title: Advanced textile composite ring for Ilizarov external fixator system.
abstract: The use of a radiolucent composite material permits easier and more accurate radiographic evaluation of the bone healing process, and results in a much lighter system. The finite element method (FEM) is employed to determine the worst possible in-service loading condition and the ring dimensions are modified accordingly. Half-ring prototypes are produced using two types of composite materials: knitted aramid fibre fabric reinforced epoxy and random short carbon (RSC) fibre reinforced epoxy. The in-plane compressive strength and axial stiffness of the complete frame are tested according to ASTM specifications. The performance is evaluated, and compared with an existing system in simulated in-service conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, National University of Singapore, North Spine (N3), Level 2, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Baidya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ritchie
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D003188:Composite Resins; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D016267:External Fixators; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008422:Materials Testing; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins