scholarly journals Experimental Analysis of Plantar Fascia Mechanical Properties in Subjects with Foot Pathologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1517
Author(s):  
Silvia Todros ◽  
Carlo Biz ◽  
Pietro Ruggieri ◽  
Piero G. Pavan

Plantar Fascia (PF) is a fibrous tissue that plays a key role in supporting the foot arch; it can be affected by several pathologies that can alter foot biomechanics. The present study aims at investigating the mechanical behavior of PF and evaluating possible correlations between mechanical properties and specific pathologies, namely diabetes and plantar fibromatosis (Ledderhose syndrome). PF samples were obtained from 14 human subjects, including patients with Ledderhose syndrome, patients affected by diabetes and healthy subjects. Mechanical properties of PF tissues were evaluated on three samples from each subject, by cyclic uniaxial tensile tests up to 10% of maximum strain and stress relaxation tests for 300 s, in hydrated conditions at room temperature. In tensile tests, PF exhibits non-linear stress–strain behavior, with a higher elastic modulus (up to 25–30 MPa) in patients affected by Ledderhose syndrome and diabetes with respect to healthy subjects (elastic modulus 10 ÷ 14 MPa). Stress-relaxation tests show that PF of patients affected by Ledderhose syndrome and diabetes develop more intense viscous phenomena. The results presented in this work represent the first experimental data on the tensile mechanical propertied of PF in subjects with foot diseases and can provide an insight on foot biomechanics in pathological conditions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Delannoy ◽  
Sarah Baïz ◽  
Pascal Laheurte ◽  
Laurence Jordan ◽  
Frédéric Prima

The objective of this study was to develop a thermo-mechanical strategy to create a radial elasticity gradient in a β metastable Ti-Nb-Zr alloy, and to characterize it in terms of microstructural and mechanical properties. A first investigation was conducted on thin samples of Ti-20Nb-6Zr (at.%) submitted to various thermo-mechanical treatments. Microstructure-properties relationships and elastic variability of this alloy were determined performing uniaxial tensile tests, X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopies. Based on these preliminary results, mechanical deformation was identified as a potential way to lower the elastic modulus of the alloy. In order to create elastically graded pieces, shot-peening was therefore carried out on thicker samples to engender surface deformation. In this second part of the work, local mechanical properties were evaluated by instrumented micro-indentation. Experimental observations demonstrated that shot-peening enabled to locally induce martensitic transformation on surface, and a decrease in indentation elastic modulus from 85 to 65 GPa over 400 μm was highlighted. Surface deformation proved to be an efficient way of creating an elasticity gradient in β metastable titanium alloys. This combination of material and process could be suitable to produce dental implants with mechanically enhanced biocompatibility.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastián Tognana ◽  
Susana Montecinos ◽  
Rosana Gastien ◽  
Walter Salgueiro

Abstract Commonly used 3D printed samples are partially infilled to reduce time and cost of printing, with mechanical properties dependent on the infill. In this work, the influence of the percentage and pattern of infill in PLA printed samples on the elastic modulus and characteristic stresses was analyzed. The elastic modulus, E, and characteristic stresses (σ 0.2, σ 4 and the maximum tensile stress) were determined for each sample using impulse excitation technique, IET, and uniaxial tensile tests. An apparent density was calculated for each pattern and infill percentage, and the mechanical parameters were studied as a function of such density. The results of IET obtained in different modes of vibration were analyzed and an apparent value of E was calculated. FEM simulations were carried out and the results were compared with the experimental ones. The mechanical properties for different infill percentages and infill patterns were studied by comparing the specific values of E and the stresses. Samples with higher infill percentages exhibit the best specific values of maximum stress and E, but the sample with 20% infill has the highest specific yield stress and a good value of the specific E from flexural vibrations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 073168442110204
Author(s):  
Bin Yang ◽  
Yingying Shang ◽  
Zeliang Yu ◽  
Minger Wu ◽  
Youji Tao ◽  
...  

In recent years, coated fabrics have become the major material used in membrane structures. Due to the special structure of base layer and mechanical properties, coated biaxial warp-knitted fabrics are increasingly applied in pneumatic structures. In this article, the mechanical properties of coated biaxial warp-knitted fabrics are investigated comprehensively. First, off-axial tensile tests are carried out in seven in-plane directions: 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°. Based on the stress–strain relationship, tensile strengths are obtained and failure modes are studied. The adaptability of Tsai–Hill criterion is analyzed. Then, the uniaxial tensile creep test is performed under 24-h sustained load and the creep elongation is calculated. Besides, tearing strengths in warp and weft directions are obtained by tearing tests. Finally, the biaxial tensile tests under five different load ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 1:2, 1:0, and 0:1 are carried out, and the elastic constants and Poisson’s ratio are calculated using the least squares method based on linear orthotropic assumption. Moreover, biaxial specimens under four load ratios of 3:1, 1:3, 5:1, and 1:5 are further tensile tested to verify the adaptability of linear orthotropic model. These experimental data offer a deeper and comprehensive understanding of mechanical properties of coated biaxial warp-knitted fabrics and could be conveniently adopted in structural design.


