Loosening of implants is a frequent complication in orthopaedic surgery. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate hydroxyapatite coating of pedicle screws with mechanical and histological methods and to correlate the results with the radiological findings. Hydroxyapatite (HA) coating of pedicle screws was investigated in experimental studies in sheep. Nine sheep were operated on with destabilising laminectomies at L2-L3 and L4-L5 and stabilised with pedicle screw instrumentations, where HA coated and uncoated screws were used in a randomised fashion. After both 6 and 12 weeks of implantation, the HA coated screws demonstrated a higher bone-to-implant contact and a higher amount of bone in the area close to the screw. The pull-out resistance, stiffness and total energy to failure was higher for the HA coated screws after 12 weeks of implantation. HA coating of pedicle screws was examined in two clinical studies. In the first series, the patients were stabilised with pedicle screw instrumentations, where HA coated screws were used in either the upper or lower instrumented level in a randomised fashion. After 10-22 months of implantation, the extraction torque was markedly higher for the HA coated screws. In the second series, instrumentations with uncoated, partly HA coated or fully HA coated screws were used. After 11-16 months implantation, the extraction torques were recorded. There were significant differences between all three groups, with the lowest extraction torques for the uncoated screws and the highest torques for the fully HA coated screws. The frequency of radiolucent zones surrounding the screws was higher for the uncoated screws than for the HA coated screws. Radiographs from both experimental and clinical studies were examined. Screws demonstrating radiolucent zones were compared to screws without zones with respect to pull-out resistance, extraction torque, bone-to-implant contact and amount of bone surrounding the screws. All these variables demonstrated higher values for the screws without radiolucent zones. The frequency of radiolucent zones surrounding uncoated screws in the clinical study was 53%. Conclusions: Radiolucent zones are good predictors of screw loosening. The frequency of radiolucent zones is higher than previously described. Hydroxyapatite coating improves the purchase of pedicle screws and reduces the frequency of screw loosening.

Twin-screw pumps are positive displacement machines. Two meshing screws connected by timing gears convey the fluid trapped in the screw chambers axially from suction to discharge and force it out against the back pressure. Because of the screw geometry, the circumferential pressure field around the screws is not balanced, resulting in net dynamic and static pressures applied on the rotors. The research work presented here aims at building and verifying a model to predict both: (1) the exciting lateral hydrodynamic forces produced by the unbalanced pressure field, and (2) the rotor response due to those forces. The model rests on the screw pump hydraulic models for predicting the pressure in the screw chambers as a function of the discharge pressure. These models are extended to predict the steady state dynamic pressure field as a function of the rotational angle of the rotor. The dynamic force resulting from the dynamic pressure field is calculated and applied to the rotor as a set of super-synchronous periodic forces. The structural model of the screw, although nonsymmetrical, was found to be accurately represented by an axisymmetric equivalent structure. The rotor response to the dynamic super-synchronous forces is calculated to predict the pump rotordynamic behavior. The work in this dissertation presents: (1) the axisymmetric structural model of the rotors (2) the proposed dynamic pressure model, (3) the screw pump rotor response, (4) the experimental validation of the dynamic pressure model and rotor response. The topic of twin-screw pump rotordynamics is absent from the literature. The original contribution of the work presented in this dissertation to the field of rotordynamics includes: (1) demonstrating the adequacy of an axisymmetric model for modeling the screw section, (2) developing a model for predicting the dynamic pressure field around the screws, (3) characterization of the dynamic forces (synchronous and its harmonics) applied at the screw pump rotors, (4) predicting the dynamic response of twin-screw pump rotors due to hydrodynamic forces, (5) measuring the axial dynamic pressure in two circumferential planes around the screws to verify pressure predictions, (6) measuring the dynamic response of twin-screw pump rotor.

