Material testing machine for biomechanics

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 520201861

The biomechanical research in trauma surgery at the clinic and polyclinic for trauma, hand, plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University Hospital in Würzburg has focused on clinical research into biomechanical stability in connection with fracture stabilization and healing for over 13 years. For this purpose, fractures are simulated on human or animal bones as well as on artificial bones and then stabilized using different techniques. The test specimens are then subjected to biomechanical stress tests. The tests are carried out in a material testing machine that meets the necessary requirements such as a large test room for fixing the test specimens and force transducers for large force ranges. The machine simulates compressive, tensile and torsional forces that correspond to the forces that act on the respective region in the human body. In addition to testing bones, other tissues such as tendons or cartilage can also be analyzed for their stability after suturing or after gluing a defect. In the past 13 years of biomechanical research in our clinic at the University of Würzburg, a total of more than 25 publications have emerged and various collaborations with other research groups have emerged, in which the tests were carried out in the material testing machine. The machine has the unique selling points of the large test room and the high force limits compared to other machines on the campus of the University of Würzburg. Due to the age of the machine, it is no longer possible to carry out repairs. Spare parts are no longer available. Maintenance and calibration are no longer possible. In order to ensure the continuation of the current research projects, a replacement procurement of a material testing machine with equivalent performance characteristics is requested as part of this application.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Materialprüfmaschine für die biomechanische Forschung
• Instrumentation Group: 2900 Statische und quasistatische Prüfmaschinen und -anlagen
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Stefanie Hölscher-Doht