Development of a prototype for measuring plantar forces

Studies on the distribution of plantar pressure between the sole of the foot and the ground were developed before the 19th century. Currently, the most often employed plantar pressure measurement systems are Pedar® and FScan®, which have restrictions such as operational difficulty and high cost. In the present study, a device was constructed from two pressure plates capable of measuring plantar forces in discreet areas of the feet at a low cost, using strain-gages attached to sixteen strategic points of the mechanical elements. Sixteen prismatic beams were soldered to each frame, for which the free extremity of each beam represented a specific point of the foot. Two strain gauges were attached to each beam - one near the upper fixed extremity and the other near the lower fixed extremity. Using a Wheatstone bridge electric circuit, the gauges were used to measure the force acting on the extremity of the beam. Precision and accuracy of the prototype was about 10%. In some measurements, accuracy was 2%. The low precision and accuracy were mainly due to the restrictions of the available equipment, which only permitted four measurements at a time. Thus, it was necessary for participants to stand on the plates four separate times, which signified possible changes in the position of the feet on the pressure plates. Despite some limitations, the aim was achieved. The prototype has been used in some studies and represents a contribution to biomechanics, demonstrating the viability of using strain gauges.

Geotechnical and structural behavior of the railroad track in large-scale apparatus

This paper analyses the static and dynamic behavior of the railroad track model in laboratory. Measurements of stresses and strains on a large-scale railroad track apparatus were studied. The model includes: compacted soil, representing the final layers of platform, ballast layer, and ties (steel, wooden, and pre-stressed concrete). The soil and soil ballast interface were instrumented with pneumatic stress gauge. Settlement measurement device were positioned at the same levels as the load cells. Loads were applied by hydraulic actuators, statically and dynamically. After the prescribed number of load cycles, in pre-determined intervals, stresses and strains were measured. Observations indicate that stress and strain distributions, transmitted by wooden or steel ties, behave similarly. A more favorable behavior was observed with pre-stressed concrete mono block ties. Non-linear response was observed after a threshold numbers of cycles were surpassed, showing that the strain modulus increases with the numbers of cycles. © 2009 IOS Press.

The international financial crisis and its implications for Latin America and the Carribbean

Includes Bibliography

Effect of axial loads on implant-supported partial fixed prostheses by strain gauge analysis

Objectives: The present study used strain gauge analysis to perform an in vitro evaluation of the effect of axial loading on 3 elements of implant-supported partial fixed prostheses, varying the type of prosthetic cylinder and the loading points. Material and methods: Three internal hexagon implants were linearly embedded in a polyurethane block. Microunit abutments were connected to the implants applying a torque of 20 Ncm, and prefabricated Co-Cr cylinders and plastic prosthetic cylinders were screwed onto the abutments, which received standard patterns cast in Co-Cr alloy (n = 5). Four strain gauges (SG) were bonded onto the surface of the block tangentially to the implants, SG 01 mesially to implant 1, SG 02 and SG 03 mesially and distally to implant 2, respectively, and SG 04 distally to implant 3. Each metallic structure was screwed onto the abutments with a 10 Ncm torque and an axial load of 30 kg was applied at five predetermined points (A, B, C, D, E). The data obtained from the strain gauge analyses were analyzed statistically by RM ANOVA and Tukey's test, with a level of significance of p<0.05. Results: There was a significant difference for the loading point (p=0.0001), with point B generating the smallest microdeformation (239.49 με) and point D the highest (442.77 με). No significant difference was found for the cylinder type (p=0.748). Conclusions: It was concluded that the type of cylinder did not affect in the magnitude of microdeformation, but the axial loading location influenced this magnitude.

Métodos analíticos, numéricos e experimentais para o cálculo de ondas de impacto em meios líquidos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Eficiência de três cimentos de ionômero de vidro como dissipadores de cargas em bases de restaurações de resina composta: análise por meio da extensometria elétrica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Geoestatística aplicada à acumulação da precipitação pluviométrica com radar meteorológico

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Ponte mista de madeira-concreto em vigas treliçadas de madeira

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modelos de distribuição espacial de precipitações intensas

Pós-graduação em Física - IGCE

Avaliação de um sistema de irrigação por aspersão do tipo pivô central móvel

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Irrigação e Drenagem) - FCA

Um dispositivo mecânico para avaliação da rigidez de tornozelo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Analise de tensões através do método dos elementos finitos de um vaso de pressão projetado conforme código ASME

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise estrutural e de fadiga de juntas rebitadas de uso aeronaútico utilizando o método dos elementos finitos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Extensometria: estudo das deformações ao redor de três implantes cone morse, com posicionamento linear, sob carga axial

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo das microdeformações geradas ao redor de implantes de hexágono interno com roscas convencionais e implantes com platôs, sob a aplicação de carga vertical

Pós-graduação em Odontologia Restauradora - ICT