Analysis of Mechanical Properties of External Unilateral Fixation Device in the Case of Torque Load

Analysis of mechanical properties of external unilateral fixation device "Ultra X", in the case of torque load, is presented in this paper. Fixation device is applied on lower leg in the case of unstable fracture. Computer aided design (CAD) model and finite element model (FEM) are developed according to the dimensions and material properties of real fixation device. In the next step principal stress and deformation analysis is performed in CATIA V5 software. During numerical analysis values of stresses at critical places are monitored and analyzed. In addition, values of displacements are measured on important places on fixation device and bone fracture. Using values of displacements at the place of bone fracture, stiffness of the fracture is calculated. The same methodology is used to calculate stiffness of the fixation device. Using obtained results, several conclusions about the mechanical properties of the fixation device "Ultra X" are formulated at the end of the paper.