Determination of the Shear Strength of Soil Along the Lateral Surface of Driven Piles in Numerical Investigations

Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering - We present the results of full-scale and numerical investigations of piles driven and impressed in clay soils. We propose a procedure of application of...     

Strengthening of the foundations of a building under construction at a commercial complex in Ufa

Strengthening of the foundations of a building in a commercial complex in Ufa with piles injected in predrilled holes in connection with a change in the design of the building while under construction is described. Structural solutions adopted on the basis of monitoring of bed deformations are substantiated.     

Bonelike apatite formation on niobium metal treated in aqueous NaOH

The essential condition for a biomaterial to bond to the living bone is the formation of a biologically active bonelike apatite on its surface. In the present work, it has been demonstrated that chemical treatment can be used to create a calcium phosphate (CaP) surface layer, which might provide the alkali treated Nb metal with bone-bonding capability. Soaking Nb samples in 0.5 M NaOH, at 25 degrees C for 24 h produced a nano-porous approximately 40 nm thick amorphous sodium niobate hydrogel layer on their surface. Immersion in a simulated body fluid (SBF) lead to the deposition of an amorphous calcium phosphate layer on the alkali treated Nb. The formation of calcium phosphate is assumed to be a result of the local pH increase caused by the cathodic reaction of oxygen reduction on the finely porous surface of the alkali-treated metal. The local rise in pH increased the ionic activity product of hydroxyapatite and lead to the precipitation of CaP from SBF that was already supersaturated with respect to the apatite. The formation of a similar CaP layer upon implantation of alkali treated Nb into the human body should promote the bonding of the implant to the surrounding bone. This bone bonding capability could make Nb metal an attractive material for hard tissue replacements.     

Corrosion behavior of PIRAC nitrided Ti-6Al-4V surgical alloy

Hard titanium nitride (TiN) coatings were obtained on the surface of Ti-6Al-4V alloy using an original PIRAC nitriding method, based on annealing the samples under a low pressure of monatomic nitrogen created by selective diffusion of N from the atmosphere. PIRAC nitrided samples exhibited excellent corrosion resistance in Ringer's solution in both potentiodynamic and potentiostatic tests. The anodic current and metal ion release rate of PIRAC nitrided Ti-6Al-4V at the typical corrosion potential values were significantly lower than those of the untreated alloy. This, together with the excellent adhesion and high wear resistance of the TiN coatings, makes PIRAC nitriding an attractive surface treatment for Ti-6Al-4V alloy surgical implants.     

Vancomycin release from bioresorbable calcium phosphate–polymer composites with high ceramic volume fractions

Bioresorbable calcium phosphate–polymer composite implants are a desirable alternative to the traditional metal bone-healing devices. Incorporation of antimicrobial drugs into the composite material and their sustained delivery may dramatically reduce the risk of implant infections. The paper reports the fabrication of drug-incorporated bioresorbable CaP–polymer nanocomposites that can be used for fracture fixation devices and at the same time function as local delivery systems. Vancomycin was incorporated into β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)- and biphasic CaP (BCP)-based composites containing ≤30 vol.% polycaprolactone (PCL) or polylactic acid (PLA), during their high pressure consolidation at 2.5 GPa and room temperature. The antibiotic release was studied in Tris buffer solution at 37 °C. Up to 5 wt% vancomycin could be included without compromising material’s integrity upon immersion into Tris solution. Vancomycin release profile was found to depend on the specific surface area of the test specimens and on the composite porosity. β-TCP–30 vol.% PLA composites were found to have the best combination of compression strength and drug release pattern. Complete drug release was accompanied by only negligible material dissolution suggesting a diffusion mechanism of release. In the context of bone-healing applications, such a release-dissolution pattern will allow local prophylaxis against implant-related infection at the early stages after implantation followed by a much more slow dissolution of the load-carrying device.     

Experience with Building Construction under Increased Karst Risk in Ufa

Experience is analyzed with regard to strengthening of the reconstructed building housing the dramatic theater. Structural solutions of karst-protected foundations and methods of their calculation are examined.