Average Vertical Force Research Articles

Influence of surface texturing and coatings on mechanical properties and integration with bone tissue: an in silico study.

This investigation delves into the mechanical behaviour of titanium dental implants, a preferred choice for tooth replacement due to their superior reliability over alternative materials. The phenomenon of implant loosening, frequently induced by masticatory activities, underscores the significance of surface modification or texturing to bolster the interaction between the implant and bone tissue. This research comprehensively examines the effects of four distinct surface texturing techniques and five varied bone quality conditions on the biomechanical performance of these implants. The scope of this study is delineated by its focus on implants of diameters 4mm and 6mm, with lengths measuring 9mm and 12mm respectively. Furthermore, the analysis incorporates the evaluation of four different coatings-hydroxyapatite, HA3TO, HA3Sr, and HA1.5TO1.5Sr-to investigate their efficacy in enhancing the osseointegration process on textured surfaces of dental implants. The experimental design entails the assessment of stress distribution within the implant and its coatings, alongside the strain exerted on the surrounding cancellous bone, under the conditions of an average vertical biting force. A comparative analysis between solid implants and those subjected to surface texturing techniques has been conducted. This comparison elucidates the advantageous microstrain profiles presented by certain textured surfaces, which are deemed more conducive to optimal osseointegration. Notably, across all examined textures, the application of hydroxyapatite (HA) and a modified HA composition (HA1.5TO1.5Sr) demonstrates significant improvements in mechanical stability, particularly in scenarios involving weak and very weak bone conditions. This study's findings contribute to the ongoing advancement in dental implant technology, emphasizing the critical role of surface texturing and coating strategies in promoting implant longevity and integration within the biomechanical environment of the human oral cavity.

Hydrodynamic Performance Assessment of Emerged, Alternatively Submerged and Submerged Semicircular Breakwater: An Experimental and Computational Study

Coastal protection structures are essential defenses against wave energy, safeguarding coastal communities. This study aims to refine coastal protection strategies by employing a semicircular breakwater (SBW) model. Through a combination of physical and computational models, the hydrodynamic properties of the SBW under regular wave conditions were thoroughly examined. The primary objectives included delineating the hydrodynamic characteristics of SBWs, developing a computational model to validate experimental findings. Hydrodynamic characteristics of the SBW model were scrutinized across various wave conditions. Experimental testing in a wave flume covered a range of relative water depths (d/h) from 0.667 to 1.667, wave steepness (Hi/L) spanning 0.02 to 0.06 and wave periods ranging from 0.8 to 2.5 s. Notably, analysis of an emerged SBW with d/h = 0.667 revealed superior wave reflection, while an alternative submerged SBW with d/h = 1.000 showed the highest energy loss. These findings are further corroborated by the validation of computational models against experimental outcomes for d/h = 0.667, 1.000, 1.333 and 1.667. Moreover, the investigation of forces revealed an inverse correlation between horizontal forces and wave height, while vertical forces showed nuanced variations, including a slightly decreasing average vertical force with greater relative wave period (B/L) for different immersion scenarios.

Development of a Constant Force Suspended Backpack for Variable Load and Variable Speed Locomotion

Abstract Studies have shown that the suspended backpack, a wearable device allowing the backpack moving relative to user’s back, can effectively reduce the accelerative vertical force of the backpack to reduce the metabolic cost of users. However, the existing suspended backpack cannot eliminate the accelerative vertical force due to the nonzero suspension stiffness. This paper proposes a constant force suspended backpack adaptable to the varying load to eliminate the accelerative vertical force on the load. To this end, a spring constant force balancing mechanism is designed to achieve near-zero-stiffness suspension. Moreover, a multi-pulley compensation mechanism is proposed for compensating the balance error caused by the pulley diameter to achieve constant force theoretically, and an adjustable mechanism is added to the suspended backpack to nearly achieve constant force balance under different loads. We conducted experiments to validate the efficiency of the constant force suspended backpack. The results demonstrate that the suspended backpack can effectively reduce the maximum net metabolic power of the human by 13.1%, the displacement of the load is reduced by 87.5%, and the peak average acceleration vertical force reduction rate is 88.5%.

