scholarly journals Passive Prosthetic Foot Shape and Size Optimization Using Lower Leg Trajectory Error

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Olesnavage ◽  
Amos G. Winter
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Design ◽  
Compliant Mechanism ◽  
Lower Leg ◽  
Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Trajectory Error ◽  
Prosthetic Foot ◽  
Two Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Shape And Size

A method is presented to optimize the shape and size of a passive prosthetic foot using the Lower Leg Trajectory Error (LLTE) as the design objective. The LLTE is defined as the root-mean-square error between the lower leg trajectory calculated for a given prosthetic foot by finding the deformed shape of the foot under typical ground reaction forces and a target physiological lower leg trajectory obtained from published gait data for able-bodied walking. In previous work, the design of simple two degree-of-freedom analytical models consisting of rigid structures, rotational joints with constant stiffness, and uniform cantilevered beams, have been optimized for LLTE. However, prototypes built to replicate these simple models were large, heavy, and overly complex. In this work, the size and shape of a single-part compliant prosthetic foot keel made out of nylon 6/6 was optimized for LLTE to produce a light weight, low cost, and easily manufacturable prosthetic foot design. The shape of the keel was parameterized as a wide Bézier curve, with constraints ensuring that only physically meaningful shapes were considered. The LLTE value for each design was evaluated using a custom MATLAB script, which ran ADINA finite element analysis software to find the deformed shape of the prosthetic keel under multiple loading scenarios. The optimization was performed by MATLAB’s built-in genetic algorithm. After the optimal design for the keel was found, a heel was added to structure, sized such that when the user’s full weight acted on the heel, the structure had a factor of safety of two. The resulting optimal design has a lower LLTE value than the two degree-of-freedom analytical models, at 0.154 compared to 0.172, 0.187, and 0.269 for the two degree-of-freedom models. At 412 g, the optimal wide curve foot is nearly half the mass of the lightest prototype built from the previous models, which was 980 g. The design found through this compliant mechanism optimization method is thus far superior to the two degree-of-freedom models previously considered.

scholarly journals Passive Prosthetic Foot Shape and Size Optimization Using Lower Leg Trajectory Error

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Olesnavage ◽  
Victor Prost ◽  
William Brett Johnson ◽  
Amos G. Winter
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Lower Leg ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Trajectory Error ◽  
Design Objective ◽  
Prosthetic Foot ◽  
Single Part ◽  
Shape And Size

A method is presented to optimize the shape and size of a passive, energy-storing prosthetic foot using the lower leg trajectory error (LLTE) as the design objective. The LLTE is defined as the root-mean-square error between the lower leg trajectory calculated for a given prosthetic foot's deformed shape under typical ground reaction forces (GRFs), and a target physiological lower leg trajectory obtained from published gait data for able-bodied walking. Using the LLTE as a design objective creates a quantitative connection between the mechanical design of a prosthetic foot (stiffness and geometry) and its anticipated biomechanical performance. The authors' prior work has shown that feet with optimized, low LLTE values can accurately replicate physiological kinematics and kinetics. The size and shape of a single-part compliant prosthetic foot made out of nylon 6/6 were optimized for minimum LLTE using a wide Bezier curve to describe its geometry, with constraints to produce only shapes that could fit within a physiological foot's geometric envelope. Given its single part architecture, the foot could be cost effectively manufactured with injection molding, extrusion, or three-dimensional printing. Load testing of the foot showed that its maximum deflection was within 0.3 cm (9%) of finite element analysis (FEA) predictions, ensuring the constitutive behavior was accurately characterized. Prototypes were tested on six below-knee amputees in India—the target users for this technology—to obtain qualitative feedback, which was overall positive and confirmed the foot is ready for extended field trials.

scholarly journals Response of a Two-Degree-of-Freedom Vibration System with Rough Contact Interfaces

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Huang ◽  
Xun Peng ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Lei Hao
Keyword(s):  
Natural Frequency ◽  
Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Chaotic Motions ◽  
First Order ◽  
Vibration Properties ◽  
Ground System ◽  
Jump Frequencies ◽  
Two Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Seismic Vibrator

This paper is focused on the influence of the rough contact interfaces on the dynamics of a coupled mechanical system. For this purpose, a two-degree-of-freedom model of a coupled seismic-vibrator-rough-ground system is proposed with which the nonlinear vibration properties are analyzed. In this model, the force-deflection characteristic of the contact interfaces is determined by finite element analysis. By analyzing the undamped free vibration, it was found that the variation of the second-order natural frequency with amplitude increases with rougher contact interfaces; however, the amplitude has little influence on the first-order natural frequency of the system. For the harmonic excited analysis, the jump frequencies and hysteretic region both decrease with rougher contact interfaces. Moreover, it is inferred from the bifurcation diagrams that, increasing the excitation force, the system can bring about chaotic motions on rough contact interfaces.

