The wear rate on Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) entails a heavy burden for patients. This becomes more relevant with increased wear risk and its consequences such as osteolysis. In addition, osteolysis has been described in cemented and uncemented acetabular implants, and nowadays, controversy remains as to whether or not to cement the acetabular component. A personalized theoretical study was carried out to investigate which parameters have an influence on wear risk and to determine the best fixation method. Liner wear risk was assessed for two different types of fixation (cemented vs uncemented) through Finite Elements Analysis (FEA). The intraoperative variables used to determine the wear risk (cervical-diaphyseal angle, Center of Rotation positioning -COR-, head material, head size, and liner thickness) are vital parameters in surgical planning. Two types of tridimensional liner models of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethene (UHMWPE) were simulated through finite element analysis (FEA—over 216 cases were the core of this research). A significant relationship was found between the cervical-diaphyseal angle and wear risk (p < 0.0001), especially in valgus morphology. The acetabular fixation technique (p < 0.0001) and liner thickness (p < 0.0001) showed a significant relationship with wear risk. According to our study, using a cemented fixation with a thick liner in the right center of rotation appears to be the proper stratagy for preventing polyethylene liner wear.

Wear debris in total hip arthroplasty is one of the main causes of loosening and failure, and the optimal acetabular fixation for primary total hip arthroplasty is still controversial because there is no significant difference between cemented and uncemented types for long-term clinical and functional outcome. To assess and predict, from a theoretical viewpoint, the risk of wear with two types of polyethylene liners, cemented and uncemented, a simulation using the finite element (FE) method was carried out. The risk of wear was analyzed according to different variables: the polyethylene acetabular component’s position with respect to the center of rotation of the hip; the thickness of the polyethylene insert; the material of the femoral head; and the relationship of the cervical–diaphyseal morphology of the proximal end of the femur to the restoration of the femoral offset. In all 72 simulations studied, a difference was observed in favour of a cemented solution with respect to the risk of wear. With regard to the other variables, the acetabular fixation, the thickness of the polyethylene, and the acetabular component positioning were statistically significant. The highest values for the risk of wear corresponded to a smaller thickness (5.3 mm), and super-lateral positioning at 25 mm reached the highest value of the von Mises stress. According to our results, for the reconstruction of the acetabular side, a cemented insert with a thickness of at least 5 mm should be used at the center of rotation.

A procedure for the reinforcement of timber floor joists in ancient buildings using steel U shape cross sections screwed to timber from the upper side is described. Bending tests of 3 groups of 10 beams were carried out obtaining the stiffness and load carrying capacity. The first one was composed by pieces of glued laminated timber of Spruce with 180x200 mm cross section; the second one was of Scots pine sawn timber with the same cross section; and the third one was 120 years old solid timber beams of genus Pine with 130x150 mm cross section. Each group was divided in two groups of 5 beams. The first sub-group was tested without reinforcement and the second one was tested with the steel reinforcement. The reinforcement increases the stiffness from 45 to 98 % and the load carrying capacity from 27 to 58 %.

Se describe un procedimiento para la consolidación de viguetas de forjado de madera con deterioro en las cabezas mediante perfiles de acero conectados a la madera desde la cara superior del forjado. La pieza de refuerzo es un perfil en U de acero S275 conformado en frío con pletinas soldadas insertadas en la madera y conectada mediante tirafondos. Se ensayaron 30 piezas a flexión obteniendo la rigidez y la capacidad de carga. Las probetas se dividieron en tres grupos. El primero compuesto por 10 piezas de madera laminada encolada de abeto con una sección de 180 x 200 mm y una longitud de 4.000 mm; el segundo consistía en 10 piezas de madera aserrada de pino silvestre con la misma sección y longitud y, el tercero, estaba formado por otras 10 piezas de madera del género Pinus con una sección de 130 x 150 mm y 3.000 mm de longitud, procedentes de un edificio de Madrid con 120 años de antigüedad. Cada grupo de 10 piezas se dividió a su vez en dos grupos de 5 piezas. El primer subgrupo estaba formado por las piezas completas de madera y constituía el grupo de referencia. Las piezas del segundo subgrupo tenían una longitud inferior que se salvaba con una extensión del refuerzo metálico. Los resultados indican que el sistema de refuerzo metálico permite resolver los problemas de falta de apoyo de la vigueta por deterioro de la madera que afecte en una longitud limitada (aproximadamente entre el 10 y el 20% de la longitud).

The aim of this paper is to study the mechanical capacity improvement in a cold formed steel cross section with thickness of 1 mm regards to a cross section made by means of hot-rolled steel with thickness of 4 mm, respectively. Likewise, the differences are studied in the manufacturing processes used in both profiles, and the particularities of cold formed steel cross section. This paper analyzes temperature, stress and deformations using Element Method DEFORM software. This research has been focused in the study of accumulation points of stress to verify the behavior of the sheet of cold formed steel during the folded process. Stress of the steel cross section has been analyzed during the folded process, showing instant step of simulation. Conclusions show how these points of stress concentration could be an influence during the manufacturing process.

The main objective of this paper is to analyze the behaviour of cold formed steel cross section respect to mechanical characteristics, such as deflection, mainly. A cold formed steel profile with thickness of 1 mm regards is studied to determine its viability as reinforcement of timber upgrading. Thus, temperatures, stresses and strains have been analysed during the manufacturing process of these profiles, and also, the deflection supported, comparing between unreinforced and reinforce pieces. The analysis has been carried out by means of Finite Element Method, using DEFORM 2D software, during the simulation of manufacturing process and COPRA software during the final static computations. Results provide information about the integrity and good behavior of these profiles for timber upgrading.