Accurate estimation of peak vertical ground reaction force using the duty factor in level treadmill running.

This study aimed to (1) construct a statistical model (SMM) based on the duty factor (DF) to estimate the peak vertical ground reaction force ( ) and (2) to compare the estimated to force plate gold standard (GSM). One hundred and fifteen runners ran at 9, 11, and 13 km/h. Force (1000 Hz) and kinematic (200 Hz) data were acquired with an instrumented treadmill and an optoelectronic system, respectively, to assess force-plate and kinematic based DFs. SMM linearly relates to the inverse of DF because DF was analytically associated with the inverse of the average vertical force during ground contact time and the latter was very highly correlated to . No systematic bias and a 4% root mean square error (RMSE) were reported between GSM and SMM using force-plate based DF values when considering all running speeds together. Using kinematic based DF values, SMM reported a systematic but small bias (0.05BW) and a 5% RMSE when considering all running speeds together. These findings support the use of SMM to estimate during level treadmill runs at endurance speeds if underlying DF values are accurately measured.

Design and Analysis of a 2-DOF Electromagnetic Actuator with an Improved Halbach Array for the Magnetic Suspension Platform.

For large bearing capacity and low current consumption of the magnetic suspension platform, a 2-DOF electromagnetic actuator with a new structure of halbach array is proposed to improve driving force coefficients. The structure and the working principle are introduced. An accurate sub domain model of the new structure is established to accurately and rapidly calculate the magnetic field distribution for obtaining the parameters and performance of the electromagnetic actuators. The analytical model results are verified by the finite element method. The force/torque model of the magnetic suspension platform is established based on the proposed 2-DOF electromagnetic actuator. Three position-sensitive detectors and six accelerometers are applied to perceive in real time the posture and vibration acceleration of the platform, respectively. Their hardware information is introduced and measurement models are established based on the layout. Finally, the electromagnetic characteristics of the proposed actuator are investigated and compared with the conventional counterpart by finite element analysis. The results show that the average magnetic field, 0.432 T, horizontal and vertical force coefficient, 92.3 N/A and 30.95 N/A, and torque in x and z direction, 3.61 N·m and 8.49 N·m, of the proposed actuator are larger than those of the conventional one.

Phase-Specific Force and Time Predictors of Standing Long Jump Distance

This study sought to identify potential predictors of standing long jump (SLJ) performance using force-time strategy metrics within the unloading, eccentric yielding, eccentric braking, and concentric phases. Fifteen National Collegiate Athletic Association division 1 male soccer players (19 [1]y, 1.81 [0.94]m, 80.3 [22.4]kg) performed 3 maximum-effort SLJs, while 3-dimensional ground reaction force (GRF) data were obtained. Regularized regression models were used to investigate associations between force-time strategy metrics and 2 metrics of SLJ performance (ie,jump distance and modified reactive strength index). Jump height and eccentric yielding time were the only predictors of jump distance that also demonstrated large correlations to jump distance. Anterior-posterior unloading yank, average concentric vertical force, and concentric phase duration were the only predictors of modified reactive strength index that also demonstrated large correlations to modified reactive strength index. To maximize SLJ distance in high-level soccer athletes, human performance practitioners could design interventions to drive changes in strategy to increase jump height and decrease eccentric yielding time. To improve SLJ explosiveness, interventions to drive changes in unloading and concentric force application and decrease concentric time could be emphasized. Importantly, unique variable combinations can be targeted when training for SLJ distance and explosiveness adaptations.

