Open Access

Musculoskeletal simulations of lumbar spine loading rely on a geometrical representation of the anatomy. However, this data has an inherent inaccuracy. This study evaluates the influence of defined geometrical parameters on lumbar spine loading utilising five parametrised musculoskeletal lumbar spine models for four different postures. The influence of the dimensions of vertebral body, disc, posterior parts of the vertebrae as well as the curvature of the lumbar spine was studied. Additionally, simulations with combinations of selected parameters were conducted. Changes in L4/L5 resultant joint force were used as outcome variable. Variations of the vertebral body height, disc height, transverse process width and the curvature of the lumbar spine were the most influential. These parameters can be easily acquired from X-rays and should be used to morph a musculoskeletal lumbar spine model for subject-specific approaches with respect to bone geometry. Furthermore, the model was very sensitive to uncommon configurations and therefore, it is advised that stiffness properties of discs and ligaments should be individualised.

Purpose: of this paper is experimental investigation of damping properties of unidirectionally and fabric reinforced plastics by the free decay method. Design/methodology/approach: For the evaluation of the presumed effect experimental structural dynamic investigations comparing unidirectionally and fabric reinforced plastics are carried out. In detail the free decay behaviour of flat beamlike specimens under fixed-free boundary conditions and relatively constant and reproducible displacement excitation is investigated. Findings: The vibrating structure has been measured by a laser scanning vibrometer PSV 400 from POLYTEC. In both cases evaluation of the results yields enhanced damping properties of the specimens with fabric reinforcement compared to the unidirectionally reinforced specimens. The results justify the presumed acting of a mesomechanic kinematic. Research limitations/implications: The results show that in either case the material damping in terms of the logarithmic decrement of the fabric reinforced material is higher than the material damping in of the unidirectionally reinforced material. Additionally, when the fabric reinforced specimens are addressed, in each case the plain weave reinforced specimens exhibited higher values of the material damping as the twill weave 2/2 reinforced ones. Originality/value: Ondulations in fabrics as a textile semi-finished product are caused by the alternating crossing of warp and fill yarns. In the mesoscopic scale the acting of a mesomechanic kinematic is presumed to enhance the damping properties under cyclic elastic deformation. For the evaluation of the presumed effect experimental structural dynamic investigations comparing unidirectionally and fabric reinforced plastics are carried out.

Purpose: The present work deals with the experimental investigation concerning the energy dissipation capacity of different kinds of reinforcement fibres in monolithic and hybrid layups under high velocity impact loads. The investigated kinds of fibres are carbon, glass and basalt. Design/methodology/approach: The test panels have been impregnated with thermoset resin. Curing was done by autoclave processing. In order to obtain comparable fibre volume contents of approx. 60 % in the different layups (monolithic and hybrid without and with separating layer), curing cycles adapted to the type of layup have been identified. The resulting fibre volume content of the test panels has been determined both by weighing and experimentally by chemical extraction and calcination. The impact load was applied by an instrumented experimental setup. Thereby both commercially available bullets and bearing balls accelerated with weighted propellant in a sabot have been used as impactors. The measured values are the velocities of the bearing balls as the impactor before and after penetration of the test panels. Findings: In both cases the results show the energy dissipation capacity of each single kind of fibre in case of the monolithic layups as well as the enhanced properties of the hybrid stacked layups without and with the separating layer as a core material. Typical failure modes on the impact surface and on the outlet areas are identified. Research limitations/implications: The influence of the respective kind of impactors, namely bullets and bearing balls, on the evaluated results is identified. Thereby the bearing balls exhibited a higher degree of reproducibility due to several reasons. Originality/value: Fibre reinforced plastics with hybrid stacking sequences can be used as load-bearing structures and at the same time as safety structures for passengers in automotive or aerospace applications. Moreover, with the hybrid stacked composites lightweight concepts can efficiently be realized regarding energy saving issues.