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Femoral shaft fractures are commonly encountered in orthopaedics and are typically treated using intramedullary (IM) nailing under fluoroscopic guidance. Inaccuracies in the location of the entry point of the nail and the alignment of the reduced fracture are not uncommon during this procedure. This can greatly increase the risk of iatrogenic fractures, malunions and, potentially, secondary degenerative joint disease. Fluoroscopy-based computer-assisted navigation workflows have been developed but are, as yet, not widely used. As such, there is a need to investigate the performance of these systems as well as the possibility of using newer imaging methods to enhance the reduction accuracy. This body of work investigated the impact of off-angle fluoroscopic images on the accuracy and precision of the selection of the entry points used in IM nailing and found that, while images were considered to be clinically acceptable, they resulted in large deviations in the selection of the entry point. Although higher precision was achieved with navigation, it did not improve the accuracy. This work extended the investigation of off-angle images by investigating the impact of the variation in the landmarks used by current navigation methods on quantification of femoral anteversion. The observed landmark variations were propagated through the calculation of femoral anteversion and yielded errors exceeding current clinical tolerances. As an alternative to fluoroscopy, this work developed two, semi-automated algorithms to quantify femoral shaft fracture alignment in six degrees of freedom (6DOF) based on a single, intraoperative cone-beam CT scan. Both algorithms were able to accurately quantify malalignment in all 6DOF with high repeatability and limited user interaction over a range of complex femoral shaft fractures, even in cases with severe comminution. The time requirements for the utilization of these algorithms were reasonable with respect to the time required for current, fluoroscopy-based navigation. Therefore, both of these algorithms would provide an efficient, robust and accurate alternative for the quantification of malalignment in 6DOF. Such an accurate and robust quantification of malalignment, when paired with the high precision tracking in current navigation systems, may enable the improvement of reduction accuracy in the treatment of complex femoral shaft fractures.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s Underground Research Laboratory was built to allow study of concepts for the long-term disposal of Canada’s used nuclear fuel in a deep geological repository. The underground portion of the facility was decommissioned and permanently closed in 2010. Decommissioning included the installation of a seal at the intersection of the access shaft with a hydraulically active fracture zone located at 275 m depth. The objective of the shaft seal is to limit potential groundwater mixing above and below the fracture zone. This project provided a unique opportunity to study the hydro-mechanical evolution of a full-scale shaft seal installed under conditions similar to those in a deep geological repository. This thesis provides an overview of the instrumentation and data logging techniques that have been successfully used to monitor the initial behaviour of the shaft seal in this unique underground environment.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s Underground Research Laboratory was built to allow study of concepts for the long-term disposal of Canada’s used nuclear fuel in a deep geological repository. The underground portion of the facility was decommissioned and permanently closed in 2010. Decommissioning included the installation of a seal at the intersection of the access shaft with a hydraulically active fracture zone located at 275 m depth. The objective of the shaft seal is to limit potential groundwater mixing above and below the fracture zone. This project provided a unique opportunity to study the hydro-mechanical evolution of a full-scale shaft seal installed under conditions similar to those in a deep geological repository. This thesis provides an overview of the instrumentation and data logging techniques that have been successfully used to monitor the initial behaviour of the shaft seal in this unique underground environment.

