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Developing an efficient stent frame for transcatheter aortic valves (TAV) needs thorough investigation in different design and functional aspects. In recent years, most TAV studies have focused on their clinical performance, leaflet design, and durability. Although several optimization studies on peripheral stents exist, the TAV stents have different functional requirements and need to be explicitly studied. The aim of this study is to develop a cost-effective optimization framework to find the optimal TAV stent design made of Ni–Ti alloy. The proposed framework focuses on minimizing the maximum strain occurring in the stent during crimping, making use of a simplified model of the stent to reduce computational cost. The effect of the strut cross-section of the stent, i.e., width and thickness, and the number and geometry of the repeating units of the stent (both influencing the cell size) on the maximum strain is investigated. Three-dimensional simulations of the crimping process are used to verify the validity of the simplified representation of the stent, and the radial force has been calculated for further evaluation. The results suggest the key role of the number of cells (repeating units) and strut width on the maximum strain and, consequently, on the stent design. The difference in terms of the maximum strain between the simplified and the 3D model was less than 5%, confirming the validity of the adopted modeling strategy and the robustness of the framework to improve the TAV stent designs through a simple, cost-effective, and reliable procedure.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-10-09T13:19:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ JOELSON DE MELO SANTIAGO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 5893476 bytes, checksum: 9fec0f8b27ff639270bebb4444b2285c (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-09T13:19:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSÉ JOELSON DE MELO SANTIAGO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 5893476 bytes, checksum: 9fec0f8b27ff639270bebb4444b2285c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-30 Em muitas situações de projeto em sistemas mecânicos deseja-se rigidez e ao mesmo tempo uma certa flexibilidade. Nesses casos, as molas são elementos interessantes, por isso esses componentes foram bastante estudados. Em paralelo, visando ampliar as possibilidades, novos materiais têm se desenvolvido, a exemplo de materiais funcionais, como é o caso das ligas com memória de forma (LMF). As molas helicoidais fabricadas a partir de LMF são componentes promissores para aplicações como atuadores/sensores, pela capacidade de recuperar grandes deformações elásticas e pseudo-plásticas. Atualmente esses componentes são obtidos em sua maioria através da conformação de fios, a frio ou a quente, e tem aplicação consolidada no campo biomédico, porém no campo industrial as aplicações comerciais ainda são limitadas. Neste cenário, utilizar a fundição de precisão para este tipo de componente pode ampliar as possibilidades e aumentar as aplicações em diversos setores. Por outro lado, é de amplo interesse entender a relação entre as propriedades mecânicas e as configurações geométricas destes elementos. Neste contexto, o principal objetivo deste trabalho é a caracterização térmica e mecânica de molas helicoidais de LMF Ni-Ti (MLMFNiTi) com diferentes configurações, produzidas pelo processo de fundição de precisão, empregando a fusão por indução com injeção por centrifugação (FIC) em moldes cerâmicos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as molas produzidas apresentaram transformação de fase característica dos fenômenos de superelasticidade (SE). Por meio dos ensaios mecânicos constatou-se que as molas suportaram, no geral, deformações de até 70%. Os parâmetros dimensionais influenciaram o comportamento mecânico para o qual o aumento do passo e do diâmetro do fio fizeram aumentar a força aplicada para submeter as molas as mesmas deformações. Dessa forma, as molas produzidas apresentam características funcionais adequadas para potencializar aplicações industriais a partir de LMF Ni-Ti. In many situations of design in mechanical systems one wants rigidity and at the same time a certain flexibility. In these cases, the springs are interesting elements, so these components were well studied. In parallel, in order to expand possibilities, new materials have been developed, such as functional materials, such as shape memory alloys (LMF). Helical springs made from LMF are promising components for applications such as actuators / sensors, for the ability to recover large elastic and pseudo-plastic deformations. Currently, these components are mostly obtained through wire forming, either cold or hot, and have consolidated application in the biomedical field, but in the industrial field commercial applications are still limited. In this scenario, using precision casting for this type of component can expand the possibilities and increase the applications in several sectors. On the other hand, it is of broad interest to understand the relation between the mechanical properties and the geometric configurations of these elements. In this context, the main objective of this work is the thermal and mechanical characterization of LMF Ni-Ti helical springs (MLMFNiTi) with different configurations, produced by the invesment casting process, using induction fusion with centrifugal injection (FIC) in ceramic molds. The obtained results showed that the produced springs presented phase transformation characteristic of the phenomena of superelasticity (SE). Through the mechanical tests it was found that the springs generally supported deformations of up to 70%. The dimensional parameters influenced the mechanical behavior for which the step increase, and the wire diameter increased the applied force to subject the springs to the same deformations. Thus, the springs produced have functional characteristics suitable to enhance industrial applications from LMF Ni-Ti.