Chang Jiang Wang

Finite element analysis of a Gamma nail within a fractured femur

Failures of Gamma nails which treat unstable femoral fractures have been reported. In this paper, a finite element model to include a Gamma nail within a fractured femur was used to investigate the stresses in the Gamma nail. The effects for different types of fracture were investigated. The results show that its use for subtrochanteric fractures will cause higher stresses at the lag screw and upper distal screw insertion holes in the nail than when used for femur neck fractures.

Intramedullary femoral nails: one or two lag screws? A preliminary study

Failures of proximal femoral nails that treat unstable femoral fractures have been reported. In this communication, a finite element model to include a proximal femoral nail within a fractured femur was used to carry out preliminary investigations into configurations of single or double lag screws. The effects of the different types of fracture were investigated. The results show that in order to share the load evenly between two lag screws, a good configuration seems to be to have a slightly larger screw above the lower screw. This also ameliorates stresses in the nail at the lag screw insertion holes. However, using two screws in this way can lead to large stresses in the cancellous bone in the femoral head, and these stresses may be significant in the initiation of cut-out.

Simulation analysis of thermal stress of RCC dams using 3-D finite element relocating mesh method

The 3-D finite element relocating mesh method is developed for simulation analysis of temperature and thermal stress distribution in a roller compacted concrete dam during the construction period. According to the relation between specific properties and age of concrete, some meshes are merged into a larger mesh or a few larger meshes when the age of the concrete is appropriate. Using this method, the total number of elements and nodes were remarkably reduced when the dam height was increased. When the change in elastic modulus, creeps and hydration heat is within the limits permitted by design criteria, the relocating of mesh will start. Using this method, a 3 D simulation analysis of thermal stress in a roller compacted concrete (RCC) high dam can be realized by microcomputer and appeared at the construction site. On the basis of real factors during the construction period, an engineer can predict the distribution of temperature and thermal stress in the RCC dam. Therefore, engineers can take appropriate measures to control the concrete temperature to reduce the thermal stress and avoid crack development within the dam.

The potential application of a Cobalt Chrome Molybdenum femoral stem with functionally graded orthotropic structures manufactured using Laser Melting technologies.

The cementless fixation of porous coated femoral stems is a common technique employed for Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). With the rate of revision surgery appearing to rise and younger more active patients requiring primary surgery it can be thought that alternative methods for increasing implant longevity need to be considered. The stress shielding of periprosthetic bone still remains a contributing factor to implant loosening, caused through a mismatch in stiffness between the implant and the bone. However, the ability to achieve stiffness matching characteristics is being realised through the use of Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) technologies and Functionally Graded Materials (FGM). This paper proposes an alternative design methodology for a monoblock Cobalt Chrome Molybdenum (CoCrMo) femoral stem. It hypothesises that a femoral stem suitable for cementless fixation can be manufactured using Laser Melting (LM) technology offering orthotropic functionally graded porous structures with similar mechanical properties to human bone. The structure and mechanical properties of the natural femur have been used as a basis for the design criteria which hypothesises that through a combination of numerical analysis and physical testing, an optimal design can be proposed to provide a lightweight, customised femoral stem that can reduce the risk of implant loosening through stress shielding whilst maintaining bone-implant interface stability.

A numerical investigation into the influence of the properties of cobalt chrome cellular structures on the load transfer to the periprosthetic femur following total hip arthroplasty

Stress shielding of the periprosthetic femur following total hip arthroplasty is a problem that can promote the premature loosening of femoral stems. In order to reduce the need for revision surgery it is thought that more flexible implant designs need to be considered. In this work, the mechanical properties of laser melted square pore cobalt chrome molybdenum cellular structures have been incorporated into the design of a traditional monoblock femoral stem. The influence of incorporating the properties of cellular structures on the load transfer to the periprosthetic femur was investigated using a three dimensional finite element model. Eleven different stiffness configurations were investigated by using fully porous and functionally graded approaches. This investigation confirms that the periprosthetic stress values depend on the stiffness configuration of the stem. The numerical results showed that stress shielding is reduced in the periprosthetic Gruen zones when the mechanical properties of cobalt chrome molybdenum cellular structures are used. This work identifies that monoblock femoral stems manufactured using a laser melting process, which are designed for reduced stiffness, have the potential to contribute towards reducing stress shielding.

