4,148 research outputs found
A fast and robust patient specific Finite Element mesh registration technique: application to 60 clinical cases
Finite Element mesh generation remains an important issue for patient
specific biomechanical modeling. While some techniques make automatic mesh
generation possible, in most cases, manual mesh generation is preferred for
better control over the sub-domain representation, element type, layout and
refinement that it provides. Yet, this option is time consuming and not suited
for intraoperative situations where model generation and computation time is
critical. To overcome this problem we propose a fast and automatic mesh
generation technique based on the elastic registration of a generic mesh to the
specific target organ in conjunction with element regularity and quality
correction. This Mesh-Match-and-Repair (MMRep) approach combines control over
the mesh structure along with fast and robust meshing capabilities, even in
situations where only partial organ geometry is available. The technique was
successfully tested on a database of 5 pre-operatively acquired complete femora
CT scans, 5 femoral heads partially digitized at intraoperative stage, and 50
CT volumes of patients' heads. The MMRep algorithm succeeded in all 60 cases,
yielding for each patient a hex-dominant, Atlas based, Finite Element mesh with
submillimetric surface representation accuracy, directly exploitable within a
commercial FE software
Optimal 3D arm strategies for maximizing twist rotation during somersault of a rigid-body model
Looking for new arm strategies for better twisting performances during a backward somersault is of interest for the acrobatic sports community while being a complex mechanical problem due to the nonlinearity of the dynamics involved. As the pursued solutions are not intuitive, computer simulation is a relevant tool to explore a wider variety of techniques. Simulations of twisting somersaults have mainly been realized with planar arm motions. The aim of this study was to explore the outcomes of using 3D techniques, with the demonstration that increasing the fidelity of the model does not increase the level of control complexity on the real system. Optimal control was used to maximize twists in a backward straight somersault with both types of models. A multistart approach was used to find large sets of near-optimal solutions. The robustness of these solutions was then assessed by modeling kinematic noise during motion execution. The possibility of using quaternions for representing orientations in this numerical optimization problem was discussed. Optimized solutions showed that 3D techniques generated about two additional twists compared to 2D techniques. The robustness analysis revealed clusters of highly twisting and stable 3D solutions. This study demonstrates the superiority of 3D solutions for twisting in backward somersault, a result that can help acrobatic sports athletes to improve their twisting performance
Cellular Helmet Liner Design through Bio-inspired Structures and Topology Optimization of Compliant Mechanism Lattices
The continuous development of sport technologies constantly demands advancements in protective headgear to reduce the risk of head injuries. This article introduces new cellular helmet liner designs through two approaches. The first approach is the study of energy-absorbing biological materials. The second approach is the study of lattices comprised of force-diverting compliant mechanisms. On the one hand, bio-inspired liners are generated through the study of biological, hierarchical materials. An emphasis is given on structures in nature that serve similar concussion-reducing functions as a helmet liner. Inspiration is drawn from organic and skeletal structures. On the other hand, compliant mechanism lattice (CML)-based liners use topology optimization to synthesize rubber cellular unit cells with effective positive and negative Poisson's ratios. Three lattices are designed using different cellular unit cell arrangements, namely, all positive, all negative, and alternating effective Poisson's ratios. The proposed cellular (bio-inspired and CML-based) liners are embedded between two polycarbonate shells, thereby, replacing the traditional expanded polypropylene foam liner used in standard sport helmets. The cellular liners are analyzed through a series of 2D extruded ballistic impact simulations to determine the best performing liner topology and its corresponding rubber hardness. The cellular design with the best performance is compared against an expanded polypropylene foam liner in a 3D simulation to appraise its protection capabilities and verify that the 2D extruded design simulations scale to an effective 3D design
Book of Abstracts 15th International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering and 3rd Conference on Imaging and Visualization
In this edition, the two events will run together as a single conference, highlighting the strong connection with the Taylor & Francis journals: Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering (John Middleton and Christopher Jacobs, Eds.) and Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering: Imaging and Visualization (JoĂŁoManuel R.S. Tavares, Ed.).
