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Biomechanics—Materials—A practical approach
Pergamon
J. Biomechanics,
BOOK
Oxford
Vol. 28, No. 5, p. 647, 1995 Elwier Science Ltd Printed in Great Britain 0021-92X3/95 $9.50 + .oO
REVIEW
BIOMECHANICS-MATERIALS-A PRACTICAL APPROACH Edited by Julian F. V. Vincent University Press, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, 1992, $50.00, 247 pp., ISBN O-19-963222-7
In the Introduction to this book, Vincent recounts a series of experiments that were “. . . the wrong experiment on material prepared in the wrong way and with insufficient data recorded to allow a proper analysis . . .” The purpose of this book is to present the reader with experimental methodologies that avoid such mistakes. The book is a survey of methods for conducting experiments with biological materials ranging from the measurement of flow and viscosity of liquids (Chapter 2) to the measurement of stiffness,strength, and fracture toughness of composites (Chapters 3 and 4). Tensile tests of tendons, ligaments, silk, and hair are covered in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 deals with articular cartilage and joints. This discussion includes experimental protocols to determine contact area, water and proteoglycan content, split lines, permeability, and stiffness. Chapter 7 discusses soft composites, including skin and connective tissues. Chapter 8 covers plants and ranges from the measurement of internal cell pressures to four-point bending of rhubarb petiole. Chapter 9, Fracture, again covers a wide range of experiments from the fracture of horse-hoof keratin to impact tests on vegetables. The book concludes with a chapter on adhesives, presenting a variety of tests to determine the strength of adhesive joints. Written by seven authors, the form and style of the chapters are uniform enough not to be distracting. Although background information is presented in each chapter, the material is focused on experimental methods. Step-by-step protocols are given for each of a series of specific experiments in each chapter. Specimen selection and preparation are discussed. Both the equipment (covering a rather wide range of sophistication) and the experimental techniques needed to
perform experiments are covered. Special attention is paid to the fact that many experiments may require specially designed equipment. The effects of experimental artifact, for example specimen-clamping difficulties and hydration of soft tissues,are discussed. The analysis of the resulting data is not discussed in detail. The level of the material covered is consistent with a survey-type course and would be appropriate for readers without a strong background in mathematics or engineering. Equations used to calculate material properties are often given without limitations and models are often presented without the assumptions that were used in their development. As is often the case with this type of presentation, there are many cases when I felt that material was oversimplified. Although the book emphasizes the importance of experimental protocol and, on occasion, points out that certain measurements are extremely difficult, an inexperienced reader might think that simply following the steps in the experimental protocols presented will always lead to good results. The sense of dii%iculty involved in actually doing an experiment that an experienced researcher has might escape a student lacking this experience. The sample results presented tend to represent rather unambiguous experimental outcomes and the reader is not presented with results that would be difficult to interpret. As a text, I feel that annotation by the teacher would be required.
647
Robert J. Singerman Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, 0 H, U.S.A,
J. Biomechanics,
BOOK
Oxford
Vol. 28, No. 5, p. 647, 1995 Elwier Science Ltd Printed in Great Britain 0021-92X3/95 $9.50 + .oO
REVIEW
BIOMECHANICS-MATERIALS-A PRACTICAL APPROACH Edited by Julian F. V. Vincent University Press, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, 1992, $50.00, 247 pp., ISBN O-19-963222-7
In the Introduction to this book, Vincent recounts a series of experiments that were “. . . the wrong experiment on material prepared in the wrong way and with insufficient data recorded to allow a proper analysis . . .” The purpose of this book is to present the reader with experimental methodologies that avoid such mistakes. The book is a survey of methods for conducting experiments with biological materials ranging from the measurement of flow and viscosity of liquids (Chapter 2) to the measurement of stiffness,strength, and fracture toughness of composites (Chapters 3 and 4). Tensile tests of tendons, ligaments, silk, and hair are covered in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 deals with articular cartilage and joints. This discussion includes experimental protocols to determine contact area, water and proteoglycan content, split lines, permeability, and stiffness. Chapter 7 discusses soft composites, including skin and connective tissues. Chapter 8 covers plants and ranges from the measurement of internal cell pressures to four-point bending of rhubarb petiole. Chapter 9, Fracture, again covers a wide range of experiments from the fracture of horse-hoof keratin to impact tests on vegetables. The book concludes with a chapter on adhesives, presenting a variety of tests to determine the strength of adhesive joints. Written by seven authors, the form and style of the chapters are uniform enough not to be distracting. Although background information is presented in each chapter, the material is focused on experimental methods. Step-by-step protocols are given for each of a series of specific experiments in each chapter. Specimen selection and preparation are discussed. Both the equipment (covering a rather wide range of sophistication) and the experimental techniques needed to
perform experiments are covered. Special attention is paid to the fact that many experiments may require specially designed equipment. The effects of experimental artifact, for example specimen-clamping difficulties and hydration of soft tissues,are discussed. The analysis of the resulting data is not discussed in detail. The level of the material covered is consistent with a survey-type course and would be appropriate for readers without a strong background in mathematics or engineering. Equations used to calculate material properties are often given without limitations and models are often presented without the assumptions that were used in their development. As is often the case with this type of presentation, there are many cases when I felt that material was oversimplified. Although the book emphasizes the importance of experimental protocol and, on occasion, points out that certain measurements are extremely difficult, an inexperienced reader might think that simply following the steps in the experimental protocols presented will always lead to good results. The sense of dii%iculty involved in actually doing an experiment that an experienced researcher has might escape a student lacking this experience. The sample results presented tend to represent rather unambiguous experimental outcomes and the reader is not presented with results that would be difficult to interpret. As a text, I feel that annotation by the teacher would be required.
647
Robert J. Singerman Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, 0 H, U.S.A,