Thursday, September 6, 1979
5
Bone-breaking part of KU study
By JENNIFER HOLT
Staff Reporter
In the first study of its kind, a KU program on the body of long, whole human bones—specifically Air Force and Navy pilots who suffered broken bones during ejection from an airplane.
Howard W. Smith, professor of aerospace engineering, with the help of a two-year, $135,948 contract from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Washington D.C., to develop strength of these bones through duplication of stress factors of bending and twisting.
His project, called The Mechanical Properties of Four Human Long Bones, studies the humerus bone of the arm, the elbow and the fibula and thia bones of the lower leg.
"The structure of the skeleton of a human body is like an airplane because it carries a heavy load imposed on it from everyday wear and tear." Smith said.
"If the load is greater than the body can absorb, then the hone breaks."
"Now, if we could test and find out what causes these breaks, we could possibly put the bones back together and take preventive action." he said.
FOR THE PROJECT, Smith is studying in the effects of small injuries, which occur in the cockpit. He is positioned from the cockpit with an explosive charge at speeds of up to 300 knots or more.
This high ejection speed results in the failing and breaking of arms and legs that have not been severely fastened down before ejection, Smith said.
If the pilot is in an emergency ejection
situation, he also must pull down a handle, called the grip, to protect the aircraft's plane against the aerodynamic forces are so strong, Smith said, the pilot cannot hold on to the handle.
The heavy boots that most pilots wear also accentuate the amount of load and resistance to the wind, which makes the drag greater. Smith said.
A S RESULT of a crashwhorstness class Smith taught several years ago, he became interested in studying the tolerance and endurance of humans in emergency situations much in common with the Air Force project, although it is not a part of the project.
Smith has studied spinal column injuries, called G horizontal injuries, which are a result of airplane seats, lap belts, attachments and supporting floors that do not meet a certain weight requirement of eight pounds. The average body weight of 170 pounds, he said.
This means the equipment and supporting floor must withstand pressure of up to 1,360 pounds. he said.
SMITH HAS been concerned with *T* injuries, which are injuries from trauma of children and adults, as well as *I* injuries, such as seat belts that prevent a person from falling forward but not from being thrown.
"What's the good of having a lap belt you in if the seat rips out of the floor, or if heavy box falls on your head and injures you?" he said.
He said a double torso harness had eliminated many of these injuries in Air Force and Navy fighter planes and professional racing cars.
"I'd rather see someone wear these uncomfortable harnesses than see them injured from the lack of preventive measure," he said.
A flat crash injury to a pilot occurs in night planes and helicopters when the seat collapses upon impact and he then "submarines," or slides under the slack seat belt. Smith said the forward motion caused submarinning, which leads to abdominal tears.
Smith's knowledge of bone injuries makes him very enthusiastic about starting his training in this sport, but he ticularly because they have not lost moisture or chemicals and are more resistant to
ONE OF SMITH'S students had already run one preliminary test of an embalmed femur bone in a summer class.
Carl Kulp is a graduate student doing a thesis on non-homogeneous materials, and he has done analysis of bone x-rays, Smith said.
Dave Nelson supervised the manufacturing of all parts of the test assembly, and anthropology students Al Johnson and John specialized in bone measurements.
"I'm very eager to get started on actual testing and written data of fresh bones," Smith said, "but I'm not in a big hurry until everything in the lab is ready."
Smith's "co-principal investigator" in the project he H. Clark anderson, chairman of the department of pathology and oncology of the University of Kansas Medical Center, Smith said.
Other students have helped Smith set up the equipment for the tests.
THEY STARTED communication Jan. 1, with the project manager, the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dawnton, Ohio.
In February they traveled to the base to tell officials of their interest in the project. Smith said he and Anderson then received from the deans of their schools to go ahead.
University Daily Kansan
The Office of Scientific Research in Washington Congress for the project, Smith said, and he received the project money June 1, which was the first time he had received Phase Two starts Oct. 1, and the money for it is still under negotiation. Phase Three starts Oct. 1, 1980 and end May 31.
Under the contract, the project must produce specified data on fracture patterns, stresses on fractures and findings on microscopic structures.
Anderson said he would look at the bones with a "mop-3" machine that is made in Germany.
First, persons donate their bodies to research. Smith said bones are transported after identification information has been obtained from the patient and information on each one is on file.
THE BONES are preserved until the test period. After they have been fractured, most of them will be viewed through optical electron microscopes at the Med Center.
The machine is a cell analyzer that measures the dose to the bone and the amount of matrix (material outside the cell). The mop-3 also is a small computer which determines cell dose.
Howard Smith
As a Navy Civil Engineer you go your responsibility, the moment you have arrived, you Navy you are not an assistant or a trainee, you are an office and
Don't wait for responsibility. Get it right away. Speak to your Navy recruiter or Professor of Naval Science.
Lexie Castleman
610 Florida Street
Lawrence, Kansas 68044
913-841-4376
(1975)
Thursday, Sept. 6
South Africa:
LAST GRAVE AT DIMBAZA
An impassioned and hard hitting documentary on South Africa's controversial policy of Aparéthetic smugged out of the country, Director: Nana Mahoho. Cosponsored with the KU Committee on South Africa, discussion will follow the film. For further information, visit 343 Forum Room. FREE ADMISSION.
Friday & Saturday, Sept. 7-8
VIOLETTE
(1978)
Claude Chabrol's elegant puzzle film about an 18-year-old girl who poisons her parents after leading a double life in the prison where she is installed in town, Isabelle Huppert plays Violette and Stephan Auder is her mother (12:30, Indian Film, Frances Brubaker, 3:30, 7:00, 9:00)
Midnight Movie:
RICHARD PRYOR:
LIVE IN CONCERT
This filmed concert offers a chance to see one of America's tinniest and most acerobic comedians completely absorbed by Jeff Margolis, '78 min). Color Plus: "Five Minute Trill," an eight-minute Yugoslavia from Midnight.
Sunday, Sept. 9
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
One of Broadway's most popular musical makes a dynamic leap to the screen with the衣钵 artist Topol play. This production includes Sheldon Harincik, included in "Tradition," *L'chaim*, and *Sunrise*. The film is 19 minutes (169 min) long. Color cinemascape. 200
All films M-r M-should in Woodford Audt.
at 7:30 unless otherwise noted, $1.00
Weekends show also in Woodford at
3:30, 7:00, 9:30 or 12 midnight and
Sun. at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise
noted, 1:15 admission. No Refreshments.
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