Plate Configuration Research Articles

Limb length deceleration or coronal plane deformity correction using tension band plates: does plate configurations determine the intraarticular deformity of proximal tibia?

We studied whether the two-plate tension band configuration is more prone for intraarticular deformations than the single plate application used for coronal plane deformities (CPD). The study was based on radiological chart review (retrospective cross-sectional) of records of children [15 patients (30 plates) with limb length discrepancies (LLD) and 20 patients (36 plates) with CPD]. Interscrew angle, slope angle, and roof angle were compared in the initial postoperative and final radiographs to determine changes of tibial morphology. The mean patient age and follow up for the LLD and CPD groups respectively were 6.5 years, 39.8 months and 8.1 years, 15.5 months respectively. The interscrew angles widened between initial and final radiographs in the CPD group and for both sides in the LLD group. The initial and final slope angles were not significantly different in both LLD and CPD groups. Similar trend was observed for roof angle in either group. In the intergroup comparisons between LLD and CPD group, the slope angle of medial/lateral operated side in LLD group versus that of the operated side in CPD group matched statistically in the final radiographs. Similarly, the final roof angle in LLD and CPD groups was statistically similar. No significant intraarticular morphological change was demonstrated following tension band plating epiphysiodesis of the proximal tibia for our series involving young children. It was observed neither with the two-plate configuration used for limb length decelerations nor with the single plate application for coronal plane corrections.

МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ ПРОБОЯ КОТЛА ВАГОНА-ЦИСТЕРНЫ ДУГАМИ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ С УЧЕТОМ ПЛАСТИЧНОСТИ МАТЕРИАЛА

The study objective is to simulate the breakdown of a tank car boiler by safety arc, taking into account the material plasticity. In accordance with this, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to develop a methodology for calculating the stress-strain state of the boiler under shock load in a nonlinear situation, to select rational geometric characteristics of the armor plate and its thickness. To achieve them, the theory of elasticity and plasticity and the finite element method are used.
 The novelty of the work is in the development of a methodology for finding out the stress-strain state of a tank car boiler under shock loading conditions, taking into account the plasticity of the material. The study results are the dependences of the strain energy and stresses on the impact velocity, stress fields, a sample of rational geometrics and thickness of the armor plate.
 During the study, a number of calculations were carried out to determine the strength characteristics of the boiler with different configurations of the armor plate. Based on the data obtained, the best options were selected and used to obtain a qualitative picture of the problem being solved.

Investigation of Solar Air Collectors with Carbon-Nanotube-Based Turbulators and Pin Fin Arrangements

This research attempts to investigate the thermal performance of solar air collectors with pin fins and turbulators. Incorporating carbon-nanotube-based fins and turbulators in solar collectors can enhance their performance due to their high thermal conductivity, low weight, and high aspect ratio. In the present study, numerical analyses of a solar collector with pin fins and turbulators are carried out to investigate its effect on the Nusselt number. The paper begins with the numerical analysis of conventional air collectors and compares them with theoretical results. This is followed by numerical analyses, which are carried out to examine different configurations of the absorber plate with pin fins of varying diameters (10 mm, 20 mm, and 30 mm) and turbulators of varying heights (20 mm, 40 mm, and 60 mm) in the base plate. The analyses include variations in the Reynolds number ranging from 3000 to 15,000. Subsequently, after the performance of the solar collector with pin fins is evaluated, the effect of turbulators of varying heights on the Nusselt number is analyzed, followed by the analysis of the combined effect of pin fins and turbulators. The results are compared with traditional solar collectors and show that the combined effect of pin fins and turbulators can significantly improve the thermal performance of solar air collectors. The findings of this study can contribute to the development of renewable energy-based air conditioning, ventilation, and heating systems.

A numerical study on the benefits of passive-arc plates on drag and noise reductions of a cylinder in turbulent flow

In this study, we introduce a novel arrangement consisting of two arc plates around a cylinder with the privilege of improved fluid flow and noise control. The arc plates are placed symmetrically and concentrically at the rear portion of a circular cylinder. The coverage angle (30 °≤β≤75°) of the plates and the normalized radius of arc plates (1.125≤Rd≤1.625) are varied to find the optimum case in terms of drag and noise reductions. The simulations are performed for a turbulent flow with a Reynolds number of 22 000. The numerical analysis is based on an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) solver and Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW–H) acoustic analogy. It is found that by implementing the arc plates, the noise level and drag coefficient decrease dramatically. The results also reveal a strong correlation between the vortex shedding suppression and the noise reduction. It is shown that as the fluctuation of lift force decreases, the performance of flow and noise control enhances simultaneously. Furthermore, the noise assessment indicates that in a specific configuration of the arc plates, the overall sound pressure level decreases by around 51 dB compared to the uncontrolled case with no arc plates. Also, a maximum noise reduction of 27 dB is achieved, in which the drag coefficient reduces by 39% compared to the case with no arc plates. In conclusion, the results provide strong support for the proposed passive method as a beneficial strategy for noise reduction and wake control of cylindrical structures, which have wide applications in industry.

