• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-114
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• 2011

The current status of Canadian research on rotor-based actively controlled technologies for helicopters is reviewed in this paper. First, worldwide research in this field is overviewed to put Canadian research into context. Then, the unique hybrid control concept of Carleton University is described, along with its key element, the "stiffness control" concept. Next, the smart hybrid active rotor control system (SHARCS) projected's history and organization is presented, which aims to demonstrate the hybrid control concept in a wind tunnel test campaign. To support the activities of SHARCS, unique computational tools, novel experimental facilities and new know-how had to be developed in Canada, among them the state-of-the-art Carleton Whirl Tower facility or the ability to design and manufacture aeroelastically scaled helicopter rotors for wind tunnel testing. In the second half of the paper, details are provided on the current status of development on the three subsystems of SHARCS, i.e. that of the actively controlled tip, the actively controlled flap and the unique stiffness-control device, the active pitch link.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2012

Background : Complex elbow injuries with associated nerve, muscle, or joint injury commonly develop post-inury stiffness. In order to preserve function, joint congruency, elbow stability and durable wound coverage must be achieved in a timely manner. Methods : A retrospective review of patients who underwent orthopaedic fixation followed by free anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap soft tissue coverage was performed. Five patients were identified and included in this study. Results : We present a series of 5 cases managed with this principle. Soft tissue defects ranged in size from $4{\times}9cm$ ($36cm^2$) to $15{\times}30cm$ ($450cm^2$) and were located either posteriorly (n=4) or anteriorly (n=1). Associated injuries included open fractures (n=3) and motor nerve transection (n=2). Wound coverage was achieved in a mean duration of 18.8 days (range, 11 to 42 day). There were no flap failures and no major complications. The mean postoperative active elbow motion was $102^{\circ}$ (range, $45^{\circ}$ to $140^{\circ}$). Conclusions : In our small series we have highlighted the safety and utility of using the free ALT flap in complex elbow injuries. The ALT flap has many advantages which include abundant skin and subcutaneous tissue; vascularised vastus lateralis muscle that was used in our series to obliterate dead space, provide a vascular bed for nerve grafts and combat infection; and, access to fascia lata grafts for reconstruction of the triceps tendon.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 2004

This study was designed to introduce the cross-leg free flap only for vein anastomosis as an alternative salvage method for the reconstruction of severe soft tissue defects in vascular-compromised lower extremities. Four cross-leg free flap reconstructions were performed using the latissimus dorsi muscle to reconstruct soft tissue defects in the lower extremity. The recipient artery was confined to the ipsilateral side and the venous anastomosis was carried out in the contralateral side. Both legs were immobilized together with an external fixator. All patients were males, and had a mean age of 31 years. The mean time of pedicle division was 8.8 days range of 7 to 10 days. The mean size of the flap was 186.5 cm2. All flaps survived after pedicle division without venous congestion. There was no complication in joint stiffness, nor donor site morbidity except for a linear scar. The cross-leg free flap only for vein anastomosis is a refinement of a salvage procedure used for the reconstruction of severe soft tissue defects in vascular-compromised lower extremities.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2013

Whirl tower test is conducted basically during helicopter rotor system development process. And for whirl tower test of rotor hub system, new design blade or existing blade which is remodeled for new rotor hub system is used. Because of simple shape and efficient aerodynamic characteristic, BO-105 helicopter blade is used for helicopter rotor hub development project widely. Originally BO-105 blade is used for hingeless hub system and blade root is used to flexure. So flap stiffness and lag stiffness at blade root area is relatively low compare with airfoil area. So, in order to apply the BO-105 blade to bearingless hub, blade root area have to be reinforced. And in this process, blade root area's section property is changed. In this paper, we suggest reinforcement method of BO-105 blade root area and study dynamic characteristic of bearingless rotor system with reinforcement BO-105 blade.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2012.04a
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• pp.622-627
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• 2012

During helicopter rotor system development process, whirl tower test is conducted basically. For conducting whirl tower test during bearingless hub development process, design new blade or using existing blade with repair or remodeling. Because simple shape and efficient aerodynamic characteristic, BO-105 blade is used for hub system development widely. Originally BO-105 blade is used for hingeless hub, ho flap stiffness and lag stiffness on blade root area is relatively low. So applying BO-105 blade to bearingless hub whirl tower test, root area have to be reinforce. In this process, blade root area's section property will be changed. In this paper, suggest reinforcement method of BO-105 blade root area and study dynamic characteristic of bearingless rotor system with reinforcement BO-105 blade.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.691-698
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• 2014

