David Hukins | University of Birmingham (original) (raw)

Papers by David Hukins

$Research paper thumbnail of Can MEMS accelerometers be used to directly monitor relative fracture movement?$

Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2011

This paper presents the development of a MEMS based capacitive tactile sensor intended to be inco... more This paper presents the development of a MEMS based capacitive tactile sensor intended to be incorporated into a tactile array as the core element of a biomimetic fingerpad. The use of standard microfabrication technologies in realising the device allowed a cost efficient fabrication involving only a few process steps. A low noise readout electronics system was developed for measuring the

Lasers in the Musculoskeletal System, 2001

The spine is a series of rigid vertebrae connected by joints to form a flexible column. Spinal fl... more The spine is a series of rigid vertebrae connected by joints to form a flexible column. Spinal flexibility enables the body to twist and bend to adopt a wide range of postures [16].

The Biology of the Intervertebral Disc, 2019

Journal of Mechanics, 2012

A method to simulate contact between two boundaries of structures which are not aligned to predef... more A method to simulate contact between two boundaries of structures which are not aligned to predefined axes when using Comsol Multi-physics (v3.3, Comsol Ltd, Cambridge, UK) is presented. This method was developed because of limitations in the existing default contact modelling. Some of these limitations were recently addressed in a separate study; however, the method exploited symmetry across an axis of the coordinate system. The method presented here enables contact modelling with arbitrarily aligned structures within such a coordinate system. The contact method presented is then applied to a simple model with two deformable structures that come into contact, and compared over a range of positions. Results show a minimal variation in peak stress and contact pressure with model orientation, demonstrating that results are independent of orientation. Therefore, the contact method enables contact simulations in Comsol Multi-physics without assuming symmetry about an axis for contract. ...

Advanced Composites Letters, 2008

Nano-fibres in composite materials may not be cylindrical. A theoretical analysis shows that non-... more Nano-fibres in composite materials may not be cylindrical. A theoretical analysis shows that non-cylindrical nano-fibres have longer critical lengths leading to composites with different mechanical properties requiring a lower volume of reinforcing material.

Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 1999

European Journal of Mechanics - B/Fluids, 2015

BMC musculoskeletal disorders, Jan 14, 2014

The knee is an incongruent joint predisposed to developing osteoarthritis, with certain regions b... more The knee is an incongruent joint predisposed to developing osteoarthritis, with certain regions being more at risk of cartilage degeneration even in non-osteoarthrosed joints.At present it is unknown if knee regions prone to cartilage degeneration have similar storage and/or loss stiffness, and frequency-dependent trends, to other knee joint cartilage. The aim of this study was to determine the range of frequency-dependent, viscoelastic stiffness of articular cartilage across the bovine knee joint. Such changes were determined at frequencies associated with normal and rapid heel-strike rise times. Cartilage on bone, obtained from bovine knee joints, was tested using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). DMA was performed at a range of frequencies between 1 and 88 Hz (i.e. relevant to normal and rapid heel-strike rise times). Viscoelastic stiffness of cartilage from the tibial plateau, femoral condyles and patellar groove were compared. For all samples the storage stiffness increased, b...

The Journal of heart valve disease, 2005

The study aim was to understand the role of different mitral valve chordae tendineae, and how dam... more The study aim was to understand the role of different mitral valve chordae tendineae, and how damage to them affects valve competence. A test apparatus was used to apply pressure to porcine mitral heart valves that were intact and have had selected chords severed. Anterior leaflet strut and marginal chords were selectively severed, as were posterior leaflet basal and marginal chords. Commissural chords were also severed. Severing anterior leaflet marginal chords (p = 0.018) and commissural chords (p = 0.018) significantly reduced mitral valve competence. Severing posterior leaflet marginal and basal chords, and anterior leaflet strut chords, had no significant effect in reducing the pressures that the valves could withstand. Severing a mixture of posterior leaflet basal and marginal chords significantly reduced the pressure withstood by the valves (p = 0.004). The study results confirmed that anterior leaflet marginal chords, but not strut chords, are vital for valve competence. Com...

Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering, 2010

Medical Engineering & Physics, 2009

Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology, 2011

Young's modulus and structural stiffness were determined for chordae tendineae of the mitral ... more Young's modulus and structural stiffness were determined for chordae tendineae of the mitral valve from young (18–26 weeks) and old (over 2 years) porcine hearts. For chordae from the posterior leaflet of the valve, the Young's modulus values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the thinner marginal chordae (59 ± 31 MPa young; 88 ± 21 MPa old) than for the thicker basal chordae (31 ± 4 MPa young; 28 ± 9 MPa old). Marginal chordae (both anterior and posterior) had significantly higher (p < 0.05) value for their Young's modulus in old (88 ± 21 MPa anterior and posterior) than in young (62 ± 17 MPa anterior, 59 ± 18 MPa posterior) pig hearts. There was no significant difference in structural stiffness between marginal and basal (anterior and posterior leaflets) or between strut chordae (that are associated with anterior the leaflet only) and marginal and basal chordae. However, the value of structural stiffness of chordae was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for...

Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2012

Expressing the energy content of food as the heat energy released by its combustion is potentiall... more Expressing the energy content of food as the heat energy released by its combustion is potentially misleading. Food is used to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The free energy of conversion of ATP into adenosine diphosphate is used directly for processes such as muscular contraction, without the need for intermediate heat production. The number of ATP molecules produced depends on the task being performed and the fitness level of the person performing the task, since both affect the extent to which aerobic and anaerobic respiration are involved. The digestion and metabolism of soluble carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates and fats requires production of different enzymes. The information required to assess whether this affects the net ATP production by these different types of food does not appear to be available.

Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials, Nov 27, 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the induced stress and restraint provided by... more The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the induced stress and restraint provided by the underlying bone on the frequency-dependent storage and loss stiffness (for bone restraint) or modulus (for induced stress) of articular cartilage, which characterise its viscoelasticity. Dynamic mechanical analysis has been used to determine the frequency-dependent viscoelastic properties of bovine femoral and humeral head articular cartilage. A sinusoidal load was applied to the specimens and out-of-phase displacement response was measured to determine the phase angle, the storage and loss stiffness or modulus. As induced stress increased, the storage modulus significantly increased (p < 0.05). The phase angle decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as the induced stress increased; reducing from 13.1° to 3.5°. The median storage stiffness ranged from 548N/mm to 707N/mm for cartilage tested on-bone and 544N/mm to 732N/mm for cartilage tested off-bone. On-bone articular cartilage lo...