Design of a Constant-Force Flexure Micropositioning Stage With Long Stroke

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingsong Xu
Keyword(s):  
Parametric Design ◽  
Compliant Mechanism ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Constant Force ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Flexure Mechanism ◽  
Bistable Structure ◽  
Bistable Mechanism ◽  
Long Stroke

This paper presents the design and analysis a flexure-guided compliant micropositioning stage with constant force and large stroke. The constant force output is achieved by combining a bistable flexure mechanism with a positive-stiffness flexure mechanism. In consideration of the constraint of conventional tilted beam-based bistable mechanism, a new type of bistable structure based on tilted-angle compound parallelogram flexure is proposed to achieve a larger range of constant force output while maintaining a compact physical size. To facilitate the parametric design of the flexure mechanism, analytical models are derived to quantify the stage performance. The models are verified by carrying out nonlinear finite-element analysis. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed ideas for a long-stroke, constant-force compliant mechanism dedicated to precision micropositioning applications.

A Two Degree of Freedom Nanopositioner With Electrothermal Actuator for Decoupled Motion

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Sik Kim ◽  
Nicholas G. Dagalakis ◽  
Satyandra K. Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Design Concept ◽  
Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Motion Platform ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Electrothermal Actuators ◽  
Electrothermal Actuator ◽  
Decoupled Motion ◽  
Moving Platform ◽  
Two Degree Of Freedom ◽  
Novel Design

Building a two degree-of-freedom (2 DOF) MEMS nanopositioner with decoupled X-Y motion has been a challenge in nanopositioner design. In this paper a novel design concept on making the decoupled motion of the MEMS nanopositioner is suggested. The suggested nanopositioner has two electrothermal actuators and employs a fully nested motion platform with suspended anchors. The suggested MEMS nanopositioner is capable of delivering displacement from the electrothermal actuator to the motion platform without coupled motion between the two X-Y axes. The design concept, finite element analysis (FEA) results, fabrication procedures and the performance of the 2 DOF nanopositioner is presented. In order to test the nanopositioner moving platform decoupled motion, one actuator moves the platform by 60 μm, while the other actuator is kept at the same position. The platform position cross talk error was measured to be less than 1 μm standard deviation.

scholarly journals Design and Preliminary Testing of a Prototype for Evaluating Lower Leg Trajectory Error as an Optimization Metric for Prosthetic Feet

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Olesnavage ◽  
Amos G. Winter
Keyword(s):  
Lower Leg ◽  
Clinical Testing ◽  
Trajectory Error ◽  
Preliminary Testing ◽  
Rigid Structure ◽  
Prosthetic Foot ◽  
Constant Stiffness ◽  
Prosthetic Feet ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Novel Design

This work presents the design and preliminary testing of a prosthetic foot prototype intended for evaluating a novel design objective for passive prosthetic feet, the Lower Leg Trajectory Error (LLTE). Thus far, all work regarding LLTE has been purely theoretical. The next step is to perform extensive clinical testing. An initial prototype consisting of rotational ankle and metatarsal joints with constant rotational stiffness was optimized and built, but at 2 kg it proved too heavy to use in clinical testing. A new conceptual foot architecture intended to reduce the weight of the final prototype is presented and optimized for LLTE. This foot consists of a rotational ankle joint with constant stiffness of 6.1 N·m/deg, a rigid structure extending 0.08 m from the ankle-knee axis, and a cantilever beam forefoot with bending stiffness 5.4 N·m2. A prototype was built using machined delrin for the rigid structure, three parallel extension springs offset along a constant radius cam from a pin joint ankle, and machined nylon as the beam forefoot. In preliminary testing, it was determined that, despite efforts to minimize weight and size, this particular design was still too heavy and bulky as a result of the extension springs to be used in extensive clinical testing. Future work will focus on reducing the weight further by replacing linear extension springs with flexural elements before commencing with the clinical study.

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