1 TRACT erimental results obtained during fatigue testing of a lded lap-shear structural-joint specimen are d. In these experiments, the electro-mechanical mpedance technique was used for structural health ing, damage detection, and NDE. The test ns were instrumented with piezo-electric wafer ers, and the base E/M impedance signature was over the relevant frequency range. Fatigue testing lied t...

The relationships between ankle plantar flexor musculotendinous stiffness (MTS) and performance in a countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) and maximal rate of torque development (MRTD) were studied in 27 active men. MTS was studied by means of quick releases at 20 (S0.2), 40 (S0.4), 60 (S0.6), and 80% (S0.8) of maximal voluntary torque (T(MVC)). CMJ was not correlated with strength indices but wa...

Drop-jumps are controlled by predictive and reactive motor strategies which differ with respect to the utilization of sensory feedback. With reaction, sensory feedback is integrated while performing the task. With prediction, sensory information may be used prior to movement onset. Certainty about upcoming events is important for prediction. The present study aimed at investigating how uncertai...

Currently, dummies are used to evaluate the potential for neck injuries under both inertial loading and direct contact loading, such as in the case of air bag loading. However, there is currently little known data on the biomechanical response of the human neck under direct head contact loading conditions. The objective of this preliminary research is to develop an experimental approach and ana...

The aim of the study was to explore whether passive stiffness of the hamstrings influences the strategy of maintaining postural stability. A sample of 50 subjects was selected; the final analyses were based on data of 41 individuals (33 men, 8 women) aged 21 to 29 (mean = 23.3, SD = 1.1) years. A quasi- experimental ex post facto design with repeated measures was used. Categories of independent...

Three 100% cotton denim jeans were treated with stone acid wash with the variation of processing time (1.5, 2 & 2.5 minutes) and concentration (1.5, 2 & 2.5g/l) of potassium permanganate after typical enzyme bleach wash. Various physical and mechanical properties (Hand feel, Weight, EPI, and PPI, Tensile strength, Shrinkage, Seam strength, Count & stiffness) were investigated before and after e...

The torque sensor is used to measure the joint torque of a robot manipulator. Previous research showed that the sensitivity and the stiffness of torque sensors have trade-off characteristics. Stiffness has to be sacrificed to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. In this research, a new torque sensor with high sensitivity (TSHS) is proposed in order to resolve this problem. The key idea of th...

INTRODUCTION Frontal and rear-end collision with low speed are common accident mechanisms in situations with dense city traffic. During a rear-end collision the car occupant of the struck vehicle is pushed forward by the seat-back. Due to its inertia the neck is forced to an extension-flexion movement commonly called ‘whiplash’. To improve car safety mainly anthropometric test dummies (ATD) e.g...

CONTEXT Preventing noncontact ACL injuries has been a major focus of athletic trainers and researchers. One factor that may influence female noncontact ACL injury is the fluctuating concentrations of hormones in the body. OBJECTIVE To determine whether muscle properties change across the menstrual cycle. DESIGN Repeated measures. Testing was performed within 3 d after the onset of menses an...

With sensory reweighting, reliable sensory information is selected over unreliable information during balance by dynamically combining this information. We used system identification techniques to show the weight and the adaptive process of weight change of proprioceptive information during standing balance with age and specific diseases. Ten healthy young subjects (aged between 20 and 30 yr) a...