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OBJECTIVE: A systematic review on nickel-titanium wires was performed. The strategy was focused on Entrez-PubMed-OLDMEDLINE, Scopus and BioMed Central from 1963 to 2008. METHODS: Papers in English and French describing the behavior of these wires and laboratorial methods to identify crystalline transformation were considered. A total of 29 papers were selected. RESULTS: Nickel-titanium wires show exceptional features in terms of elasticity and shape memory effects. However, clinical applications request a deeper knowledge of these properties in order to allow the professional to use them in a rational manner. In addition, the necessary information regarding each alloy often does not correspond to the information given by the manufacturer. Many alloys called "superelastic" do not present this effect; they just behave as less stiff alloys, with a larger springback if compared to the stainless steel wires. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory tests are the only means to observe the real behavior of these materials, including temperature transition range (TTR) and applied tensions. However, it is also possible to determine in which TTR these alloys change the crystalline structure

All rotating systems are subjected to residual unbalance forces that are proportional to speed squared. Systems that operate close to the critical speed and have low damping can generate destructive vibrations. Dynamic vibration absorbers are simple devices attached to a mechanical structure (the primary system) to reduce vibrations and noise levels and are extensively used in non-rotating systems. This study addresses the design of viscoelastic vibration absorbers for rotating systems. The primary system is modeled using modal parameters obtained in the frequency domain of the state-space representation. Using a methodology that has a more general application, the compound system (the primary system and absorbers) is represented in a modal subspace of the primary system state space. In this modal subspace, the optimal design of the dynamic viscoelastic absorbers is performed using an optimization algorithm. The objective function to be minimized is defined as the Euclidean norm of the vector composed of the maximal absolute values of the principal coordinates. The absorbers are attached to a floating bearing located away from a nodal point. Numerical and experimental results are presented and discussed.

The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanical behaviour of orthodontic delta retraction springs. Twelve titanium-molybdenum (0.016 × 0.022 inch) delta loops were studied. The springs were analysed by means of the finite element (FE) method and experimental tests using a platform transducer. Each spring was activated from 0 to 6 mm. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out by one-way analysis of variance and Games-Howell parametric multiple comparison test for heterogeneous variances. FE analysis revealed that the stress level varied from 277 to 1273 MPa. At 6.1 mm (773 MPa), the springs were still in the elastic range. Force levels varied from 0.1 N (10 g) to 2.2 N (224 g) at 1.4-8.1 mm of activation for the numerical study and from 0.44 N (45 g) at 1 mm to 2.02 N (206 g) at 6 mm of activation in the experimental study. The spring rate was within the levels that are appropriate for clinical use (34 g/mm). Vertical forces (Fy) showed constancy and were of low magnitude. The anterior moment/force ratio from the experimental tests was 14 at 3 mm of activation decreasing to 10.7, 8.7, and 7.2, for 4, 5, and 6 mm of activation, respectively. The springs could be activated up to 7 mm without exceeding the elastic limit.