biomechanics.how

intermediate · YAML-driven interactive example

Landing Impact

A simplified body, front limb, hoof, and ground contact model shows how drop height, stiffness, and damping shape the impact force after landing.

Rapier scene + validated YAML APIinitializing

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Parameter definitions

Drop height (m)

Starting height of the trunk mass before landing, requiring reset after changes.

Limb stiffness (N/m)

Spring-like resistance of the simplified leg during compression.

Limb damping (Ns/m)

Viscous damping that reduces rebound after impact.

Impact impulse scale (Ns)

Scale for the visible upward impulse representing the contact response.

Concepts

Impact force

During landing, momentum changes quickly as the hoof meets the ground and the limb compresses.

Stiffness and damping

Stiffness changes peak compression while damping reduces rebound and oscillation.

Experiments

  1. Increase damping while keeping stiffness fixed.
    Rebound should be smaller and oscillations should settle faster.
  2. Raise the drop height and reset the scene.
    The spring strain and impact load readouts should increase.