Naveen Chandrashekar, PhD, PEng

Naveen Chandrashekar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

His research interests are in orthopaedic biomechanics, the design of biomedical devices, and tissue engineering. Professor Chandrashekar and his team are conducting innovative research on the anterior cruciate ligament, commonly known as the ACL. He has designed a simulator to enact the movements of a human knee to measure the damage inflicted on the ACL during athletic maneuvers. A sensor is attached to the mechanical ligament on the knee simulator, and readings from the sensor provide insight into how different motions and factors like movement from the hip influence the injury. Using this approach, the team is working on designing and evaluating new knee braces.

Professor Chandrashekar teaches several upper-year Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering courses at the university. He has published several articles in the Journal of Biomechanics and the Journal of Mechanical Behaviour of Biomedical Materials. He has also taken part in several conferences such as the Annual Meetings of Orthopaedic Research Society, American Society of Biomechanics, Biennial Meeting of Canadian Society of Biomechanics, and the Annual Ontario Biomechanics Conference. Professor Chandrashekar’s research has been funded by several organizations, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Ontario Centres of Excellence, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

• Knee Mechanics, Orthopaedics, Ligament Injury, Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, Implant Design, Cartilage Injury, In-Vitro Injury Simulation, Instrumentation Design, Biomechanics

Research interest in the general area of orthopaedic biomechanics. Specifically interested in the biomechanics of knee injury, tissue mechanics, mechanics of ligament grafts and design of implants and fixation devices. My rearch interest also includes effectiveness of virtual laboratory environment on students of various leaning styles.

Working with Honda Canada Manufacturing, ASTM International land other companies.

• 2005, Doctorate Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA

• 2003, Master's Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, USA

• 2000, Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering, Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology (Affiliated to Kuvempu University), India

• 2023 -- Engineering Society Teaching Excellence Award, University of Waterloo Engineering Society -- Awarded in recognition of outstanding teaching and exceptional contributions to undergraduate engineering education.

• 2022 -- Ontario Volunteer Service Award, Government of Ontario -- Awarded in recognition of sustained volunteer leadership and community service .

• 2005 -- Pi Tau Sigma Best Instructor Award, Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society, Texas Tech University -- Awarded in recognition of excellence in undergraduate teaching.

• 2004 -- ASME Best Paper Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) -- Awarded for an outstanding research paper in mechanical engineering.

• BME 281 - Mechanics of Deformable Solids
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
• BME 281L - Mechanics of Deformable Solids Laboratory
  • Taught in 2021
• ME 219 - Mechanics of Deformable Solids 1
  • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2025
• ME 220 - Mechanics of Deformable Solids 2
  • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
• MTE 119 - Statics
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Ombogo M*, Medley J, Langohr G, Chandrashekar N. A CAD-to-Simulink Framework for Evaluating Impingement-Free Motion in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. Journal of Engineering in Medicine (Accepted).

• Kao, C.H*., Hashemi, J., Slauterbeck, J., Chandrashekar, N. (2026). Machine learning model identifies tibial anatomical variables as potential risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 34(4):1513-1523..

• Gupta, P.*, Rao, H*., Chandrashekar, N. (2026). Computational Methodology to Study the Effect of Cable Stabilized Knee Brace on ACL Strain During Single-Leg Jump Landing. Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 50(1):115-118.

• Syed, H., Mumith, A., Wasserstein, D., Chandrashekar, N., Nauth, A., Whyne, C., Tomescu, S*. (2026). High tibial osteotomy achieves unloading of the medial tibiofemoral compartment irrespective of arthritic status or medial collateral ligament release: A biomechanical assessment. Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics, 13(1), e70633.

• Arjun, R.*, Chandrashekar, N. (2025). Effects of DC-powered pistol grip tool location and orientation on operator upper extremity stiffness and damping. Applied Ergonomics, 126, 104491.

• Pinto, B.L.*, Loewen, D.P*., Chandrashekar, N. (2023). Real-time visual feedback can cue changes in grip force during electric hand tool operation. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 30(4), 995--1002..

• Zhu. J,* Chandrashekar, N. (2023). Anterior Cruciate Ligament Strain During Stop-Jump Landing: A Computational Study. Journal of Musculoskeletal Research, 27(02), 2350007.

• Rao, H*., Bakker, R*., McLachlin, S., Chandrashekar, N. (2023). Computational Study of Extrinsic Factors Affecting ACL Strain During Single-Leg Jump Landing. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25(1):318.

• Kalra, M.*, McGregor, M.E., McLachlin, S.D., Cronin, D.S., Chandrashekar, N. (2023). Characterizing In-Situ Metatarsal Fracture Risk During Simulated Workplace Impact Loading. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 145(5), 051008.

• Dahm, F., Syed, H., Tomescu, S.*, Lin, H.A., Haimovich, Y., Chandrashekar, N., Whyne, C., Wasserstein, D. (2022). Biomechanical Comparison of Three Medial Patellofemoral Complex Reconstruction Techniques. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery, 39(3):662-669.