Human surrogates are representations of living humans, commonly adopted to better understand human response to impacts. Though surrogates have been widely used in automotive, defence and medical industries with varying levels of biofidelity, their primary application in the sporting goods industry has been through primitive rigid anvils used in assessing personal protective equipment (PPE) effectiveness. In sports, absence from competition is an important severity measure and soft tissue injuries such as contusions and lacerations are serious concerns. Consequently, impact surrogates for the sporting goods industry need a more subtle description of the relevant soft tissues to assess impact severity and mitigation accurately to indicate the likelihood of injury. The fundamental aim for this research study was to establish a method to enable the development of superior, complementary, increasingly complex synthetic and computational impact surrogates for improved assessment of sports personal protective equipment. With a particular focus on the thigh segment, research was conducted to evaluate incremental increases in surrogate complexity. Throughout this study, empirical assessment of synthetic surrogates and computational evaluation using finite element (FE) models were employed to further knowledge on design features influencing soft tissue surrogates in a cost and time efficient manner. To develop a more representative human impact surrogate, the tissue structures considered, geometries and materials were identified as key components influencing the mechanical response of surrogates. As a design tool, FE models were used to evaluate the changes in impact response elicited with different soft tissue layer configurations. The study showed the importance of skin, adipose, muscle and bone tissue structures and indicated up to 15.4% difference in maximum soft tissue displacement caused by failure to represent the skin layer. FE models were further used in this capacity in a shape evaluation study from which it was determined that a full-scale anatomically contoured thigh was necessary to show the full diversity of impact response phenomena exhibited. This was particularly pertinent in PPE evaluations where simple surrogate shapes significantly underestimated the magnitudes of displacements exhibited (up to 155% difference) when rigid shell PPE was simulated under impact conditions. Synthetic PDMS silicone simulants were then fabricated for each of the organic soft tissues to match their dynamic responses. The developed simulants exhibited a superior representation of the tissues when compared to previous single material soft tissue simulant, Silastic 3483, which showed 324%, 11,140% and -15.8% greater differences than the PDMS when compared to previously reported target organic tissue datasets for relaxed muscle, skin and adipose tissues respectively. The impact response of these PDMS surrogates were compared in FE models with previously used single material simulants in representative knee and cricket ball sports impact events. The models were each validated through experimental tests and the PDMS simulants were shown to exhibit significantly closer responses to organic tissue predictions across all impact conditions and evaluation metrics considered. An anatomically contoured synthetic thigh surrogate was fabricated using the PDMS soft tissue simulants through a novel multi-stage moulding process. The surrogate was experimentally tested under representative sports impact conditions and showed a good comparison with FE model predictions with a maximum difference in impactor displacements and peak accelerations of +6.86% and +12.5% respectively at velocities between 2 - 4 m.s-1. The value of increased biofidelity in the anatomical synthetic and virtual surrogate thighs has been proven through the incremental adoption of important surrogate elements (tissue structures, material and geometries). The predictive capabilities of each surrogate have been demonstrated through their parallel developments and staged comparisons with idealised organic tissue responses. This increase in biofidelity is introduced at modestly higher cost compared to Silastic 3483, but, given the benefits of a more representative human impact response for PPE evaluations, this is shown to be worthwhile.

The fracture of water ballast tank (WBT) coatings due to thermal stresses is widely recognised as an issue. Upon coating fracture, rapid corrosion of the tanker steel structure will occur, leading to expensive structure repairs or even tanker scrapping. In this project, the fracture behaviour of two experimental WBT coatings, referred to as A and B, in the forms of free film and substrated coatings was investigated. Static tensile tests and fatigue tests of the substrated coatings were performed. A finite element model of coating cracking was developed. Thermal stress and J-integral of surface cracking defects in substrated coatings were calculated using the model, in which the effects of defect size, coating thickness, and thermal strain on coating fracture were investigated. For the first time, fracture mechanics was used to explain WBT coating fracture behaviour. The J-integral of surface defects was used to predict the onset strain of coating cracking under mechanical strains in laboratory and under thermal strains in service. A theoretical comparison between the cracking drive forces in terms of J - integrals in WBT coatings under thermal strains and mechanical strains was performed.

