• 대한기계학회논문집A
• /
• 제29권6호
• /
• pp.904-912
• /
• 2005

The flow in a microchannel is usually characterized as a low Reynolds number (Re) so that good mixing is quite difficult to be achieved. In this regard, we developed a novel chaotic micromixer, named Barrier Embedded Kenics Micromixer (BEKM). In the BEKM, the higher level of chaotic mixing can be achieved by combining two general chaotic mixing mechanisms: (i) splitting/reorientation by helical elements inside the microchannel and (ii) stretching/folding via periodically located barriers on the channel wall. The fully three-dimensional geometry of BEKM was realized by a micro-stereolithography technology, in this study, along with a Kenics micromixer and a circular T-pipe. Mixing performances of three micromixers were experimentally characterized in terms of an average mixing color intensity of phenolphthalein. Experimental results show that BEKM has better mixing performance than other two micromixers. Chaotic mixing mechanism, proposed in this study, could be integrated as a mixing component with Micro-Total-Analysis-System, Lab-on-a-chip and so on.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• 제11권5호
• /
• pp.357-367
• /
• 2003

The linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/zeolite composite using novel inorganic filler, zeolite, is prepared by a conventional compounding procedure using a twin-screw extruder. The observed scanning electron microscopic (SEM) morphology shows a good dispersion and adhesion of zeolite in the LLDPE matrix. The mechanical properties in terms of the Young's modulus, the yield stress, the impact strength, and the elongation at break were enhanced with a successive increment of zeolite content up to 40 wt%. The X-ray diffraction measurement is of supportive for the improved mechanical properties and the complex melt viscosity is as well. Upon applying a certain level of strain on the composites, the dewetting, the air hole formation and its growth are characterized. The dewetting originates around the filler particles at low strain and induces elliptical micropores upon further stretching. The microporosity such as the aspect ratio, the number and the total area of the air holes is also characterized. Thus, the composites loaded 40 % zeolite and 300 % elongation may be applicable for breathable microporous films with improved modulus, impact and yield stress, elongation at break, microporosity and air hole properties.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국진공학회 2013년도 제45회 하계 정기학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.274.1-274.1
• /
• 2013

We report the circumferential alignment of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) in an orthogonally micropatterned circular microfluidic channel to form an in vivo-like smooth muscle cell layer. To realize a biomimetic smooth muscle cell layer which is aligned perpendicular to the axis of blood vessel, we first fabricated a half-circular polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel by soft lithography using a convex PDMS mold. The orthogonally micro wrinkle patterns were generated inside the half-circular microchannel by stretching-releasing operation under UV irradiation. Upon UV treatment with uniaxial 40 % stretch of a PDMS substrate and releasing process, the microwrinkle patterns perpendicular to the axial direction of the circular microchannel were generated, which could guide the circumferential alignment of HASMCs successfully during cultivation. The analysis of orientation angle, shape index, and contractile protein marker expression indicates that the cultured HASMCs revealed the in vivo-like cell phenotype. Finally, we produced circular microchannels by bonding two half-circular microchannels, and cultured the HASMCs circumferentially with high alignment and viability for 5 days. These results are the first demonstration for constructing an in vivo-like 3D smooth muscle cell layer in the circular microfluidic channel which can provide novel bioassay platforms for in-depth study of HASMC biology and vascular function.

• 한국기계가공학회지
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2022

Numerous fabrication techniques have been used to mimic cylindrical natural tissues, such as blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and skeletal muscles. However, most processes have limitations in achieving the biomimetic properties of multilayered and porous architectures. In this study, to embrace both features, a novel self-assembly method was proposed using electrospun microfibrous sheets. A bilayer microfibrous structure, comprising two sheets with different internal stresses, was fabricated by electrospinning a polycaprolactone (PCL) sheet on a uniaxially stretched thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) sheet. Then, by removing the stretching tension, the sheet was rolled into a hollow cylindrical structure with a specific internal diameter. The internal diameter could be quantitatively controlled by adjusting the thickness of the PCL sheet against that of the TPU sheet. Through this self-assembly method, biomimetic cylindrical structures with multilayer and porous features can be manufactured in a stable and controllable manner. Therefore, the resulting structures may be applied to various tissue engineering scaffolds, especially vascular and connective tissues.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• 제11권4호
• /
• pp.464-470
• /
• 2022

Objective: Axillary web syndrome (AWS) is a condition comprising fibrous band-like cords that appear in the axilla of patients after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) during breast cancer surgery and result in pain and reduced mobility. The cords appearing with AWS are hardened veins or lymphatic vessels. Manual therapy and stretching are recommended for pain control and mobility improvement. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of cytoskeletal manual therapy (CMT), which is a new soft tissue mobilization technique. Design: A case report Methods: A 41-year-old woman with AWS after breast cancer surgery and ALND visited a physical therapy clinic because of shoulder pain, decreased function, and decreased mobility. The cords were palpable and pain occurred 2 weeks after surgery. CMT was performed three times per week for a total of 6 weeks. Her pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), and shoulder function were measured. Results: Measurements were performed after 2 weeks and 6 weeks of CMT and evaluated using the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS). Her pain intensity largely decreased after 2 weeks (4-point score reduction) and after 6 weeks (5-point score reduction) of CMT. After CMT, her full ROM was restored and her shoulder function was improved (7-point score reduction). Conclusions: CMT is effective for pain control, mobility improvement, and functional improvement of patients with AWS.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• 제13권5호
• /
• pp.335-353
• /
• 2024

In the present paper, a simple quasi-3D integral higher-order beam theory (HBT) is presented, in which both shear deformation and thickness stretching effects are included for mechanical analysis of advanced composite beams with simply supported boundary conditions, handling mainly bending, buckling, and free vibration problems. The kinematics is based on a novel displacement field which includes the undetermined integral terms and the parabolic function is used in terms of thickness coordinate to represent the effect of transverse shear deformation. The governing equilibrium equations are drawn from the dynamic version of the principle of virtual work; whereas the solution of the problem is obtained by assuming a Navier technique for simply supported advanced composite beams subjected to sinusoidally and uniformly distributed loads. The correctness of the present computational method is checked by comparing the obtained numerical results with quasi-3D solutions found in the literature and with those provided by other shear deformation beam theories. It can be confirmed that the proposed model, which does not involve any shear correction factor, is not only accurate but also simple and useful in solving the static and dynamic response of advanced composite beams.

