Finite Element Model of reconstructed
Paranthropus boisei 'nutcracker man'
Computer-based biomechanical modelling, shape analysis and virtual reconstruction are powerful, fast developing tools for the analysis of form & function in zoology, paleontology, physical anthropology and biomedicine. The Computational Biomechanics Research Group (CBRG) based at the University of New South Wales and University of Newcastle (Australia) is at the forefront in these fields1-22. Current team members are working on projects ranging from virtual reconstruction and modelling of extinct hominids and giant bears to the development of improved surgical techniques and vertebral disc and ankle bone prosthetics.
This year the CBRG is running a workshop in the application of Finite Element Analysis, Shape Analysis and Virtual Reconstruction at the University of New South Wales - September 3rd to 7th 2012.
Attendees will be given a solid grounding in the skills required to assemble and analyse 3D mechanical models from serial x-ray (CT or microCT) data of biological specimens.
CT data is available for a wide range of taxa – including fossil species such as the Haarst’s eagle of New Zealand, South American glyptodonts, giant short-faced kangaroos and extinct members of the human family tree, as well as a wide range of living vertebrate species.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own CT data or nominate the species or taxa of interest to them so that we can help them generate and analyse their models.
The workshop is structured to accommodate biologists, paleontologists and physical anthropologists with no formal background in engineering; or engineers with no formal training in biosciences.
We aim to get people up and running on their own projects. We will maintain assistance beyond the workshop to bring projects to completion.
The workshop will be run by Stephen Wroe (Senior Research Fellow, UNSW), Prof. Philip Clausen, (Head of Discipline, Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Newcastle) and Dr William Parr (Endeavour Fellow, UNSW). Technical experts from the two primary software companies involved (Materialise and Strand7) will offer further assistance, as will other members of the CBRG team, including postgraduate students.
Guest lectures will also be presented by experts in related areas including Computational Fluid Dynamics and Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis.
The workshop is free for postgraduates and undergraduates. A nominal fee of AUD $200.00 is required for professionals. The number of places available is limited.
Publications and examples of models and methods generated/applied by the CBRG are available at:
 |
| Finite Element Model of reconstructed Paranthropus boisei 'nutcracker man' |
This year the CBRG is running a workshop in the application of Finite Element Analysis, Shape Analysis and Virtual Reconstruction at the University of New South Wales - September 3rd to 7th 2012.
Attendees will be given a solid grounding in the skills required to assemble and analyse 3D mechanical models from serial x-ray (CT or microCT) data of biological specimens.
The very latest approaches to model generation and analysis for use in form-function studies will be covered.
CT data is available for a wide range of taxa – including fossil species such as the Haarst’s eagle of New Zealand, South American glyptodonts, giant short-faced kangaroos and extinct members of the human family tree, as well as a wide range of living vertebrate species.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own CT data or nominate the species or taxa of interest to them so that we can help them generate and analyse their models.
The workshop is structured to accommodate biologists, paleontologists and physical anthropologists with no formal background in engineering; or engineers with no formal training in biosciences.
We aim to get people up and running on their own projects. We will maintain assistance beyond the workshop to bring projects to completion.
The workshop will be run by Stephen Wroe (Senior Research Fellow, UNSW), Prof. Philip Clausen, (Head of Discipline, Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Newcastle) and Dr William Parr (Endeavour Fellow, UNSW). Technical experts from the two primary software companies involved (Materialise and Strand7) will offer further assistance, as will other members of the CBRG team, including postgraduate students.
Guest lectures will also be presented by experts in related areas including Computational Fluid Dynamics and Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis.
The workshop is free for postgraduates and undergraduates. A nominal fee of AUD $200.00 is required for professionals. The number of places available is limited.
Publications and examples of models and methods generated/applied by the CBRG are available at:
