Load-deflection Ratio Research Articles

EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF LOAD DEFLECTION RATE OF FOUR INITIAL ORTHODONTIC ARCH WIRES: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the load-deflection rate of four different types of archwires used in initial stage of orthodontic treatment.
 Materials and methods: A modified three-point bending test was performed on the sample of 60 wires of superelastic Nickel Titanium(NiTi), everwhite esthetic NiTi, thermal NiTi and multistranded coaxial stainless steel (15 each). The load exerted by each of the wire was measured at the deflections of 2 mm and 4mm, subsequent unloading process at 37°C temperature.
 Results: Comparison of mean load-deflection values revealed that thermal NiTi wires had lowest value at both 2 and 4mm deflection when compared to other three wires which was statistically significant(p=0.009). Superelastic and esthetic NiTi showed similar values of load deflection ratios at both the deflections where as co-axial wire showed 1.89N at 2mm and 5.22N at 4mm deflection.
 Conclusion: The heat-activated NiTi wires are acceptable in severe crowding and periodontally compromised patients. Multistranded co-axial wire is acceptable when we need minimal alignment; whereas esthetic NiTi wires can replace superelastic Niti based on patient’s need.

A Study on Phase-Changing Materials for Controllable Stiffness in Robotic Joints

This paper studies the viability of using a class of phase-changing materials for the design of controlled variable stiffness robotic joints which enable the design of robots that can operate in confined spaces. In such environments, robots need to be able to navigate in proximity or while in contact with their environment to reach one or more manipulated target. Joints with controllable stiffness can substantially enhance functionality of this class of robots where relatively higher joint stiffness is required to support the robot weight against gravity and low stiffness is desired when operating in complex or delicate environments. The research work presented in this paper focuses on examining thermorheological fluids (TRF) to design and manufacture thermally controlled variable stiffness joints. Two phase-changing materials are considered in the study: low-melting-point solder and hot-melt adhesive. Both materials are embedded in a custom designed joint fabricated using 3D printing and silicone casting. Joint stiffness was investigated with both materials and reported here. The results shows that the proposed variable stiffness joints with TRF achieve wide ranges of load-deflection ratio varying between 0.05 N/mm (when thermally activated) to about 10 N/mm (in bonding state). On average, the joint can withstand 20 times its total weight when in the bonding state. Design challenges and durability of TRF-based joints are discussed.

Comment on “On the account of surface tension nonlinearity under of nano-plate bending”

Examples of solving a nonlinear one-dimensional problem on bending, compressive buckling, and free transverse vibrations of a nano-film, considered in the commented article, have shown primarily the effect of the linear part of surface tension, where it is main, whereas its quadratic terms make a small contribution. In the present paper was considered postbuckling of the nano-film, when the known von Kármán-type models of nano-plate bending reduce to a linear problem and allow only the critical Euler force to be determined. The proposed model allows to describe post-buckling fully, in particular to build the load-deflection ratio.

Experimental research on assembly section stiffness and bending stiffness for sodium-cooled fast reactor

China Fast Reactor (CFR) is under construction, and the section stiffness and bending stiffness of CFR assemblies remain unknown and need to be investigated to support the core restraint system design and reactivity safety assessment. In this study, assembly compression tests were performed with three types of test samples. With the compression load varying from 0 to 6 kN, the compressive deformations were measured and the section stiffness were obtained. In assembly bending tests, there were two types of assemblies considering different spike clearances, and the horizontal loads from 400 N to 1900 N were applicable to the upper-load-pad, lower-load-pad and mid-fissile-region level of the assemblies. Assembly deflections were measured and correlations for the load-deflection ratio were proposed. Comparison of theoretical and experimental bending stiffness were carried out, which indicated that the spike clearance has to be taken into consideration in the assembly deformation analysis codes.

Influence of aesthetic coating on the load-deflection ratio of nickel–titanium archwires

Aim: To assess the influence of aesthetic surface coating on load-deflection ratios in nickel-titanium (NiTi) orthodontic wires compared with uncoated wires. Methods: NiTi wires (0.016") from four different manufacturers (Morelli, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil; TP, La Porte, IN, USA; Eurodonto, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Ortho Organizers, San Marcos, CA, USA) were divided into eight groups, according to presence or absence of coating: group 1, Morelli coated wire; group 2, Morelli uncoated; group 3, TP coated; group 4, TP uncoated; group 5, Eurodonto coated; group 6, Eurodonto uncoated; group 7, Ortho Organizers coated; group 8, Ortho Organizers uncoated. To determine the load-deflection ratio, a three-point bending test was performed in a AGS-X 250 KN (Shimadzu) universal testing machine. Results: The results showed that aesthetic coatings did not influence load-deflection ratio in NiTi orthodontic wires at 1-mm and 2-mm activation. However, comparison across the four tested brands revealed that Eurodonto coated wires exhibited the greatest force levels at 1-mm, 2-mm, and 3-mm deflection. At 3-mm deflection, Ortho Organizers coated wires exhibited lower force levels than all other tested brands, except for TP wires. Conclusions: We conclude that the load-deflection ratio of NiTi wires was not influenced significantly by aesthetic coatings, especially at lower activations.

Deflection test evaluation of different lots of the same nickel-titanium wire commercial brand

Introduction: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the elastic properties of the load-deflection ratio of orthodontic wires of different lot numbers and the same commercial brand. Methods: A total of 40 nickel-titanium (NiTi) wire segments (Morelli OrtodontiaTM - Sorocaba, SP, Brazil), 0.016-in in diameter were used. Groups were sorted according to lot numbers (lots 1, 2, 3 and 4). 28-mm length segments from the straight portion (ends) of archwires were used. Deflection tests were performed in an EMIC universal testing machine with 5-N load cell at 1 mm/minute speed. Force at deactivation was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 mm deflection. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare differences between group means. Results: When comparing the force of groups at the same deflection (3, 2 and 1 mm), during deactivation, no statistical differences were found. Conclusion: There are no changes in the elastic properties of different lots of the same commercial brand; thus, the use of different lots of the orthodontic wires used in this research does not compromise the final outcomes of the load-deflection ratio.

Differences in the force system delivered by different beta-titanium wires in elaborate designs.

Objective: Evaluation of the force system produced by four brands of b-Ti wires bent into an elaborate design. Methods: A total of 40 T-loop springs (TLS) hand-bent from 0.017 x 0.025-in b-Ti were randomly divided into four groups according to wire brand: TMATM(G1), BETA FLEXYTM (G2), BETA III WIRETM (G3) and BETA CNATM (G4). Forces and moments were recorded by a moment transducer, coupled to a digital extensometer indicator adapted to a testing machine, every 0.5 mm of deactivation from 5 mm of the initial activation. The moment-to-force (MF) ratio, the overlapping of the vertical extensions of the TLSs and the load-deflection (LD) ratio were also calculated. To complement the results, the Young's module (YM) of each wire was determined by the slope of the load-deflection graph of a tensile test. The surface chemical composition was also evaluated by an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Results: All groups, except for G2, produced similar force levels initially. G3 produced the highest LD rates and G1 and G4 had similar amounts of overlap of the vertical extensions of the TLSs in "neutral position". G1 and G3 delivered the highest levels of moments, and G2 and G3 produced the highest MF ratios. b-Ti wires from G3 produced the highest YM and all groups showed similar composition, except for G2. Conclusion: The four beta-titanium wires analyzed produced different force systems when used in a more elaborate design due to the fact that each wire responds differently to bends.