Ballistic Behavior of Bioinspired Nacre-like Composites.

In this paper, the ballistic performance of a multilayered composite inspired by the structural characteristics of nacre is numerically investigated using finite element (FE) simulations. Nacre is a natural composite material found in the shells of some marine mollusks, which has remarkable toughness due to its hierarchical layered structure. The bioinspired nacre-like composites investigated here were made of five wavy aluminum alloy 7075-T651 (AA7075) layers composed of ~1.1-mm thick square tablets bonded together with toughened epoxy resin. Two composite configurations with continuous layers (either wavy or flat) were also studied. The ballistic performance of the composite plates was compared to that of a bulk monolithic AA7075 plate. The ballistic impact was simulated in the 300-600 m/s range using two types of spherical projectiles, i.e., rigid and elastoplastic. The results showed that the nacre plate exhibited improved ballistic performance compared to the bulk plate and the plates with continuous layers. The structural design of the nacre plate improved the ballistic performance by producing a more ductile failure and enabling localized energy absorption via the plastic deformation of the tablets and the globalized energy dissipation due to interface debonding and friction. All the plate configurations exhibited a better ballistic performance when impacted by an elastoplastic projectile compared to a rigid one, which is explained by the projectile plastic deformation absorbing some of the impact energy and the enlarged contact area between the projectile and the plates producing more energy absorption by the plates.

Pleistocene to Holocene volcanism in the Canadian Cordillera

The Canadian Cordillera hosts numerous Pleistocene and Holocene volcanoes and volcanic deposits, including a number of volcanoes that have erupted within the last several hundred years. The nature and composition of volcanic edifices and deposits are diverse and dictated by the complex configuration of tectonic plates along the western margin of British Columbia and the thermal structure of the underlying mantle. Our modern knowledge of these is built upon more than a century of field- and increasingly, laboratory-based studies. We recognize five distinct volcanic domains within the Cordillera that are distributed across British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and easternmost Alaska. These include the Wrangell Volcanic Belt, the Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province, the Anahim Volcanic Belt, the Wells Grey-Clearwater Volcanic Field, and the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt representing the northern extension of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. Volcanism in the Canadian Cordillera spans the full range of explosive to effusive behaviours, encompasses the suite of common volcanic chemical compositions (alkaline to calc-alkaline and nephelinite to peralkaline rhyolite), and is expressed by long-lived stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes, and calderas, as well as shorter-lived tephra cones and associated lava flows. The range in tectonic settings (subduction to extension), eruption environments (subaerial–subaqueous–cryospheric), and topographic variability make volcanism within the Canadian Cordillera as diverse as anywhere on Earth, yet it is also the least studied. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge concerning volcanism within the Canadian Cordillera and conclude with thoughts on research areas that merit further effort, namely glaciovolcanism and volcanic hazards.

Application of different orifices for hydrodynamic cavitational effects on deactivation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in milk

Thermal processing reduces the nutritional value and flavour of milk due to the application of heat, although it has the benefits for safety and shelf life by eliminating microbes. Also, the growing preference of consumers for natural and minimally processed foods has led to an increase in the use of nonthermal milk processing techniques. Hydrodynamic processing (HC) is one such recent, inventive, scalable, and economically favourable nonthermal technique. Thus, the influence of hydrodynamic cavitation on the deactivation of Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria was investigated using four different orifice plates: ORFP 1 (Ø=4 mm); ORFP 2 (Ø=3 mm); ORFP 3 (Ø=2.27, 3 holes), and ORFP 4 (Ø=2 mm, 5 holes). Milk with cell inoculum was treated at three different pressures (3, 5 and 7 bar) and six different treatment time (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 min). Multi-hole orifices with higher α-value (plate parameter) were more effective in deactivation of microbial population in comparison to single hole orifices. Multi-hole orifice (ORFP 4) had the highest reduction of microbial cells, with 3.5 and 2.83 Log reduction for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively followed by ORFP 3, ORFP 2, and ORFP 1. Cavitation number in the range of 0.21–0.66 resulted in significant reduction of E. coli and S. aureus. From this study, it can be said that both flow geometry (α, β and flow area) of orifice plates and flow characteristics (flow rate and cavitation number) of the hydrodynamic cavitation system had an impact on the reduction of bacteria. Thus, hydrodynamic cavitation with different configuration of orifice plates can offer a potential option for thermal pasteurization.

