After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

• ... explain the hierarchical structure of bone.
• ... explain the constitutive behaviour of bone and implant constructs.
• ... explain the difference between structural and material properties.
• ... explain how orthopaedic mechanical tests of bone and implants are designed and conducted.
• ... explain how experimental testing data is evaluated, and material parameters are extracted.

In addition, the students have conducted a mechanical test on a bone specimen on their own in the biomechanics laboratory at the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Krems and have evaluated the obtained data.

Part I: Theory

• A brief overview of the structure and mechanical properties of bone.
• Introduction to the mechanical behaviour of orthopaedic implants.
• A practical step-by-step description on designing and conducting an orthopaedic mechanical test. In particular: design of boundary conditions, measurement of force, displacement, strain, biological sample preparation, choosing a loading protocol, data evaluation,  extracting material/structural properties, “accuracy” vs. “precision”
• An overview of recent biomechanical studies conducted in the field at TU/KL* and their relevance in clinical practice and/or basic science.

Part II: Seminar

As preparation for the upcoming workshop, the students draft an experimental design for the workshop experiment at home and present it in a short presentation.

Part III: Laboratory Workshop

In a one-day excursion to the Biomechanics Laboratory of the KL*, each student will prepare a small bone sample and test it in a mechanical testing machine till failure. The generated data is handed over to the student for evaluation. The travel expenses to/from Krems have to be paid by the student him/herself. COVID19: The 3G-rule applies and a FFP2 mask has to be worn.

*Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, www.kl.ac.at

Lecture, seminar, laboratory workshop

The students evaluate the data recorded in the workshop and write a technical report on the experiment. The report is handed in and discussed in an exercise interview with the lecturer. The grade is based on the report and the exercise interview.

The course is held if a minimum of 3 participants are registered.

Due to limited space in the Biomechanics Laboratory, a maximum of 8 participants can attend the course.

Basics in biomechanics