Modeling of Flow Rate, Pore Size, and Porosity for the Dispensing-Based Tissue Scaffolds Fabrication

Author(s):  
M. G. Li ◽  
X. Y. Tian ◽  
X. B. Chen

Dispensing technique is one of the promising solid freeform (SFF) methods to fabricate scaffolds with controllable pore sizes and porosities. In this paper, a model to represent the dispensing-based SFF fabrication process is developed. Specifically, the mechanical properties of the scaffold material and its influence on the fabrication process are examined; the flow rate of the scaffold material dispensed and the pore size and porosity of the scaffold fabricated in the process are represented. In order to generate scaffold strands without either tensile or compressive stress, the optimal moving speed of the dispensing head is determined from the flow rate of the scaffold material dispensed. Experiments were also carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the model developed.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
William King, III ◽  

The ideal “off the shelf” tissue engineering, small-diameter (< 6 mm inner diameter (ID)) vascular graft hinges on designing a template that facilitates transmural ingrowth of capillaries to regenerate an endothelized neointimal surface. Previous traditionally electrospun (TES) approaches to create bioresorbable vascular grafts lack the pore sizes required to facilitate transmural capillary ingrowth required for successful in situ neovascular regeneration. Therefore, the ability to create scaffolds with program-specific architectures independent of fiber diameter via the relatively recent sub-technique of near-field electrospinning (NFES) represents a promising solution to create tissue engineering vascular grafts. These programmed large pore sizes are anticipated to promote in situ regeneration and improve the outcomes as well as the quality of life of patients with arterial disease. In this dissertation, we manufactured via NFES as well as characterized biodegradable polydioxanone (PDO) small-diameter vascular grafts. Chapter 1 introduces the need for off-the-shelf, small-diameter vascular grafts to facilitate in situ regeneration, the process and pore size limitations of TES vascular grafts, and the promising use of NFES to develop precisely tailored PDO vascular grafts. Chapter 2 describes the process of NFES and details the current progress in NFES of biomedical polymers as well as the major limitations that exist in the field. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 contain primary research exploring the creation of an NFES vascular graft scaffold and characterizing the mechanical as well as biological response of these scaffolds. Specifically, in Chapter 3 we demonstrate a NFES apparatus designed around a commercial 3D printer to write PDO microfibers. The processing parameters of air gap, polymer concentration, translational velocity, needle gauge, and applied voltage were characterized for their effects on PDO fiber diameter. The processing parameters of polymer concentration and translational fiber deposition velocity were further characterized for their effects on fiber crystallinity and individual fiber uniformity. The precision of fiber stacking via a 3D printer was qualitatively evaluated to inform the creation of 3D scaffolds to guide the alignment of human gingival fibroblasts. It was found that fiber diameters correlate positively with polymer concentration, applied voltage, and needle gauge and inversely correlate with translational velocity and air gap distance. Individual fiber diameter variability decreases, and crystallinity increases with increasing translational fiber deposition velocity. These data resulted in the creation of tailored PDO 3D scaffolds which guided the alignment of primary human fibroblast cells. Together, these results suggest that NFES of PDO can be scaled to create precise geometries with tailored fiber diameters for vascular graft scaffolds. In Chapter 4, we demonstrated a NFES device to semi-stably write PDO microfibers. The polymer spinneret was programmed to translate in a stacking grid pattern, which resulted in a scaffold with highly aligned grid fibers that were intercalated with low density, random fibers. As a consequence of this random switching process, increasing the grid dimensions resulted in both a lower density of fibers in the center of each grid in the scaffold as well as a lower density of “rebar-like” stacked fibers per unit area. These hybrid architecture scaffolds resulted in tailorable as well as greater surface pore sizes as given by scanning electron micrographs and effective object permeability as indicated by fluorescent microsphere filtration compared to TES scaffolds of the same fiber diameter. Furthermore, these programmable scaffolds resulted in tailorability in the characterized mechanical properties ultimate tensile strength, percent elongation, yield stress, yield elongation, and Young’s modulus independent of fiber diameter compared to the static TES scaffold characterization. Lastly, the innate immune response of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was further attenuated on NFES scaffolds compared to TES scaffolds. These results suggest that this novel NFES scaffold architecture of PDO can be highly tailored as a function of programming for small diameter vascular graft scaffolds. In Chapter 5, we created two types of NFES PDO architectures, as small-diameter vascular graft scaffolds. The first architecture type consisted of a 200 x 200 µm and 500 x 500 µm grid geometry with random fiber infill produced from one set of processing parameters, while the second architecture consisted of aligned fibers written in a 45°/45° and 20°/70° offset from the long axis, both on a 4 mm diameter cylindrical mandrel. These vascular graft scaffolds were characterized for their effective object transit pore size, mechanical properties, and platelet-material interactions compared to TES scaffolds and Gore-Tex® vascular grafts. It was found that effective pore size, given by 9.9 and 97 µm microsphere filtration through the scaffold wall for NFES grafts, was significantly more permeable compared to TES grafts and Gore-Tex® vascular grafts. Furthermore, the characterized mechanical properties of ultimate tensile strength, percent elongation, suture retention, burst pressure, and Young’s modulus were all tailorable for NFES grafts, independent of fiber diameter, compared to TES graft characterization. Lastly, platelet adhesion was attenuated on large pore size NFES grafts compared to the TES grafts which approximated the low level of platelet adhesion measured on Gore-Tex® grafts, with all grafts showing minimal platelet activation given by P-selectin surface expression. Together, these results suggest a highly tailorable process for the creation of the next generation of small-diameter vascular grafts. Lastly, Chapter 6 expounds future considerations for continuing research in NFES technology, NFES for general tissue engineering, and NFES for vascular tissue engineering as well as gives final conclusions. Together, the finding of this dissertation indicated that NFES vascular grafts result in seamless, small diameter tubular scaffolds with programmable pore sizes on the magnitude anticipated to facilitate transmural endothelialization as well as programmable mechanical properties that approximate native values. Thus, this work represents the next step in developing bioinstructive designed scaffolds to facilitate in situ vascular regeneration to improve the outcomes as well as the quality of life of patients with arterial vascular disease.


