Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - BPK 402 D100

Mechanical Behavior of Biological Tissues (3)

Class Number: 6380

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    BPK 201 and BPK 306.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Extension of BPK 201 provides students with an understanding of structure-function relations in musculoskeletal tissues (bone, cartilage and muscle) in health and disease. Includes effect of disease and aging on physiological and biomechanical properties, mechanics and prevention of tissue injury, and design of implants and prostheses.

COURSE DETAILS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES 

This course focuses on the mechanical behavior of biological tissues in health and disease, and the cause, treatment and prevention of tissue injuries and diseases from a biomechanical perspective. Students will learn how musculoskeletal tissues are designed to meet the functional demands of daily activities, and how injuries (such as bone fractures, tendon or ligament tears, or traumatic brain injuries) arise due to excessive or repetitive mechanical forces. We will also examine how tissue structure-function relations are affected by diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia. We will consider the scientific basis for orthopedic procedures (e.g., fracture fixation devices, total joint replacements), rehabilitation therapies, and approaches to prevent injury. Most modules combine physiology, epidemiology and biomechanics. Lectures are supplemented by activities where students analyze data and apply their knowledge to solve real-life problems. 

First class: Sept 14, 2026 

Last class: Dec 7, 2026 

Note: No classes on: Sept 9 (Steve away), Sept 30 (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation), Oct 12 (Thanksgiving), Oct 21 (Steve away), Nov 11 (Remembrance Day) 

INSTRUCTOR 

Steve Robinovitch, Ph.D. 

Email: stever@sfu.ca 

Tel: 778.782.3566 

COURSE EMAIL LIST 

bpk-402@sfu.ca  

(used to send course announcements, etc.) 

LECTURE SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE) 

 

Module 

Lecture topic 

#1 

Sept 14/ 16 

Musculoskeletal forces – Part 1: Statics. Mathematical modelling and analysis of static postures in humans. Free body diagrams. Muscle forces and joint torques. Joint contact forces.  

#2 

Sept 21/ 23 

Musculoskeletal forces – Part 2: Dynamics. Mathematical modelling and analysis of dynamic activities in humans. Strength demands of daily activities. Eccentric versus concentric muscle contractions. 

#3 

Sept 28 

Musculoskeletal forces – Part 3: Impact. Energy transfer and force generation during impact. Mass-spring models of impact. 

#4 

Oct 5/ 7 

Strength of biological tissues - Part 1: Axial loading. Bone and tendon physiology. Stiffness under axial loading. Material versus structural behaviour. Factor of risk” approach for predicting tissue failure. Stress-dependant and time-dependant behaviour. Composite structures. 

#5 

Oct 14/17 

Strength of biological tissues - Part 2: Bending and torsion. Stresses and strains under bending and torsion. Combined loading. 

#6 

Oct 19 

Biomechanics of osteoporotic fractures. Epidemiology and risk factors. Diagnosis with DEXA imaging. Age- and disease-related changes in bone mechanical properties. Biomechanics of falls. Pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical approaches to prevention. 

Oct 26 

MIDTERM EXAM 

#7 

Oct 28/ Nov 2 

Fracture fixation. Types and stages of bone healing. Principles of fracture fixation. Tension band principle. Design and function of plates, screws, intramedullary nails and external fixators. 

#8 

Nov 4/ 9 

Traumatic brain injury. Epidemiology and mechanisms of TBI. Biomechanics of head impact. Helmet design. Diagnosis, prognosis and management of TBI. 

#9 

Nov 16/ 18 

Arthritis. Joint lubrication. Compressive behaviour of cartilage. Permeability. Swelling (Donnan osmotic) effects. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors and treatment of osteoarthritis. 

#10 

Nov 23/ 25 

Total joint replacement. Joint loading and contact mechanics. Loading during activities. Implant design and materials. Lubrication. Fixation and bone–implant mechanics. Cemented vs. cementless fixation, micromotion, osseointegration. Mechanisms of failure. 

