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The issue of using vortex generators to improve the take-off and landing characteristics of a transport category aircraft has been considered. Three directions have been analyzed. The first: the installation of vortex generators on the nacelles of the main engines to increase the maximum value of the lift coefficient in landing modes. The second: the installation of vortex generators on the upper surface of the flap to increase the lifting characteristics of the wing by improving the flow around the flap. The third: the installation of vortex generators in the tail unit to increase the efficiency of control surfaces and reducing handling speeds. Examples of the use of vortex generators in each of the directions are given. It is shown that the improvement of the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft is possible in the presence of wing separation boundaries on the lifting surfaces in flight operating modes and the elimination of these zones by installing vortex generators. The results of computational studies, experiments in wind tunnels, as well as data from flight tests of an experimental aircraft confirming the effectiveness of using vortex generators are presented. The concept of increasing their stability by installing vortex generators in places with maximum flow velocity is proposed. Considering this concept, new locations for installing vortex generators on the upper surface of the flap, as well as on the fin of an experimental aircraft for repeated flight tests have been selected. The installation of vortex generators on the fin involves increasing the efficiency of the rudder to reduce the handling speeds. The possibilities of optimizing the parameters of the installation of vortex generators are considered. Recommendations are given on the choice of shape, size, and angles of their installation, depending on the tasks solved with the help of vortex generators and considering the possible increase in drag from their installation.

Background: Ceramic-on-ceramic (COC) bearings in total hip arthroplasty (THA) have long been considered the coupling with the lowest overall wear. However, concerns about complications such as ceramic breakage and noise, combined with the improved performance of polyethylene, have limited its use in the United States. This postapproval follow-up reports long-term (10 years) results of Delta COC in THA patients primarily enrolled in an Investigational Device Exemption study. Methods: Patients received Delta COC THA in a prospective multicenter study with either 28-mm (N = 105 hips in 104 patients) or 36-mm (N = 81) articulations. Annual clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed for years 5 to 10, and study patients were asked about hip noises and reproducibility. Results: There have been 4 additional reports of noise in 4 patients (COC 28, n = 3; COC 36, n = 1). The cumulative incidence rate for squeaking or noise at 10 years is 5.9% for COC 28 and 13.5% for COC 36. There have been 2 additional reports of dislocation in 2 patients (COC 28, n = 1; COC 36, n = 1). The cumulative incidence rate for dislocation at 10 years is 3.7% for COC 28 and 3.5% for COC 36. At 10 years, there were greater than 40 hips available for follow-up. At mean 10-year follow-up, there were a total of 3 ceramic liner fractures, but none since the previous report. There were no revisions in the 28-mm cohort, and 2 revisions in the 36-mm cohort (1 for recurrent dislocation and 1 for pain and noise). Overall Kaplan-Meier survivorship was 95.96% at 10.5 years (28 mm: 97.68% at 10.2 years; 36 mm: 94.11% at 10.4 years.) Conclusions: At 10-year follow-up, we report excellent results in regard to survivorship, with one patient revised for pain with associated squeaking.

Abstract Background The ideal bearing surface for patients of avascular necrosis (AVN) undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and wear of the bearing surface between ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) and ceramic-on-highly cross-linked polyethylene (CoXPE) THA for patients of AVN after midterm follow-up. Methods We performed a retrospective case-control analysis of 93 CoC and 77 CoXPE consecutive THAs for patients of AVN. The cases were followed at a minimum 5 years follow-up (average 7 years). Harris hip score (HHS) score and bearing-related complications were assessed. The health-related quality of life (HRQL) was assessed with the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) were used for radiographic evaluation. Results Both the CoC group and CoXPE group showed statistically significant improvements in HHS scores with no difference between the two bearing surfaces. There was no significant difference as for SF-36 at the latest follow-up between two groups, except for significant higher scores in the dimensions of general health in the CoC group (75.7 vs 64.7, P = 0.032). No radiographic evidence of osteolysis and loosening was present at the final follow-up. The mean wear rate of the CoC was 0.0096 mm/year and the CoXPE was 0.047 mm/year after evaluation with reconstructed CT. Conclusions CoC THAs acts as well as CoXPE THAs for patients with femoral head avascular necrosis after midterm follow-up. CoC bearing can significantly decrease the wearing rate than CoXPE bearing.

Promising results of total hip allowed to perform a hip replacement in younger and active patients. However, the results of arthroplasty in young populations are still not comparable with outcomes in patients of older age groups. The advent of new materials and further improvement of production technology is increasing interest in the use of alternative bearing surfaces, but to assess the effectiveness of each new implants needed long-term clinical studies. Use of any bearing surface has its own potential advantages and disadvantages that must be assessed in each case.

Formation of wear particles within total hip replacement is one of the main causes of its failure. In addition to improving the lubrication and wear resistance of materials used as bearing surfaces, understanding of wear particle distribution patterns within lubricants inside an implant gap could be used to improve design parameters and implants’ lifespan. In this study, the behaviours of biolubricants (with compositions similar to human joint synovial fluid) and suspended particles were investigated by micro-particle image velocimetry in curved mini channels under oscillatory Couette flow conditions. The studied biolubricants had shear-thinning viscoelastic characteristics. The authors found that increasing shear-thinning, elasticity or motion frequency levels did not affect the trend behaviours of biolubricant flows due to the low strain values of the experimental conditions applied. However, suspended particles formed strings along flow directions and exhibited cross-stream migration to channel walls. Motion frequency, fluid shear thinning and elasticity characteristics and channel dimensions strongly affected particle behaviours.