PSI - Issue 42

Theodoros Marinopoulos et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 42 (2022) 903–910 T. Marinopoulos et al./ Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

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Figure 1. (a) Initial socket design derived from geometry of residual limb; (b) original design after elimination of top flap and adjustment for pyramid-attachment mechanism; (c) variable wall-thickness sockets produced by thickening tress concentration areas based on FEA input. A bespoke apparatus was used to apply the loads to the sockets employing a residual-limb manikin casted in plaster (Fig. 2a). A compressive load at loading rate of 150 N/s was applied on the socket until it reached a settling force level of 1020 N and was then unloaded to the original starting point. Subsequently, the socket was loaded again at the same rate, until visible failure occurred. Tests were performed on an Instron 3200 series using a 50 kN loadcell. (a) (b)

Figure 2. (a) Experimental setup for ultimate strength test of prosthetic sockets at Condition I; (b) FEA model for socket loading at Condition I