Non-contact temperature control and stereo digital image correlation for high-temperature testing of miniature tubular specimens.

Component failures very often occur due to high temperature and multiaxial stress states arising at critical component locations. To imitate such loading conditions, a multiaxial miniature testing system (MMTS) with axial, torsional, and internal pressurization capabilities for high-temperature testing of miniature tubular specimens has been developed. Among many challenges of developing the MMTS, uniform heating, temperature measurement and control, and surface strain measurement on a miniature tubular specimen at high temperatures have significant difficulties.

A novel gripper for multiaxial mechanical testing of microtubes at elevated temperatures.

The success of a microtube hydroforming (μTHF) process heavily depends on the material properties of microtubes, which can reveal the material response under multiaxial stress and influence the formability of hydroformed products. However, these material properties are not well understood because of the limited availability of material testing apparatus that would permit control of axial force and internal pressure simultaneously to mimic realistic μTHF loading. The main purpose of this study is to develop a set of grippers that can transfer required testing loads under fully coupled combinations of axial force and internal pressure.

Decontamination of viable Streptococcus mutans from orthodontic tungsten carbide debonding burs. An in vitro microbiological study.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of currently recommended decontamination procedures on tungsten carbide debonding burs (TCDBs).

Design: In vitro microbiological study.

Setting: St George's Hospital NHS Trust, UK.

Decontamination procedures for tungsten carbide debonding burs: a cross-sectional survey of hospital-based orthodontic departments.

Objective: To determine the current pattern of use and handling of tungsten carbide debonding burs (TCDBs) within UK hospital-based orthodontic departments.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Subjects And Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 217 departments within the UK and an overall response rate of 93% was achieved.

The effects of orthognathic surgery on speech: a review.

Purpose: To assess the effects of orthognathic surgery on speech in non-cleft individuals.

Materials And Methods: A literature survey was undertaken using the Medline (Entrez Pubmed) and EMBASE databases (1966 to 2006). Key orthodontic, orthognathic, and speech journals were also hand searched.