RUI -- Computational and Experimental Biomechanics: Modeling the Non-linear Viscoelastic Behavior of the Vertebral Column of Swimming Elasmobranchs

RUI——计算和实验生物力学：模拟游泳软骨鱼脊柱的非线性粘弹性行为

• 批准号: 0922605
• 负责人: John Long
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: Vassar College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-09-01 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0922605&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Computational; Experimental; Biomechanics; Modeling

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)In the field of biomechanics, researchers use engineering principles to understand how animals work. For swimming animals like sharks, little is known about the workings of their vertebral columns, the body's main skeleton that operates like a car's transmission, transferring power from the motor (muscles) to the rest of the body to flap the tail. How the vertebral column operates mechanically in a swimming shark is the central question of this research. To answer this question, the researchers use two approaches: (1) they bend vertebral columns in a customized testing machine that measures the force and power it takes to make realistic bending motions and, using results from the bending tests, (2) they build a computer model of the vertebral column working inside of a swimming shark. Based on initial results, the researchers predict that vertebral columns not only transmit force and power, but also store and release spring energy as the shark swims. In some species, researchers also expect that the vertebral column might work like a shock absorber to help the shark smooth out jerky motions like turns and accelerations. This research creates a new tool, a computer-simulated swimming shark with realistic biomechanical features that can be used to study the swimming biomechanics of many different kinds of sharks, or other animals that, like sharks, have a cartilaginous rather than bony skeleton. In addition, understanding how sharks use their vertebral column to swim can help design new kinds of highly maneuverable underwater vehicles for oceanic monitoring and exploration. Over the three years of this project, hands-on training in biomechanics and computational mathematics will be given to 12 undergraduate students. Each student will engage in a two-year apprenticeship-mentorship program, first learning from and then teaching other students in the laboratory.

该奖项是根据 2009 年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法 111-5）资助的。在生物力学领域，研究人员利用工程原理来了解动物如何工作。对于像鲨鱼这样的游泳动物，人们对其脊柱的工作原理知之甚少，脊柱是身体的主要骨骼，其运作就像汽车的变速器一样，将动力从马达（肌肉）传递到身体的其他部位以拍打尾巴。游泳的鲨鱼的脊柱如何机械运作是这项研究的核心问题。为了回答这个问题，研究人员使用了两种方法：(1)他们在定制的测试机中弯曲脊柱，测量做出真实弯曲运动所需的力和功率，(2)利用弯曲测试的结果，建立一个在游泳的鲨鱼体内工作的脊柱的计算机模型。根据初步结果，研究人员预测，脊柱不仅能传递力和动力，还能在鲨鱼游泳时储存和释放弹簧能量。研究人员还预计，在某些物种中，脊柱可能会像减震器一样发挥作用，帮助鲨鱼平滑转弯和加速等急速运动。这项研究创建了一种新工具，即具有逼真生物力学特征的计算机模拟游泳鲨鱼，可用于研究许多不同种类的鲨鱼或其他像鲨鱼一样具有软骨而不是骨骨骼的动物的游泳生物力学。此外，了解鲨鱼如何利用脊柱游泳有助于设计新型高度机动的水下航行器，用于海洋监测和探索。在该项目的三年内，将为 12 名本科生提供生物力学和计算数学的实践培训。每个学生将参加为期两年的学徒指导计划，首先向实验室的其他学生学习，然后再教授其他学生。