Development of a dual sideway-share subsurface tillage implement: Part 1. Modeling tool interaction with soil using DEM

In this research, the interactions of a dual sideway-share subsurface tillage implement with soil were modeled by discrete element method (DEM) and evaluated in an indoor linear soil bin. Spherical particles with Hertz-Mindlin contact model and parallel bond between particles were used to simulate agricultural soil aggregates and their cohesive behaviors. In soil bin experiments, soil cutting resistance and soil disturbance characteristics resulting from the tillage tool operating at 0.25 m s−1 and 150 mm cutting depth, were measured. The calibration of bond stiffness was performed through comparing the draft forces of a simple soil engaging tool simulated with DEM and those estimated with an analytical tillage modeling results using a trial-and-error method. The ratio of soil bin measured vertical force to draft force was used in calibration of the most sensitive model parameter, particle shear modulus. Its calibrated value for a sandy clay loam soil was 50 MPa. The calibrated model was validated using the soil forces as well as the soil disturbance characteristics of the tool measured in the soil bin. When comparing the model to the experimental results, the relative error was −2.0% for the average draft force, 2.5% for the average vertical force, −7.7% for the average rupture distance, and 11.7% for the average disturbed area. Therefore, good correlations were achieved between the soil mechanical behaviors obtained by the experiments and the DEM simulations. It can be concluded that in DEM simulations of some tillage tools such as subsurface tillage implement, accurate predictions of the vertical forces as well as the draft forces, could be achieved by calibrating the particle shear modulus using the ratio of vertical force to the draft force applied to the tool.

The influence of swing leg technique on maximum running speed

The motion of the swing leg of elite sprinters at maximum speed is markedly different from that of slower sprinters, but the mechanisms by which this difference influences performance are unknown. The aim of this study was to establish whether and, if so, how the motion of the swing leg influences maximum achievable running speed using computer simulation. A seven-segment planar computer model was constructed to simulate the stance phase of sprinting. Optimisation was used to maximise the running speed of the model using two different swing leg techniques, one representative of an elite sprint athlete, and the other of a sub-elite athlete. The maximum speed of the model increased when using the swing leg technique of the elite athlete compared with the technique of the sub-elite athlete (10.2 m s−1 vs 9.3 m s−1). This improvement in performance was due to greater horizontal displacement of the mass centre during stance (0.861 m vs 0.814 m), and an increase in average vertical ground force of 51 N (0.06 bodyweights). The increase in vertical force was due to a larger impact peak caused by more negative vertical momentum of the stance leg at touchdown, and subsequently greater torques in the joints of the stance leg which were placed in faster eccentric conditions and at angles closer to optimum during the first half of stance. It is likely that force increases in early stance associated with swing leg technique contribute to the asymmetrical vertical ground reaction force traces observed in elite sprinters.

Can the ground enhance vertical force for inclined stroke plane flapping wing?

The numerical investigation of 2D insect wing kinematics in an inclined stroke plane is carried out using an immersed boundary solver. The effect of vortex shedding and dipole jet on the vertical force generation by the flapping wing due to change in the stroke plane angle is investigated in the vicinity of the ground. The results of instantaneous force and vorticity contours reveal the underlying lift enhancement mechanisms for the inclined stroke plane flapping wing. Moreover, they aid in the understanding of the wake-ground interaction and the associated shear layers. The calculated average vertical force delineates different force trends for the inclined stroke plane flapping near the ground. Furthermore, the dipole jet patterns are analyzed for different heights. These patterns are found to be a better tool to assess the kinematics for the vertical force enhancement and reduction, especially at intermediate heights. Vertical force enhancement is the critical parameter in the design of the micro aerial vehicle (MAV). Through this study, it is certain that the dipole jet has the potential to be used as a lift modification mechanism in MAVs. In summary, the study gives a holistic view of the physics of the inclined plane kinematics near the ground and serves as the basis for the design of MAVs.

