• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.489-504
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• 2012

For the safety of prestressed structures such as cable-stayed bridges and prestressed concrete bridges, it is very important to ensure the prestress force of cable or tendon. The loss of prestress force could significantly reduce load carrying capacity of the structure and even result in structural collapse. The objective of this study is to present a smart PZT-interface for wireless impedance-based prestress-loss monitoring in tendon-anchorage connection. Firstly, a smart PZT-interface is newly designed for sensitively monitoring of electro-mechanical impedance changes in tendon-anchorage subsystem. To analyze the effect of prestress force, an analytical model of tendon-anchorage is described regarding to the relationship between prestress force and structural parameters of the anchorage contact region. Based on the analytical model, an impedance-based method for monitoring of prestress-loss is conducted using the impedance-sensitive PZT-interface. Secondly, wireless impedance sensor node working on Imote2 platforms, which is interacted with the smart PZT-interface, is outlined. Finally, experiment on a lab-scale tendon-anchorage of a prestressed concrete girder is conducted to evaluate the performance of the smart PZT-interface along with the wireless impedance sensor node on prestress-loss detection. Frequency shift and cross correlation deviation of impedance signature are utilized to estimate impedance variation due to prestress-loss.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.329-334
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• 2010

Purpose: Adhesion after flexor tendon injury is a result of fibrosis between tendon and tendon sheath. This, finally interfere with gliding mechanism of tendon and results in functional problem of hands. Therefore, there have been many trials to reduce adhesion around the tendon. However, there is no standard procedure clinically practiced in hospitals. Mitomycin-C is an antineoplastic alkylating agent that decrease fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. It is commonly used in many surgery to reduce postoperative adhesion. This study was designed to observe the effect of Mitomycin-C on preventing adhesion in injured flexor tendon. Methods: The deep flexor tendon of digit 2 and 4 in the left forepaw of 15 New Zealand White rabbits were subjected to partial tenotomy. In study group, injury site was exposed to a single 5-minute application of Mitomycin-C, and in control group was left untreated. Digit 2 and 4 in the right forepaw of each rabbit were considered as nonadhesion control group. After 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and digits were amputated for biomechanical test and histological study. Results: In biomechanical study to measure yield point, mean yield point of non-adhesion control was $17.43{\pm}2.33$ and $25.07{\pm}4.03$ for adhesion control, which proves increase of adhesion in adhesion control group (p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In Mitomycin-C group, mean yield point was $12.71{\pm}4.97$. Compared with adhesion control, there was decrease in adhesiveness in Mitomycin-C group (p<0.05) in 95% confidence. In histological study, the result of adhesion control revealed massive adhesions of bony structure, fibrotic tissue and tendon structure with ablation of the border. However in Mitomycin-C group, we could find increased fibrotic tissue, but adhesion is much lesser than adhesion group and borders between structures remain intact. Conclusion: This study suggests that Mitomycin-C can significantly reduce adhesion of injured flexor tendon in rabbit model.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.55-71
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• 2015

This paper presents a novel harmony search (HS)-based data-driven single input rule modules (SIRMs)-connected fuzzy inference system (FIS) for the prediction of stress in externally prestressed tendon. The proposed method attempts to extract causal relationship of a system from an input-output pairs of data even without knowing the complete physical knowledge of the system. The monotonicity property is then exploited as an additional qualitative information to obtain a meaningful SIRMs-connected FIS model. This method is then validated using results from test data of the literature. Several parameters, such as initial tendon depth to beam ratio; deviators spacing to the initial tendon depth ratio; and distance of a concentrated load from the nearest support to the effective beam span are considered. A computer simulation for estimating the stress increase in externally prestressed tendon, ${\Delta}f_{ps}$, is then reported. The contributions of this paper is two folds; (i) it contributes towards a new monotonicity-preserving data-driven FIS model in fuzzy modeling and (ii) it provides a novel solution for estimating the ${\Delta}f_{ps}$ even without a complete physical knowledge of unbonded tendons.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제7권4호
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• pp.303-317
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• 2011

A specially designed tendon, which is proposed by embedding an FBG sensor into the center king cable of a 7-wire strand tendon, was applied to monitor the prestress force and load transfer of ground anchor. A series of tensile tests and a model pullout test were performed to verify the feasibility of the proposed smart tendon as a measuring sensor of tension force and load transfer along the tendon. The smart tendon has proven to be very effective for monitoring prestress force and load transfer by measuring the strain change of the tendon at the free part and the fixed part of ground anchor, respectively. Two 11.5 m long proto-type ground anchors were made simply by replacing a tendon with the proposed smart tendon and prestress forces of each anchor were monitored during the loading-unloading step using both FBG sensor embedded in the smart tendon and the conventional load cell. By comparing the prestress forces measured by the smart tendon and load cell, it was found that the prestress force monitored from the FBG sensor located at the free part is comparable to that measured from the conventional load cell. Furthermore, the load transfer of prestressing force at the tendon-grout interface was clearly measured from the FBGs distributed along the fixed part. From these pullout tests, the proposed smart tendon is not only expected to be an alternative monitoring tool for measuring prestress force from the introducing stage to the long-term period for health monitoring of the ground anchor but also can be used to improve design practice through determining the economic fixed length by practically measuring the load transfer depth.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.415-433
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• 2015

Tendon failures in bonded post-tensioned bridges over the last two decades have motivated ongoing investigations on various aspects of unbonded tendons and their monitoring methods. Recent research shows that change of strain distribution in anchor heads can be useful in detecting wire breakage in unbonded construction. Based on this strain variation, this paper develops a damage detection model that enables an automated tendon monitoring system to identify and locate wire breaks. The first part of this paper presents an experimental program conducted to study the strain variation in anchor heads by generating wire breaks using a mechanical device. The program comprised three sets of tests with fully populated 19-strand anchor head and evaluated the levels of strain variation with number of wire breaks in different strands. The sensitivity of strain variation with wire breaks in circumferential and radial directions of anchor head in addition to the axial direction (parallel to the strand) were investigated and the measured axial strains were found to be the most sensitive. The second part of the paper focuses on formulating the wire breakage detection framework. A finite element model of the anchorage assembly was created to demonstrate the algorithm as well as to investigate the asymmetric strain distribution observed in experimental results. In addition, as almost inevitably encountered during tendon stressing, the effects of differential wedge seating on the proposed model have been analyzed. A sensitivity analysis has been performed at the end to assess the robustness of the model with random measurement errors.

