• Login
    View Item 
    •   SMARTech Home
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   SMARTech Home
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Examining middle-ear and tectorial membrane mechanics using computational models

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    LEMONS-DISSERTATION-2019.pdf (23.14Mb)
    Date
    2018-12-12
    Author
    Lemons, Charlsie E.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The ear acts as a sensitive broadband receiver which transduces sound waves in the ear canal into electrical signals sent to the nervous system. The mechanics of the many small components which comprise the ear are fine-tuned to detect faint sound throughout a wide range of frequencies. By studying the mechanics of different components of the ear, the mechanisms which allow for such remarkable abilities can be better understood. In this thesis, the mechanics of components of the ears of several species are investigated: specifically, the mouse tectorial membrane (an extracellular matrix located in the inner ear), the chinchilla middle ear, and the bullfrog eardrum are studied. Previous experimental studies have revealed interesting phenomena in these components; this study aims to use computational models to clarify key aspects of the mechanics of these components. This thesis aims to characterize, for the first time, the anisotropic material properties of the tectorial membranes of wild-type and genetically modified mice at audio frequencies. Additionally, a circuit model of the chinchilla middle ear, absent in literature prior to this study, was developed. Using this model, this thesis aims to evaluate the influence of stiffness, damping, and inertial properties on middle-ear transmission characteristics. Lastly, in this thesis, a mechanical basis for the long group delay observed through the bullfrog eardrum is proposed.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1853/62618
    Collections
    • Georgia Tech Theses and Dissertations [23877]
    • School of Mechanical Engineering Theses and Dissertations [4086]

    Browse

    All of SMARTechCommunities & CollectionsDatesAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypesThis CollectionDatesAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypes

    My SMARTech

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage StatisticsView Google Analytics Statistics
    facebook instagram twitter youtube
    • My Account
    • Contact us
    • Directory
    • Campus Map
    • Support/Give
    • Library Accessibility
      • About SMARTech
      • SMARTech Terms of Use
    Georgia Tech Library266 4th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30332
    404.894.4500
    • Emergency Information
    • Legal and Privacy Information
    • Human Trafficking Notice
    • Accessibility
    • Accountability
    • Accreditation
    • Employment
    © 2020 Georgia Institute of Technology