2010 ◽  
Vol 654-656 ◽  
pp. 827-830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang An ◽  
Chun Hui Yang ◽  
Peter D. Hodgson ◽  
Cui E Wen

In the study, both experimental work and numerical modeling are performed to investigate the pore size effects on the mechanical properties and deformation behaviours of titanium foams. Cylindrical titanium foam samples with different pore sizes are fabricated through powder metallurgy. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to determine the pore size, pore distribution and the ratios of the length to width of pores. Compressive tests are carried out to determine the mechanical properties of the titanium foams with different pore sizes. Finally, finite element modeling is attempted to simulate the deformation behaviour and the mechanical properties of the titanium foams. Results indicate that titanium foams with different pore sizes have different geometrical characteristics, which lead to different deformation behaviours of cell walls during compression, resulting in different mechanical properties of titanium foams.


Author(s):  
A. K. M. B. Khoda ◽  
Ibrahim T. Ozbolat ◽  
Bahattin Koc

A novel modeling technique for porous tissue scaffolds with targeting the functionally gradient variational porosity with continuous material deposition planning has been proposed. To vary the porosity of the designed scaffold functionally, medial axis transformation is used. The medial axis of each layers of the scaffold is calculated and used as an internal feature. The medial axis is then used connected to the outer contour using an optimum matching. The desired pore size and hence the porosity have been achieved by discretizing the sub-regions along its peripheral direction based on the pore size while meeting the tissue scaffold design constraints. This would ensure the truly porous nature of the structure in every direction as well as controllable porosity with interconnected pores. Thus the desired controlled variational porosity along the scaffold architecture has been achieved with the combination of two geometrically oriented consecutive layers. A continuous, interconnected and optimized tool-path has been generated for successive layers for additive-manufacturing or solid free form fabrication process. The proposed methodology has been computationally implemented with illustrative examples. Furthermore, the designed example scaffolds with the desired pore size and porosity has been fabricated with an extrusion based bio-fabrication process.


