The objective of this research was to better understand how impact angle influences headform dynamic response and brain tissue deformation. A bare headform was impacted using a pneumatic linear impactor at 5.5 m/s. The impacts were directed on the front and side location at angles of 0, 5, 10 and 15° rightward rotations as well as -5, -10 and -15° (leftward) rotations at the side to examine the characteristics of the head and neckform on the results. Peak resultant linear and rotational accelerations from the headform as well as peak maximum principal strain (MPS) and von Mises stress (VMS) estimated from a brain finite element model were used to measure the effect of impact angle. Significant results were dependent upon the impact angle and location as well as the dependent variable used for comparison (p <0.05). Impact angle produced significant differences in rotational acceleration and MPS at both the front and side; however angle only had an effect on VMS and linear acceleration at the front and side locations, respectively. These findings show that the effect of impact angle is asymmetrical and is specific to the dependent variable. This study suggests that varying impact angle alone may not be as influential on headform dynamic response and brain tissue deformation and that the severity of an impact may be more of a function of how both location and angle create high risk conditions.

To evaluate the impact of reduced truck tire pressure on strain response of low volume spring-restricted roads, research was conducted on two instrumented pavement sections in Manitoba, Canada. Tire pressure control systems tests were carried out at the sections in spring and fall 2009. Measured maximum tensile strain at the bottom of asphalt layer decreased by 15-20% when tire pressure was reduced by 50%. Measured strain at the bottom of asphalt layer in fall is about 50% less than in spring. The effects of gauge orientation, truck speed, and tire offset from the strain gauge were also analyzed. A finite element model with static load was developed and verified. The bearing capacity is lower in spring than in normal condition for flexible pavements subject to deep frost action. Reduced tire pressure is effective to reduce bottom up failure of the pavement, and is less effective to prevent rutting.

In this thesis, a two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) model was developed from the patient’s hip DXA image to evaluate osteoporotic fracture risk. The loading configuration was designed to simulate a lateral fall onto the greater trochanter. Bone inhomogeneous mechanical properties (e.g. Young’s modulus) assigned to the FE model were correlated to bone mineral density captured in DXA image using empirical functions. In-house MATLAB codes were developed to investigate the effects of different factors such as bone mineral density, femoral neck length, neck diameter, neck angle and patient’s body weight on fracture risk. The 2D FE model constructed from DXA image was able to de-termine the factors which affect fracture risk to a greater extent based on the location of femur. The model developed here can be considered as a first attempt for investigating the effects of different parameters on fracture risk using patient specific 2D FE method.

The objective of this study is to develop a finite element model of the human thorax with a protective body armor system so that the model can adequately determine the thorax's biodynamical response from a projectile impact. The finite element model of the human thorax consists of the thoracic skeleton, heart, lungs, major arteries, major veins, trachea, and bronchi. The finite element model of the human thorax is validated by comparing the model's results to experimental data obtained from cadavers wearing a protective body armor system undergoing a projectile impact. When the model is deemed valid, a parametric study is performed to determine the components of the model that have the greatest effect on its biodynamical response to a projectile impact.

Identification of material properties has been highly discussed in recent times thanks to better technology availability and its application to the field of experimental mechanics. Bayesian approaches as Markov-chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods demonstrated to be reliable and suitable tools to process data, describing probability distributions and uncertainty bounds for investigated parameters in absence of explicit inverse analytical expressions. Though it is necessary to repeat experiments multiple times for good estimations, this might be not always feasible due to possible incurring limitations: the thesis addresses the problem of material properties estimation in presence of correlated and insufficient data, resulting in multivariate error modeling and high sample covariance matrix instability. To recover from the lack of information about the true covariance we analyze two different methodologies: first the hierarchical covariance modeling is investigated, then a method based on covariance shrinkage is employed. A numerical study comparing both approaches and employing finite element analysis within MCMC iterations will be presented, showing how the method based on covariance shrinkage is more suitable to post-process data for the range of problems under investigation.

