EFFECT OF THE GAIT SPEED ON A NEW PROSTHETIC SHANK BELOW KNEE

Abstract

One of the most important problems that the components of the prosthetic limbs suffer from; the increase in walking speed leads to an increase in the ground reaction force. In this research, a new shank was design and manufactured using the porous functionally graded materials by a 3D printer of PLA material, and to ensure the success of this shank, several tests were conducted on it, including to know the mechanical properties, as well as the life test by a special device that was manufactured. A test was conducted to know the life of the shank when normal walking (about 1.35 m/sec) and running ( about 6 m / sec ) , and it was found that this shank that was successful and did not fail in that test, the prosthetic foot ( type SACH) failed before it at normal speed and high speed.

Keywords

• amputee
• shank
• solid work
• fgm
• 3d printer
• life shank device