed to a group assessment item that is greater than that actually
contributed.†
For the purposes of this policy, submitting an assessment item that has already been submitted for academic credit
elsewhere may be considered plagiarism.
Knowingly permitting your work to be copied by another student may also be considered to be plagiarism.
Note that an assessment item produced in oral, not written, form, or involving live presentation, may similarly contain
plagiarised material.
The inclusion of the thoughts or work of another with attribution appropriate to the academic discipline does not
amount to plagiarism.
The Learning Centre website is main repository for resources for staff and students on plagiarism and academic
honesty. These resources can be located via:
www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism
The Learning Centre also provides substantial educational written materials, workshops, and tutorials to aid students,
for example, in:
 correct referencing practices;
 paraphrasing, summarising, essay writing, and time management;
 appropriate use of, and attribution for, a range of materials including text, images, formulae and concepts.
Individual assistance is available on request from The Learning Centre.
Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and one of the identified
causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow sufficient time for research, drafting, and the
proper referencing of sources in preparing all assessment items.
* Based on that proposed to the University of Newcastle by the St James Ethics Centre. Used with kind permission from the
University of Newcastle
† Adapted with kind permission from the University of Melbourne
12