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-10-09T13:44:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ANTÔNIO ARISTÓFANES DA CRUZ GOMES - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 3128879 bytes, checksum: 1a0aaa662fd3e47d06a1e3545ab63f87 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-09T13:44:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ANTÔNIO ARISTÓFANES DA CRUZ GOMES - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2018.pdf: 3128879 bytes, checksum: 1a0aaa662fd3e47d06a1e3545ab63f87 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-07 CNPq Os procedimentos cirúrgicos de reconstrução crânio facial vêm se desenvolvendo significativamente e grande parte desse progresso se deve às inovações nas técnicas cirúrgicas e ao emprego de novos materiais na fabricação dos dispositivos de fixação. O objetivo principal é tornar os procedimentos mais eficientes e menos invasivos aos pacientes, consequentemente haverá diminuição nos índices de retrabalhos. O emprego de Ligas com Memória de Forma (LMF) pode ser uma alternativa interessante nesses casos, uma vez que esses materiais possuem um comportamento adaptativo, com a capacidade de reagir a estímulos externos de natureza térmica ou mecânica. As LMF da família Ni-Ti lideram o interesse das pesquisas devido ao maior número de aplicações comerciais, principalmente nas áreas médica e odontológica. Essas LMF Ni-Ti, além de serem biocompatíveis possuem também módulo de elasticidade inferior ao de ligas de titânio, como o Ti-Al-V, e dos aços inoxidáveis. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver um protótipo de placa de fixação óssea, que poderá ser destinada a procedimentos de trauma e reconstrução mandibular, utilizando uma LMF Ni-Ti com características superelásticas. Foi escolhido um elemento de fixação, tipo placa, como modelo para os protótipos e as dimensões foram baseadas em componentes fornecidos comercialmente. Para a fabricação dos dispositivos optou-se pelos processos de fundição de precisão: Plasma Skull Push-Pull (PSPP), e fusão por indução com injeção por centrifugação (FIC), os quais se mostraram bastante eficazes. Foram realizados ensaios de caracterização para determinar as propriedades térmicas e mecânicas do dispositivo fabricado. Os principais resultados foram um componente de rigidez variável com a temperatura, módulo de elasticidade da ordem de 50 GPa na temperatura corpórea e vida em fadiga ente 103 e 106 para amplitudes de deslocamento em flexão entre 0,5 mm e 2,5 mm. Estes resultados de caracterização termomecânica indicam o potencial das LMF Ni-Ti e dos processos de fundição de precisão para a produção de placas de fixação óssea. Surgical procedures for facial skull reconstruction have been developing significantly and much of this progress is due to innovations in surgical techniques and the use of new materials in the manufacture of fastening devices. The main objective is to make the procedures more efficient and less invasive to the patients, consequently there will be a decrease in the rates of reworking. The use of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) may be an interesting alternative in these cases, since these materials have an adaptive behavior, with the ability to react to external stimuli of a thermal or mechanical nature. The SMA of the Ni-Ti family lead the research interest due to the greater number of commercial applications, mainly in the medical and dental areas. In addition to being biocompatible, these Ni-Ti SMAs also have lower modulus of elasticity than titanium alloys, such as Ti-Al-V, and stainless steels. In this context, the objective of this work is to develop a prototype bone fixation plate, which can be used for trauma and mandibular reconstruction procedures, using a Ni-Ti SMA with superelastic characteristics. A plate-type fastening element was chosen as the prototype model and the dimensions were based on commercially supplied components. In order to manufacture the devices, it was chosen the precision casting processes: Plasma Skull Push-Pull (PSPP) and induction fusion with centrifugal injection (FCI), which proved to be quite effective. Characterization tests were performed to determine the thermal and mechanical properties of the fabricated device. The main results were a variable stiffness component with temperature, modulus of elasticity of the order of 50 GPa at body temperature and fatigue life between 103 and 106 for flexural displacement amplitudes between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm. These thermomechanical characterization results indicate the potential of Ni-Ti SMA and precision casting processes for the production of bone fixation plates.

