Biomechanics and Sports Engineering

Our research on multibody dynamics and optimization is directly applicable to problems in biomechanics and sports engineering.  We have modelled human gait and the motion of a human arm, and used optimization methods to determine optimal arm trajectories and energy-optimal walking gaits.  The same basic theory was used to model and optimize the suspension system of a mountain bicycle. More recently, we have been analyzing the dynamics of the golf swing and hockey slapshot, and the high-speed impact between a golf clubface and ball.  We are also actively researching the dynamics of contact between a foot and ground, and between a finger and a key or button.

Selected Publications:

• M. Millard, J. McPhee, and E. Kubica, Multi-step Forward Dynamic Gait Simulation, to appear in Computational Methods in Applied Sciences, edited by E. Onate, Springer, 2008.
• M. McQueen and J. McPhee, Design of an Ice Hockey Test Machine, Int. Sports Eng. Assoc., France, 6 pages, 2008.
• W. Peterson and J. McPhee, Comparison of Impulse-Momentum and Finite Element Models for Impact between Golf Ball and Clubhead, World Sci. Cong. Golf, Phoenix, 6 pages, 2008.
• C. Good, D. Viano, J. McPhee, J. Ronsky, and J. Pieper, Motorized Shoulder Belt Tensioning: Modeling and Performance for a Diverse Occupant Population, Proc. SAE World Congress, Detroit, 8 pages, 2008.
• M. Peasgood, E. Kubica, and J. McPhee, Stabilization of a Dynamic Walking Gait Simulation, ASME J. Comp. Non. Dyn., v.2, 65-72, 2007.
• A. Seth, J. McPhee, and M. Pandy, Multijoint Coordination of Vertical Arm Movement, Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, vol.1, no.1, 2003, pp.45-56.
  
• C. Good and J. McPhee, Dynamics of Mountain Bicycles with Rear Suspensions: Design Optimization, Sports Engineering , vol.3, no.1, pp.49-56, 2000.
  
• C. Good and J. McPhee, Dynamics of Mountain Bicycles with Rear Suspensions: Modelling and Simulation, Sports Engineering, vol.2, no.3, pp.129-144, 1999.
  
• A. Seth and J. McPhee, A Predictive Control Method for Human Motion Simulation, Proceedings of Workshop on Biomechanics Meets Robotics: Modelling and Simulation , Heidelberg, Germany, November 1999.
  
• A. Seth and J. McPhee, Modelling Human Upper Limb Biomechanics using Graph Theory, Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Graphs and Mechanics, Gliwice, Poland, October 1999.
  
• A. Seth and J. McPhee, Prediction of Optimal Arm Motions using a Genetic Algorithm, Proceedings of 17th Canadian Congress of Applied Mechanics, Hamilton, Ontario, 30 May - 3 June, 1999.
  
• M.G. Ishac, G.C. Andrews, J. McPhee, A.E. Patla, and D.A. Winter, 3D Analysis of Human Locomotion Using Dual-Vectors and Graph Theory, Proceedings of the 3rd North American Conference on Biomechanics (NACOB'98), Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 14-18 August 1998.
  
• J. McPhee and G.C. Andrews, Effect of Sidespin and Wind on Projectile Trajectory, with Particular Application to Golf, American Journal of Physics, vol.56, no.10, pp.933-939, 1988.