• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.455-462
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• 2011

This paper is about the design of a new gravity compensator for the lower body exo-skeleton device. The exo-skeleton devices is for increasing the torque of the human body joint for the purpose of helping the disabled, workers in the industry, and military soldiers. So far, most of studied exo-skeleton devices are actuated by the motors, but motors are limited in energy such that a short durability is always a big problem. In this paper, a new gravity compensator is proposed to reduce the torque load applied to human body joints due to gravity. The gravity compensator is designed using a tortional bar spring, and its structure and characteristics are studied through the test and computer simulation. A design concept on the exo-skeleton device using the gravity compensator is presented. An analysis and computer simulation on the torque reduction of the proposed exo-skeleton device that applies and non-applies the gravity compensator are performed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.339-347
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate joint torques of lower body segments on professional golfers. Three dimensional swing analysis was conducted on the seven subjects. Each subject was asked to swing with 45 inches of Callaway driver, where two force plates (9286AA, Kistler, Switzerland) were built, with his normal speed and tempo. The resultant joint moments of the lower extremities were computed using the kinematic variables of the segments, anthropometric measures and the ground reaction force data by inverse dynamics method. Based on the results of this study, the following conclusions were drawn; It was found that the left ankle joint torque at 3rd phase was increased toward extension on the X-axis and abduction on the Y-axis. The left knee joint torque was alternated from flexion to extension direction in order to lower down the body weight at the beginning of the downswing. The lumbar joint torque was alternated from flexion to extension in order to speed up the upper body rotation which could increase the club head speed ultimately.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.502-508
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• 2012

An analytical model for a human body is important to predict muscle and joint forces. Because it is difficult to estimate muscle or joint forces from a human body, the objective of this study is the development of a reliable analytical model for a human body to evaluate the lower extremity muscle and joint forces. The musculoskeletal system of the human lower extremity is modeled as a multibody system employing the Hill-type muscle model. Muscle forces are determined to minimize energy consumption, and we assume that motion is constrained in the sagittal plane. Muscle forces are calculated through an equilibrium analysis while rising from a seated position. The musculoskeletal model consists of four segments. Each segment is a rigid body and connected by frictionless revolute joints. Muscles of the lower extremity are simplified to seven muscles with those that are not related to the sagittal plane motion are ignored. Muscles that play a similar role are combined together. The results of the present study are compared with experimental results to validate the lower extremity model and the assumptions of the present study.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1967-1974
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• 1991

When the functional electrical stimulation is employed to recover mobility to the plegic, it is very important to understand functions of the selected muscles. I have investigated how a muscle acts to accelerate the body segments, since the body segements are connected by joints so that contraction of a muscle not only rotates the segments to which it is attached but also causes other segments to rotate by creation a reaction force at every joint, which is called the inertial coupling. I found that a single-joint muscle always acts to accelerate the spanned joint in the same direction as the joint torque produced by the muscle. However, a double-joint muscle can act to accelerate the spanned joint in the opposite direction to the joint torque produced by the muscle depending on (1) the body position, (2) the body-segmental parameters, and (3) the type of the movement. Investigating the condition number of the inertia matrix of the body-segmental model gave us some insights into how controllable the body-segmental system is for different values of the factors mentioned above. The results suggested that the upright position is the most undesirable position to independently control the three segments(trunk, thigh and shank) and that the controllability is the most sensitive to variation of the shank length and the trunk mass, which implies that accuracy is required particularly when we estimate these two body-segmental parameters before the paralyzed muscles are innervated by using electrical stimulation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1108-1114
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• 2007

Twenty eight non-lactating and non-pregnant adult Serra da Estrela ewes, ranging in body condition score (BCS) from 1 to 4 were used to study the relationships between BCS, live weight (LW), body composition and fat partition. Ewes were slaughtered and their kidney knob and channel fat (KKCF), sternal fat (STF) and omental plus mesenteric fat (OMF) were separated and weighed. Left sides of carcasses as well as the respective lumbar joints were then dissected into muscle, bone and subcutaneous (SCF) and intermuscular fat (IMF). The relationship between LW and BCS was studied using data from 1,396 observations on 63 ewes from the same flock and it was found to be linear. Regression analysis was also used to describe the relationships among BCS and/or LW and weights (kg) and percentages in empty body weight (EBW) of dissected tissues. The prediction of weights and percentages in EBW of total fat (TF) and of all fat depots afforded by BCS was better than that provided by LW. Only the weight of muscle and the percentage of bone in the EBW were more efficiently predicted by LW than by BCS. IMF represented the largest fat depot with a BCS of 1 and 2, whereas SCF was the most important site of fat deposition with a BCS of 3 and 4. Allometric coefficients for each fat depot in TF suggest that the fat deposition order in ewes from this breed is: IMF, OMF, SCF and KKCF. Results demonstrate that BCS is a better predictor than LW of body reserves in this breed and that LJ is a suitable anatomical region to evaluate BCS.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.761-766
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• 2010

The goal of this study is to analysis natural frequency for different static postures of human leg. To perform this research human leg is modeled by multi-body modeling for the musculoskeletal system. This leg model has biarticular muscles which acting on two joints and the muscles represents some of the major muscles, such as hamstring, of the upper and lower limbs. To obtain each static equilibrium position energy method is employed and to analysis natural frequency linearization method for constrained mechanical system is employed. Static equilibrium position depends on some parameter or condition such as hamstring stiffness or external force. Making a change these parameter the aim of this research can be performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.182-191
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• 2004

This study is focused on the development of a child human model, which is composed of skin, skeleton, joints and muscle, etc. The dimension of child outer skin is referred to anthropometric data from KRISS (Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science). The positions of joint and mass properties of body segments are calculated from ATB(Articulated Total Body) program, GEBOD. The properties of bones and muscles are obtained by the way of scaling from adult human model. To verify the developed human model, ROM simulation and sled test is conducted. Developed human model can be effectively applied to the evaluation of human injury in crash situation and development of child restraint system. The explicit finite element program $PAM-CRASH^TM$ was used to simulate six-year old child human model.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1262-1269
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• 2004

This study predicts muscle forces acting on the lower extremity when the knee joint is in deep flexion. The whole body was approximated as a link model, and then the moment equilibrium equations at the lower extremity joints were derived far given reaction farces against the ground. Measurement of deep flexion was carried out by placing ten markers on the body. This study calculated the moment acting at each Joint from the equations of force and moment, classified the complicated muscles around the knee joint, and then predicted the muscle forces to balance the joint moment. Two models were proposed in this study: the simpler one that consists of three groups of muscle and the more detailed one of nine groups of muscle.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 1999

This paper presents resizing design optimization method by utilizing genetic algorithm(GA), which consists of three basic operators : reproduction, crossover and mutation. The fitness and penalty function for resizing optimization problem are defined, and the flowchart of the developed computer program along with the descriptions of each modules is presented. Also, modelling for flexible-body dynamic analysis is presented. The model is composed of bodies, joints, and force elements such as translational spring-damper-actuator. The design objects si to determine the wall thickness for minimum weight under dynamic displacement constraint.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.22 no.B
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• pp.45-50
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• 2002

Airbag systems have improved the occupant safety in reducing the injuries of driver and passenger during collisions. They have occasionally caused fatalities; especially to small occupant and children. Recent airbag related fatalities of children have raised serious concerns on how to evaluate the safety of children in various crash environments. This paper present the development of the 3-year-old human model. Child human model is composed of skin, skeleton and joints. The positions of joint and mass properties of body segments are calculated from ARB(Ariticulated Rigid Body) program GEBOD. To verify the developed human model, ROM simulation and OOP simulations are conducted.