• 한국소음진동공학회논문집
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• 제19권10호
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• pp.1043-1052
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• 2009

In this work, a master-slave manipulator system which will be used for handling objects contaminated by radioactivity has been addressed. The links of manipulators are driven independently by individual motors installed on the base and the driving torque is transmitted through pre-tensioned tendons. Since the measurable variables are the positions and rates of master/slave motors, only a constrained specific bilateral control structure is available. In the consideration of the flexibility of the tendon and constrained control structure, we derived a necessity for tendon design to prevent uncontrollable vibration mode through a modal analysis. Based on a reduced rigid body model, a control design was suggested and tendons were selected. The feasibility of the proposed analysis and tendon design were verified along with some simulation results.

• 한국농공학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.82-91
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• 1996

This is a basic study for the static and dynamic analysis on the elasto-plastic and elasto-viscoplastic of an axi-symmetric shell. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanical characteristics of a nuclear reinforced concrete containment structure, which was selected as a model, by a numerical analysis using a finite element method. The structure was modeled with discrete ring elements of 8-noded isoparametric element rotating against the symmetrical axis, and the interaction between the foundation and the structure was modeled by Winkler's model. Also, the meridional tendon was modeled with 2-node truss elements, and the hoop tendon was done with point elements in two degrees of freedom. The effect of the tendon was considered without the increasement in total degree of freedom as the stiffness matrix of modeled tendon elements was assembled on the stiffness matrix of ring elements linked with the tendon. The results obtained from the analysis of an example were summarized as follows : 1. The stresses in the hoop direction on the interior and exterior surfaces of the structure were shown in changes of similar trend, and high stresses appeared on the structure wall 2. The stresses in the meridional direction on the interior and exterior surfaces were shown in change of different trend. Especially, the stresses at the junctions between the dome and the wall and between the wall and the bottom plate of the structure were very high, compared with those at other parts of the structure. 3. The stress changes in the direction of thickness on the crown of the dome were much linearly distributed. However, as the amount of tendon increased, the stresses in the upper and lower parts of the wall established with the tendon were shown stress concentration. 4. The stress changes in the direction of thickness on the center of the structure wall was linearly distributed in the all cases, and special stress due to the use of the tendon was not shown.

• 한국콘크리트학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국콘크리트학회 2006년도 춘계학술발표회 논문집(I)
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• pp.442-445
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• 2006

This paper presents an analytical prediction of nonlinear characteristics and behavior characteristics PSC structures with un-bonded tendon system. In this paper, a numerical model for un-bonded tendon is proposed based on the finite element method, which can represent straight or curved un-bonded tendon behavior. this model and time-dependent material model used to investigate the time-dependent behavior of un-bonded prestressed concrete structures. The accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process may be enhanced by the use of sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program. A computer program, named RCAHEST(Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of concrete structures and steel plate was used. The material nonlinearities are taken into account by comprising the tension, compression, and shear models of cracked concrete and models for reinforcements and tendons in the concrete. The smeared crack approach is incorporated. It accounts for the aging, creep and shrinkage of concrete and the stress relaxation of prestressed steel. The proposed un-bonded tendon model and numerical method of un-bonded prestressed concrete structures is verified by comparison with reliable experimental results.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.222-230
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• 2008

This paper introduces a method of estimating the knee joint moment developed during MVC. By combining the Hill-type muscle model and analytic results on moment arm and musculotendon length change as a function of hip and knee joint angle, the knee joint moment at a specific knee joint angle during MVC is determined. Many differences between the estimated results and the experimental data are noted. It is believed that these differences originate from inaccurate information on the muscle-tendon parameters. The establishment of exact values for the subject's muscle parameters is almost impossible task. However, sensitivity analysis shows that the tendon slack length is the most critical parameter when applying the Hill-type muscle model. The effect of a change of this parameter on the muscle length force relationship is analyzed in detail.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.5-14
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA) on tendon healing and fatty degeneration in a chronic rotator cuff model. Methods: Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly allocated into two groups: Saline+repair (SR) and PCA+repair (PR). The right shoulder was used for experimental interventions, and the left served as a control. PCA (30 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally at the site of infraspinatus tendon detachment in rats in the PR group, and the same volume of saline was administered to the same site in the SR group. The torn tendon was repaired 4 weeks after infraspinatus detachment. Four weeks after repair, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), S100, and CD68 stains were performed to evaluate the degree of fatty degeneration and H&E and Masson trichrome stains were performed to assess tendon healing. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured to test the efficacy of PCA as an antioxidant. Results: Results from histological evaluation indicated that SOD and CD68 levels at the musculotendinous region and collagen fiber parallel to the orientation at the tendon-to-bone junction were not significantly different between the SR and PR groups. The mean load-to-failure of the PR group (20.32±9.37 N) was higher than that of the SR group (16.44±6.90 N), although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.395). The SOD activity in the operative side infraspinatus muscle of the PR group was higher than that of the SR group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.053). Conclusions: The use of PCA could improve tendon healing and decrease fatty degeneration after rotator cuff repair.