BLOCK SLOPE IS THE MAIN DETERMINANT OF BLOCK PHASE PERFORMANCE IN SWIMMING

ABSTRACT Introduction Swimming starts are an important component for decreasing the total race time, especially in short events. In this phase of swimming, the aim is to increase performance using many different techniques and starting platforms. Objectives The effects of height and slope of the starting block on kick-start performance were assessed in this study. Methods Six male competitive swimmers performed 24 kick-starts using four block settings: 65 cm & 75 cm flat and 65 cm & 75 cm sloped. Two-dimensional kinetic and three-dimensional kinematic data were analyzed, including average and maximum horizontal/vertical forces and impulses; reaction times; movement and block times; and take-off vertical/horizontal velocities. Two-way within-subject design ANOVAs were implemented to test the effects of block height and slope on the kinetic and kinematic variables. Results Block slope was the main factor affecting most of the dependent variables. Shorter block and movement times, greater average and maximum vertical forces, vertical impulse, and maximum horizontal force were found for the sloped settings. An inverse relationship was found between block height and 0-5 m times. Conclusion Based on the results, blocks with height of 75 cm and slope of 10° provided better results in swimmers’ performance in the block phase. Level of evidence II, Therapeutic Studies -Investigating the Results of Treatment

The Effects of Multiple Sets of Squats and Jump Squats on Mechanical Variables.

Rossetti, ML, Munford, SN, Snyder, BW, Davis, SE, and Moir, GL. The effects of multiple sets of squats and jump squats on mechanical variables. J Strength Cond Res 34(4): 1017-1023, 2020-The mechanical responses to 2 nonballistic squat and 2 ballistic jump squat protocols performed over multiple sets were investigated. One protocol from each of the 2 nonballistic and ballistic conditions incorporated a pause between the eccentric and concentric phases of the movements in order to determine the influence of the coupling time on the mechanical variables and postactivation potentiation (PAP). Eleven men (age: 21.9 ± 1.8 years; height: 1.79 ± 0.05 m; mass: 87.0 ± 7.4 kg) attended 4 sessions where they performed multiple sets of squats and jump squats with a load equivalent to 30% 1-repetition maximum under one of the following conditions: (a) 3 × 4 repetitions of nonballistic squats (30N-B); (b) 3 × 4 repetitions of nonballistic squats with a 3-second pause between the eccentric and concentric phases of each repetition (30PN-B); (c) 3 × 4 repetitions of ballistic jump squats (30B); (d) 3 × 4 repetitions of ballistic jump squats with a 3-second pause between the eccentric and concentric phases of each repetition (30PB). Force plates were used to calculate variables including average vertical velocity, average vertical force (GRF), and average power output (PO). Vertical velocities during the ballistic conditions were significantly greater than those attained during the nonballistic conditions (mean differences: 0.21-0.25 m·s, p < 0.001, effect sizes [ES]: 1.70-1.89) as were GRFs (mean differences: 478-526 N, p < 0.001, ES: 1.61-1.63), and PO (mean differences: 711-869 W, p < 0.001, ES: 1.66-1.73). Moreover, the increase in PO across the 3 sets in 30B was significantly greater than the changes observed during 30N-B, 30PN-B, and 30PB (p ≤ 0.015). The pause reduced the mechanical variables during both the nonballistic and ballistic conditions, although the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Ballistic jump squats may be an effective exercise for developing PO given the high velocities and forces generated in these exercises. Furthermore, the completion of multiple sets of jump squats may induce PAP to enhance PO. The coupling times between the eccentric and concentric phases of the jump squats should be short in order to maximize the GRF and PO across the sets.

What Can a Jump Tell Us About Elbow Injuries in Professional Baseball Pitchers?

Background: The incidence rate of elbow injuries has been rising in recent years among professional baseball pitchers. Determining valid screening procedures that allow practitioners to identify pitchers at an increased risk of such injuries is therefore of critical importance. Purpose: To validate the use of countermovement jump (CMJ) tests as a diagnostic tool for pitcher conditioning. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: More than 500 pitchers at a single professional baseball organization performed preseason CMJ assessments on a force plate before the 2013 to 2018 seasons. Three measurements were extracted from ground-reaction force data during the test: eccentric rate of force development (ERFD), average vertical concentric force (AVCF), and concentric vertical impulse (CVI). Athletic trainers at the organization collected detailed information on elbow and shoulder injury rates as well as workload (pitch count) throughout the rest of the season. Poisson regression models were fit to investigate the dependency of injury rates on CMJ test performance. Results: ERFD, CVI, and AVCF were all significant predictors of elbow injury risk after accounting for pitcher age, weight, and workload. The analysis identified 3 specific indicators of heightened risk based on the results of a CMJ scan: low ERFD, a combination of low AVCF and high CVI, and a combination of high AVCF and low CVI. In contrast, shoulder injury risk was roughly independent of all 3 CMJ test measurements. Conclusion: This study supports the hypothesis of the entire kinetic chain’s involvement in pitching by establishing a link between CMJ test performance and elbow injury risk in professional baseball pitchers. CMJ assessment may be a powerful addition to injury risk alert and prevention protocols. Pitchers in high-risk groups can be prescribed specific exercise plans to improve movement imbalances.