Author(s):  
X. B. Chen ◽  
M. G. Li ◽  
H. Ke

Made from biomaterials, tissue scaffolds are three-dimensional (3D) constructs with highly interconnected pore networks for facilitating cell growth and flow transport of nutrients and metabolic waste. To fabricate the scaffolds with complex structures, dispensing-based rapid prototyping technique has been employed recently. In such a fabrication process, the flow rate of biomaterial dispensed is of importance since it directly contributes to the pore size and porosity of the scaffold fabricated. However, the modeling of the flow rate has proven to be a challenging task due to its complexity. This paper presents the development of a model for the flow rate in the scaffold fabrication process based on the fundamentals of fluid mechanics. To verify the effectiveness of the developed model, experiments were carried out, in which the chitosan solution (2% w/v) in acetic acid was used for dispensing under different applied pressures (50kPa, 100kPa, 150kPa, 200kPa, and 250kPa) and needle heater temperatures (25°C, 35°C, 50°C, and 65°C). The measured flow rates were used to identify the flow behavior of the solution and were compared to the predictions from the developed model to illustrate the model effectiveness. Based on the developed model, simulations were carried out to identify the effects of the needle size and the flow behavior on the flow rate in the scaffold fabrication process. The developed model was also applied to determine the dispensing conditions for fabricating 3D scaffolds from a 50% chitosan-hydroxyapatite colloidal gel. As an example, a scaffold fabricated with a well-controlled internal structure of diameters of 610±43μm and pore sizes of 850±75μm in the horizontal plane and of 430±50μm in the vertical direction is presented in this paper to illustrate the promise of the developed model as applied to the 3D scaffold fabrication.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-201
Author(s):  
Rebecca Johnson ◽  
Mark Longman ◽  
Brian Ruskin