There are many causes of structural failure. One of the most important factors leading to material failure is residual stress. This stress represents effects left in structures after processing or removal of external loads including changes in shape and crystallite size. In aggregate, residual stress changes the mechanical behaviour of materials. Various measurement techniques encompassing destructive, semi destructive, and non-destructive testing can be used to measure residual stresses. Thin plates are common in engineering applications. This thesis analyzes residual stresses on circular AISI 1020 steel alloy plates after removal of external loads using two-dimensional X-ray diffraction. Two identical thin circular plates are used in this experiment; one of which is statically loaded. The other plate is used as a control specimen. Residual stresses in the plates are measured using two-dimensional X-ray diffraction and the measurements are compared to those obtained using finite element analysis. It was found that experimentally measured residual stress occurred due to manufacture processing. Also, modules A and B showed the external effect of applying not enough to reach the plastic region to deform specimen 2 and obtain residual stress results distribution.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a successful surgical technique that can be used for the effective treatment of fractured neck of femur, osteoarthritis, tumours, avascular necrosis, failed internal fixation, developmental dysplasia and rheumatoid arthritis. Revision surgery is necessary if loosening allows relative motion between the femoral stem and femur, causing pain and mechanical instability of the THA. The large number of revision operations undertaken each year as a result of implant failure emphasises the need for better biomechanical understanding of the femoral implant system. During 2001-02 in Australia 26,689 hip replacement operations were performed, with 3,710 of these being revision operations. The Exeter stem is the most commonly used cemented stem for primary and revision hip replacement in Australia. It is therefore very important to understand the mechanics of this clinically successful implant. Few studies have presented a through investigation into the mechanics of the Exeter stem from a fundamental perspective. To address these issues, mechanical and finite element (FE) methods were used to conduct experiments and numerical investigations into the mechanics of the Exeter stem. The femur geometry, for both the experimental and FE studies, was based upon the Sawbones model 3303 medium left third generation femur. The stem orientation for all specimens of the study was replicated from the orientation achieved by the senior surgeon implanting into the Sawbones femur. Test rigs were designed specifically to constrain the femur for the purposes of loading and stability measurements. The experimental investigation was used to investigate the torsional mechanical stability of the stem and to monitor this stability following periods of cyclic loading, using a resultant hip contact force, while monitoring the distal migration of the stem. The experimental investigation was also able to provide data for the validation of the finite element model. The resultant hip contact force was represented experimentally by a cyclic load of 1Hz applied to the head of the implant. The specimen was tested for four days. The loading regime for the initially implanted specimen involved the application of load for 6 hours a day, allowing the specimen to relax under no load for 18 hours a day. The mechanical stability of the initially implanted specimen was tested prior to the application of the cyclic load and immediately after the loading periods, prior to relaxation. Further tests were undertaken to assess the mechanical stability of the stem following the removal and reimplantation of the same stem without the use of additional bone cement (a procedure used surgically when only the acetabular component requires replacement). The reimplanted specimens were tested for a further two days following reimplantation. The six hours of loading for the reimplanted specimen was achieved using three, two hour loading periods. The stability of the reimplaned stem was assessed following each loading period. Initial studies found that the material properties of the Sawbones femurs were highly temperature dependent. If the temperature of the short glass fibre reinforced (SGFR) epoxy used for the cortical bone analogue was increased from room temperature to body temperature there was a reduction in the Young's modulus of up to 37 percent. This finding led to further investigation into the strain state of the femur for varus and neutral stem orientations to reduce femur failure during cyclic loading. The strains of the varus stem orientation were found to be higher than the strains of the neutral stem. The experiments investigating the mechanical stability under cyclic loading continued using the neutral stem orientation. For the neutral stem orientation it was found that there was no perceivable variation in the torsional stiffness of the initially implanted system during the cyclic loading period even though distal migration was observed. Torsional stiffness was observed to be compromised immediately after reimplantation. However, the torsional stiffness of the reimplanted specimen was recovered within the first two hour loading period. No perceivable variation in the torsional stiffness was observed between the initially implanted specimens and the reimplanted specimens following the first two hours of loading. The finite element model (FEM) found good agreement with the experimental investigation in terms of measured strain at two of three rosette positions and failure of the cortical bone. Trends for the stress-strain state of the stem showed good agreement with the clinical findings of failure and wear of the stem. The stress-strain state of the cement predicted the expected compressive and hoop stresses once debonding of the stem-cement interface had progressed. Strain on the surface of the femur was well predicted for pure torsional loading. The FEM has provided a valuable tool for future investigation of the effect of factors such as implant positioning on femoral component mechanics. The experimental and finite element models developed within the scope of this project have provided a powerful analysis tool for the investigation of the femoral component mechanics in THA. Application of the model to clinically relevant problems has given valuable insight into the mechanisms behind the success of this particular implant type. Models such as this will provide information on implant failure modes that will further lead to an increased implant life expectancy and a reduction in the number of revision operations performed.