#11 

Nov 30/ Dec 2 

Sarcopenia. Epidemiology, mechanisms and clinical consequences of sarcopenia. Strategies to counter sarcopenia. 

#Dec 7 

Review 

 

FINAL EXAM 

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of this course, students should have an improved understanding of:  

  1. structure-function relationships in biological tissues in health and disease; 
  2. the cause and prevention of tissue injury; 
  3. the scientific basis for treatment techniques in orthopedics and rehabilitation;
  4. the role of experimental and mathematical models in biomechanics; 
  5. analysis and interpretation of biomechanical data. 

Grading

  • Attendance 5%
  • Contributing to in-class discussion 15%
  • Assignments 20%
  • Midterm Exam 25%
  • Final Exam 35%

NOTES:

MISSED EXAMINATIONS 

Students who miss examinations due to exceptional circumstances (such as serious illness or compassionate reasons) are required to obtain a doctor's certificate or other supporting documents in order to obtain consideration in the course. Such documents must be filed with the Chair of the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (via the BPK office) or Registrar within four calendar days of the date on which the examination was to have been written. Exceptional circumstances must be approved by the Undergraduate Program Committee in order for a student to receive consideration. 

Students must check the exam schedule when making course selections. Students are reminded that final examinations may be scheduled at any time during the examination period and that students should avoid making travel or employment arrangements for this period. 

ACADEMIC HONESTY AND STUDENT CONDUCT 

Academic honesty is a condition of continued membership in the University community. Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism or any other form of cheating is subject to serious academic penalty, i.e. failure on an assignment, failure in a course, suspension or expulsion from the University.  

As noted above, you may discuss the three course assignments with classmates, but the written work shown in your submitted solutions must be your own — no component should be copied directly from a classmate or another source.  

The University codes of student conduct and academic honesty are contained in policies T10.01 and T10.02 which are available at https://www.sfu.ca/about/leadership-governance-strategy/policies/gazette/s10-01.html and https://www.sfu.ca/about/leadership-governance-strategy/policies/gazette/s10-02.html 

Materials

RECOMMENDED READING:

RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS 

Rabbany SY, Rooney DM, Merna N: Fundamentals of Biomechanics: From Cells to Organ Systems, 1st edition, 2024. Freely available to SFU students at:  https://link-springer-com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/book/10.1007/978-3-031-71522-8 

Özkaya N, Leger D, Goldsheyder D, Nordin M: Fundamentals of Biomechanics Equilibrium, Motion, and Deformation. 4th edition, 2017. ISBN: 3319447386. Freely available to SFU students at: https://link-springer-com.proxy.lib.sfu.ca/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-319-44738-4.pdf 

Margareta Nordin and Victor H. Frankel: Basic Biomechanics of the Musculoskeletal System. Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, Fifth Edition, 2021. Available through: https://sfu-store.vitalsource.com/products/basic-biomechanics-of-the-musculoskeletal-system-margareta-nordin-v9781975142001. Cost: $107.27 for one year, $126.16 for lifetime access. 

Additional resources:  

Ethier, C. R., Simmons, C. A., & Blackwell Echo. (2007). Introductory biomechanics : from cells to organisms / C. Ross Ethier and Craig A. Simmons. Cambridge University Press. https://sfu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/11fcla1/01SFUL_ALMA51220130140003611 

Schmitt, Kai-Uwe, Niederer, Peter F, Cronin, Duane S, Morrison III, Barclay, Muser, Markus H, & Walz, Felix. (2019). Trauma Biomechanics. In Trauma Biomechanics. Springer International Publishing AG. https://sfu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/dt8kh0/TN_cdi_askewsholts_vlebooks_9783030116590


Department Undergraduate Notes:

It is the responsibility of the student to keep their BPK course outlines if they plan on furthering their education.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.