Com disseminação dos implantes osseointegrados na pratica clinica a ocorrência de complicações mecânicas tornam-se comuns, causando problemas para pacientes e profissionais. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o grau de rotação de parafusos de titânio (grau 5), durante testes de torque, re-torque e os valores de destorque (Ncm), sobre infra-estruturas fundidas em monobloco, soldadas com solda TIG e solda Convencional, a partir de abutments tipo UCLA com cinta usinada em Co-Cr. Um dispositivo leitor da quantidade de graus foi especialmente desenvolvido para este estudo, juntamente com um software. Seis implantes Titaniun Fix de 3,75 mm de diâmetro e 13 mm de comprimento e hexágono externo foram montados na base de um dispositivo e diretamente sobre eles foram obtidos os padrões para fundição dos corpos de prova. Para os grupos que foram submetidos a soldagem os corpos foram montados à análogos de implantes Titaniun Fix, e vazados blocos de gesso especial tipo IV (Durone) para serem seccionados e fundidos. Cada corpo de prova foi formado por dois abutments tipo UCLA com cinta em Co-Cr, interligados por uma barra acrílica. Foram obtidos 10 corpos de prova para cada grupo e 60 parafusos de titânio (Grau 5- Titaniun Fix) foram usados para os testes. Obteve-se então a medição do ângulo criado durante o aperto e re-aperto dos parafusos, sendo o re-aperto realizado após 10 minutos do aperto inicial, ambos sob torque de 30Ncm. Após o procedimento de re-aperto, o valor de destoque era imediatamente aferido e anotado em Ncm, possibilitando avaliar a quantidade de torque retido pelo parafuso após o procedimento, sendo esta seqüência realizada 3 vezes para cada corpo de prova. Sendo a análise estatística realizada para essa comparação (ANOVA) Análise de Variância a um critério de classificação, o teste Tukey, para verificar se havia diferença estatística entre os grupos. Os resultados revelaram que durante os procedimentos de torque (aperto), os parafusos empregados em infra-estruturas fundidas em monobloco apresentaram um maior grau de rotação (56,12°), quando comparados aos parafusos empregados em infra-estruturas segmentadas e fundidas separadamente soldadas com solda TIG valor médio de (43,2°) e solda Convencional com valor médio (35,7°), sendo a diferença entre os grupos estatisticamente significante em todos os grupos para o momento torque; p<0,05. Durante o momento re-torque, o ângulo formado na cabeça dos parafusos também foi sempre maior para o grupo monobloco (15,55°) , comparado aos grupos solda TIG (10,15º) e solda Convencional (9,85°) , sendo que diferença estatisticamente significante foi encontrada entre os grupos monobloco em relação aos grupos soldados, e não havendo diferença estatística entre os grupos soldados, p<0,05. Os valores médios de destorque (quantidade de torque retido durante o aperto dos parafusos) foram maiores para o grupo solda TIG (26,77Ncm) em relação aos grupos monobloco (26,55Ncm) e grupo solda Convencional (25,10Ncm) respectivamente, porém sem diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos. Tanto para o momento de torque quanto para o momento de re-torque, infra-estruturas do grupo Monobloco permitiram maior rotação dos parafusos dos abutments, quando comparados com os grupos Soldados. Na análise dos valores de destorque, estatisticamente os grupos foram considerados semelhantes. / With the spread of osseointegrated implants in clinical practice the incidence of mechanical complications have become common, causing problems for patients and professionals. The aim of this study was to compare the degree of rotation of titanium screws, during testing of torque, re-torque and destorque values (Ncm) in one-piece casting infrastructures, welded with TIG and Conventional welding, from UCLA strap machined Cr-Co abutments. A reader device for the number of degrees has been specially developed for this study, together with a software. Titaniun Fix implants (n=6) of 3.75mm in diameter and 13mm in length and external hexagon were mounted at the base of a device and they were obtained directly from the casting patterns of the specimens. Groups that were subjected to welding were mounted to the implant analogues, submitted to special plaster type IV (Durone) blocks. Each sample was formed by two UCLA type abutments with strap on Co-Cr, connected by an acrylic bar. It were obtained 10 specimens for each group and 60 titanium screws (Grade 5 - Titaniun Fix) were used for testing. The measurement of the angle created during tightening and re-tightening the screws, and re-grip performed 10 minutes after the initial torque, both under torque 30Ncm were obtained. After re-tightening procedure, the value of destoque was immediately measured and recorded in Ncm, to evaluate the amount of torque by the screw retained after the procedure, being this sequence performed three times for each specimen. The statistical analysis used were, analysis of variance (1 way - ANOVA) and the Tukey test to see whether there were differences between the groups. The results revealed that during the procedures of torque (tightening), the screws used in the one-piece infrastructure castings showed a higher degree of rotation (56,12°) compared to the screws used on targeted infrastructure and rendered separately welded with TIG (43,2°) and Conventional welding with a mean value (35,7°), bei ng the difference between the groups statistically significant in all groups for the torque moment (p<0.05). During the re-torque, the angle formed at the head of the screws was also always greater for the one-piece casting group (15,55°) compared to TI G welding groups (10,15°) and Conventional welding (9,85°), and significant diffe rences were found between the groups (p<0.05). The average values of destorque (retained amount of torque when tightening the screws) were higher for the TIG welding group (26,77Ncm) compared to one-piece casting groups (26,55Ncm) and Conventional welding group (25,10Ncm), respectively, however no statistically significant difference between groups were found. For both the torque and re-torque moments, one-piece infrastructure group allowed more rotation of the abutment screws when compared with the welded groups. In the analysis of destorque values, the groups were statistically similar.

