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Background: Clinically there are different fixation methods used for fixation of the posterior malleolar fractures (PMF), but the best treatment modality is still not clear. Few studies have concentrated on this issue, least of all using a biomechanical comparison. The purpose of this study was to carry out a computational comparative biomechanics of three different commonly used fixation constructs for the fixation of PMF by finite element analysis (FEA)., Methods: Computed tomography (CT) images were used to reconstruct three dimensional (3D) model of the tibia. Computer aided design (CAD) software was used to design 3D models of PMF. Finally, 3D models of PMF fixed with two antero-posterior (AP) lag screws, two postero-anterior (PA) lag screws and posterior plate were simulated through computational processing. Simulated loads of 500 N, 1000 N and 1500 N were applied to the PMF and proximal ends of the models were fixed in all degrees of freedom. Output results representing the model von Mises stress, relative fracture micro-motion and vertical displacement of the fracture fragment were analyzed., Results: The mean vertical displacement value in the posterior plate group (0.52 mm) was lower than AP (0.68 mm) and PA (0.69 mm) lag groups. Statistically significant low amount of the relative micro-motion (P < 0.05) was observed in the posterior plate group., Conclusions: It was concluded that the posterior plate is biomechanically the most stable fixation method for fixation of PMF.

A quasi-three-dimensional (3-D) analytic method is presented for calculating the performance of single-sided linear induction motor with the ladder secondary. To simplify the analytic model, the ladder aluminum plate is equivalent to the flat-solid one, and the equivalent conductivity is derived and given. In the direction of the motion, the finite primary length and end effect are considered by the method of the Fourier transform and Residue theorem. In the transverse direction, considering finite width of the primary core and the region between the overhang of the primary windings and the secondary, the equivalent integral length is given. Finally, the thrust, vertical force and secondary efficiency are calculated and compared with the results of the 3-D finite-element method and experiment, it is shown that the method presented in the paper is much simpler and the accuracy of the analytic method is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study mainly investigates the key secondary parameter effecting on transverse force and the changing trend of its components, which include the repulsive and restoring components. Firstly, considering the transverse displacements, skin effect and end effects, the full 3D finite element models of the single‐sided linear induction motor (SLIM) are built. Secondly, when the width of the secondary varies, the transverse force and its two components are presented and analysed. At the same time, the air‐gap flux densities and the eddy currents along the transverse directions are calculated. Then when the topological transform of aluminium plate (e.g. Al‐cap type) and back‐iron plate (e.g. laminated type) are applied, the transverse force and its components are given. Finally, the transverse force, thrust and efficiencies are compared in the SLIMs with different secondaries as well as some experiments are given. It is shown that the width of the secondary is the main factor influencing the transverse force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the larger total harmonic distortion (HD) of the air‐gap magnetic field in the linear induction motors with the flat‐solid and direct‐slit secondary, the construction of V‐type secondary is proposed and investigated, to reduce the harmonic components. First, a skew factor is presented to indicate the influence of the tooth harmonic on the air‐gap magnetic field. The skew distance is a key point for the design of the V‐type secondary, and the influence of the different skew distances on the thrusts, HD, and efficiencies are analysed by the three‐dimensional finite‐element method. Finally, the eddy currents, the air‐gap flux densities, and electromagnetic forces are calculated in the linear induction motors with the V‐type secondary. It shows that the V‐type secondary can reduce the harmonic components and improve the performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electromagnetic variations of the single‐sided linear induction motor (SLIM) are calculated by three‐dimensional (3D) finite‐element method (FEM) when the primary is displaced sideways from a symmetrical position. For geometrical and electrical asymmetry, a full 3D model, which considering the longitudinal and transverse end effects, overhangs of the primary windings and secondary, as well as lateral displacement, is developed. Apart from the thrust and vertical force, lateral force is produced when the transverse asymmetry occurred. Hence, the calculation equation of thrust, vertical and lateral forces in each element of the 3D FEM model and boundary conditions are presented. Air‐gap flux densities along the longitudinal and transverse directions with different lateral displacements are obtained, as well as the distortion coefficients of the air‐gap flux density is proposed. Corresponding induced currents in the secondary are predicted. Finally, the variations of the thrust, vertical and lateral forces are experimentally validated by measurements on reciprocal power‐fed test rig. It shows that the flux in between overhangs of the primary winding and secondary has great effect on the lateral force, the thrust and vertical force decrease with the increase of the lateral displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]