Thermoset Composite Welding (TCW) is a process designed specifically for joining composite materials, developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures (CRC-ACS). The TCW manufacture process is carried out at higher temperatures than those used in service, causing thermal residual (TR) stresses to develop in the joints. An investigation of the strength of single-lap shear joints (SLJs), and the development of laminate free edge microcracks (LFEMs) is presented in this thesis. The reported investigations are primarily experimental. Finite element analysis has been used to understand observations where appropriate. The effect of TR stresses on static failure of TCW SLJs and Cytec FM1515 thin film epoxy adhesive SLJs over the temperature range of -55??C to 71??C is investigated. At temperatures where the joining material is ductile, plastic flow results in the redistribution of TR stresses within the joints, reducing their effect on the failure strength. No such stress redistributions occur at lower temperatures when the joining material is brittle; hence, the TR stresses cause strength reductions. These results were used to propose a method of shear strength improvement by initiating plastic flow in the joint at the time of manufacture. Microcracks are common at the free edges of thermoset composites. These develop preferentially near the weld material interface in TCW laminates, and are termed laminate free edge microcracks (LFEMs) in this study. MicroCT scanning was used to find and characterise LFEMs in TCW joints. The results indicated that TR stresses combined with the free edge sectioning process cause their development outside the joint overlap regions. Microcracks developed within the joint overlaps during mechanical fatigue cycling. LFEMs were also found in FM1515 joints. A fatigue life study is presented for TCW and FM1515 SLJs at -55??C, in which the effect of LFEMs is considered. TCW is a new process. This investigation is the first dealing with the effect of thermal residual stresses on the strength of TCW joints, and the development and effect of LFEMs. The shear strength improvement method is also a novel concept for joints.

Thermoset Composite Welding (TCW) is a process designed specifically for joining composite materials, developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures (CRC-ACS). The TCW manufacture process is carried out at higher temperatures than those used in service, causing thermal residual (TR) stresses to develop in the joints. An investigation of the strength of single-lap shear joints (SLJs), and the development of laminate free edge microcracks (LFEMs) is presented in this thesis. The reported investigations are primarily experimental. Finite element analysis has been used to understand observations where appropriate. The effect of TR stresses on static failure of TCW SLJs and Cytec FM1515 thin film epoxy adhesive SLJs over the temperature range of -55??C to 71??C is investigated. At temperatures where the joining material is ductile, plastic flow results in the redistribution of TR stresses within the joints, reducing their effect on the failure strength. No such stress redistributions occur at lower temperatures when the joining material is brittle; hence, the TR stresses cause strength reductions. These results were used to propose a method of shear strength improvement by initiating plastic flow in the joint at the time of manufacture. Microcracks are common at the free edges of thermoset composites. These develop preferentially near the weld material interface in TCW laminates, and are termed laminate free edge microcracks (LFEMs) in this study. MicroCT scanning was used to find and characterise LFEMs in TCW joints. The results indicated that TR stresses combined with the free edge sectioning process cause their development outside the joint overlap regions. Microcracks developed within the joint overlaps during mechanical fatigue cycling. LFEMs were also found in FM1515 joints. A fatigue life study is presented for TCW and FM1515 SLJs at -55??C, in which the effect of LFEMs is considered. TCW is a new process. This investigation is the first dealing with the effect of thermal residual stresses on the strength of TCW joints, and the development and effect of LFEMs. The shear strength improvement method is also a novel concept for joints.

This thesis explores the design of flexible pipes, buried in shallow trenches with dry sand backfill. The thesis reports the comprehensive analysis of twenty-two full-scale load tests conducted between 1989 and 1991 on pipe installations, mainly within a laboratory facility, at the University of South Australia. The pipes were highly flexible, spirally-wound, uPVC pipes, ranging in diameter from 300 to 450 mm. Guidelines were required by industry for safe cover heights for these pipes when subjected to construction traffic. The tests were designed by, and conducted under the supervision of, the author, prior to the author undertaking this thesis. As current design approaches for pipes could not anticipate the large loading settlements and hence, soil plasticity, experienced in these tests, finite element analyses were attempted. Extensive investigations of the materials in the installations were undertaken to permit finite element modelling of the buried pipe installations. In particular, a series of large strain triaxial tests were conducted on the sand backfill in the buried pipe installations, to provide an understanding of the sand behaviour in terms of critical state theory. Subsequently a constitutive model for the soil was developed. The soil model was validated before implementation in an element of finite element program, AFENA (Carter and Balaam, 1995). Single element modelling of the triaxial tests proved invaluable in obtaining material constants for the soil model. The new element was applied successfully to the analysis of a side-constrained, plate loading test on the sand. The simulation of the buried pipe tests was shown to require three-dimensional finite element analysis to approach the observed pipe-soil behaviour. Non-compliant side boundary conditions were ultimately adjudged chiefly responsible for the difficulty in matching the experimental data. The value of numerical analyses performed in tandem with physical testing was apparent, albeit in hindsight. The research has identified the prediction of vertical soil pressure above the pipe due to external loading as being the major difficulty for designers. Based on the finite element analyses of the field tests, a preliminary simple expression was developed for estimation of these pressures, which could be used with currently available design approaches to reasonably predict pipe deflections.