This work reports on an efficient powder metallurgy method for the synthesis of NiTi alloys, involving mechanical activation of pre-alloyed NiTi2 and elemental Ni powders (NiTi2-Ni) followed by a press-and-sinter step. The idea is to take advantage of the brittle nature of NiTi2 to promote a better efficiency of the mechanical activation process. The conventional mechanical activation route using elemental Ti and Ni powders (Ti-Ni) was also used for comparative purposes. Starting with (NiTi2-Ni) powder mixtures resulted in the formation of a predominant amorphous structure after mechanical activation at 300 rpm for 2 h. A sintered specimen consisting mainly of NiTi phase was obtained after vacuum sintering at 1050 degrees C for 0.5 h. The produced NiTi phase exhibited the martensitic transformation behavior. Using elemental Ti powders instead of pre-alloyed NiTi2 powders, the structural homogenization of the synthesized NiTi alloys was delayed. Performing the mechanical activation at 300 rpm for the (Ti-Ni) powder mixtures gave rise to the formation of composite particles consisting in dense areas of alternate fine layers of Ni and Ti. However, no significant structural modification was observed even after 16 h of mechanical activation. Only after vacuum sintering at 1050 degrees C for 6 h, the NiTi phase was observed to be the predominant phase. The higher reactivity of the mechanically activated (NiTi2-Ni) powder particles can explain the different sintering behavior of those powders compared with the mechanically activated (Ti-Ni) powders. It is demonstrated that this innovative approach allows an effective time reduction in the mechanical activation and of the vacuum sintering step. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-08-20T14:23:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GLERYSTON THIAGO GOMES DA SILVA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2017.pdf: 4116473 bytes, checksum: 5df445f57ab1b4d9326f681288378141 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T14:23:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GLERYSTON THIAGO GOMES DA SILVA - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2017.pdf: 4116473 bytes, checksum: 5df445f57ab1b4d9326f681288378141 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-03 Capes O presente trabalho avalia a adesão entre fios e fitas de uma liga com memória de forma (LMF) de Ni-Ti e uma borracha de silicone, para o desenvolvimento de estruturas flexíveis. A avaliação da adesão foi realizada através de ensaios de extração (Pull Out). Para realização dos ensaios, foram produzidos seis tipos de corpos de prova (CPs) em que os fios e as fitas foram embebidos em uma matriz de borracha de silicone. Primeiramente, as fitas foram obtidas laminando a frio fios de Ni-Ti superelástico. Após a laminação as fitas foram submetidas a tratamento térmico em temperaturas e tempos diferentes, a fim de obter dois tipos de fitas: uma com característica de superelasticidade (SE) e outra com o efeito memória de forma (EMF). Um promotor de adesão Dow Corning 1200 Primer foi aplicado nas superfícies dos fios e das fitas para aumento da adesão. Os fios e as fitas de Ni-Ti e a borracha de silicone foram individualmente caracterizados por Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC), Análise Dinâmico-Mecânica (DMA) e tração uniaxial, analisando o comportamento do fator de amortecimento, módulo de elasticidade, tensões de transformação e temperaturas de transformação de fase. O ensaio de carregamento – descarregamento em tração na borracha de silicone também foi realizado para analisar a presença do efeito Mullins. Para verificação qualitativa do aumento da rugosidade e da adesão geradas pelo processo de laminação e pela aplicação do primer, respectivamente, foram realizadas imagens por Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (EDS) nos fios e nas fitas de Ni-Ti antes e após o ensaio de extração (Pull Out). A partir dos resultados obtidos, observa-se que o fio superelástico e as fitas de Ni-Ti laminadas e tratadas termicamente sem aplicação do primer não apresentam adesão suficiente para o desenvolvimento de estruturas flexíveis compostas por borracha de silicone e elementos atuadores como fios e fitas de Ni-Ti, sendo necessária a aplicação de um promotor de adesão (primer) nas superfícies das LMF. The present work evaluates the adhesion between Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires and ribbons embedded into a silicone rubber, for the development of flexible structures. Adhesion evaluation was performed through pullout tests. To perform the tests, six types of specimens were produced, in which the wires and ribbons were embedded in a silicone rubber matrix. Firstly, the ribbons were obtained by cold rolling of a superelastic Ni-Ti wire. After the cold rolling, the ribbons were subjected to heat treatment at different temperatures and times in order to obtain two types materials: one with Superelasticity (SE) property and other with Shape Memory Effect (SME). A Dow Corning 1200 Primer adhesion promoter was applied to the surfaces of the wires and ribbons to improve adhesion. Ni-Ti wire and ribbons and silicone rubber were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic-Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and uniaxial tensile tests, to obtain loss factor behavior, elastic modulus, tensile stress transformations and phase transformation temperatures. Analysis of tensile loading - unloading test on silicone rubber was also performed to evaluate the presence of the Mullins effect. For the qualitative verification of the roughness and adhesion improvement, generated by the cold rolling process and the application of the primer, respectively, images of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Dispersive Energy Spectroscopy (EDS) in the Ni- Ti wire and ribbons were performed before and after the pullout tests. The obtained results indicate that the Ni-Ti superelastic wires and heat treated cold rolled ribbons without primer do not present sufficient adhesion for the development of silicone rubber flexible structures with embedded Ni-Ti wires and ribbons, requiring the application of an adhesion promoter (primer) on the surfaces of the SMA.