The influence of stiffness of implant-abutment connection on load-deflection ratios of a screw-retained stiff cantilever beam. 3-D measurements in vitro

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the influence of degree of stiffness of implant-abutment connection of a Brånemark implant system on load- deflection ratios in three dimensions of the beam-end of a screw-retained stiff cantilever beam when subjected to vertically directed loads. Two different implant-abutment connections were tested; welded and screw-retained. One of the abutments (EsthetiCone 2.0; Nobel Biocare AB) was screwed with a torque force of 20 N cm and then laser welded around its entire periphery to one of two Brånemark implants (welded unit). This unit and the other implant were tightly screwed into each of two pre-threaded holes in a steel plate so that the implants became submerged in the plate. The remaining abutment was thereafter screwed to its implant with a torque force of 20 N cm (screw-retained unit). A cantilevered gold beam of 6 mm height and width comprising a gold cylinder (Nobel Biocare AB) was attached to each abutment with a slotted, flat headed, prosthetic gold screw (torque force 10 N cm). A force transducer, synchronized with a 3-D motion analysis system, was glued on the upper surface of each beam-end 19.4 mm from the implant, to register the loads transferred from a specially built loading device. The beam-ends were stepwise subjected to vertically directed loads from 14.9 to 40.3 N and the vertical and horizontal deflections of the beam-ends were registered with the 3-D motion analysis system. For load 14.9-40.3 N the vertical (z-axis) deflections of the beam-end were for the welded implant-abutment connection reduced with 18-46% compared with the screw-retained unit. After maximal loading (40.3 N) the horizontal counter-clockwise rotation of the beam around the screw joints (y-axis rotations) was reduced with 61% for the welded connection. The horizontal movements of the beam-end along the x-axis (x-axis deflections) were reduced with 49% at maximal loading. It was concluded that increased implant-abutment stiffness will substantially reduce both vertical and horizontal deflections of a screw-retained stiff cantilever beam subjected to vertically directed loads.

Comparative analysis of load/deflection ratios of conventional and heat-activated rectangular NiTi wires

5 Objective: This study compared the load-deflection ratios between 0.019 x 0.025-in rectangular orthodontic wires using 5 conventional preformed nickel-titanium (NiTi) and 5 heat-activated NiTi archwires from four different man- ufacturers (Abzil, Morelli, 3M Unitek and Ormco), totaling 40 archwires. The archwires were placed in typodonts without tooth # 11 and tested using a universal testing machine connected to a computer. Results: The comparisons of mean load-deflection values of conventional NiTi wires revealed that the lowest mean- deflection ratio was found for 3M Unitek, followed by Ormco, Morelli and Abzil. Regarding the heat-activated wires, the lowest load-deflection ratio was found for Ormco, followed by 3M Unitek, Abzil, and Morelli. Conclusion: The comparison of mean load-deflection ratios revealed that the heat-activated wires had lowest mean load-deflection ratios, and this trend was seen during all the study. However, at 2-mm deflection, mean load-deflec- tion ratios for heat-activated Morelli and conventional 3M Unitek wires were very similar, and this difference was not statistically significant.

Force system evaluation of symmetrical beta-titanium T-loop springs preactivated by curvature and concentrated bends

The objective of this research was to compare the effect of preactivation on the force system of beta-titanium T-loop springs (TLSs). Twenty TLSs with dimensions of 6 × 10 mm, of 0.017 × 0.025-in beta-titanium alloy, were randomly divided into 2 groups according to their preactivation. By using a moment transducer coupled to a digital extensometer indicator adapted to a testing machine, the amounts of horizontal force and moment produced were recorded at every 0.5 mm of deactivation from 5 mm of the initial activation in an interbracket distance of 23 mm. The moment-to-force ratio, the "neutral position" and the load-deflection ratio were also calculated. TLSs preactivated by curvature delivered horizontal forces significantly lower than those preactivated by concentrated bends. No differences were found in relation to the moments produced throughout the deactivation of both groups. The moment-to-force ratios were systematically higher on the TLSs preactivated by curvature than those preactivated by concentrated bends, except on 5 mm of activation. Significant differences were found in the load-deflection rates and "neutral position." The TLSs preactivated by curvature delivered lower horizontal forces and higher moment-to-force and load-deflection ratios than did those preactivated by concentrated bends.

