Investigating the histological and structural properties of tendon gel as an artificial biomaterial using the film model method in rabbits

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the properties of tendon gel by investigating the histological and structural differences among tendon gels under different preservation periods using a rabbit model. Methods Forty mature female rabbits were divided into four groups, each containing ten rabbits, on the basis of in-vivo preservation periods of tendon gels (3, 5, 10, and 15 days). We created the Achilles tendon rupture models using the film model method to obtain tendon gels. Tensile stress was applied to the tendon gel to promote maturation. Histological and structural evaluations of the tendon gel were performed before and after applying the tensile force, and the results obtained from the four groups were compared. Results Although the day-3 and day-5 tendon gels before applying tensile stress were histologically more immature than the day-10 and day-15 gels, type I collagen fibers equivalent to those of normal tendons were observed in all groups after the tensile process. Based on the surface and molecular structural evaluations, the day-3 tendon gels after the tensile process were molecularly cross-linked, and thick collagen fibers similar to those present in normal tendons were observed. Structural maturation observed in the day-3 tendon gels caused by traction was hardly observed in the day-5, -10, and -15 tendon gels. Conclusions The day-3 tendon gel had the highest regenerative potential to become a normal tendon by applying a traction force.

Molecular Dynamics Study on Mechanical Properties of Nanopolycrystalline Cu–Sn Alloy

Molecular dynamics simulation is one kinds of important methods to research the nanocrystalline materials which is difficult to be studied through experimental characterization. In order to study the effects of Sn content and strain rate on the mechanical properties of nanopolycrystalline Cu–Sn alloy, the tensile simulation of nanopolycrystalline Cu–Sn alloy was carried out by molecular dynamics in the present study. The results demonstrate that the addition of Sn reduces the ductility of Cu–Sn alloy. However, the elastic modulus and tensile strength of Cu–Sn alloy are improved with increasing the Sn content initially, but they will be reduced when the Sn content exceeds 4% and 8%, respectively. Then, strain rate ranges from 1 × 109 s−1 to 5 × 109 s−1 were applied to the Cu–7Sn alloy, the results show that the strain rate influence elastic modulus of nanopolycrystalline Cu–7Sn alloy weakly, but the tensile strength and ductility enhance obviously with increasing the strain rate. Finally, the microstructure evolution of nanopolycrystalline Cu–Sn alloy during the whole tensile process was studied. It is found that the dislocation density in the Cu–Sn alloy reduces with increasing the Sn content. However, high strain rate leads to stacking faults more easily to generate and high dislocation density in the Cu–7Sn alloy.

Assessment of the degradation in mild structural steel using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique

This paper reports the degradation assessment of mild steel during the plastic tensile process. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique was adopted in this study. The orientation maps showed that with the increase of tensile strain, the grain surface become wrinkled, and the deviation level of intragranular orientation also increased. Meanwhile, the parameters based on the image quality of the Kikuchi bands (i.e. BC and MAD) as well as the crystallographic orientation (i.e. LAGBs content, GND density, GOS, and GROD) can be used to evaluate the degradation degree of the mild steel. The results showed that the change of BC and MAD was significant at the end of plastic stage, but was not sufficiently distinctive at the early stage; Meanwhile, the LAGBs content and GND density increased evidently during the plastic tensile. Compared with the former, the GND density exhibited stronger regularity and better evaluation effect; Besides, a general upward trend of GOS and GROD was observed at this tensile process. However, the GROD changed less at the certain plastic stage. Compared with GROD, the GOS exhibited a relatively better evaluation effect; To sum up, the GND density and GOS are the better indicators for evaluating the degradation degree of mild steel.

Experimental Study on Tensile Mechanical Properties and Reinforcement Ratio of Steel–Plastic Compound Geogrid-Reinforced Belt

The steel–plastic compound geogrid has been widely used as a new reinforcement material in geotechnical engineering and other fields. Therefore, it is essential to fully understand the mechanical properties of steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belts to utilize steel–plastic compound geogrids efficiently. In this study, tensile mechanical tests of steel wire, polyethylene geogrid belt, and steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belt were conducted with respect to the tensile mechanical properties of steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belts. In addition, the minimum reinforcement and optimal reinforcement ratios of steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belts were summarized. The results showed that the steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belts possessed an incongruent force of the internal steel wire during the tensile process. The tensile stress–strain curve of the steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belt can be divided into the composite adjustment, steel wire breaking, and residual deformation stages. The tensile strength of the steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belt is proportional to the diameter and number of steel wires in the reinforced belt. The minimum and optimum reinforcement ratios of steel wire in the steel–plastic compound geogrid-reinforced belt were 0.63% and 11.92%, respectively.