Underground mining equipment is required by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to have certified overhead protective structure, referred to here as a canopy. By reviewing previous works in the area of protective canopies and utilizing their findings to

Próteses odontológicas são estruturas que restituem a função mastigatória e substituem componentes dentários danificados. A maioria dos estudos em próteses odontológicas que envolve métodos analíticos clássicos de análise de estrutura são inviáveis e situações nas quais a experimentação é dificultosa. Estas próteses, sob condições reais de carregamentos cíclicos (mastigação), são repetidamente sujeitas à estados de tensões multiaxiais cíclicas. Neste sentido, a natureza cíclica do carregamento, a qual os componentes das próteses são submetidos, sugere que o modo de falha por fadiga possui maior relevância neste tipo de estrutura. O desenvolvimento da computação eo aumento das capacidades de processamentos tem permitido maior implementação dos métodos numéricos, como o Métodos de Elementos Finitos (MEF). Através deste método (MEF) se realiza a modelagem do comportamento mecânico ajustadas à realidade física dos fatores biomecânicos envolvidos. Em uma revisão bibliográfica, verificou-se que a maioria dos livros e artigos encontrados não apresentam informação detalhadas sobre a previsão da vida baseado em análises de fadiga multiaxial que utilizem o MEF para cálculo das próteses odontológicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi propor um modelo numérico computacional utilizando o MEF para avaliar a vida à fadiga em próteses odontológicas submetidas a carregamentos multiaxiais. Para isso, foi empregada a manipulação de imagens adquiridas, ensaios experimentais normativos, Análise por Elemento Finitos (FEA) na previsão de vida à fadiga aplicada tanto em carregamento uniaxial ou multiaxial, a contabilização do dano por fadiga em carregamento multiaxial de amplitude variáveis, otimização e implementação de subrotina para as interfaces APDL -MATLAB. Os resultados mostraram que, através das técnicas de aquisição de dados de imagens (Micro-CT) e medições mecânicas combinadas com métodos numéricos consegue-se modelar uma estrutura complexa como uma prótese dental. / Dental prostheses are structures that restore the masticatory function and replace damaged dental components. Most studies on dental prostheses involve that classical analytical methods of structure analysis are infeasible and situations in which experimentation is difficult. These prostheses, under real conditions of cyclic loading (chewing), are repeatedly subjected to cyclic multiaxial stress states. In this sense, the cyclical nature of the loading, to which the components of the prosthesis are submitted, suggests that the fatigue failure mode has greater relevance in this type of structure. The development of computation and the increase of processing capacities have allowed greater implementation of numerical methods, such as Finite Element Methods (FEM). Through this method (FEM) it is performed the modeling of the mechanical behavior which is adjusted to the physical reality of the involved biomechanical factors. In a bibliographical review, it was verified that most of the books and articles found do not present detailed information about the prediction of life based on analyzes of multiaxial fatigue that use the FEM to calculate the dental prostheses. The objective of this research was to propose a computational numerical model using the FEM to evaluate the life to the fatigue in dental prostheses submitted to multiaxial loads. For this, we used the manipulation of acquired images, normative experimental tests, Finite Element analysis (FEA) in the prediction of life to the fatigue applied in either uniaxial or multiaxial loading, the counting of the fatigue damage in multiaxial amplitude variable loading, optimization and implementation of the subroutine for the APDL -MATLAB interfaces. The results showed that, through the techniques of image data acquisition (Micro-CT) and mechanical measurements combined with numerical methods, it is possible to model a complex structure such as a dental prostheses.