Influence of fibers on flexural behavior and ductility of concrete beams reinforced with GFRP rebars

This research studies the influence of fibers on flexural behavior and ductility of concrete beams reinforced with GFRP bars. The experimental program included seven beams. The tested beams were divided into four groups. Each of the first three groups consisted of two beams one of normal strength and the other of high strength while the fourth group consisted of one normal strength beam. The first group is the reference group which had no internal fibers. The second group studied the effect of using internal polypropylene fibers in the concrete mix. The third group studied the effect of using internal glass fibers in the concrete mix while the fourth group studied the effect of using internal steel fibers in the concrete mix. The experimental results of tests showed that using GFRP as the main reinforcement for the concrete beams achieves reasonable flexural strength. Also the theoretical results calculated using ACI 440 code showed good agreement with the experimental results with an error of about 20%. The results of the current research indicated that all types of the fibers used improved the ductility of FRP- reinforced concrete beams. It was found that the span-to-experimental service load deflection ratio is relatively high when compared to the usually accepted ratio of about span/250.

Mechanical evaluation of space closure loops in Orthodontics

This study evaluated the mechanical performance of teardrop-shaped loops and teardrop-shaped loops with helix used in orthodontic space closure. Sixty retraction loops made with 0.019" x 0.025" stainless steel (SS) and beta-titanium (BT) wires were used. They were attached to a testing machine to measure the magnitudes of the sagittal force and the load-deflection ratio necessary for 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm activation. The results demonstrated that the BT alloy presented significantly smaller mean values (p < 0.01) of sagittal force and load-deflection than the SS alloy. The loop with the highest mean value of sagittal force and load-deflection was the teardrop-shaped loop (p < 0.01). Differences were observed in the mean values of sagittal force and load-deflection among activations, and the highest mean value was found in the activation of 3 mm, while the smallest mean value was evident in the activation of 1 mm (p < 0.01). It could be concluded that the metallic alloy used and the presence of a helix in configuration of the loops may have a strong influence on the sagittal force produced and on the load-deflection ratio; the teardrop-shaped loops and teardrop-shaped loops with helix in BT presented the release of lighter forces; the teardrop-shaped loop in SS generated a high load-deflection ratio, providing high magnitudes of horizontal force during its deactivation.

Deflections of an implant-supported cantilever beam subjected to vertically directed loads. In vitro measurements in three dimensions using an optoelectronic method. II Analysis of methodological errors

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy, i.e. trueness (validity) and precision (repeatability) for load-dependent deflections in three dimensions of an implant-supported cantilever beam obtained with an optoelectronic motion analysis system compared with a well-known reference method. A cantilever beam with a length of 22 mm (roughly corresponding to the width of two premolars) was screw-connected to an implant-abutment unit stiffly anchored in a steel plate. The positional changes of beam-end were measured when the beam-end step by step was subjected to four loads, 15.5-40.1 N. This measurement procedure was repeated to comprise six consecutive measurements. The trueness of the method was estimated by comparing the data obtained for vertical deflections with those from a reference method where a hydraulic test system was used to measure the load-deflection ratios of the same beam when subjected to the four mentioned vertical loads. All applied transducer-mediated loads had accuracies (truenesses and repeatabilities below 0.05%). Also, the trueness and precision of the reference method, regarding both movements (deflections) of tested objects and magnitude of applied loads, were tested and found to be high, not exceeding 0.5%. The optoelectronic method however underestimated the smallest vertical deflections for the cantilever beam when compared with the data obtained from the reference method. The underestimation was 26.4%, 15.5% and 8.6% for loads 15.5, 26.6 and 32.6 N, respectively, while there was a slight overestimation of 1.2% for 40.1 N. The precision for the optoelectronic method was found to be for z-axis 1.8 μm, y-axis 3.8 μm and x-axis 1.9 μm. It can be concluded that the trueness (validity) for the optoelectronic method is very high for deflections above 143 μm. The precision (repeatability) of the optoelectronic method was found to be very high.