Analysis of Gait Patterns in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder After Recreational Therapy Program at Eskisehir Technical University

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of adapted recreational therapy program on gait patterns of children with autism. The current study included twenty-one autistic boys aged between 8 and 15 years. The scores of the children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the “Gilliam Autism Rating Scale-2-Turkish Version” (autism level) ranged between 62 and 123. The gait analyses of the participants were evaluated with the results of total distance, average velocity, average horizontal force and average vertical force before and after recreational therapy program. The recreational therapy program was performed throughout 12 weeks, two sessions per a week and one hour per session as the one-to-one training format. The program covered several gross motor skills such as balance, toys ball, jump, jogging to increase cardiorespiratory endurance, and several branches of the basic sports skills such as basketball, badminton, and soccer. Pearson Correlation analysis was performed in order to determine the correlation between autism level and gait parameters. A negatively significant correlation was found between autism level and average velocity (r=-.553**, p

Adaptation of Running Biomechanics to Repeated Barefoot Running: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Previous studies have shown that changing acutely from shod to barefoot running induces several changes to running biomechanics, such as altered ankle kinematics, reduced ground-reaction forces, and reduced loading rates. However, uncertainty exists whether these effects still exist after a short period of barefoot running habituation. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose was to investigate the effects of a habituation to barefoot versus shod running on running biomechanics. It was hypothesized that a habituation to barefoot running would induce different adaptations of running kinetics and kinematics as compared with a habituation to cushioned footwear running or no habituation. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Young, physically active adults without experience in barefoot running were randomly allocated to a barefoot habituation group, a cushioned footwear group, or a passive control group. The 8-week intervention in the barefoot and footwear groups consisted of 15 minutes of treadmill running at 70% of VO2 max (maximal oxygen consumption) velocity per weekly session in the allocated footwear. Before and after the intervention period, a 3-dimensional biomechanical analysis for barefoot and shod running was conducted on an instrumented treadmill. The passive control group did not receive any intervention but was also tested prior to and after 8 weeks. Pre- to posttest changes in kinematics, kinetics, and spatiotemporal parameters were then analyzed with a mixed effects model. Results: Of the 60 included participants (51.7% female; mean ± SD age, 25.4 ± 3.3 years; body mass index, 22.6 ± 2.1 kg·m-2), 53 completed the study (19 in the barefoot habituation group, 18 in the shod habituation group, and 16 in the passive control group). Acutely, running barefoot versus shod influenced foot strike index and ankle, foot, and knee angles at ground contact (P < .001), as well as vertical average loading rate (P = .003), peak force (P < .001), contact time (P < .001), flight time (P < .001), step length (P < .001), and cadence (P < .001). No differences were found for average force (P = .391). After the barefoot habituation period, participants exhibited more anterior foot placement (P = .006) when running barefoot, while no changes were observed in the footwear condition. Furthermore, barefoot habituation increased the vertical average loading rates in both conditions (barefoot, P = .01; shod, P = .003) and average vertical ground-reaction forces for shod running (P = .039). All other outcomes (ankle, foot, and knee angles at ground contact and flight time, contact time, cadence, and peak forces) did not change significantly after the 8-week habituation. Conclusion: Changing acutely from shod to barefoot running in a habitually shod population increased the foot strike index and reduced ground-reaction force and loading rates. After the habituation to barefoot running, the foot strike index was further increased, while the force and average loading rates also increased as compared with the acute barefoot running situation. The increased average loading rate is contradictory to other studies on acute adaptations of barefoot running. Clinical Relevance: A habituation to barefoot running led to increased vertical average loading rates. This finding was unexpected and questions the generalizability of acute adaptations to long-term barefoot running. Sports medicine professionals should consider these adaptations in their recommendations regarding barefoot running as a possible measure for running injury prevention. Registration: DRKS00011073 (German Clinical Trial Register).

