title: Numerical-experimental method for the validation of a controlled stiffness femoral prosthesis.
abstract: The aim of this paper is to describe a new numerical-experimental method to determine the stiffness of a conceptual proximal femoral prototype. The methodology consists of the comparison of the numerical and experimental displacement distributions of the prosthesis loaded as a cantilever beam to validate a design concept: controlled stiffness prosthesis. The manufactured prototype used to test the applicability of the numerical-experimental procedure integrates a stiff metal core bonded to a composite material made of an epoxy resin reinforced with carbon-glass braided pre-forms. The prosthesis with an embedded controlled stiffness concept was obtained by varying the geometry of the core with the composite layer thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vaz
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002244:Carbon; D003035:Cobalt; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D005898:Glass; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins; D003035:Cobalt; D002244:Carbon