This thesis is concerned with the topic of Pumps with crew centrifugal impeller. Thanks to the benefits such as free passage and efficiency there are many practical applications of these products. Despite this fact there is only few manufacturers dealing with them what results in lack of research and available information in the area. In order to fill the gap, this thesis aims to propose hydraulic of screw centrifugal impeller to the specified parameters. The impeller with a single moving blade will be designed for pumping heavily polluted water and hardly pumpable liquids. Blade will be balanced together with the rotor, while the emphasis will be placed on the highest free passage of impeller. The theoretical part of the thesis summarizes literature on the subject, practical part deals with the calculations and adjustments pointing to a concrete proposal. Parameters of designed hydraulics were verified using stationary calculations using MRF model in FLUENT. As a results, two possible solutions are offered.

No description available.

Yes / Grinding solid reagents under solvent-free or low-solvent conditions (mechanochemistry) is emerging as a general synthetic technique which is an alternative to conventional solvent-intensive methods. However, it is essential to find ways to scale-up this type of synthesis if its promise of cleaner manufacturing is to be realised. Here, we demonstrate the use of twin screw and single screw extruders for the continuous synthesis of various metal complexes, including Ni(salen), Ni(NCS)2(PPh3)2 as well as the commercially important metal organic frameworks (MOFs) Cu3(BTC)2 (HKUST-1), Zn(2-methylimidazolate)2 (ZIF-8, MAF-4) and Al(fumarate)(OH). Notably, Al(fumarate)(OH) has not previously been synthesised mechanochemically. Quantitative conversions occur to give products at kg h−1 rates which, after activation, exhibit surface areas and pore volumes equivalent to those of materials produced by conventional solvent-based methods. Some reactions can be performed either under completely solvent-free conditions whereas others require the addition of small amounts of solvent (typically 3–4 mol equivalents). Continuous neat melt phase synthesis is also successfully demonstrated by both twin screw and single screw extrusion for ZIF-8. The latter technique provided ZIF-8 at 4 kg h−1. The space time yields (STYs) for these methods of up to 144 × 103 kg per m3 per day are orders of magnitude greater than STYs for other methods of making MOFs. Extrusion methods clearly enable scaling of mechanochemical and melt phase synthesis under solvent-free or low-solvent conditions, and may also be applied in synthesis more generally. / EPSRC (EP/L019655/1)

In this project, the main research objective is intend to seek criteria for evaluating the capacity of BAC screw fasteners with mixed configuration of waterproof seal washer, sealer tape and different pre-drill holes to determine shear and tension strength values for the screws used in cold-formed steel connections. The thesis presents the design methods and test program conducted to investigate the behavior and strength of the screw connections in shear and tension test. Test results were compared with AISI design provisions to determine if new design equations will be developed for those screws used in BAC cooling tower applications. LRFD resistance factors and ASD safety factors were investigated to the proposed design equations.

This research project presents a study of the fixation of screws in augmented and non-augmented cancellous bone at a microscopic scale. It is estimated that somewhere close to one million screws are failing each year. Therefore, the aim is to identify the key parameters affecting screw pull-out in order to improve screw fixation in cancellous bone, and hence screw design. The background for this study comes from work by Stryker, comparing screw pull-out from augmented and non-augmented cancellous bone, where a few cases of screw pull-out gave better results without bone augmentation. This is contrary to most evidence and the hypothesis to explain these results is that the screw pull-out from cancellous bone could be strongly affected by the cancellous bone micro architecture. The effect of the influence of the screw’s initial position was first verified with 2D finite element (FE) models of screw pull-out from simplified cancellous bone models. The results showed a force reaction variation up to 28% with small change in position. The hypothesis was then tested with 3D FE models of screw pull-out from more complex cancellous bone models with different volume fractions. Three volume fractions were tested and again the effects were confirmed, but only in models with the lower volume fraction. A variation up to 30% of the force reaction was observed. The 3D simplified cancellous bone models with 5.3% volume fraction were also used to study the influence of augmentation using calcium phosphate cement. A significant improvement of the screw holding power (almost 2 times) as well as an important diminution of the variability of the pull-out force due to the screw initial position was found. Other augmentation geometries were used to model cement. They all showed an increase of the screw pull-out force reaction with an increase of the cement volume. Validation of FE results was achieved by comparing screw pull-out from a cadaver cancellous bone and the FE model constructed from the same bone sample. New studies were then carried out from the cadaver cancellous bone model. The first study examined the screw initial position influence with cancellous and cortical screws and again showed that there is a strong correlation between screw pull-out stiffness and bone volume fraction. The cortical screw showed improved performance over the cancellous screw. Augmentation cases were explored using three bone samples with a range of volume fractions obtained from different sites within the cadaver bone sample. The cancellous screw was tested with 3 types of augmentation and the cortical screw was tested with one augmentation in these 3 samples. The results showed each time a significant improvement of stiffness with augmentation but when compared with the effect of volume variation inside the bone sample, it appeared that the improvement of stiffness from augmentation might not cover the loss in stiffness from a small change in bone structure. Finally, screw design parameters were investigated, as cortical screws seemed to give as good or better stiffness results than cancellous screw. The thread pitch, the thread angle and the core diameter were analysed independently and it appeared that the most important parameter was the thread pitch with an improvement of the stiffness of +46% for cancellous screws with a smaller thread pitch. The two other factors studied (core diameter and thread angle) showed somewhat stiffer results but with a relatively small influence (less than 10%). From this study, the best screw for use in cancellous bone could be a cortical screw (diameter and pitch) with thread angles similar to a cancellous screw.

The aim of this thesis is ball screw service life measurement. Text is divided on two major parts, theoretical one and practical one. Theoretical part describes three basic methods of ball screws manufacturing – rolling, whirling and grinding. Subsequently, methods of heat treatment (inductive and laser hardening) are mentioned. Practical part is devoted to ball screw service life testing and evaluation of results. Tests were carried out on two sets of two ball screws. First set was manufactured by whirling and grinding followed by inductive hardening. Second set was manufactured by grinding followed by inductive hardening in one case and laser hardening in the second one. Test results were evaluated according to international standards.

This thesis deals with construction of rotary-nut ball screw. In the first chapter technical research at the current state of linear positioning systems and matters associated with them is listed. The next chapter treats of basic concepts and designs referring to ball screws. Further on the boundary between rotary ball screw and rotary- nut ball screw is described. On basis of restrictions and selected criterions solution of one size of rotary – nut ball screw with all the calculations.