BG2009

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NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION 2009-2010

BG2009 BIOMECHANICS



April / May 2010 Time Allowed: 2.5 hours



INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises FIVE (5) pages.

2. Answer ALL questions.



1. (a) With the help of drawing, briefly describe the working principle of
atomic force microscope, and its applications in biomechanics.
(7 marks)

(b) The constitutive equation for a spring is F=kx, while for that of a dashpot
is F = px , where F is force, x is displacement, k is spring constant, and
q is viscosity. Derive the force-displacement-time equation of a Kelvin-
Voigt model under constant force, F
o
, shown in Figure Q1(A). Assume
that at t =0, the fore is carried by the dashpot only, that is, F
o
= px .
(10 marks)

Figure Q1

(c) A four-parameter viscoelastic model is shown in Figure Q1(B).
Formulate the viscoelastic constitutive equation(s) of the model (that is,
do not solve the differential equation). You may use the result from part
(b). Your formulation should includeF, F

, x, x , t , as well as material
parameters.
(5 marks)

(d) Discuss the possible applications of these viscoelastics models.
(3 marks)
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2. A model cell with a spherical lipid bilayer encapsulation of radius, R, and a
bilayer caveola (a spherical invagination) of radius, r, and a spherocylindrical
bilayer vesicle, is shown in Figure Q2A. The membrane thickness is t.


Figure Q2A

(a) Determine the total bending energy of the model cell system.
(10 marks)

(b) If the internal pressure of the spherocylindrical vesicle is P, with the help
of a free body diagram, determine the hoop stress in the cylindrical part
of the vesicle.
(7 marks)

(c) In mitotic cell division, two daughter cells are produced from a parent
cell (shown in Figure Q2B). Estimate the change in mechanical energy
of the plasma membrane during cell division, in terms of k
b
and k
G
. State
your assumptions clearly.
(8 marks)


Figure Q2B





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3. (a) The constitutive equations for an isotropic material are:
o
x
o
y
o
z

(
(
(
(
=
E
(1+ u)(1 2u)
1 u u u
u 1 u u
u u 1 u

(
(
(
c
x
c
y
c
z

(
(
(
(

c
x
c
y
c
z

(
(
(
(
=
1
E
1 u u
u 1 u
u u 1

(
(
(
o
x
o
y
o
z

(
(
(
(


(i) Show that the constitutive equation can be put in the form:

o
x
= (c
x
+ c
y
+ c
z
) + 2Gc
x


where =
2Gu
1 2u
, and G =
E
2(1+ u)

(5 marks)

(ii) Calculate change in area of a biological membrane of dimensions
dd, if o
x
= o , o
y
= o / 2 , and o
z
= 0 .
(5 marks)

(iii) If o
x
= o
y
= o , and o
z
= 0 , for the same membrane in (ii),
express the area compressive modulus in terms of force and
strains. The membrane thickness is t.
(5 marks)

(iv) Calculate the change in the thickness of the membrane in (iii).
(5 marks)

(b) A micropipette experiment is schematically shown in Figure Q3, where
an originally spherical cell with radius, R
c
, is being sucked into the
micropipette such that the radius of the portion outside the micropipette
is R
c
.

Figure Q3

Note: Question No. 3 continues on page 4
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It can be shown that the area compressive modulus, K
A
, can be expressed
as

K
A
=
R
c
2
P
p
1
R
p
R
c
|
\

|
.
|
1
R
p

1
R
c
|
\

|
.
|
R
p
L
p


where P
p
is pipette pressure. Briefly state the significance of this
equation (that is, its usefulness).
(5 marks)


4. (a) With the help of sketches, describe how circulation is created around a
hawks wing during take off.
(7 marks)

(b) Determine the circulation of vector I

= 2x
2
t

+ 6y

around path ABCD,

which is a model airfoil, shown in Figure Q4. Dimensions in the figure
are in meter.
(8 marks)

Figure Q4

(c) Calculate lift for the situation in (b) if the airfoil is moving in air, such
that =1.2 kg/m
3
, and U

= 15 m/s.
(5 marks)

(d) A bird weights 3.5 kg is flying at a speed of 35 km/h. If the lift
coefficient at this speed is 0.4 and the drag coefficient is 0.0065,
calculate the effective lift area of the bird, and the forward thrust it must
create.
(5 marks)





END OF PAPER

BG2009
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List of Useful Equations
o F k x =


o
F x q =


f = K
A
(c
x
+ c
y
)


2
2 cr
EI
P
L
t
=


2
4 A R t =
3 4
3
V R t =


2
1 2 1 2
( )
2
b
G b
k
U C C k C C = + +


Solving first order differential equation of the form y+Py=Q:

ye
I
= Qe
I
dx
}
+ c
I = Pdx
}


c is integration constant

F = U

I









= _I. Js

2
1
2
L
L
F
C
V A
=
2
1
2
d
D
F
C
V A
=