Intramedullary nails: some design features of the distal end

Intramedullary nails are used to stabilise fractures of the proximal femur. The nail acts by transferring loads from the proximal fraction to the rest of the femoral shaft. The way in which this occurs depends to a large extent on the design of the distal end of the nail. This is not dissimilar to the situation with regard to load shedding (or load transfer) from the femoral component of a total hip replacement. A finite element model of a fractured femur with either a neck or a subtrochanteric fracture is set up to investigate the effects of nail length, nail distal stiffness and material stiffness on the structural behaviour of the system. Specifically what is considered is the influence of these parameters on the stress across the fracture and the normal pressure that the nail exerts on the endosteum of the femoral diaphysis. It is found that a longer nail could produce higher contact stress between the tip of the nail and the endosteum. Also, this contact stress is reduced when the distal region of the nail is made more flexible either by incorporating longitudinal slots or by using a material with a lower modulus of elasticity.

The effect of polyethylene thickness in fixed- and mobile-bearing total knee replacements:

In this paper fixed- and mobile-bearing implants were simulated using a multibody dynamic model and a finite element model to investigate the contact pressure distribution in the ultra high molecular weight polyethylene tibial bearing component. The thickness of polyethylene varied from 6.8 to 12.3 mm and the polyethylene was modelled as a non-linear material. It was found that the contact pressure on the polyethylene decreased in the fixed-bearing implant when the thickness of polyethylene increased from 6.8 to 8 and 9.6 mm, but there was little further decrease in pressure with the increase of polyethylene thickness from 9.6 to 11.0 and 12.3 mm. In the mobile-bearing implant, no increase in contact pressure on the superior surface was found with the increase in the thickness of the polyethylene; however, the contact pressures on the inferior contact surface of the thicker designs were higher than those in the 6.8 mm design. The numerical results obtained in this paper are in good agreement with published experimental test results. Moreover, the paper presents a detailed pressure distribution on the tibial bearing component during a full gait cycle.

Design and Simulation of a Femoral Component Peg in Total Knee Replacement

Aseptic loosening of the femoral component is one cause of failure in total knee replacement (TKR). Inadequate bone stock in the distal femur after TKR, due to the stress shielding, was often found in revision of the femoral component. The pegs in the femoral component are used as an aid to the correct placement of the component but they also help to transfer the load to the diaphyseal part of the bone and improve stability. This paper investigates the influence of femoral component peg design on stress distribution and bone remodelling in the distal femur after TKR. Eight different peg designs were investigated and reported in this paper. The bone remodelling parameters in the distal femur are presented, compared and analysed. Results show that a slender peg is advantageous in TKR.

Simulating the UltraSTEELTM Surface Dimpling Process

The UltraSTEELTM process, developed by Hadley Industries Plc (Hadleys), is a novel surface dimpling process used on steel strip prior to cold roll forming. This dimpling process increases the strength of the final rolled products and enhances other product properties such as fire test performance and screw retention. Reported in this paper are the results of finite element analysis conducted to simulate the application of the spatially distributed dimple pattern to the metal sheet prior to the cold roll forming process. The model contains a representation of the two rotating rolls that plastically deform, imparting the spatially distributed dimple pattern on the sheet as it moves between them. The simulation results are compared with industrially processed UltraSTEELTM steel sheet. Consideration is given to the plastic region developed in the dimples and the effect of rolling action on the regions. The dimensional change of the metal sheet is also discussed.

Deflection Analysis of Sleeve Jointed Purlin Systems with Non-Linear Rotational Stiffness

Sleeved purlin systems are usually used in roof constructions. A non-linear relationship between the bolt hole extension and the load transferred to the bolt was derived with experimental testing and numerical simulation. Consequently, the non-linear rotational stiffness of sleeved joints was derived based on the configuration of sleeves in this paper. The procedure for calculating the deflection of purlin systems with non-linear rotational stiffness at the joints is presented. The analysis and calculation of the deflection is demonstrated through a case study.