Force characteristics of nickel-titanium open-coil springs

The objective of this study was to quantify the properties of commercially available nickel-titanium open-coil springs. Eleven springs from 3 manufacturers were tested 5 times over a 12-week period. A universal testing machine was used to measure the force generated when open-coil springs were compressed to half of their original length and then gradually allowed to decompress. The average forces generated at the initial recording session for uniformly wound springs from GAC International (Bohemia, NY) and 3M Unitek (Monrovia, Calif) were 19.3% to 42.7% and 9.7% to 38.8% below the manufacturers' labeled force levels, respectively. GAC's 100-, 150-, and 200-g stop-wound coils demonstrated statistically and clinically significant stepwise force degradation over the 12-week experimental period (P <0.0001). GAC's uniformly wound light (100 g) coils generated the lowest load-deflection ratios (23.7 g/mm). Open coils might need to be compressed by more than one-third of their original length to produce the labeled forces. Uniformly wound coils generally produce lower load-deflection ratios and maximum forces, which are generally more acceptable for tooth movement.

Editor's Comment and Q&A: Force characteristics of nickel-titanium open-coil springs

Introduction The objective of this study was to quantify the properties of commercially available nickel-titanium open-coil springs. Methods Eleven springs from 3 manufacturers were tested 5 times over a 12-week period. A universal testing machine was used to measure the force generated when open-coil springs were compressed to half of their original length and then gradually allowed to decompress. Results The average forces generated at the initial recording session for uniformly wound springs from GAC International (Bohemia, NY) and 3M Unitek (Monrovia, Calif) were 19.3% to 42.7% and 9.7% to 38.8% below the manufacturers' labeled force levels, respectively. GAC's 100, 150, and 200 g stop-wound coils demonstrated statistically and clinically significant stepwise force degradation over the 12-week experimental period (P Conclusions Open coils might need to be compressed by more than one-third of their original length to produce the labeled forces. Uniformly wound coils generally produce lower load-deflection ratios and maximum forces, which are generally more acceptable for tooth movement.

A Dynamic Model for Dissipative Structures used in Bump-Type Foil Bearings

A gas bearing of bump-type foil comprises an underlying structure made of one or several strips of corrugated sheet metal covered by a top foil surface. The fluid film pressure thus needs to be coupled with the behavior of this structure for obtaining the equivalent bearing characteristics. The dynamic model of the bump-type foil structure is then of capital importance. The approach presented in this article is an extension of a previously presented static model considering the structure as a multidegree of freedom system. The continuous corrugated sheet is considered as a discrete one with two nodes and three degrees of freedom for each bump that are linked by linear springs. The hereby presented dynamic model is based on the time-domain integration of the elastic structure under a given load variation. Its efficiency is conditioned by the ability to deal with the discontinuities contained in the nonlinear Coulomb friction model. In order to avoid these numerical difficulties, the Coulomb friction forces are regularized by using Petrov's model (Petrov and Ewins (1)). The present work introduces the results obtained for a single bump and for strips made of several bumps. Stick-slip and hysteresis curves for a single bump under an oscillatory load are first presented. The dissipated energy per cycle and the load-deflection ratio variations in the function of the pressure excitation amplitude and of the friction coefficient are compared to the previous finite element results and exhibit good correlation. Then the case of a strip constituted of six bumps is analyzed and the resulting hysteresis loop is compared to the experimental results published by Ku (2). The two curves correlate well and validate the dynamic structural model.

On the Determination of Stresses and Deflections for Anisotropic Homogeneous Cantilever Beams

We analyze the effect of anisotropy on beam flexibility by the derivation of upper and lower bounds, through use of the principles of minimum potential and complementary energy, for the load-deflection ratios of narrow rectangular cross-section cantilever beams. The basic assumption is a class of stress-strain relations of such nature that normal strains are caused not only by normal stresses but also by shearing stresses, and shearing strains are caused not only by shearing stresses but also by normal stresses.