• 한국멀티미디어학회논문지
• /
• 제11권9호
• /
• pp.1296-1301
• /
• 2008

초음파 영상은 초음파 펄스를 이용하여 반사파를 수신하여 진단에 필요한 영상을 구성하는데 신호가 약해 질 경우 잡음이 발생하며 미세한 명암도 차이 등에 의해 분석 과정에서 육안으로 인지하고 진단하는데 어려움이 있다. 특히 근골격계 검사를 위한 초음파 영상에서 근육 영역의 진단에 어려움을 준다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 초음파 영상에서 영상 처리 기법을 이용하여 근육 영역을 검출할 수 있는 방법을 제안한다. 초음파 영상에서의 근육 영역 검출은 피하지방층과 기타 영역 그리고 근육을 둘러싸고 있는 근막 후보 영역을 검출한 후, 위치 정보와 형태학적 특징을 이용하여 최종적으로 근막 내부 영역인 근육 영역을 검출한다. 제안된 방법의 근막 후보 영역의 검출 과정은 개선된 히스토그램 스트레칭과 Multiple 연산으로 대비차를 향상시키고 반복 이진화 기법을 적용한 후, 잡음에 의해 손실되거나 끊어진 근막 영역을 거리 및 방향 분석을 이용하여 연결한 후에 근막 후보 영역을 검출한다. 검출된 근막 후보 영역의 형태학적 특징과 위치정보를 이용하여 피하지방층과 기타 영역을 분류한 후, 최종적으로 근육 영역을 검출한다. 실제 초음파 영상을 대상으로 제안된 근육 검출 방법을 적용하여 검출된 근육 영역과 전문의가 분석한 근육 영역을 비교한 결과, 제안된 근육 검출 방법이 전문의가 육안으로 분석한 근육 영역과 근접하게 검출되어 본 논문에서 제안한 근육 영역 검출 방법이 효율적임을 확인하였다.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제12권1호
• /
• pp.9-34
• /
• 2017

In this work, an efficient and simple quasi-3D hyperbolic shear deformation theory is developed for bending and vibration analyses of functionally graded (FG) plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundation. The significant feature of this theory is that, in addition to including the thickness stretching effect, it deals with only 5 unknowns as the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The foundation is described by the Pasternak (two-parameter) model. The material properties of the plate are assumed to vary continuously in the thickness direction by a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. Equations of motion for thick FG plates are obtained within the Hamilton's principle. Analytical solutions for the bending and free vibration analysis are obtained for simply supported plates. The numerical results are given in detail and compared with the existing works such as 3-dimensional solutions and those predicted by other plate theories. It can be concluded that the present theory is not only accurate but also simple in predicting the bending and free vibration responses of functionally graded plates resting on elastic foundation.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국진공학회 2014년도 제46회 동계 정기학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.490.1-490.1
• /
• 2014

The ZnO nanowire (NW)-based nanogenerators (NGs) can have rectifying current and potential generated by the coupled piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of ZnO by variety of external stimulation such as pushing, bending and stretching. So, ZnO NGs needed to enhance durability for stable properties of NGs. The durability of the metal electrodes used in the typical ZnO nanogenerators(NGs) is unstable for both electrical and mechanical stability. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as transparent flexible electrode but because of high cost and limited supply of indium, the fragility and lack of flexibility of ITO layers, alternatives are being sought. It is expected that carbon nanotube and Ag nanowire conductive coatings could be a prospective replacement. In this work, we demonstrated transparent flexible ZnO NGs by using CNT/Ag nanowire hybrid electrode, in which electrical and mechanical stability of top electrode has been improved. We grew vertical type ZnO NW by hydrothermal method and ZnO NW was coated with hybrid silicone coating solution as capping layer to enhance adhesion and durability of ZNW. We coated the CNT/Ag nanowire hybrid electrode by using bar coating system on a capping layer. Power generation of the ZnO NG is measured by using a picoammeter, a oscilloscope and confirmed surface condition with FE-SEM. As a results, the NGs using the CNT/Ag NW hybrid electrode show 75% transparency at wavelength 550 nm and small change of the resistance of the electrode after bending test. It will be discussed the effect of the improved flexibility of top electrode on power generation enhancement of ZnO NGs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제53권6호
• /
• pp.1215-1240
• /
• 2015

In this work, a novel simple first-order shear deformation plate theory based on neutral surface position is developed for bending and free vibration analysis of functionally graded plates and supported by either Winkler or Pasternak elastic foundations. By dividing the transverse displacement into bending and shear parts, the number of unknowns and governing equations of the present theory is reduced, and hence, makes it simple to use. The governing equations are derived by employing the Hamilton's principle and the physical neutral surface concept. There is no stretching-bending coupling effect in the neutral surface-based formulation, and consequently, the governing equations and boundary conditions of functionally graded plates based on neutral surface have the simple forms as those of isotropic plates. Numerical results of present theory are compared with results of the traditional first-order and the other higher-order theories reported in the literature. It can be concluded that the proposed theory is accurate and simple in solving the static bending and free vibration behaviors of functionally graded plates.