Pranav S. Sapkal^1*, Abhaykumar M. Kuthe¹, Divya Ganapathy², Shantanu C. Mathankar³, Sudhanshu Kuthe⁴

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 115-136, 2016, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2016.013.131

Abstract Biphasic calcium phosphate scaffolds with 20/80 HA/TCP ratio were fabricated using the 3D-Bioplotting system to heal critical size defects in rabbit tibia bone. Four different architectures were printed in a layer by layer fashion with lay down patterns viz. (a) 0°– 90°, (b) 0°– 45°– 90°– 135°, (c) 0°–108°– 216° and (d) 0°– 60°– 120°. After high-temperature sintering scaffolds were coated with collagen and were further characterized by (FTIR) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, (SEM) Scanning Electron Microscopy, (XRD) X-Ray diffraction, Porosity analysis and Mechanical testing. Scaffold samples were tested for its ability to induce cytotoxicity… More >

M. C. Ray¹, L. Dong², S. N. Atluri³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.111, No.5, pp. 437-471, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2016.111.437

Abstract This paper is concerned with the development of new simple 4-noded locking-alleviated smart finite elements for modeling the smart composite beams. The exact solutions for the static responses of the overall smart composite beams are also derived for authenticating the new smart finite elements. The overall smart composite beam is composed of a laminated substrate conventional composite beam, and a piezoelectric layer attached at the top surface of the substrate beam. The piezoelectric layer acts as the actuator layer of the smart beam. Alternate finite element models of the beams, based on an "equivalent single… More >

Hao Dong¹, Yufeng Nie^1,2, Zihao Yang¹, Yang Zhang¹, Yatao Wu¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.111, No.5, pp. 395-419, 2016, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2016.111.395

Abstract In this paper, we discuss the numerical accuracy of asymptotic homogenization method (AHM) and multiscale finite element method (MsFEM) for periodic composite materials. Through numerical calculation of the model problems for four kinds of typical periodic composite materials, the main factors to determine the accuracy of first-order AHM and second-order AHM are found, and the physical interpretation of these factors is given. Furthermore, the way to recover multiscale solutions of first-order AHM and MsFEM is theoretically analyzed, and it is found that first-order AHM and MsFEM provide similar multiscale solutions under some assumptions. Finally, numerical More >

Tsz Kin Lee¹, Rodney Henry Breau², Ranjeeta Mallick³, Libni Eapen⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.1, pp. 7599-7606, 2015

Abstract Introduction: The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) is a validated and widely adopted instrument that measures patient quality of life. This study aims to describe and compare patient quality of life in the bowel, urinary, and sexual domains across different prostate cancer treatments.
Materials and methods: A systematic review of English articles published prior to 2012 was conducted. Peer reviewed articles reporting longitudinal EPIC data in a statistically analyzable form with clearly defined time points were included. Articles were assessed by content experts to ensure optimal treatment quality.
Screening of studies and extraction of data… More >

Hui Jiang^a,b, Daming Wu^a,b,c, Jian Zhuang^a,b,*, Ying Liu^a,b,c, Changqing Huang^a,b

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.6, pp. 1-6, 2015, DOI:10.5098/hmt.6.14

Abstract A new type of metal-plastic composite heat radiator with hemispherical microstructure array was proposed in this paper. The influence of the geometrical parameters of the microstructure array, including size of the hemisphere, configuration of hemisphere, tilt angle of the radiator, thermal conductivity and radiation emissivity of the plastic, on the process of heat transfer under natural convection were numerically simulated. It was concluded that the metal-plastic composite heat radiator with hemispherical microstructure array had comparable heat transfer behaviors with those of metal heat radiator. So it is possible to replace metal heat radiator by such More >

Yogesh K. Murugesan¹, Damiano Pasini², Alejandro D. Rey^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.1, pp. 56-72, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634124

Abstract This review on self-assembly in biological fi brous composites presents theory and simulation to elucidate the principles and mechanisms that govern the thermodynamics, material science, and rheology of biological anisotropic soft matter that are involved in the growth/self-assembly/material processing of these materials. Plant cell wall, a multi-layered biological fi brous composite, is presented as a model biological system to investigate self-assembly mechanisms in nature’s material synthesis. In order to demonstrate the universality of the presented models and the mechanisms investigated, references to other biological/ biomimetic systems are made when applicable. The integration of soft matter More >

Xiaoqing Zhang^*, Simon Schmidt^φ, Nick Rigopoulos, Januar Gotama, Eustathios Petinakis

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.2, pp. 91-100, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634135

Abstract The behavior of a biodegradable CO₂ -based polymer polypropylene carbonate (PPC) as polymer matrix of wood fi ber (WF) composites was examined and compared with that of using poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as the matrix. The PPC/WF composites displayed poor mechanical properties as compared to PLA/WF composites because PPC is an amorphous polymer with low T_g and poor thermal stability. However, when PPC was used in conjunction with PLA in WF composites, the mechanical strength and modulus of the composites could match or even exceed the level of PLA/WF composites. The strong intermolecular interactions between PPC and More >

John C. Hoiby¹, Anil N. Netravali^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 244-258, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634110

Abstract This article discusses the construction (virtual model) of a fully green cabin using two types of green composites: those that use natural plant-based fibers with soy protein-based resin which have mechanical properties comparable to wood and wood products, and those that use liquid crystalline cellulose fibers with soy proteinbased resin which have properties comparable to high strength steel. Green composites with moderate strength were used to create molded walls and advanced green composites were used to create the load-bearing framework of the cabin. Construction with molded composites and prefabricated framework can greatly simplify traditional wood More >

Ali Amiri, Nassibeh Hosseini, Chad A. Ulven^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 224-233, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634111

Abstract Natural fibers have great potential to be used as reinforcement in composite materials. Cellulose, being a critical constituent of natural fibers, provides unquestionable advantages over synthetically produced fibers. Increasing demand for use of bio-based composites in different engineering and structural applications requires proper test methods and models for predicting their long-term behavior. In the present work, the time-temperature superposition principle was successfully applied to characterize creep behavior of flax/vinyl ester composites. The creep compliance vs time curves were determined and shifted along the logarithmic time axis to generate a master compliance curve. The time-temperature superposition More >

Vikram Yadama^*, Michael P. Wolcott

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 216-223, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634103

Abstract The effects of strand undulation angles in wood-strand composites have often been ignored due to the virtual impossibility of experimental determination of their effects on composite material properties, and the diffi culty in modeling localized deviations in angle along the path of a strand. The fi ber undulation model (FUM), that has been previously verifi ed, was applied in this study to predict the elastic constants of laboratory-manufactured oriented strand panels. A stochastic approach was incorporated where a series rule of mixtures with probability density functions of angle distributions was utilized in the model to More >