The conference has become a major international meeting on computational biomechanics, imaging andvisualization. In this edition, the main program includes 212 presentations. In addition, sixteen renowned researchers will give plenary keynotes, addressing current challenges in computational biomechanics and biomedical imaging.
In Lisbon, for the first time, a session dedicated to award the winner of the Best Paper in CMBBE Journal will take place.
We believe that CMBBE2018 will have a strong impact on the development of computational biomechanics and biomedical imaging and visualization, identifying emerging areas of research and promoting the collaboration and networking between participants. This impact is evidenced through the well-known research groups, commercial companies and scientific organizations, who continue to support and sponsor the CMBBE meeting
series. In fact, the conference is enriched with five workshops on specific scientific topics and commercial software.info:eu-repo/semantics/draf
3LP: a linear 3D-walking model including torso and swing dynamics
In this paper, we present a new model of biped locomotion which is composed
of three linear pendulums (one per leg and one for the whole upper body) to
describe stance, swing and torso dynamics. In addition to double support, this
model has different actuation possibilities in the swing hip and stance ankle
which could be widely used to produce different walking gaits. Without the need
for numerical time-integration, closed-form solutions help finding periodic
gaits which could be simply scaled in certain dimensions to modulate the motion
online. Thanks to linearity properties, the proposed model can provide a
computationally fast platform for model predictive controllers to predict the
future and consider meaningful inequality constraints to ensure feasibility of
the motion. Such property is coming from describing dynamics with joint torques
directly and therefore, reflecting hardware limitations more precisely, even in
the very abstract high level template space. The proposed model produces
human-like torque and ground reaction force profiles and thus, compared to
point-mass models, it is more promising for precise control of humanoid robots.
Despite being linear and lacking many other features of human walking like CoM
excursion, knee flexion and ground clearance, we show that the proposed model
can predict one of the main optimality trends in human walking, i.e. nonlinear
speed-frequency relationship. In this paper, we mainly focus on describing the
model and its capabilities, comparing it with human data and calculating
optimal human gait variables. Setting up control problems and advanced
biomechanical analysis still remain for future works.Comment: Journal paper under revie
Combining Homotopy Methods and Numerical Optimal Control to Solve Motion Planning Problems
This paper presents a systematic approach for computing local solutions to
motion planning problems in non-convex environments using numerical optimal
control techniques. It extends the range of use of state-of-the-art numerical
optimal control tools to problem classes where these tools have previously not
been applicable. Today these problems are typically solved using motion
planners based on randomized or graph search. The general principle is to
define a homotopy that perturbs, or preferably relaxes, the original problem to
an easily solved problem. By combining a Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP)
method with a homotopy approach that gradually transforms the problem from a
relaxed one to the original one, practically relevant locally optimal solutions
to the motion planning problem can be computed. The approach is demonstrated in
motion planning problems in challenging 2D and 3D environments, where the
presented method significantly outperforms a state-of-the-art open-source
optimizing sampled-based planner commonly used as benchmark
A non-intrusive proper generalized decomposition scheme with application in biomechanics
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Zou, X., Conti, M., Diez, P., Auricchio, F. A non-intrusive proper generalized decomposition scheme with application in biomechanics. "International journal for numerical methods in engineering", 7 Setembre 2017., which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nme.5610. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Proper generalized decomposition (PGD) is often used for multiquery and fast-response simulations. It is a powerful tool alleviating the curse of dimensionality affecting multiparametric partial differential equations. Most implementations of PGD are intrusive extensions based on in-house developed FE solvers. In this work, we propose a nonintrusive PGD scheme using off-the-shelf FE codes (such as certified commercial software) as an external solver. The scheme is implemented and monitored by in-house flow-control codes. A typical implementation is provided with downloadable codes. Moreover, a novel parametric separation strategy for the PGD resolution is presented. The parametric space is split into two- or three-dimensional subspaces, to allow PGD technique solving problems with constrained parametric spaces, achieving higher convergence ratio. Numerical examples are provided. In particular, a practical example in biomechanics is included, with potential application to patient-specific simulation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
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