Biomechanical modeling comprises both, building physical simulators and numerical simulation models. Our physical simulators range from simple setups for material testing under physiologically relevant boundary conditions, to less conventional setups for structural testing, e.g. of implant systems or tissue and organ equivalents, to complex anatomical simulators, e.g. of the shoulder or the spine.

Numerical simulation includes modelling of material behaviour and the simulation of entire anatomical structures. To model the mostly non-linear, anisotropic material behaviour of biological materials and structures, continuum mechanical models (top-down) or detailed structural models (bottom-up) are used. In order to investigate the kinematic behaviour of passive anatomical structures, we develop FEM models. Complex, inverse kinematic or forward kinematic multi-body simulation models are used to clarify clinical questions..

Depending on the research question, the simulation models are validated/verified by means of experimental testing in our accredited test laboratory, by means of functional in vitro testing using the industrial robot or in vivo in the movement laboratory.

• FE simulations on the human, patient-specific knee model
• Modelling of soft biological and biomedical materials and structures using FEM
• Multibody models based on openSim

In cooperation with our partners in industry and research, we develop medical devices in all our research fields. Our competences range from initial prototyping and pre-development to the analysis of mature products as well as the development of test methods and their clinical and technical validation. These test methods are used for the design verification of medical devices.

• Static and dynamic testing
• Kinematic and dynamic tests with a Kuka industrial robot
• Optical strain analyses
• Motion analyses / movement laboratory
• Conducting clinical studies (feasibility / usability studies)

Our core competence is the development of test set-ups, test procedures and analysis methods for the mechanical characterisation of biological or biomedical materials and structures. These might be implant materials (e.g. textiles) or implant systems (e.g. dental implant systems, knee implants, etc.), but also biological tissues (e.g. tendons, bones) and biological structures (e.g. knee, shoulder). Our laboratory accreditation according to ISO 17025:2017 Type C allows us to use this expertise not only in research, but also for the verification of medical devices. Thus, we valuably contribute to proving safety and efficacy of the medical devices produced by our industrial partners.

• Digital Image Correlation for the analysis of local deformations, especially inhomogeneous deformation patterns or local strain concentrations.
• Development of non-conventional setups that can reproduce the physiological load and boundary conditions (e.g. inflation tests)
• Standard material characterisation by uniaxial or biaxial tensile tests
• Robot-based kinetic and kinematic tests on cadaveric specimens

• Experimental testing for endoprostheses, dental and spinal implants, traumatology products and instruments within the scope of accreditation according to ISO 17025.1
• Material and structural tests on soft biological and biomedical tissues or implants
• Biomechanical functional models such as muscularly activated, physiological shoulder or spine simulation