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-07-16T13:34:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ECLYS DE OLIVEIRA SOARES MONTENEGRO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2016.pdf: 5996362 bytes, checksum: 84827496654dcae4004aea6958439570 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-16T13:34:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ECLYS DE OLIVEIRA SOARES MONTENEGRO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2016.pdf: 5996362 bytes, checksum: 84827496654dcae4004aea6958439570 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-01 Estudos recentes têm mostrado que as telas de titânio estão sendo utilizadas para auxiliar na recuperação de fraturas ósseas em diversas partes do corpo humano, como face, mandíbula, crânio e joelho. Esses componentes apresentam como vantagens uma elevada resistência mecânica somada a uma baixa espessura, necessária para a ancoragem de partes fraturadas e importante para prevenir a irritação no processo pós-operatório, buscando ainda reduzir a taxa de re-operação. Assim, vislumbrando uma melhor eficiência futura dessa aplicação, surge o interesse em analisar o comportamento termomecânico desse tipo de implante, porém fabricado a partir das ligas com memória de forma (LMF), que são materiais que apresentam propriedades funcionais como o efeito memória de forma (EMF) e a superelasticidade (SE). Estas peculiaridades, aliadas a biocompatibilidade das LMF Ni-Ti tem levado à sua utilização no desenvolvimento de dispositivos médicos implantáveis. Nesse contexto, aplicar telas de LMF Ni-Ti, com boa resistência mecânica e deformações reversíveis, para potencializar aplicações biomédicas em substituição a telas de titânio, é um desafio tecnológico atual. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo realizar a caracterização termomecânica de telas de LMF Ni-Ti e Ni-Ti-Cu produzidas por fundição de precisão com três geometrias celulares distintas (circular, hexagonal e quadrada) e em três estados (brutas de fundição, tratadas termicamente e laminadas). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que as telas produzidas apresentaram a transformação de fase característica dos fenômenos de EMF e SE, além de deformações reversíveis em tração da ordem de até 5%. O tipo de geometria celular foi o fator de maior influência nos valores de resistência mecânica e os melhores resultados foram verificados nas telas de geometria circular. Nos ensaios termomecânicos de flexão, além do tipo de célula, os resultados foram bastante influenciados pela espessura das telas e tratamentos térmicos utilizados. Dessa forma, as telas produzidas apresentam características funcionais adequadas para potencializar aplicações biomédicas a partir de LMF Ni-Ti em substituição as telas de titânio puro, que não se beneficiam de propriedades funcionais de EMF e SE. Recent studies have shown that titanium meshes are being used to assist in the recovery of bone fractures in various parts of the human body such as the face, jaw, skull and knee. These components have advantages as a high strength coupled with a low thickness required for anchoring of fractured parts important to prevent irritation postoperatively process still looking to reduce the rate of re-operation. Thus, by anticipating a future better efficiency of this application, arises interest in analyzing the thermomechanical behavior of this type of implant, but manufactured from alloys with shape memory (SMA), which are materials that exhibit functional properties such as shape memory effect (SME) and superelastic (SE). These peculiarities, coupled with biocompatibility of LMF NiTi has led to their use in the development of implantable medical devices. In this context, apply SMA meshes, with good mechanical strength and reversible deformation to enhance biomedical applications replacing titanium screens, it is a current technological challenge. Therefore, this study aimed to carry out the thermomechanical characterization of Ni-Ti and Ni-Ti-Cu SMA meshes produced by precision casting with three different cell geometries (circular, hexagonal and square) and three states (as foundry, thermally treated and laminated). The results showed that the screens produced showed the phase transformation phenomena characteristic of EMF and SE, and reversible deformation in order draw up to 5%. The type of cell geometry was the most influential factor in the strength values and the best results were obtained in the circular geometry screens. In the thermomechanical bending tests, and the type of cell, results were greatly influenced by the thickness of the screens and thermal treatments. Thus, the meshes produced had enough features to enhance biomedical applications from SMA to replace the titanium meshes, which do not benefit from functional properties.