This paper describes the manufacturing processes for a flexbeam and torque tube made of composite materials, along with the procedures for testing their basic properties. A flexbeam and torque tube can be considered to be key structural components of a bearingless rotor hub system. A hinge offset effect can be realized by a large elastic deformation and twist of the flexbeam, and the blade pitch control forces are transferred by the rotation of the torque tube. The basic property tests included bending and twist tests to determine the flap stiffness, lag stiffness, and torsion stiffness of the flexbeam, torque tube, and blade, and these tests were performed prior to starting the whirl tower test. In addition, the estimated results were compared with experimental data, and the calculations were found to be a good match for the analysis results and had a similar tendency. Through these results, we could confirm that a flexbeam and torque tube made of composite materials satisfied the structural stiffness requirements.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 2020

Vibrations of a wind turbine blade have a negative impact on its performance and result in failure of the blade, therefore an approach to effectively control vibration in turbine blades are sought by wind industry. The small domestic horizontal axis wind turbine blades induce flap wise (out-of-plane) vibration, due to varying wind speeds. These flap wise vibrations are transferred to the structure, which even causes catastrophic failure of the system. Shape memory alloys which possess physical property of variable stiffness across different phases are embedded into the composite blades for active vibration control. Previously Shape memory alloys have been used as actuators to change their angles and orientations in fighter jet blades but not used for active vibration control for wind turbine blades. In this work a GFRP blade embedded with Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) and tested for its vibrational and material damping characteristics, under martensitic and austenite conditions. The embedment portrays 47% reduction in displacement of blade, with respect to the conventional blade. An analytical model for the actuated smart blade is also proposed, which validates the harmonic response of the smart blade.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.92-95
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• 2008

Purpose: Heterotopic ossification in pressure sore patients is reported to rarely develop, but once it occurs, it frequently causes joint stiffness and mobilization restriction. The aim of this article is to report our experience of atypical bone growing at femur neck fracture site with chronic, extensive pressure sore in patient with paraplegia secondary to spinal injury. Methods: A 28-year-old male patient presented with atypical bone growth at femur neck fracture site with pressure sore. He had undergone atypical growth bone removal and separation of united iliac bone and femur, and then pressure sore was covered by advanced rotation flap. Results: The patient mobilized hip joint and rode in a wheelchair. Complications such as dehiscence, infection, hematoma and flap necrosis did not occur. Conclusion: We experienced successful correction of atypical bone growth removal and recovery of pressure sore. We report our experience of atypical bone growth of fracture site and the related literature was reviewed.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.553-565
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• 2017

Structural modeling of unencapsulated ionic polymer metal composite (u-IPMC) actuators that are used for flapping the insect scale-flapping wing of micro air vehicles (FMAV) in dry environmental conditions is carried out. Structural modeling for optimization of design parameters for retention of water, maximize actuation performance and to study the influence of water activity on the actuation characteristics of u-IPMC is explored for use in FMAV. The influence of equivalent weight of Nafion polymer, cations, concentration of cations, pre-treatment procedures on retention of water of u-IPMCs and on actuation parameters, flapping angle, flexural stiffness and actuation displacement are investigated. IPMC designed with Nafion having equivalent weight 900-1100, pre-heated at $30^{\circ}C$ and with sodium as the cations is promising for optimum retention of water and actuation performance. The actuation parameters while in operation in dry and humid environment with varying water activity can be tuned to desirable frequency, deflection, flap angle and flexural stiffness by changing the water activity and operational temperature of the environment.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.26-31
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• 2007

This paper addresses a method for structural optimum design of composite rotor blade. The basic model of a composite helicopter main rotor blade is designed and its parameters determining the structural/dynamic properties are studied. Through the investigation of flap/lag/torsional stiffness, the structural properties of the model are analyzed. In this study, helicopter rotor blades are analyzed by using VABS. The computer program VABS (Variational Asymptotic Beam Section Analysis) uses the variational asymptotic method to split a three-dimensional nonlinear elasticity problem into a two dimensional cross-sectional analysis and a one-dimensional nonlinear beam problem. This is accomplished by taking advantage of certain small parameters inherent to beam-like structures. In addition, the rotational stability of the blade is estimated by the frequency diagram from FE analysis(MSC.Patran/Nastran) to understand its vibrational property. From the result, design parameters to determine and optimize the properties of the model are presented.