"Non-destructive testing (NDT) is critical to many precision industries because it can provide important information about the structural health of critical components and systems. In addition, NDT can also identify situations that could potentially lead to critical failures. Specifically, NDT by optical methods have become popular because of their non-contact and non-invasive nature. Shearography is a high-resolution optical NDT method for identification and characterization of structural defects in components and has gained wide acceptance over the last decade. Traditional workflow of NDT by shearography has been determined to be inefficient, due to the requirements of having experienced operators that must determine the most suitable loading methods to identify defects in samples under testing as well as to determine the best system arrangement for obtaining the maximum measuring sensitivity. To reduce the number of experiments that are required and to allow inspectors to perform NDT by laser shearography in a more efficient way, it is necessary to optimize the experimental workflow. The goal of the optimization would be an appropriate selection of all experimental variables including loading methods, boundary conditions, and system¡¯s sensitivities, in order to avoid repeating experiments several times in the processes of components characterization and health monitoring. To achieve this goal, a hybrid approach using shearographic fringe prediction with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been developed. In the FEA simulations, different loading conditions are applied to samples with defects, and in turn, the shearographic fringes are predicted. Fringe patterns corresponding to specific loading conditions that are capable of detecting defects are chosen and experimental tests are performed using those loading conditions. As a result, using this approach, inspectors could try different combinations of loading methods, and system¡¯s sensitivities to investigate and select appropriate experimental parameters to improve defect detection capabilities of the system by using low-cost computer simulations instead of lengthy and expensive experiments. In addition, to improve the identification of defects on the sample, camera calibration and image registration algorithms are used to project the detected defects on the sample itself to locate and visualize the position of defects during shearographic investigations. This hybrid approach is illustrated by performing NDT of a plate made of acrylic that has a partial hole at the center. Fringe prediction with finite element analysis are used to characterize the optimized experimental procedures and in turn, corresponding measurements are performed. A multimedia projector is employed to project the defects on the surface of the plate in order to visualize the location of the partial hole (defect). Furthermore, shearographic system is used for other applications including NDT of a composites plate and of a thin latex membrane. The procedures shows the effectiveness of the approach to perform NDT with shearography methods. "

Próteses odontológicas são estruturas que restituem a função mastigatória e substituem componentes dentários danificados. A maioria dos estudos em próteses odontológicas que envolve métodos analíticos clássicos de análise de estrutura são inviáveis e situações nas quais a experimentação é dificultosa. Estas próteses, sob condições reais de carregamentos cíclicos (mastigação), são repetidamente sujeitas à estados de tensões multiaxiais cíclicas. Neste sentido, a natureza cíclica do carregamento, a qual os componentes das próteses são submetidos, sugere que o modo de falha por fadiga possui maior relevância neste tipo de estrutura. O desenvolvimento da computação eo aumento das capacidades de processamentos tem permitido maior implementação dos métodos numéricos, como o Métodos de Elementos Finitos (MEF). Através deste método (MEF) se realiza a modelagem do comportamento mecânico ajustadas à realidade física dos fatores biomecânicos envolvidos. Em uma revisão bibliográfica, verificou-se que a maioria dos livros e artigos encontrados não apresentam informação detalhadas sobre a previsão da vida baseado em análises de fadiga multiaxial que utilizem o MEF para cálculo das próteses odontológicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi propor um modelo numérico computacional utilizando o MEF para avaliar a vida à fadiga em próteses odontológicas submetidas a carregamentos multiaxiais. Para isso, foi empregada a manipulação de imagens adquiridas, ensaios experimentais normativos, Análise por Elemento Finitos (FEA) na previsão de vida à fadiga aplicada tanto em carregamento uniaxial ou multiaxial, a contabilização do dano por fadiga em carregamento multiaxial de amplitude variáveis, otimização e implementação de subrotina para as interfaces APDL -MATLAB. Os resultados mostraram que, através das técnicas de aquisição de dados de imagens (Micro-CT) e medições mecânicas combinadas com métodos numéricos consegue-se modelar uma estrutura complexa como uma prótese dental. / Dental prostheses are structures that restore the masticatory function and replace damaged dental components. Most studies on dental prostheses involve that classical analytical methods of structure analysis are infeasible and situations in which experimentation is difficult. These prostheses, under real conditions of cyclic loading (chewing), are repeatedly subjected to cyclic multiaxial stress states. In this sense, the cyclical nature of the loading, to which the components of the prosthesis are submitted, suggests that the fatigue failure mode has greater relevance in this type of structure. The development of computation and the increase of processing capacities have allowed greater implementation of numerical methods, such as Finite Element Methods (FEM). Through this method (FEM) it is performed the modeling of the mechanical behavior which is adjusted to the physical reality of the involved biomechanical factors. In a bibliographical review, it was verified that most of the books and articles found do not present detailed information about the prediction of life based on analyzes of multiaxial fatigue that use the FEM to calculate the dental prostheses. The objective of this research was to propose a computational numerical model using the FEM to evaluate the life to the fatigue in dental prostheses submitted to multiaxial loads. For this, we used the manipulation of acquired images, normative experimental tests, Finite Element analysis (FEA) in the prediction of life to the fatigue applied in either uniaxial or multiaxial loading, the counting of the fatigue damage in multiaxial amplitude variable loading, optimization and implementation of the subroutine for the APDL -MATLAB interfaces. The results showed that, through the techniques of image data acquisition (Micro-CT) and mechanical measurements combined with numerical methods, it is possible to model a complex structure such as a dental prostheses.

The purpose of this work was to understand the influence of materials and construction on football performance. Two main areas identified as needing further work were post-impact rebound deviation and acoustic response. To further investigate these areas, football materials were tested in a lab with different loading scenarios and the resulting data was used in various characterisation methods to help define finite element models. The finite element models were used to efficiently explore a variety of material and construction variations. Acoustic data for a range of balls was collected in an anechoic chamber and advanced coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian simulations were developed to visualise the mode shapes of internal resonances.

Disc degeneration is a natural process and is widely prevalent. The severity of disc degeneration and the type of treatment varies from person to person. Fusion is a commonly chosen treatment option. However, clinical and biomechanical studies have shown that intervertebral discs adjacent to a fusion experience increased motion and higher stress which may lead to adjacent-segment disease. Cervical disc arthroplasty achieves similar decompression of the neural elements, but preserves the motion at the operated level and may potentially decrease the occurrence of adjacent segment degeneration. Computationally, a validated intact 3D finite element model of the cervical spine (C2-T1) was modified to simulate single (C5-C6) and bi-level (C5-C7) degeneration. The single level degenerative model was modified to simulate single level fusion and arthroplasty with the Bryan and Prestige LP artificial discs. The bi-level degenerative model was modified to simulate a bi-level fusion, bi-level arthroplasty with Bryan and Prestige LP discs and a disc replacement adjacent to fusion. An in-vitro biomechanical study was also conducted to address the effects of arthroplasty and fusion on the kinematics of the cervical spine. A total of 11 specimens (C2-T1) were divided into two groups (Bryan and Prestige LP). The specimens were tested in the following order; intact, single level TDR at C5-C6, bi-level TDR C5-C6-C7, fusion at C5-C6 and TDR at C6-C7 (Hybrid construct) and finally a bi-level fusion. The intact state was tested up to a moment of 2Nm. After surgical intervention, the specimens were loaded until the primary motion (C2-T1) matched the motion of intact state (hybrid control). In all cases; computational and experimental, an arthroplasty preserved motion at the implanted level and maintained normal motion at the nonoperative levels. A fusion, on the other hand, resulted in a significant decrease in motion at the fused level and an increase in motion at the un-fused levels. In the hybrid construct, the TDR adjacent to fusion preserved motion at that level, thus reducing the demand on the other levels. The computational models were used to analyze disc stresses at the adjacent levels and facet forces at the index and adjacent levels. The disc stresses followed the same trends as motion. Facet forces though, increased considerably at the index level following a TDR. There was a decrease in facet forces however at the adjacent levels. The adjacent level facet forces increased considerably with a fusion. The hybrid construct had adjacent level facet forces between the bi-level TDR and bi-level fusion models. To conclude, this study highlighted that cervical disc replacement with both the Bryan and Prestige LP discs not only preserved the motion at the operated level, but also maintained the normal motion at the adjacent levels. Under hybrid loading, the motion pattern of the spine with a TDR was closer to the intact motion pattern, as compared to the degenerative or fusion models. Also, in the presence of a pre-existing fusion, this study shows that an adjacent segment disc replacement is preferable to a second fusion.

The sport and leisure industry in New Zealand (NZ) has the potential to become a major user of composite materials. Given the size of NZ industry, design and manufacturing strategies based on virtual engineering should be developed to suit NZ requirements. Virtual methods use computer aided engineering capabilities to find faults, explore alternatives and optimise product performance before detailed design or prototyping. When doing computer aided simulation the required mechanical properties of individual reinforcement and matrix components are well documented. However, the mechanical properties of composite materials are not as simple to obtain. Micro-mechanical modelling could therefore be used to aid the design and development of composite equipment, where mechanical properties are unknown. In this study, solids modelling was used to produce an analog model of a composite, and it was found that it lead to reductions in file size and simulation time. Representing a composite with an analog model implies that the behavioural characteristics are modelled, but not the physical characteristics of the individual components. Three micro-mechanical models were developed to predict the flexural modulus of composite materials, based on perfect, partial and no adhesion. It was found that the partial adhesion model was both practical and consistently accurate. The partial adhesion model accounted for adhesion between components by considering an 'effective shear value' at the interface. Validation of the models was done by flexural testing injection moulded samples of glass, wood and carbon fibre reinforced polyethylene. It was shown that the adhesion coefficient range was 0.1 for carbon fibre, 0.5 for glass fibre and 0.9 for the wood fibre composites. It was concluded that the adhesion coefficient is crucial and it is recommended that further work is done to validate effective shear values by empirical means. The predicted flexural modulus values were used to enable finite element simulation of modelled analog beams as well as commercial kayak paddles. It was determined that accurate simulation is possible for composite equipment using the partial adhesion model.

The main aim of this work is to examine fracture toughness improvement mechanisms of a composite material containing tough interlayers modified with large thermoplastic particles. ¶ Various vinyl-ester (VE)/ poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) blends were used for the interlayer-toughening of a VE/glass fibre composite to increase delamination resistance of the material under mode I and mode II loading. Dry ABS powder was mixed with the liquid resin in four different weight ratios: 3.5, 7, 11 and 15 phr (parts per hundred parts of resin) while the layer thickness was varied from 150 to 500um. Firstly, the tensile and mode I fracture toughness properties of the VE/ABS blends were assessed, and, by using the Raman Spectroscopy technique, a chemical reaction was discovered which occurred during ABS/VE mixing. This reaction consisted of butadiene dissolution from the ABS particles into the VE. Also, butadiene saturation within the VE was achieved at a composition of around 7% ABS particle content. Both mode I and mode II fracture toughness of the composite were significantly improved with the application of interlayers. Mode I fracture toughness GIc was found to be a function of interlayer thickness and ABS particle content variations, with the latter dominating GIc after the saturation point. Mode II fracture toughness was found to be independent of interlayer thickness and only moderately influenced by particle content. The toughening mechanisms that were the most influential within this interlayered material were plastic deformation and micro-cracking of the layer materials. Evidence of both mechanisms was found using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). ¶ A numerical analysis was conducted, using the experimental results from this study, to further explain the basic toughening mechanisms and fracture behaviour in the materials. The aim of the analysis was to examine the influence of the particles on the plastic zone size that develops in front of the crack tip, and the interaction between the particles and the crack tip. For this purpose FEA elastic-plastic crack propagation models were employed. Good agreement with the experimental data was found.