Third M.I.T. Conference on Computational Fluid and Solid Mechanics June 14–17, 2005  

Bounding uncertainty: computational mechanics used to analyze the structural correlates of early hominid locomotion

R.B. Eckhardta,*, K. Galikb, A.J. Kuperavagea
aLaboratory for the Comparative Study of Morphologies, Mechanics, and Molecules, Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA bOrthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA
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ABSTRACT
Late Miocene fossils from the Lukeino Formation of Kenya's Tugen Hills have provided the earliest direct evidence for bipedal locomotion in a human ancestor. Here were explore the application of computational mechanics to understanding more fully the attributes of these fossil remains as well as their implications for potentially modifying probabilities of some chaotic state changes in femur structure of extant humans.

Keywords:  Computerized tomography; Cortical bone; Trabecular bone; Femur neck fracture; Fossils
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 814 863 9963; Fax: +1 814 865 1275; E-mail: eyl@psu.edu