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shoes. The finding may benefit both
able-bodied people who are frequently
on their feet, such as military infantry,
as well as victims of stroke or other gait
impairments.
North Carolina State University,
Raleigh, and Carnegie Mellon Univer-
sity, Pittsburgh, researchers tested
the efficacy of a lightweight lower-leg
device that uses a spring and clutch
system working in tandem with calf
muscles and the Achilles’ tendon while
people walk. The streamlined, car-
bon-fiber device weighs about as much
as a normal loafer, around 500 g, and
is not motorized so it requires no ener-
gy from batteries or other external fuel
sources.
Study participants, nine able-
bodied adults, strapped the exoskel-
eton devices on both legs and walked
at a normal speed on a treadmill after
completing some practice training.
Subjects also walked without exo-
skeletons for a baseline comparison.
Researchers tested exoskeletons with
springs that varied in stiffness. The
The Institute of Railway Research is
coordinating a new project that explores
the nature of steel used for railroad tracks
and wheels.
spring that provided the most benefit
was moderately stiff. Walking with exo-
skeletons with springs that were too
stiff or too compliant resulted in nor-
mal or higher-than-normal energy costs
for participants. For more information:
Gregory Sawicki, 919.513.0787,
.
BRITISH UNIVERSITIES FORM
CONSORTIUM TO OPTIMIZE
RAILROAD STEEL
The University of Huddersfield,
UK, will take part in a new $3 million
railway steel development project
backed by major funding groups. The
Rail Safety and Standards Board and
the Engineering and Physical Sciences
Research Council have combined to
provide funds for three linked programs
of research into new materials that will
reduce heavy maintenance and renew-
al costs for rail tracks.
A panel of leading industrial and
academic figures appraised the Institute
of Railway Research-led consortium’s
proposal and then approved a two-year
investigation into developing a funda-
mental understanding of how different
characteristics of steel microstructures
respond to rail-wheel contact conditions.
This understanding will establish the
design rules for the optimum rail steel
microstructure that is best at resisting
degradation resulting from the contact
between wheel and rail. The study will
also provide much needed data on the
economic impact of the increased rail
life to facilitate wider and rapid deploy-
ment of more degradation-resistant
steels. .