Thermal, electromagnetic and structural analysis of gas baffles for the TCV divertor upgrade

As part of an ongoing divertor upgrade of the TCV tokamak it is planned to add gas baffles to form a divertor chamber of variable closure. The baffles promise to increase the compression of neutral particles in the divertor and, thereby, extend the research on the TCV divertor towards more reactor relevant, highly dissipative divertor regimes. It is foreseen to construct the baffles entirely of polycrystalline graphite that was used for the existing TCV protection tiles. The thermal considerations of the baffle design are based on the heat loads expected during normal operation, where even an extremely large increase in the power carrying plasma channel towards the baffle over the entire 2 seconds duration of a TCV discharge gives no cause for concern. An electromagnetic analysis considers halo currents flowing through the baffles, which can occur during disruptions, as a worst-case scenario. It is found that a halo current of 250 kA results in an average vertical force in the baffles of up to 950 kN/m3. The fixture of the baffle tiles to the vacuum vessel is designed for a maximum tensile stress of 31 MPa and maximum compressive stress of 60 MPa that remains a factor of two below their respective material limits. The obtained results of the thermal, electromagnetic and structural analysis thus validate the proposed baffle design.

Sprint running kinematics and kinetics in pre-peak-height-velocity male children on a non-motorised treadmill: reliability and normative data

The purpose of this study was to quantify the reliability of kinematic and kinetic variables using a sample of pre-peak-height-velocity (PHV) male athletes sprinting on a non-motorised treadmill. Following variables were measured and their normative data presented, average and peak velocity, average and peak power, average and peak horizontal force, average and peak vertical force, average step frequency, average step length, average work. Twenty-five participants performed three 5-s all-out sprints from a standing split start on a non-motorised treadmill on three separate occasions. Per cent change in the means (-3.66 to 3.35%) and coefficients of variation (0.56–7.81%) were thought reliable for all variables. However, average step rate, average horizontal force and average vertical force did not meet the standards (≥0.70) set for acceptable intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Due to the homogeneous group, it was expected to receive low ICC values. Therefore, youth sprinting performance can be tested reliably on a non-motorised treadmill, especially if the per cent change in the mean and CV are deemed the important reliability measures. Normative data are given for the participant’s age as well as their maturity level for kinematic and kinetic variables.

Improving Vertical Jump Profiles Through Prescribed Movement Plans.

Mayberry, JK, Patterson, B, and Wagner, P. Improving vertical jump profiles through prescribed movement plans. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1619-1626, 2018-Developing practical, reliable, and valid methods for monitoring athlete wellness and injury risk is an important goal for trainers, athletes, and coaches. Previous studies have shown that the countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) test is both a reliable and valid metric for evaluating an athlete's condition. This study examines the effectiveness of prescribed workouts on improving the quality of movement during CMJ. The data set consists of 2,425 pairs of CMJ scans for high school, college, and professional athletes training at a privately owned facility. During each scan, a force plate recorded 3 ground reaction force (GRF) measurements known to impact CMJ performance: eccentric rate of force development (ERFD), average vertical concentric force (AVCF), and concentric vertical impulse (CVI). After an initial scan, coaches either assigned the athlete a specific 1- or 2-strength movement plan (treatment group) or instructed the athlete to choose their own workouts (control group) before returning for a follow-up scan. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) revealed significant differences in changes to GRF measurements between athletes in the 2 groups after adjusting for the covariates sex, sport, time between scans, and rounds of workout completed. A principal component analysis of GRF measurements further identified 4 primary groups of athlete needs and the results provide recommendations for effective workout plans targeting each group. In particular, split squats increase CVI and decrease ERFD/AVCF; deadlifts increase AVCF and decrease CVI; alternating squats/split squats increase ERFD/CVI and decrease AVCF; and alternating squats/deadlifts increase ERFD/AVCF and decrease CVI.