Process-structure-property effects of ultraviolet curing in multi-material jetting additive manufacturing

Material jetting (MJT) is an additive manufacturing process that involves selective jetting of a liquid material that is subsequently solidified, often via ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The process presents designers with the opportunity to tune material properties on a voxel-by-voxel basis to fabricate high-resolution, multi-material parts. However, MJT is mainly constrained to prototyping and modeling applications, due to a limited selection of functional materials and challenges in attaining repeatable and reproducible part quality. Specifically, MJT’s indiscriminate UV dosing poses the risk of providing inconsistent dosing to parts, which could cause unintended variations in mechanical properties that are dependent on part design and build layout. To enable relating MJT processing conditions to final part properties, an MJT process model is presented that predicts accumulated exposure in parts of different materials, surface finishings, and build layouts by accounting for inputs relating to surface exposure, part design, and build plate configuration. Fundamentally guided by the Beer-Lambert law, the model leverages physical measurements of an MJT system, including UV spectral intensity distribution and toolpathing, to quantify cumulative exposure in batch-printed parts. Experimental characterization of parts printed in different configurations enabled correlation of parts’ total received exposure to their mechanical properties (tensile, three-point bend, Shore hardness, and dynamic mechanical analysis). It is observed that, especially in build layouts featuring multiple parts with dissimilar heights, the indiscriminate application of UV irradiation in MJT can lead to overexposure of parts, which results in changes in mechanical properties, including increased modulus and hardness. The effects of overexposure are largely dependent on material, toolpathing, and build layout. Connecting accumulated exposure to mechanical performance enables improved strategies for part design, build plate configuration, and process modification to better ensure consistency of UV dosage and reliable mechanical performance for batch-printed end-use parts.

Numerical Analysis of Cambered Plate Configurations under Low Reynolds Numbers and at a Low-Density Condition

After one year of operation, the Ingenuity rotorcraft and the Perseverance rover continue their exploration missions on Mars. Succeeding the technology demonstration phase, by proving its flight capabilities, Ingenuity transitioned to a new mission stage to explore modes of flight exploration for future scouting missions. Our research intends to analyze, using numerical simulations, the aerodynamical conditions such as those experienced by Ingenuity during its flight missions. For this work, the ANSYS Fluent software was used to simulate the flow around the cambered plates, and a three-equation intermittency (γ) shear stress transport turbulence model with compressible formulation was implemented. The influence of the camber and its position of the cambered plates was explored, and a sensitivity analysis with respect to the Mach number was performed. The objective of this project was to determine the optimal configuration to produce the optimal lift-to-drag ratio for the range of analysis. The results were in line with the ones shown by NASA (OVERFLOW). Moreover, our analysis showed the ANSYS Fluent applicability for assessing aerodynamic surfaces for unmanned aerial systems operating at low density and low Reynolds number regimes.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTHOCYANIN DERIVED BUTTERFLY PEA FLOWERS

In the realm of cosmetology, anthocyanin has recently been used as one of the essential ingredients. Anthocyanin has been demonstrated to lessen irritability and aid in moisture retention when applied. However, adding a natural ingredient to a skin care product formulation might alter the consumer's experience when the product is applied since it increases the actual contact area and adhesion, which alters friction. In this study, the chemical and flow characteristics of anthocyanin are examined in order to evaluate the rheological characteristics of butterfly pea flowers that contain anthocyanin. Anthocyanins were derived from three main sources and the characteristic have been compared. By using a shear rate scan test rheometer with a plate configuration and a 1mm gap and temperatures ranging from 25°C to 85°C, rheological data were collected. Utilizing a UV-visible spectrophotometer and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), anthocyanin's chemical structure, class, and yield are each identified. It is found that anthocyanins' structural, physical, and functional attributes are generally influenced by their source, composition, and content.

