Theoretical framework for predicting joint reaction and ground reaction forces in a dynamic pendulum tree model of human motion

Lagrangian dynamics and the method of superfluous coordinates are applied to find ground and joint reaction forces on the human body modeled as a general branched 2-D pendulum tree system with arbitrary segments and arbitrarily distributed point masses. A theoretical framework is established for predicting these constraint forces during human motion and consequently their effects on dynamics, dynamic stability, energy efficiency and the potential of these forces to produce joint injury and/or pain. Applications to human walking are initiated. During idealized phases where there is only single point contact of the stance leg with the ground such as just after heel-strike and just before toe-off, the ground reaction force is modeled as the constraint force on the root pivot joint of the tree. Treating the length of the root segment as a superfluous coordinate introduces a new degree of freedom into the equations of motion that can be used to predict human movements that occur during flight such as in jumping, running and diving. The approach of adding an explicit constraint to the pendulum tree system is used at those times when the foot or a portion of it is flat on the ground. Proof of concept for this approach is demonstrated by application to a single pendulum constrained to lie horizontally on the ground and to a double pendulum system with the same constraint imposed on its first (root) segment.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering - (M.S.)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biomedical Engineering

Year

2007

Author dc:creator

• Rajai, Peyman

Contributors dc:contributor

• H. Michael Lacker
• William Corson Hunter
• Richard A. Foulds

• Dynamic stability
• Energy efficiency
• Joint injury
• Dynamic pendulum tree model
• Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/396

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.njit.edu:theses-1395