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年美国复苏与再投资法》（公法111-5）在生物力学领域的资助，研究人员使用工程原理来了解动物的工作方式。对于像鲨鱼这样的游泳动物，对它们的椎骨柱的起作用知之甚少，椎骨的主要骨架像汽车的变速器一样运行，将电动机从电机（肌肉）转移到身体的其余部分以使尾巴拍打。椎骨在游泳鲨鱼中如何机械运行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器中弯曲椎骨柱，该测试机器测量了制造逼真的弯曲运动所需的力和功率，并使用弯曲测试的结果，（2）它们在游泳鲨鱼的内部构建了椎骨柱的计算机模型。根据初始结果，研究人员预测椎骨不仅可以发射力和功率，而且随着鲨鱼的游泳而存储和释放弹簧能量。在某些物种中，研究人员还期望椎骨可以像减震器一样起作用，以帮助鲨鱼平滑弯曲的动作，例如转弯和加速。这项研究创建了一种新工具，一种具有逼真的生物力学特征的计算机模拟的游泳鲨鱼，可用于研究许多不同种类的鲨鱼的游泳生物力学，或其他动物，例如鲨鱼，具有软骨而不是骨骨架。此外，了解鲨鱼如何使用其椎骨来游泳可以帮助设计新型的高度机动水下车辆进行海洋监测和勘探。在该项目的三年中，将向12名本科生提供生物力学和计算数学的动手培训。每个学生将参与一项为期两年的学徒制度计划，首先向实验室中的其他学生学习，然后教授其他学生。