Biomechanical Engineering Commons^™

Recreating Fiber Recruitment With Fiber Recruitment Using Additive Manufacturing, Natalia D. Mciver

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Injured ligaments are often repaired with tendon grafts which may over or under constrain the joint; there is a need for an artificial graft option with the mechanical properties of a native ligament. Crimped fibers within ligaments allow for recruitment which means the viscoelastic properties of stress relaxation and creep are not inversely related. A feasibility study using ACLs and large-scale crimp models to study viscoelasticity, led to an in-depth analysis of the scapholunate interosseous ligament. Using the Modified Kelvin spring-dashpot model, for describing viscoelasticity with a variable stiffness property (time dependent fiber recruitment), we defined the relationship between creep …

Enhancing The Mechanical Properties Of Sla 3d-Printed Bio-Resin From Linseed Oil Using Cellulose And Lignin Biopolymers, Chukwunonso A. Ikedionu

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Abstract

This research explores the development of bio resin from linseed oil by the process of epoxidation and acrylation to produce acrylated epoxidized linseed oil (AELO). Lignin and cellulose biopolymers were added as reinforcement at varying weight fractions of 1 wt.%, 2.5 wt.%, and 5 wt.%, and their mechanical performance was compared against pure AELO. The formulations were printed using an Elegoo SLA 3D printer to create standardized test specimens like tensile bars, compression cylinders, and hardness blocks, which were all prepared according to the ASTM testing standard.

The results indicate that reinforcement effects depend on both filler type and …

Integrated Compliant Structure For A Hand Exoskeleton, Tristan R. Koopman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis presents the design and prototyping of a wearable hand exoskeleton that integrates a flexible structural framework to assist with hand movement while maintaining comfort and anatomical conformity. The goal was to create a device that supports tendon-driven actuation through a compliant structure, combining elements of rigidity and flexibility to match the natural geometry and motion of the human hand. Traditional hand exoskeletons often trade off motion for structure or vice versa. This project aims to bridge that gap with a hybrid compliant design that balances flexibility and support. The design process followed an iterative approach involving rapid prototyping …

Optimal Additive Fabrication Of Patient-Specific Bone Tissue Scaffolds Through Material Formulation, Computational Flow Simulation, And Material Deposition Monitoring, Ethan O’Malley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The advancement of additive manufacturing technologies has opened new avenues for fabricating biocompatible and structurally functional bone tissue scaffolds, essential in treating osseous fractures, defects, and diseases. This research aims to develop mechanically strong, dimensionally precise, and patient-specific porous bone tissue scaffolds that provide both structural integrity and biological functionality. Through three interconnected studies, several key challenges in the fabrication of these structures using the PME additive manufacturing process are addressed. First, the influence of polysaccharide and hydroxyapatite concentrations on the compressive modulus of PME-printed porous scaffolds is investigated. By creating structures with varying hydroxyapatite and polysaccharide compositions, the study …

Numerical Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Porous Tissue Scaffolds For Bone Regeneration, Brandon Coburn

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

With the recent advancements within biomedical engineering of bone tissue scaffolds, there is still a need to develop mechanically robust and biocompatible with low immunogenicity for bone regeneration. Additionally, the evaluation of the fluid dynamics of the porous Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) bone scaffold also shows the need for investigation due to the complex fluid interaction of hemodynamics that occurs with the scaffold internal and external domains. To aid in the development of treating bone fractures, defects, and diseases. Furthermore, with the induction of a wide variety of TPMS architecture that yields different topologies, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) …

Design Of A 3d Printed Bioreactor For Bone Cancer Research, Brooklyn K. Vanderwolde, Katelyn Hillson

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bone cancer is an aggressive disease and has peak occurrence during physiological stimulation of growth and aging. Astronauts who undergo long-term space missions also acquire an increased risk of bone tissue degeneration and cancer. Few in-vitro models currently exist capable of reproducing the complex microenvironment of bone tissue to support multicellular activity in a three-dimensional structure. This limits the ability to understand disease progression and develop suitable treatment strategies. Therefore, developing a bone tissue model and an associated bioreactor is critical to understand the risks associated with cancer progression and improve treatment and preventions related to those risks. The goal …

Materials Design With Polylactic Acid-Polyethylene Glycol Blends Using 3d Printing And For Medical Applications., Jeremiah R. Bauer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an examination of two material systems derived from polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). PLA is a polymer commonly sourced from renewable sources such as starches and sugars. It is a relatively strong, biodegradable polymer, making it ideal for use in the body. Even though it has a relative high strength, PLA is also brittle leading to the use of plasticizers to increase flexibility. One such plasticizer is PEG, which is a material that can exist at room temperature as either a thin liquid, or a hard waxy solid depending on the molecular weight. The first …

An Experimental Study On Passive Dynamic Walking, Philip Andrew Hatzitheodorou

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study, a previously designed passive dynamic walker (PDW) is built out of aluminum and plastic. The aim of the study was to produce an asymmetrical PDW and to compare the results to a computer simulation to validate the mathematical model. It also aimed at identifying the limitations of using additive manufacturing to create components for a PDW as well as gain insights on asymmetric systems.

Beginning with a five mass kneed model, parameters were varied to produce up to a nine mass kneed model solution. The nine mass model allows more variability in added mass locations and separates …