Computational Biomechanics Laboratory

Director: Robert L Spilker, Sc.D., Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Recent Graduate Students: Kerem Un, Echo Miller, Tai Seung Yang, Mike Macri, Bill Dunbar, Peter Galie

The Role of Computational Modeling in Biomedical Engineering

Understanding human physiology at all levels will require that biological and bioengineering approaches be integrated to characterize and quantify physiological function. Quantifying function with validated models allows clinicians and researchers to answer questions about: the forces and deformation of the musculoskeletal system during motion; the shear forces in the flow of blood in the arterial system; how cells response to loads, deformations and flows; the normal electromechanical response of the beating heart; the processes of a cell or the folding of a protein; and better engineered tissues through stimulation by biomechanical and biotransport forces.

Mathematical models will provide the framework for quantification of behavior, and because human physiology is inherently complicated, will be too complex for simple solutions. The scales of physiology are linked (from organ to tissue to cell to molecule …) and they involve, among other factors, biomechanical, biochemical, bioelectrical behaviors. Because of this multiscale and mathematical complexity, computational methods are required to provide accurate numerical solutions to the mathematical models. The development of these computational tools is the foundation of our research program.

An essential component of computational bioengineering research is that the resulting models be based on validated mathematical models, applied to relevant physiological problems, and that the computational models and methods represent exactly the mathematics relevant to the problem. The resulting computer modeling and simulation tools can then play a predictive role in patient diagnosis and treatment.

Research Overview

Our research is aimed at developing computational methods and computer simulation tools that are based on realistic and validated mathematical models of human physiology. We have adopted the COMSOL Multiphysics commercial software suite as our primary modeling tool. COMSOL Multiphysics was selected because of its unique ability to give access to all levels of the underlying mathematical problem, and the computational methods that are used to solve that problem. Further, as suggested by the name, the software excels at coupled physics (multiphysics) of all types and scales. This flexibility is complemented by commercial grade modeling tools that allow research ideas, once validated, to be applied to realistic problems.

Our current focus is on modeling the biomechanical behavior of soft tissues such as articular cartilage, meniscus and intervertebral discs in the musculoskeletal system, and more recently, the primary lymphatic system. We use multiphase continuum mathematical models to represent the tissues, and our methods are aimed at understanding the loads, deformation and fluid flow in tissues in human joints. Some specific projects include:

Modeling the nonlinear behavior of soft tissues in human joints
Solving three-dimensional contact of soft tissues using penetration-based methods and full contact methods.
Modeling of cells using multiphase models
Coupling of tissue and cellular responses

Our long-range plans involve coupling biomechanical behaviors with biochemical, bioelectric and biotransport phenomena for broader classes of physiological tissues and systems, and to represent cellular behaviors, and coupling both the biophysical phenomena and the physiological scales.