Wake control of a square cylinder: Impinging the vortex cores with dual flexible splitter plates

Numerous works have been conducted to study the wake control of a bluff body and more efficient strategies are still what we seek for. This paper studies the complex fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problem of a square cylinder mounted with dual flexible splitter plates from a new perspective: impinging the vortex core with flapping plate tip. The Reynolds number (Re) based on the side length of the square cylinder is fixed at 332.6. The splitter plates are attached at both sides of the square cylinder. Structural parameters, such as plate length and bending stiffness, are considered to achieve an optimal arrangement of this configuration. Compared to the traditional single splitter plate arrangement, only a short splitter length is needed for this dual splitter plates configuration. Flow visualization indicates that the drag reduction is associated with the increase of base pressure and the lift suppression is related to the inhabitation of the interaction of the shear layer and split effect of the tip vortices. The dimensionless bending stiffness plays a vital role in determining the behavior of the splitter plate. Two vibration modes, i.e., off-center vibration and asymmetry vibration modes are captured and the up and down splitter plates tend to vibration in-phase. The Lissajous trajectories of the free tip mainly exhibits arc-shape and sickle-shape. Given the performance of the square cylinder-dual splitter plates configuration, splitter length of l/L=1.5 is an optimal configuration, which is less affected by flexural rigidity. The maximum drag reduction could reach 23.1% and the lift force exerting on this configuration does not increase significantly, which is beneficial for the structural stability.

Research and Optimization of Lateral Compressive Performance of the 3-D Printed Beetle Elytron Plate

In this paper, two types of beetle elytron plates (end-trabecular beetle elytron plate (EBEP) and middle-trabecular beetle elytron plate (MBEP)) and honeycomb plate (HP) were manufactured by 3-D printed and applied to large-span spatial structure. The lateral compressive performance of the 3-D printed beetle elytron plate was investigated by lateral compression bearing capacity test and numerical analysis. The influence of number of cylinders, ratio of the radius of the cylinder to the side length of the hexagonal honeycomb core (ratio of radius-length), thickness of core layer and configuration of beetle elytron plate on the lateral compressive performance of the beetle elytron plates were studied and the optimization method for lateral compressive performance of the beetle elytron plates was proposed. The result shows that the lateral compression bearing capacity of EBEP is greater than that of MBEP, and both are greater than of HP. The lateral compression bearing capacity of the beetle elytron plate with six cylinders is about 25% higher than that of the HP without cylinders. The lateral compression bearing capacity of beetle elytron plate can be improved by increasing the thickness of plates. The results of the study will promote the application of beetle elytron plates in large-span spatial structures.

Hygro-Elastic Coupling in a 3D Exact Shell Model for Bending Analysis of Layered Composite Structures

In this work, a 3D fully coupled hygro-elastic model is proposed. The moisture content profile is a primary variable of the model’s displacements. This generic fully coupled 3D exact shell model allows the investigations into the consequences arising from moisture content and elastic fields in terms of stresses and deformations on different plate and shell configurations embedded in composite and laminated layers. Cylinders, plates, cylindrical and spherical shells are analyzed in the orthogonal mixed curvilinear reference system. The 3D equilibrium equations and the 3D Fick diffusion equation for spherical shells are fully coupled in a dedicated system. The main advantage of the orthogonal mixed curvilinear coordinates is related to the degeneration of the equations for spherical shells to simpler geometries thanks to basic considerations of the radii of curvature. The exponential matrix method is used to solve this fully coupled model based on partial differential equations in the thickness direction. The closed-form solution is related to simply supported sides and harmonic forms for displacements and the moisture content. The moisture content amplitudes are directly applied at the top and bottom outer faces through steady-state hypotheses. The final system is based on a set of coupled homogeneous second-order differential equations. A first-order differential equation system is obtained by redoubling the number of variables. The moisture field implications are evaluated for the static analysis of the plates and shells in terms of displacement and stress components. After preliminary validations, new benchmarks are proposed for several thickness ratios, geometrical and material data, lamination sequences and moisture values imposed at the external surfaces. In the proposed results, there is clearly accordance between the uncoupled hygro-elastic model (where the 3D Fick diffusion law is separately solved) and this new fully coupled hygro-elastic model: the differences between the investigated variables (displacements, moisture contents, stresses and strains) are always less than 0.3%. The main advantages of the 3D coupled hygro-elastic model are a more compact mathematical formulation and lower computational costs. Both effects connected with the thickness layer and the embedded materials are included in the conducted hygro-elastic analyses.