Molecular Dynamics Research on the Impact of Vacancies on Cu Precipitation in BCC-Fe

The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method was used to explore the impact of vacancy concentration (0 at%, 0.1 at% and 0.2 at%) on the diffusion and precipitation rate of Cu atoms in the Fe-3.5Cu alloy and the growth of Cu precipitation during the aging process of the alloy. The mechanism of the influence of Cu precipitation relative to the tensile properties of Fe-3.5Cu alloy was investigated. The results showed that the presence of vacancies will promote the diffusion and precipitation of Cu atoms in the Fe-3.5Cu alloy, but the diffusion and precipitation rate of Cu atoms does not always increase with the increase in vacancies. In the alloy containing 0.2 at% vacancies, the diffusion and precipitation rate of Cu atoms is lower than that in the alloy containing 0.1 at% vacancies. During the aging process, when the alloy contains no vacancies, no Cu precipitates will be produced. In the alloy containing 0.1 at% vacancies, the size of the Cu precipitates produced is larger than the size of the Cu precipitates produced in the alloy containing 0.2 at% vacancies, but the number of precipitates is less than that in the alloy with 0.2 at% vacancies. During the tensile process, the Cu precipitates will promote early occurrence of phase transition of the internal crystal structure in the Fe-3.5Cu alloy system, and lead to the generation of vacancy defects in the system, thus weakening the yield strength and strain hardening strength of the alloy.

HAZ Characterization and Mechanical Properties of QP980-DP980 Laser Welded Joints

The QP980-DP980 dissimilar steel joints were fabricated by fiber laser welding. The weld zone (WZ) was fully martensitic structure, and heat-affected zone (HAZ) contained newly-formed martensite and partially tempered martensite (TM) in both steels. The super-critical HAZ of the QP980 side had higher microhardness (~ 549.5 Hv) than that of the WZ due to the finer martensite. A softened zone was present in HAZ of QP980 and DP980, the dropped microhardness of softened zone of the QP980 and DP980 was Δ 21.8 Hv and Δ 40.9 Hv, respectively. Dislocation walls and slip bands were likely formed at the grain boundaries with the increase of strain, leading to the formation of low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs). Dislocation accumulation more easily occurred in the LAGBs than that of the HAGBs, which led to significant dislocation interaction and formation of cracks. The electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) results showed the fraction of LAGBs in sub-critical HAZ of DP980 side was the highest under different deformation conditions during tensile testing, resulting in the failure of joints located at the sub-critical HAZ of DP980 side. The QP980-DP980 dissimilar steel joints presented higher elongation (~ 11.21%) and ultimate tensile strength (~ 1011.53 MPa) than that of DP980-DP980 similar steel joints, because during the tensile process of the QP980-DP980 dissimilar steel joint (~ 8.2% and 991.38 MPa), the strain concentration firstly occurred on the excellent QP980 BM. Moreover, Erichsen cupping tests showed that the dissimilar welded joints had the lowest Erichsen value (~ 5.92 mm) and the peak punch force (~ 28.4 kN) due to the presence of large amount of brittle martensite in WZ and inhomogeneous deformation.

Helium Effects on the Mechanical Properties of Nanocrystalline Fe: Based on Molecular Dynamics

A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study was performed to investigate the effects of helium (He) on the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline body-centered cubic iron (BCC Fe). Simulated X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to explore the relationship between the generation of cracks and the change of the crystal structure in nanocrystalline BCC Fe during tensile deformation. It is observed that the peak stress and the elastic modulus decrease with increasing concentration of He atoms, which are introduced into the grain boundary (GB) region of nanocrystalline Fe. The generation and connection of intergranular cracks are enhanced by He atoms. Significant peak separation, which is associated with the generation of cracks, is found in the simulated XRD patterns of nanocrystalline Fe during the tensile process. The lower diffraction angle of the {211}′ peak suggests a more serious lattice distortion during loading. For all nanocrystalline Fe deformed to 6% strain, the degree and fraction of the lattice distortion increases with the increasing loading stress.