Femoral shaft fractures are commonly encountered in orthopaedics and are typically treated using intramedullary (IM) nailing under fluoroscopic guidance. Inaccuracies in the location of the entry point of the nail and the alignment of the reduced fracture are not uncommon during this procedure. This can greatly increase the risk of iatrogenic fractures, malunions and, potentially, secondary degenerative joint disease. Fluoroscopy-based computer-assisted navigation workflows have been developed but are, as yet, not widely used. As such, there is a need to investigate the performance of these systems as well as the possibility of using newer imaging methods to enhance the reduction accuracy. This body of work investigated the impact of off-angle fluoroscopic images on the accuracy and precision of the selection of the entry points used in IM nailing and found that, while images were considered to be clinically acceptable, they resulted in large deviations in the selection of the entry point. Although higher precision was achieved with navigation, it did not improve the accuracy. This work extended the investigation of off-angle images by investigating the impact of the variation in the landmarks used by current navigation methods on quantification of femoral anteversion. The observed landmark variations were propagated through the calculation of femoral anteversion and yielded errors exceeding current clinical tolerances. As an alternative to fluoroscopy, this work developed two, semi-automated algorithms to quantify femoral shaft fracture alignment in six degrees of freedom (6DOF) based on a single, intraoperative cone-beam CT scan. Both algorithms were able to accurately quantify malalignment in all 6DOF with high repeatability and limited user interaction over a range of complex femoral shaft fractures, even in cases with severe comminution. The time requirements for the utilization of these algorithms were reasonable with respect to the time required for current, fluoroscopy-based navigation. Therefore, both of these algorithms would provide an efficient, robust and accurate alternative for the quantification of malalignment in 6DOF. Such an accurate and robust quantification of malalignment, when paired with the high precision tracking in current navigation systems, may enable the improvement of reduction accuracy in the treatment of complex femoral shaft fractures.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-231).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:34:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-12-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:45:41Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 arrudafilho_e_dr_guara.pdf: 580295 bytes, checksum: 8e98b919e8a238c1016d115cd4d53224 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O presente trabalho visa constatar a alteração nas freqüências de ressonância de rotores, considerando o efeito da flexibilidade dos discos, bem como o momento fletor aplicado ao eixo devido ao efeito giroscópico. A análise por matriz de transferência é utilizada para obter as freqüências naturais do sistema, considerando-o sem amortecimento, e movimento em órbita circular. Realizou-se uma fase experimental, a fim de se verificar a teoria desenvolvida, bem como observar os modos de vibrar do disco, do eixo, e do sistema disco-eixo, e suas respectivas freqüências naturais. / The main objective of this work is to investigate the resonant frequencies of rotors, taking into account not only the flexibility of the discs, but also the bending moment (due to the gyroscopic effect) applied to the shaft. The theorical analysis is based in the transfer matrix technique. The system was assumed to be undamped with the shaftdisc in circular orbit motion. An experimental work was carried out in order to obtain the mode shapes and the natural frequencies of the disc, shaft, and of the disc-shaft system. A good correlation was observed between the theorical and experimental results. Keywords: resonant frequencies, flexibility of the discs, disc-shaft system, transfer matrix method.

The selection of suitable materials for the renovation of sliding shafts requires a comparison of several criteria. The main criteria were selected size shear strength under tensile stress lap bonded assemblies, resistance to adhesive wear and economic criteria. From the results of all tests is selected the most suitable friction material to repair worn out places of shaft. The technological process of sealing the shaft was drawn up on the basis of the literature, recommendations supplier of sliding materials and their own experience.

Master´s thesis is directed for long ball screws of nut. It is here wrote their principle, essential type, parameters and current status of single used components. For this thesis is created at program Microsoft Excel methodical calculating of required parameters ball screws of nut. Another they are investigated status of affect length shaft ball screws, as mode storage, type actuator and possible damping. In last part is solved the design of supports long shaft ball screws and is here proposed conceptual process used supports.

The presence of cracks in rotors is one of the most dangerous defects of rotating machinery. This can lead to catastrophic failure of the shaft and long out-of-service periods. The occurrence of a crack in a rotating shaft introduces changes in flexibilities which alters the dynamics during operation. This research deals with detecting damage in rotors by means of constantly monitoring the variation in the rotor’s dynamics during normal operating conditions. This project entails a computer finite element section as well as an experimental investigation. The flexibility in the region of the crack is different from an uncracked section. A finite element model of a shaft is built and investigated. The damaged model is the same except that the nodes in the location of the crack are not equivalenced in order to represent the crack. A simple constant cross-sectional shaft with semi-circular transverse surface cracks varying in size have been modelled on the Patran finite element software and a normal modes analysis was done using the Nastran solver. The results revealed a change in the natural frequencies due to the variation in the size of the crack. The experimental investigation involved creating sample shafts with damage positioned in them that would closely resemble what one may find in actual real-life situations and the dynamics during rotation with various torsional loadings are investigated and monitored using three methods. A fibre-optical sensor, Digital image correlation system and telemetry strain gauges were used. Undersampling techniques were used for the DIC system. Results showed that the fibre-optic sensor is by far the most favourable as it is able to detect damage under constant operation. The finite element model was updated by re-modelling the geometry, damage and material properties. The solution of the analysis matched the experimental results closely and model verification was achieved. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted