Study of Creep-Fatigue Interaction in the Prosthetic Socket below Knee

Abstract

The increasing numbers of amputees due to insurgence actions in Iraq urges the researches to conduct this study. Two stresses of fatigue and heat are generated as a result of limbs movement during extremely hot weather. The objective of this research is to Study the effect of temperature in hot climate countries on a socket made of composite materials during the gait. Where alternating pressures on the inner surface of the socket are generated and lead to variable stresses causing fatigue failure of material. It is evident that as temperature rises, the mechanical properties decrease over time due to creep which causes socket failure due to fatigue and creep interaction. The socket failure at room temperature is determined by fatigue test to obtain S-N curve. Also, stress distribution on the socket is studied at 60 Cº.

Keywords: amputee, fatigue, creep, below knee, piezoelectric sensor