Study on properties of boron bearing blast furnace slag composite as shielding material for D-T neutron generator

Recovery of boron bearing blast furnace slag (B3FS) as a highly cost-effective radiation shielding material can reduce radiation hazards and protect the environment. Four different shielding configurations based on the Monte Carlo Particle Transport Program (MCNP) has been established to calculate the percentage for neutron shielding, radiation dose and neutron flux to evaluate the shielding properties of B3FS composites for Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) neutron. The properties of the B3FS composite are compared with common commercial shielding materials, include boron carbide (B4C), barite concrete, boron containing polyethylene (BPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ordinary concrete, Portland concrete and lead. The results indicated that the B3FS composite has a high neutron shielding property, which is close to that of B4C, BPE, HDPE and some kinds of concrete under shielding plate configuration. The neutron shielding properties of the composite are similar to those of BPE and HDPE, and are better than other shielding materials under shielding material wrapping device configuration. Based on the results, B3FS composite can be used as a new type of neutron shielding material with excellent neutron shielding performance and environmental protection.

Dynamic response evaluation due to construction system modification of 155 m barge ship using finite element method

The application of lightweight sandwich material as a ship structure was an innovative breakthrough that provided an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. In the sandwich application process, the proposed structural design and scantling must be designed according to the equivalent strength requirement with low weight compared to the existing structure. The research aims to evaluate the dynamic response of different construction systems of barge ships due to applying various hybrid sandwich types in the deck, ship hull, and bottom structures using the current Lloyd’s Register standard. A total of three proposed construction systems: longitudinal, transverse and mixed framing systems, are investigated under different plate configurations, material types, and scantling sizes. The numerical-based finite element approach is used to evaluate dynamic properties of natural frequency and mode shape using free vibration analysis at low mode numbers. The finite element result from the dynamic characteristic and weight reduction estimation between the existing structure and the proposed construction systems under various plate configurations, material types, and scantling sizes is evaluated to determine the application of lightweight sandwich panels in the barge structure.

Multimodal mechanical stimulation reduces acute and chronic low back pain: Pilot data from a HEAL phase 1 study.

Effective non-opioid pain management is of great clinical importance. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of multimodal mechanical stimulation therapy on low back pain. 11 female and 9 male patients aged 22-74 years (Mean 41.9 years, SD 11.04) receiving physical rehabilitation for acute (12) or chronic (8) low back pain chose heat (9) or ice (11) to accompany a 20-minute session of mechanical stimulation (M-Stim) therapy (Registered with Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04494841.) The M-Stim was delivered in 12 possible repeating "therapy cycle" patterns by three vibration motors (50 Hz, 100 Hz, 200 Hz) with amplitudes between 0.1-0.3 m/s2. Ten patients used a contained motor chassis attached to a thermoconductive single-curve metal plate. The next 10 patients' device had motors attached directly to a multidimensionally curved plate. Mean pain on a 10 cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) with the first motor/plate configuration went from 4.9 ± 2.3 cm to 2.5 ± 2.1 cm (57% decrease, p = 0.0112), while the second reduced pain from 4.8 ± 2.0 cm to 3.2 ± 1.9 cm (45%, p = 0.0353). Initial pain was greater with acute injury (5.8 ± 2.0 cm vs. 3.98 ± 1.8, p = 0.025) and for patients older than 40 (5.44 vs. 4.52), but pain reduction was proportional for chronic and younger patients. There was no significant difference between plate configurations. A Phase I clinical pilot investigation on a multi-motor multi-modal device was promising for drug free pain relief. Results suggested pain relief independent of thermal modality, patient age, or pain chronicity. Future research should investigate pain reduction over time for acute and chronic pain. https://ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04494841.

Fatigue and Progressive Damage of Thin Woven CFRP Plates Weakened by Circular Holes

BackgroundIn order to design thin-walled components it is necessary to consider the presence of holes and their effects. For high performance composite structures, this is still an issue, since usually only coupons are used in experimental observations and the influence of free edges and the hole affects the fatigue behavior mutually.ObjectiveThis work aims to find, through experimental trials, an empirical model that can be used to describe and predict the damage propagation, originating from a circular hole.MethodsA fatigue test series is performed and the damage initiation and propagation is monitored with three-dimensional digital image correlation, with which the occurring damage can be measured. Validation of the experimentally induced damage size measured with digital image correlation is performed intermediate with an in-situ measurement with active thermography and phased array ultrasonic. The novelty of this approach is that wide specimens are used, where the influence of the free edges on the hole does not occur.ResultsThe progression of the detected damage over the test reflects the applied loads, where higher loads cause larger damage. For all defined load levels a similar damage propagation is identified, allowing to establish an empirical model and fit it to the test data.ConclusionThe proposed empirical model provides a novel approach to describe and predict damage propagation originating from a circular hole in thin-walled composite plates. In addition, it is shown that the damage propagation ceases for the selected plate configuration and thus does not lead to a complete failure.

