Impact of Riveting Parameters on Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloy (LY-12) Sealant Applied Lap Joint of an Aircraft

The assembling process includes various techniques, out of which riveting has been employed most successfully in fields like construction of enormous structures, auto-motives, and most notably in the aerospace industry. This process includes marking, drilling followed by riveting. Furthermore, being a successful process, most of the aircraft structure is assembled using rivets. However, various factors contribute to the result. Therefore, the effect of riveting process parameters such as Sheet Thickness, Rivet Diameter, Rivet Type, and Riveting Sequence have been studied on responses, i.e., Deformation and Joint Load Capacity of lap joint composed of Aluminum Alloy sheets (LY-12) at T0 condition by sandwiching aerospace-grade sealant (XM-22B). Each of these parameters is studied on three levels and the experimental setup is designed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The main objective of this work is to demonstrate the effect of riveting parameters on lap joints with sealant and analyze the effect through careful measurement of deformation and joint load capacity of the test specimen. Finally, a variance analysis (ANOVA) is performed to identify significant factors influencing response parameters using Design Expert Software V-12

Weight-bearing in ankle fractures: An audit of UK practice.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this national study was to audit the weight-bearing practice of orthopaedic services in the National Health Service (NHS) in the treatment of operatively and non-operatively treated ankle fractures. METHODS: A multicentre prospective two-week audit of all adult ankle fractures was conducted between July 3rd 2017 and July 17th 2017. Fractures were classified using the AO/OTA classification. Fractures fixed with syndesmosis screws or unstable fractures (>1 malleolus fractured or talar shift present) treated conservatively were excluded. No outcome data were collected. In line with NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) criteria, "early" weight-bearing was defined as unrestricted weight-bearing on the affected leg within 3 weeks of injury or surgery and "delayed" weight-bearing as unrestricted weight-bearing permitted after 3 weeks. RESULTS: 251 collaborators from 81 NHS hospitals collected data: 531 patients were managed non-operatively and 276 operatively. The mean age was 52.6 years and 50.5 respectively. 81% of non-operatively managed patients were instructed for early weight-bearing as recommended by NICE. In contrast, only 21% of operatively managed patients were instructed for early weight-bearing. DISCUSSION: The majority of patients with uni-malleolar ankle fractures which are managed non-operatively are treated in accordance with NICE guidance. There is notable variability amongst and within NHS hospitals in the weight-bearing instructions given to patients with operatively managed ankle fractures. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates community equipoise and suggests that the randomized study to determine the most effective strategy for postoperative weight-bearing in ankle fractures described in the NICE research recommendation is feasible