2015 ◽  
Vol 732 ◽  
pp. 161-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Vesely ◽  
Lukas Horny ◽  
Hynek Chlup ◽  
Milos Beran ◽  
Milan Krajicek ◽  
...  

The effects of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) concentration on mechanical properties of hydrogels based on blends of native or denatured collagen / PVA were examined. Blends of PVA with collagen were obtained by mixing the solutions in different ratios, using glycerol as a plasticizer. The solutions were cast on polystyrene plates and the solvent was allowed to evaporate at room temperature. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed in order to obtain the initial modulus of elasticity (up to deformation 0.1), the ultimate tensile stress and the deformation at failure of the material in the water-saturated hydrogel form. It was found that the material was elastic and the addition of PVA helped to enhance both the ultimate tensile stress and modulus of elasticity of the films. Samples prepared from denaturated collagen showed the higher ultimate tensile stress and the deformation at failure in comparison with those prepared from native collagen. The results suggest that we could expect successful application of the collagen/PVA biomaterial for tissue engineering.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Ambroziak

Abstract This article describes the laboratory tests necessary to identify the mechanical properties of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-coated fabrics named Precontraint 1202S and Precontraint 1302S. First, a short survey of the literature concerning the description of coated woven fabrics is presented. Second, the material parameters for PVDF-coated fabrics are specified on the basis of biaxial tensile tests. A comparison of the 1:1 biaxial and the uniaxial tensile tests results is also given. Additionally, biaxial cyclic tests were performed to observe the change of immediate mechanical properties under cyclic load. The article is aimed as an introduction to a comprehensive investigation of the mechanical properties of coated fabrics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1026 ◽  
pp. 65-73
Author(s):  
Kai Zhu ◽  
Hong Wei Yan

Both microstructure inhomogeneity and mechanical property diversity along the thickness direction in rolled thick aluminum plates have been considered to have a remarkable impact on the performance and properties of the products made from the plates. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) characterizations of microstructure and texture types along the thickness directions of Al7055 thick plate specimens prepared using two conditions, hot-rolling and solution-quenching, were performed. To examine the mechanical properties, uniaxial tensile tests were also carried out on specimens machined from both types of thick plates, using a layered strategy along the thickness direction. The results indicate that both the microstructure and mechanical properties are inhomogeneous under the two conditions. Furthermore, it is evident that there is a hereditary relationship between the mechanical properties of the two plates—areas with higher yield strength in the as-hot-rolled plate correspond to areas with the higher yield strength in the as-solution-quenched plate


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 2184-2204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duchamp Boris ◽  
Legrand Xavier ◽  
Soulat Damien

The tensile behaviour of braid reinforcement is classically described by the behaviour of composite elaborated from these reinforcements. Few studies concern the tensile behaviour of braided fabrics. In this paper biaxial and triaxial braids are manufactured on a braiding loom. The evolution of key parameters as linear mass and braiding angle in function of process parameters is presented. Braid reinforcements are characterized in uniaxial tensile. The mechanical behaviour is analysed and compared in function of the braiding angle, but also different kinds of braid are considered. A specific behaviour called “double-peak” is identified for triaxial braids which have a higher braiding angle. The evolution of the braiding angle measured during tensile tests gives a comprehension on the mechanical behaviour of dry braids. Associated with this experimental study, an analytical model is also proposed, to predict mechanical properties of braid reinforcements.


2011 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 12-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gherissi ◽  
R.Ben Cheikh ◽  
E. Dévaux ◽  
Fethi Abbassi

In this study, we present the manufacturing process of two new composites materials in the form of long fibers of polylactic-acid (PLA) or polypropylene (PP), reinforced by cellulose whiskers micro-fibers loads. In order to evaluate the mechanical properties of these advanced materials, a several uniaxial tensile tests were carried out. The PP and the PLA have initially been spinning without the addition of cellulose whiskers micro-fibers. In order to study the effects of cellulose whiskers micro-fibers reinforcements in the Mechanical behavior of the PLA and PP filaments, we determinate the proprieties of these advanced material from the tensile results. For the PP composite filaments material case, the whiskers reinforcement increases Young's modulus and failure resistance, but it reduces the limit strength failure. For the PLA composites the addition of 1% wt of cellulose whiskers from the total volume fraction of the material, increase the Young’s modulus more than 50% and a decrease of the failure resistance and the limit strength of composite. The obtained composites fibers are very rigid and brittle. What follows, that the addition of cellulose whiskers micro fibers in PP matrix, provides mechanical properties more convenient compared to the PLA matrix.


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