Projects / Programmes
Modelling in technics and medicine
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2013
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.11.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Mechanical design |
|
| 2.19.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Traffic systems |
|
| 3.08.00 |
Medical sciences |
Public health (occupational safety) |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T210 |
Technological sciences |
Mechanical engineering, hydraulics, vacuum technology, vibration and acoustic engineering |
| T280 |
Technological sciences |
Road transport technology |
| B115 |
Biomedical sciences |
Biomechanics, cybernetics |
| B770 |
Biomedical sciences |
Legal medicine |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.11 |
Engineering and Technology |
Other engineering and technologies |
mechanical engineering, construction, engine building, modelling, numerical analyses, machine elements, machine, mechanism, construction, bearing, expert systems, vehicles, mobile machines, driving and transportation technics, engine, drive train, technical documentation, standards, technical regulations, technical drawings, descriptive geometry, technical information systems, computer aided design, product data management, road traffic, traffic accidents, anatomy, expertise
Researchers (24)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Programme P2-0109, entitled Modelling in technics and medicine, is connected to fields 2.11.00 Construction, 2.19.00 Traffic and 3.08.00 Medical Sciences. The programme group and its fields of research are conceived interdisciplinary and consist of researchers from Faculty of mechanical engineering, Forensic Institute, and Institute of anatomy at Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana and Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor. At the department of Modelling in Engineering Sciences and Medicine, the research activities are organised in Technological Centre CEMEK. In its framework operate Laboratory for Element and Structure Modelling, Laboratory Unit for traffic accident analysis and research and the Information Unit for Technical Documentation.
In the field "Construction", the research group focuses its activities on special knowledge in the field of Construction of Machines and Mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on development of geometric, physical, mathematical and material numerical models of various phenomena in machine and mechanism operation, that need to be controlled in analyses of elements, groups of elements and structures (deformability, load capacity, elasto-plastic material response, material damage growth, life expectancy) and in numerical simulations of machine and mechanism operation. Additionally, we study experimental methods generally and adapt and develop methods, procedures, experimental devices and systems for model verification, in laboratory conditions as well as in the field.
Research activities are devoted also to the research of acquisition and flow of information inside of development oriented enterprises. The result of research is represented in a technical documentation model, which is the basis for the definition of the information system and automation of processes in development and production preparation phases. Sphere of activity, additionally encompasses harmonization of technical documentation with current legislation, adaptation of CAE tools and technical information systems to specific needs of interested enterprises.
In the field "Traffic", the research group is devoted to development and implementation of software tools for traffic accident analyses and simulations. Emphasis is placed on development of geometric and mechanical models of vehicles and human body, development of virtual 3D environment representation tools and to connecting all these pieces into general and specialized systems for traffic situation analyses. The field of work incorporates development and maintenance of experimental systems for vehicle properties determination, riding surface properties determination and development of a system for measurement and analysis of human body response in traffic accidents. Research results of the program group are software applications and expert valuations.
In the field "Medical Sciences", the research group is involved with determination of influences that mechanical loads on human body, have on injury development. A narrower research field inside this field is "collision biomechanics". By measuring the response of human body in vehicle crash conditions it is possible to determine the influence of various individually dependent factors on loads and injuries to particular anatomical body parts of the vehicle occupant. Based on data, obtained from measurements, numerical models of human body are developed, that can be used for analysis and prediction of injuries in traffic accidents. The principles of geometric and mechanical modelling are also used by the individual members of the programme-group in development of applications for virtual simulations of various surgical operations.
Significance for science
The following fields have a strong emphasis on science development: a) In the field of modelling the behavior of material subject to cyclic and impulse loads, a new material model has been developed and verified which enables description of isotropic and kinematic hardening by means of material damage growth and the yield-point phenomenon. The material model has also been implemented into commercial FEM software. Development and application of the model describing the yield-point phenomenon in science research enable better understanding of the non-linear and non-homogenous response of low-alloy steels and related materials subject to cyclic plasticity. This also leads to better understanding of material damage accumulation and growth. b) In the field of antimine and antiballistic protection of military vehicles, analyses have been performed of the impact of physical and numerical parameters on blast wave reflection and structure deformation. c) In the field of material characterization, material parameters of the strength and damage model have been determined for the new PROTAC 500 steel. Research on magnetocalooric cooling has lead to development of a new prototype of a linear laboratory magnetocaloric refrigerator, which enables further development and research on design principles and application of different magnetic refrigerators made of gadolinium and other materials. A laboratory prototype of a second-generation rotational magnetic refrigerator has been developed, designed and tested. Research based on the obtained findings has already resulted in development of third-generation devices at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. In the field of biomechanics, a uniaxial tension device has been developed and produced which enables better understanding of and familiarization with mechanical properties of cervical spine ligaments under physiological conditions. With a series of tension uniaxial tests, it is possible to analyze the impact of age and gender, physiological conditions and sample preparation on the mechanical response and damage boundary of the soft tissue. Presented is a significant impact of the load velocity and size on damage initiation and maximum deformation of human cervical spine ligaments. Test results enable more accurate modelling of the response of the cervical spine of participants with various anthropometric characteristics under different impact conditions. In the field of interactive simulation of the mechanical system motion, solutions have been developed for real-life time simulation of the driving dynamics of wheeled vehicles on arbitrary terrains. A connection is made with actuators which provide the user with haptic information. In order to demonstrate the operation, the i3Drive software was connected to an active seat and active steering wheel thereby enabling haptic simulation of off-road driving. The tool for presentation of simulation results in a virtual 3D environment was also applied for presentation of other multibody systems and adjusted for presentation of simulation results by means of external simulation environments (both commercial and own developed). For the purpose of detailed 3D simulation of multibody system dynamics, new software was developed and successfully verified by studying the driving dynamics of a 6-wheel off-road vehicle.
Significance for the country
Based on fundamental study results, several Slovene and foreign companies and institutions have asked for our assistance and proposed collaboration during which we successfully demonstrated our knowledge in the following fields: -development of relation models and geometrical database for different bearing types intended for creation of offers and offer documentation on rolling rotational connections, -analyses of the behaviour of torsion bars in military vehicles and increasing their durability, -development and verification of mortar integration in a vehicle, -development of in-wheel motors with emphasis on ensuring appropriate stability even under impulse loads, and -development of an application with a novel approach to control and management of the tyre-manufacture system. Understanding and application of the developed material models provide more quality, cost effective and faster solutions to real-life industrial problems, while the knowledge transfer into the Slovene industry (Sistemska tehnika, Elaphe) improves global competitiveness of Slovene companies. All collaborations with the companies have had a positive financial impact on the companies since our research and obtained results helped promote the sale of their products to final buyers. The obtained dependence of the mechanical response of the cervical spine ligaments enables the commercial FEM software to perform detailed modelling of the cervical spine response in the event of simplified ligament modelling. The verified mathematical model also enables more detailed numerical modelling of neck ligaments, which is thought to be the next step in the improvement of FEM models. The obtained test data on the importance of age, deformation velocity and the pre-load size enable better understanding of the damage initiation mechanism under different sports-related or physical loads. Under different impact conditions, the simulation allows for the parametric geometrical model change as well as the actual change in the response of various structures. Study and development results in the field of transportation informatics are applicable in planning and management of public transportation systems (the developed BUSO application). The directory of geoinformational data on traffic accidents (own-developed web application) is intended to inform the public of past traffic accidents, thus having a direct impact on the perception of traffic safety. Data obtained through performed analyses is publicly available and collected in a traffic accident database which is entirely available to road infrastructure operators. Application and management of the database is enabled by newly developed software which will be further developed and upgraded upon user request.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