Based on the phase diagram evidence of the existence of three intermetallic compounds, the phenomenon of compound formation in Ni–Ti liquid alloys has been analysed through the study of surface properties (surface tension and surface composition), dynamic properties (chemical diffusion) and microscopic functions (concentration fluctuations in the long-wavelength limit and chemical short range order parameter) in the frame of compound formation model (CFM).

Submitted by Kilvya Braga (kilvyabraga@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-23T13:32:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ROANA D'ÁVILA SOUZA MONTEIRO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2015.pdf: 3977570 bytes, checksum: e1760f7cd8bdc07cce68f5b1aedd33a2 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-23T13:32:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROANA D'ÁVILA SOUZA MONTEIRO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2015.pdf: 3977570 bytes, checksum: e1760f7cd8bdc07cce68f5b1aedd33a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-31 Capes As Ligas com Memória de Forma (LMF) constituem uma classe de materiais metálicos que possuem a capacidade de recuperar uma deformação pseudo plástica, introduzida por aplicação de carga mecânica, e retornar à sua forma original através de um simples aquecimento. O principal interesse nos atuadores de LMF utilizados no formato de molas helicoidais reside no grande deslocamento proporcionado pelo fenômeno de Efeito Memória de Forma (EMF), que permite a realização de trabalho mecânico quando este componente é submetido a diferentes condições de temperatura e cargas mecânica. No caso de elementos de LMF em estado de superelasticidade (SE) na temperatura ambiente, quando a carga mecânica é aplicada e mantida sob o material, a deformação originada pela formação de martensita induzida por tensão poderá também ser revertida por meio de um aquecimento. Nesse caso, tem-se um EMF em um elemento de LMF originalmente superelástico. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é realizar a caracterização eletromecânica de uma mini mola superelástica de LMF NiTi (Nitinol) quando submetida a um carregamento mecânico constante, avaliando a influência da taxa de variação da corrente elétrica e do aumento da carga mecânica nas temperaturas de transformação, além de determinar o comportamento do deslocamento com a variação de resistência elétrica. Para isso, foi desenvolvida uma plataforma experimental capaz de submeter a mini mola a carregamento mecânico constante (peso) e sinais de corrente elétrica variáveis com o tempo. Verificou-se que, para todas as cargas mecânicas e níveis de corrente elétrica, os resultados para a taxa de variação da corrente elétrica mais lenta (6 mA/s) apresentou uma melhor resposta em deslocamento e na variação da resistência elétrica quando comparados com a taxa mais rápida (12 mA/s), embora esta última resulte em um comportamento histerético mais estreito (resistência elétrica versus deslocamento). Também foi observado um aumento das temperaturas de transformação com o aumento da carga mecânica, como esperado pela lei de Clausius-Clayperon para LMF. Finalmente, foi verificada uma relação praticamente linear entre a variação do deslocamento e a variação de resistência elétrica, no aquecimento e no resfriamento. The Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are a class of metallic materials that have the ability to recover pseudo plastic deformation introduced by the application of mechanical load, and return to original shape by heating. The main interest in the SMA actuators used in the form of coil springs lies in the large displacement provided by the shape memory effect (SME) phenomenon, which allows performing mechanical work when the component is subjected to varying conditions of temperatures and mechanical loads. In the case of SMA elements in a state of superelasticity (SE) at room temperature, when mechanical load is applied and maintained on the material, the deformation caused by the formation of stress induced martensite can be reversed by heating. In this case, we have a SME in a SMA element originally superelastic. In this context, the objective of this work is to realize the electromechanical characterization of a superelastic mini coil spring of Ni-Ti SMA (Nitinol), when subjected to a constant mechanical loading, evaluating the influence of the electric current rate, the influence of mechanical load on the phase transformation temperatures, and determining the displacement behavior to the variation of electrical resistance. For this, an experimental platform was developed to submit the mini spring under constant load (dead weight) to electric current signals varying with time. It was found that for all mechanical loads and electrical current levels, the results for the slower rate of change electrical current (6 mA/s) showed a better response in displacement and the variation in the electrical resistance when compared to faster rate (12 mA/s), although the faster rate present a narrower hysteretic behavior (electrical resistance vs displacement). There was also verified an increase in phase transformation temperatures with increased mechanical load, as expected by the Clausius-Clayperon law for SMA. Finally, a practically linear relationship was found between the change in displacement with the variation in electrical resistance, during heating and cooling.