The Three Forks Formation, which is about 230 ft thick along the southern Nesson Anticline (McKenzie County, ND), has four “benches” with distinct petrographic and petrophysical characteristics that impact reservoir quality. These relatively clean benches are separated by slightly more illitic (higher gamma-ray) intervals that range in thickness from 10 to 20 ft. Here we compare pore sizes observed in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the benches to the total porosity calculated from binned precession decay times from a suite of 13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logs in the study area as well as the logarithmic mean of the relaxation decay time (T2 Log Mean) from these NMR logs. The results show that the NMR log is a valid tool for quantifying pore sizes and pore size distributions in the Three Forks Formation and that the T2 Log Mean can be correlated to a range of pore sizes within each bench of the Three Forks Formation. The first (shallowest) bench of the Three Forks is about 35 ft thick and consists of tan to green silty and shaly laminated dolomite mudstones. It has good reservoir characteristics in part because it was affected by organic acids and received the highest oil charge from the overlying lower Bakken black shale source rocks. The 13 NMR logs from the study area show that it has an average of 7.5% total porosity (compared to 8% measured core porosity), and ranges from 5% to 10%. SEM study shows that both intercrystalline pores and secondary moldic pores formed by selective partial dissolution of some grains are present. The intercrystalline pores are typically triangular and occur between euhedral dolomite rhombs that range in size from 10 to 20 microns. The dolomite crystals have distinct iron-rich (ferroan) rims. Many of the intercrystalline pores are partly filled with fibrous authigenic illite, but overall pore size typically ranges from 1 to 5 microns. As expected, the first bench has the highest oil saturations in the Three Forks Formation, averaging 50% with a range from 30% to 70%. The second bench is also about 35 ft thick and consists of silty and shaly dolomite mudstones and rip-up clast breccias with euhedral dolomite crystals that range in size from 10 to 25 microns. Its color is quite variable, ranging from green to tan to red. The reservoir quality of the second bench data set appears to change based on proximity to the Nesson anticline. In the wells off the southeast flank of the Nesson anticline, the water saturation averages 75%, ranging from 64% to 91%. On the crest of the Nesson anticline, the water saturation averages 55%, ranging from 40% to 70%. NMR porosity is consistent across the entire area of interest - averaging 7.3% and ranging from 5% to 9%. Porosity observed from samples collected on the southeast flank of the Nesson Anticline is mainly as intercrystalline pores that have been extensively filled with chlorite clay platelets. In the water saturated southeastern Nesson Anticline, this bench contains few or no secondary pores and the iron-rich rims on the dolomite crystals are less developed than those in the first bench. The chlorite platelets in the intercrystalline pores reduce average pore size to 500 to 800 nanometers. The third bench is about 55 ft thick and is the most calcareous of the Three Forks benches with 20 to 40% calcite and a proportionate reduction in dolomite content near its top. It is also quite silty and shaly with a distinct reddish color. Its dolomite crystals are 20 to 50 microns in size and partly abraded and dissolved. Ferroan dolomite rims are absent. This interval averages 7.1% porosity and ranges from 5% to 9%, but the pores average just 200 nanometers in size and occur mainly as microinterparticle pores between illite flakes in intracrystalline pores in the dolomite crystals. This interval has little or no oil saturation on the southern Nesson Anticline. Unlike other porosity tools, the NMR tool is a lithology independent measurement. The alignment of hydrogen nuclei to the applied magnetic field and the subsequent return to incoherence are described by two decay time constants, longitudinal relaxation time (T1) and transverse relaxation time (T2). T2 is essentially the rate at which hydrogen nuclei lose alignment to the external magnetic field. The logarithmic mean of T2 (T2 Log Mean) has been correlated to pore-size distribution. In this study, we show that the assumption that T2 Log Mean can be used as a proxy for pore-size distribution changes is valid in the Three Forks Formation. While the NMR total porosity from T2 remains relatively consistent in the three benches of the Three Forks, there are significant changes in the T2 Log Mean from bench to bench. There is a positive correlation between changes in T2 Log Mean and average pore size measured on SEM samples. Study of a “type” well, QEP’s Ernie 7-2-11 BHD (Sec. 11, T149N, R95W, McKenzie County), shows that the 1- to 5-micron pores in the first bench have a T2 Log Mean relaxation time of 10.2 msec, whereas the 500- to 800-nanometer pores in the chlorite-filled intercrystalline pores in the second bench have a T2 Log Mean of 4.96 msec. This compares with a T2 Log Mean of 2.86 msec in 3rd bench where pores average just 200 nanometers in size. These data suggest that the NMR log is a useful tool for quantifying average pore size in the various benches of the Three Forks Formation.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2323
Author(s):  
Yubing Du ◽  
Zhiqing Zhao ◽  
Qiang Xiao ◽  
Feiting Shi ◽  
Jianming Yang ◽  
...  

To explore the basic mechanical properties and size effects of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) with different substitution ratios of coarse recycled concrete aggregates (CRCAs) to replace natural coarse aggregates (NCA), the failure modes and mechanical parameters of RAC under different loading conditions including compression, splitting tensile resistance and direct shear were compared and analyzed. The conclusions drawn are as follows: the failure mechanisms of concrete with different substitution ratios of CRCAs are similar; with the increase in substitution ratio, the peak compressive stress and peak tensile stress of RAC decrease gradually, the splitting limit displacement decreases, and the splitting tensile modulus slightly increases; with the increase in the concrete cube’s side length, the peak compressive stress of RAC declines gradually, but the integrity after compression is gradually improved; and the increase in the substitution ratio of the recycled aggregate reduces the impact of the size effect on the peak compressive stress of RAC. Furthermore, an influence equation of the coupling effect of the substitution ratio and size effect on the peak compressive stress of RAC was quantitatively established. The research results are of great significance for the engineering application of RAC and the strength selection of RAC structure design.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 682
Author(s):  
Eko Surojo ◽  
Aziz Harya Gumilang ◽  
Triyono Triyono ◽  
Aditya Rio Prabowo ◽  
Eko Prasetya Budiana ◽  
...  

