In this study, multiple interacting cracks in an infinite plate are analyzed to determine the overall stress field as well as stress intensity factors for crack tips and singular wedges at crack kinks. The problem is formulated using integral equations expressed in terms of unknown edge dislocation distributions along crack lines. These distributions derive from an accurate representation of the crack opening displacements using power series basis terms obtained through wedge eigenvalue analysis, which leads to both polynomial and non-polynomial power series. The process is to choose terms of the series and their exponents such that the tractions on the crack faces are virtually zero compared to the far field loading. Applying the method leads to a set of linear algebraic equations to solve for the unknown weighting coefficients for the power series basis terms. Since no numerical integration is required unlike in other methods, in most cases, solution takes just a few seconds on a PC. The accuracy and efficiency of the method are first demonstrated with a simple example of three aligned cracks with small ligaments between their tips under tensile loading. The results are compared to exact results as well as to those of other numerical methods, including recent FIE, FEM and BEM approaches said to have fast computation times. Thereafter, some new and challenging crack interaction problems including branched Y-cracks, two kinked V-cracks are solved. From a parametric study of the various crack configurations, stress intensity factors are graphed and tabulated to demonstrate subtleties in the magnitudes of the crack interactions.

The Pulse Physiology Platform is an open-source software application designed to enable accurate and consistent, real-time physiologic simulations for improved medical training and clinical decision-making tools. The platform includes a physiology engine comprised of well-validated lumped-parameter models, differential equations representing feedback mechanisms, and a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. The platform also includes a common data model for standard model and data definitions and a common software interface for engine control and robust physics-based circuit and transport solvers. The Pulse Platform has been incorporated into a number of commercial, research, and academic tools for medical simulation. Significance: The Pulse Platform is an innovative, well-validated, open-source tool for medical modeling and simulation in the training and clinical decision-making field.

Cerebrospinal fluid diversion via ventricular shunting is the prevailing contemporary treatment for hydrocephalus. The CSF shunt appeared in its current form in the 1950s, and modern CSF shunts are the result of 6 decades of significant progress in neurosurgery and biomedical engineering. However, despite revolutionary advances in material science, computational design optimization, manufacturing, and sensors, the ventricular catheter (VC) component of CSF shunts today remains largely unchanged in its functionality and capabilities from its original design, even though VC obstruction remains a primary cause of shunt failure. The objective of this paper is to investigate the history of VCs, including successful and failed alterations in mechanical design and material composition, to better understand the challenges that hinder development of a more effective design.

No abstract

No abstract