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Biomechanics Tutorials

Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Ph.D.

Rehabilitation Bioengineering Group
Department of Engineering Design
IIT Madras, Chennai 600036
VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017
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Problem 1:

Shoe has rubber sole. The coefficient of static friction for rubber on
concrete surface is 0.60. The left leg of a person makes an angle of 45 deg
with the floor. A force of 15 lb is acting on the left foot. Determine the
frictional force due to the left foot on the floor.

W = 5 lb

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 2:

An arm is held by two cables: one in the shoulder and the other one in the wrist.
Determine the tension of each cable and the support reactions if a force of 10 lb
is applied to the elbow. D E

10 lb

10 in 9 in

A B C

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 3:

When the hand is holding the 25 N stone, the Hemerus H, assumed to be

smooth, exerts normal forces Fc and Fa on the radius C and ulna A,
respectively, as shown in the figure. If the smallest cross – sectional area
of the ligament at B is 190 mm2 , determine the greatest average tensile
stress to which it is subjected.

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 4:
For the 70 Kg man whose upper limb is shown below, what is the moment
of inertia of:
a) The forearm, for an axis located at the elbow?
b) For forearm + hand, for an axis located at the centre of mass?

Hint:
We can use anthropometric data BY Winter (1979,15). The moment of inertia formula is
I = m*k2, where k is the radius of gyration and m is the segment mass.

Winter’s table:

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 5:

Patient weighs 175 lb. The center of gravity of his thigh lies 8.5 in
above the knee joint, a and that of the leg and foot 8 in. below it.
Where does the center of gravity of the entire lower limb lie in
relation to the knee joint?

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 1:

Calculate the reaction at the elbow when the person holds a metal ball with
mass 3 kg. The forearm’s length is 30 cm. The weight of the forearm is 5 N.

w
15 cm

30 cm

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 2:

A forearm holding a weight is presented in this diagram. There R is the reaction

force at the elbow, B is the muscle force for the biceps, G is the weight of the
forearm and W is the weight in the hand. Let W=20 N and G= 15 N. The forearm
is in equilibrium. Find the muscle force for the biceps B and the reaction force R.

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 3:
Three muscles are the major contributors to flexing the forearm; the biceps,
the brachioradialis, and the brachialis. Determine the force in the biceps
muscle, the joint force reaction, and the joint moment at the elbow for an
individual holding a 10 kg mass with its forearm 90º of flexion. The force in
the brachialis muscle is 5 N and in the brachioradialis is 3.6 N.

The following anatomical data is given by the

author:
Length of forearm and hand: 0.5 m
Mass of forearm and hand: 2 kg

Distance from muscle intersection to elbow:

Biceps: 4 cm
Beachialis: 3.5 cm
Brachioradialis: 20 cm

Angle of muscle at 90 º flexion

Biceps: 80.3º
Beachialis: 68.7º
Brachioradialis: 23º

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 4:

In an athletics event, two persons are pulling a rope. Determine the

internal forces of the member ABC at the point H and the member BCD
at the point I, if the force applied by the two men is 95 N and the mass
of each arm is 3 Kg. The weight of the rope is not considered.

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 5:

A person is eating his lunch and while this action occur the superior teeth
are keeping in contact with the under teeth. If the coefficient of kinetic
friction is 0.20 and the normal force between the teeth is 5 N, estimate the
kinetic friction force.

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Problem 6:

Consider a woman extending her knee against resistance provided by a

physiotherapist. The mass of the leg (shank + foot) is 5 Kg, located at the center
of mass shown, and 12 mm anterior to the joint. The physiotherapist force of 250
N is applied perpendicular to the leg at a distance of 150 mm from the joint, at an
angle of 8º to horizontal as shown. The quadriceps muscle has a moment arm =
25 mm (applied via the patella tendon at 15º from vertical). What is the
quadriceps muscle force and what is the knee joint (tibio-femoral) force for
equilibrium?

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017

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Thank You !!!

VB – Tutorials, ED3010, July-Nov, 2017