The Experimental Biomechanics Unit is specialised in carrying out studies aimed at determining the mechanical performance of orthopaedic devices, orthopaedic scaffolds and surgical reconstructions of musculoskeletal system structures. Further studies investigate the mechanical behaviour of different components of the musculoskeletal system (tissues, organs, or multi-tissue units).

When possible, experimental tests are carried out according to relevant standards (ISO or ASTM standards). Also, the tests can be customised for special needs or even specifically designed to implement internal protocols simulating selected physiological loading scenarios. When aimed at the optimisation of surgical techniques, the experimental studies are designed in close collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons.

The collaboration with the In Silico Medicine Unit allows exploiting the synergy between experimental tests and numerical analyses, in order to establish prediction accuracy, i.e. how much the predictions are consistent with the experimental data, and then use the predictions of the validated models to reduce the number of experimental tests, thus increasing efficiency and reducing experimental costs.