Underwater wet welding (UWW) combined with the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) method has proven to be an effective way of permanently joining metals that can be performed in water. This research was conducted to determine the effect of water flow rate on the physical and mechanical properties (tensile, hardness, toughness, and bending effect) of underwater welded bead on A36 steel plate. The control variables used were a welding speed of 4 mm/s, a current of 120 A, electrode E7018 with a diameter of 4 mm, and freshwater. The results show that variations in water flow affected defects, microstructure, and mechanical properties of underwater welds. These defects include spatter, porosity, and undercut, which occur in all underwater welding results. The presence of flow and an increased flow rate causes differences in the microstructure, increased porosity on the weld metal, and undercut on the UWW specimen. An increase in water flow rate causes the acicular ferrite microstructure to appear greater, and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) will form finer grains. The best mechanical properties are achieved by welding with the highest flow rate, with a tensile strength of 534.1 MPa, 3.6% elongation, a Vickers microhardness in the HAZ area of 424 HV, and an impact strength of 1.47 J/mm2.


CivilEng ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 523-540
Author(s):  
Imed Beghoura ◽  
Joao Castro-Gomes

This study focuses on the development of an alkali-activated lightweight foamed material (AA-LFM) with enhanced density. Several mixes of tungsten waste mud (TWM), grounded waste glass (WG), and metakaolin (MK) were produced. Al powder as a foaming agent was added, varying from 0.009 w.% to 0.05 w.% of precursor weight. Expanded granulated cork (EGC) particles were incorporated (10% to 40% of the total volume of precursors). The physical and mechanical properties of the foamed materials obtained, the effects of the amount of the foaming agent and the percentage of cork particles added varying from 10 vol.% to 40% are presented and discussed. Highly porous structures were obtained, Pore size and cork particles distribution are critical parameters in determining the density and strength of the foams. The compressive strength results with different densities of AA-LFM obtained by modifying the foaming agent and cork particles are also presented and discussed. Mechanical properties of the cured structure are adequate for lightweight prefabricated building elements and components.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huren Rong ◽  
Jingyu Gu ◽  
Miren Rong ◽  
Hong Liu ◽  
Jiayao Zhang ◽  
...  

In order to study the damage characteristics of the yellow sandstone containing pores under the freeze-thaw cycle, the uniaxial compression test of saturated water-stained yellow sandstones with different freeze-thaw cycles was carried out by rock servo press, the microstructure was qualitatively analyzed by Zeiss 508 stereo microscope, and the microdamage mechanism was quantitatively studied by using specific surface area and pore size analyzer. The mechanism of weakening mechanical properties of single-hole yellow sandstone was expounded from the perspective of microstructure. The results show the following. (1) The number of freeze-thaw cycles and single-pore diameter have significant effects on the strength and elastic modulus of the yellow sandstone; the more the freeze-thaw cycles and the larger the pore size, the lower the strength of the yellow sandstone. (2) The damage modes of the yellow sandstone containing pores under the freeze-thaw cycle are divided into five types, and the yellow sandstone with pores is divided into two areas: the periphery of the hole and the distance from the hole; as the number of freeze-thaw cycles increases, different regions show different microscopic damage patterns. (3) The damage degree of yellow sandstone is different with freeze-thaw cycle and pore size. Freeze-thaw not only affects the mechanical properties of yellow sandstone but also accelerates the damage process of pores. (4) The damage of the yellow sandstone by freeze-thaw is logarithmic function, and the damage of the yellow sandstone is a power function. The damage equation of the yellow sandstone with pores under the freezing and thawing is a log-power function nonlinear change law and presents a good correlation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document