Submitted by Paula Candeias (paula.candeias@lneg.pt) on 2013-02-20T13:27:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SPM_FNeves.pdf: 305831 bytes, checksum: cf61c100f659a29439f78c32514558f3 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Paula Candeias (paula.candeias@lneg.pt) on 2013-02-20T14:37:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 SPM_FNeves.pdf: 305831 bytes, checksum: cf61c100f659a29439f78c32514558f3 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-02-20T14:37:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SPM_FNeves.pdf: 305831 bytes, checksum: cf61c100f659a29439f78c32514558f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012

Nitinol stents are nowadays widely used for the treatment of occlusions in peripheral arteries. However, the expansion of this indication has also highlighted some complications. In particular, the patient daily activities expose the peripheral arteries to large and cyclic deformations which may cause long-term failure of the device and consequently re-occlusion of the artery. Accordingly, the assessment of the stent fatigue rupture is of primary importance to assure the effectiveness of stenting procedure. However the fatigue behavior characterization of Nitinol for peripheral stent is a quite difficult problem because of the complexity of the in vivo solicitations the stent is subjected to and the strong nonlinearity in the material response. In this paper we approached the problem in two steps: (i) in the first step the study of the stent solicitations under realistic (physiological) conditions was performed through the use of numerical simulations which allowed sophisticated patient-specific models of the stenting procedure; (ii) in the second step, the previous results were used for the design of an experimental campaign and the following execution of the tests for the material mechanical characterization and fatigue life study. The tests were performed on Nitinol specimens derived from the same tubes used for producing a commercial peripheral stent and created following the same procedure employed for the device. As a consequence of the small dimension of the specimens, a preliminary design of the experimental test set-up was also required. The obtained results allowed a sufficiently accurate characterization of the stent material fatigue behavior in the range of interest.

Since the 1980s, different devices based on superelastic alloys have been developed to fulfill orthodontic applications. Particularly in the last decades several researches have been carried out to evaluate the mechanical behavior of Ni-Ti alloys, including their tensile, torsion and fatigue properties. However, studies regarding the dependence of elastic properties on residence time of Ni-Ti wires in the oral cavity are scarce. Such approach is essential since metallic alloys are submitted to mechanical stresses during orthodontic treatment as well as pH and temperature fluctuations. The goal of the present contribution is to provide elastic stress-strain results to guide the orthodontic choice between martensitic thermal activated and austenitic superelastic Ni-Ti alloys. From the point of view of an orthodontist, the selection of appropriate materials and the correct maintenance of the orthodontic apparatus are essential needs during clinical treatment. The present work evaluated the elastic behavior of Ni-Ti alloy wires with diameters varying from 0.014 to 0.020 inches, submitted to hysteresis tensile tests with 8% strain. Tensile tests were performed after periods of use of 1, 2 and 3 months in the oral cavity of patients submitted to orthodontic treatment. The results from the hysteresis tests allowed to exam the strain range covered by isostress lines upon loading and unloading, as well as the residual strain after unloading for both superelastic and thermal activated Ni-Ti wires. Superelastic Ni-Ti wires exhibited higher load isostress values compared to thermal activated wires. It was found that such differences in the load isostress values can increase with increasing residence time.