INDIANA  UNIVERSITY  PURDUE  UNIVERSITY  INDIANAPOLIS	Experimental Mechanics      Laboratory (EML)
	723 West Michigan Street, SL 025   Indianapolis, IN 46202-5132

FACULTY

Jie Chen
Ramana Pidaparti
Charles Turner (Director)

The Experimental Mechanics Laboratory contains the state-of-the-art equipment for the measurement of mechanical properties of materials including structural composites and bone tissue. The laboratory is equipped with an MTS 8810 materials testing machine with 22,000 pounds of force capacity for failure and fatigue testing of materials, strain gauge equipment capable of recording 8 channels of strain information simultaneously, transducers for ultrasonic evaluation of materials, and mills for specimen preparation. An environmental chamber allows testing of bone specimens at body temperature. Future directions for the laboratory include continued study of the biomechanics of bone as well as studies of orthopaedic implants, biomechanics of tendons and ligaments, and further studies of the mechanics of structural composites.

Current research projects include design and validation of new procedures to repair spine fractures and design of minimally invasive orthopaedic implants.Recent sponsors and/or projects include:


• State of Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund in collaboration with Zimmer Orthopaedics for design of new orthopaedic implants and procedures


• National Institutes of Health for research into genetic influences on bone strength


• Genetics Institute for development of a bone loading machine for mice


• The Whitaker Foundation for anisotropic damage investigation in human bone


• The Whitaker Foundation for analysis and prediction of stress fractures in human bone