Plantar pressure analysis of above-knee amputee with a developed microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee.

Human gait motion analysis was one useful method for lower limb prosthesis study. The most often measured parameters were plantar pressure, kinetic and kinematic parameters. It was indispensable for prosthetic knee design and performance assessment. The aim of this study was to analysis the plantar pressure in traumatic above-knee amputee equipped with a developed microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee. The maximum force of forefoot and rearfoot, the average vertical reaction force and pressure and the centre of pressure (COP) offset trajectories of ten above-knee amputees under different walking speeds were obtained. Both forefoot and rearfoot force were bigger in intact leg than prosthetic leg. As the speed increased, the pressure increased in both sides. Forefoot bore more pressure than rearfoot in both legs. The average vertical pressure and force both increased along with the increase of speed. The force and pressure of intact side were always bigger than the prosthetic side. The trend of COP and gait line of the prosthetic and intact side had no significant difference. The length of the gait line of prosthetic side was greater than the intact side. The results of this study exhibited reduced plantar pressure in the prosthetic side. The typical butterfly diagrams were produced during different walking speeds. It indicated that the stability of the microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee could be guaranteed.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations of Regular and Irregular Waves Past a Horizontal Semi-Submerged Cylinder

Two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulations have been performed to investigate both regular and irregular waves past a fixed horizontally semisubmerged circular cylinder. The 2D simulations are carried out by solving Navier–Stokes equations discretized by finite volume method. Volume of fluid (VOF) method is employed to capture the free surface in the numerical wave tank (NWT). Validation studies have been performed by comparing the numerical results of free surface waves past the cylinder with the published experimental and numerical data. The present numerical results are in good agreement with both the experimental and the other numerical results in terms of hydrodynamic forces and free surface elevation. Subsequently, the effects of the wave height and the wavelength on wave–structure interaction are investigated by conducting numerical simulations on the regular and the irregular waves past a semisubmerged cylinder at different wave heights and the wavelengths. The averaged and maximum vertical wave forces on the cylinder increase with the increasing wave height. The numerical results for the irregular waves are compared with those induced by the regular waves in terms of the maximum and averaged vertical wave forces. When the significant wave height and the spectral peak period of the irregular waves are equal to the wave height and the wave period of the regular waves, the maximum vertical wave force induced by the irregular waves is larger than that induced by the regular waves, meanwhile, the average vertical wave forces have the contrary relationship.

Comparison of Aerodynamic Forces and Moments Calculated by Three-dimensional Unsteady Blade Element Theory and Computational Fluid Dynamics

AbstractIn previous work, we modified blade element theory by implementing three-dimensional wing kinematics and modeled the unsteady aerodynamic effects by adding the added mass and rotational forces. This method is referred to as Unsteady Blade Element Theory (UBET). A comparison between UBET and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for flapping wings with high flapping frequencies (>30 Hz) could not be found in literature survey. In this paper, UBET that considers the movement of pressure center in pitching-moment estimation was validated using the CFD method. We investigated three three-dimensional (3D) wing kinematics that produce negative, zero, and positive aerodynamic pitching moments. For all cases, the instantaneous aerodynamic forces and pitching moments estimated via UBET and CFD showed similar trends. The differences in average vertical forces and pitching moments about the center of gravity were about 10% and 12%, respectively. Therefore, UBET is proven to reasonably estimate the aerodynamic forces and pitching moment for flight dynamic study of FW-MAV. However, the differences in average wing drags and pitching moments about the feather axis were more than 20%. Since study of aerodynamic power requires reasonable estimation of wing drag and pitching moment about the feather axis, UBET needs further improvement for higher accuracy.