Energy and Exergy Investigation of a Solar Air Heater for Different Absorber Plate Configurations

In this paper, the effect of using different configurations of absorber plate, including one line finned flat absorber and two lines finned absorber plate, on the thermal performance of a flat plate – double passing solar air heater was investigated experimentally. L- shape fins are soldered on the absorber plate to roughen the absorber plate and generate vortices to enhance the heat transfer between the working fluid (air) and absorber plate to improve the thermal efficiency. The outdoor experimental test was carried out during February and May under the weather conditions of Baghdad city (Longitude 33.3 N and Latitude 44.44 E). The results show that the air temperature is 48 ℃, 47.5 ℃, and 58.5 ℃ at an air velocity of 1.7 m/s for a single line of fins which increased to 52 ℃, 57.5 ℃, and 66 ℃ at air velocity of 0.9 m/s for two lines of fins. The efficiency is increased by 28% for one line of fins and 66% for two lines of fins at an air velocity of 0.9 m/s while increased by 27% for one line of fins and 51% for two lines of fins at an air velocity of 1.7 m/s. The average exergy destruction rate increases by 37.6%, 60.6%, and 68.66% for the absorber plate, working fluid, and glass cover, respectively, for velocity increase from 0.9 m/s to 1.9 m/s. The exergy efficiency increased by 24.1% when the velocity increased from 0.9 m/s to 1.9 m/s.

Mechanical assessment of two hybrid plate designs for pancarpal canine arthrodesis under cyclic loading.

Pancarpal canine arthrodesis (PCA) sets immobilization of all three carpal joints via dorsal plating to result in bony fusion. Whereas the first version of the plate uses a round hole (RH) for the radiocarpal (RC) screw region, its modification into an oval hole (OH) in a later version improves versatility in surgical application. The aim of this study was to mechanically investigate the fatigue life of the PCA plate types implementing these two features-PCA-RH and PCA-OH. Ten PCA-RH and 20 PCA-OH stainless steel (316LVM) plates were assigned to three study groups (n = 10). All plates were pre-bent at 20° and fixed to a canine forelimb model with simulated radius, RC bone and third metacarpal bone. The OH plates were fixed with an RC screw inserted either most proximal (OH-P) or most distal (OH-D). All specimens were cyclically tested at 8Hz under 320N loading until failure. Fatigue life outcome measures were cycles to failure and failure mode. Cycles to failure were higher for RH plate fixation (695,264 ± 344,023) versus both OH-P (447,900 ± 176,208) and OH-D (391,822 ± 165,116) plate configurations, being significantly different between RH and OH-D, p = 0.03. No significant difference was detected between OH-P and OH-D configurations, p = 0.09. Despite potential surgical advantages, the shorter fatigue life of the PCA-OH plate design may mitigate its benefits compared to the plate design with a round radiocarpal screw hole. Moreover, the failure risk of plates with an oval hole is increased regardless from the screw position in this hole. Based on these findings, the PCA plate with the current oval radiocarpal screw hole configuration cannot be recommended for clinical use.

Experimental performance comparison of a novel design of bi-fluid photovoltaic-thermal module using Louver fins

This investigation designed and fabricated a novel configuration of a copper absorber plate fixed to the photovoltaic module to reduce overheating. Louver-shaped fins with a serpentine tube were mounted to the absorber to configure a bi-fluid-based photovoltaic thermal module. Experiments aimed to enhance the heat transfer rate from the PV surface to the air in the channel and water in the tube. This study analyses how cells, the backside, and ambient temperatures affect the PV/T module’s electrical power, thermal power, thermal efficiency, and electrical efficiency. Experiments with the new design showed an increasing linear relationship between electrical production efficiency and a decrease in cell temperature thanks to the fins and tube. Compared to the standard photovoltaic unit, the hourly average of the cell temperature of the PV module in the new bi-fluid system dropped by up to 19.2 °C. Electrical and thermal efficiency values were found to be 5.9% and 0% of the standard unit, 6.7% and 34.26% of the air-cooled module, and 7.56% and 66.17% of the bi-fluid module. The essence behind the idea of using Louver-shaped fins and tubes is that the fluid of the configured unit gains the most heat, making them very efficient at using electricity.