Thesis Project Form

The main challenge in prosthetics is the high cost of materials and the complexity of the manufacturing process. This results in limited accessibility for a large segment of the population due to economic constraints, as well as a significant environmental impact. The project focuses on the selection of alternative materials and manufacturing processes to develop a prototype of an artificial foot.

The thesis is experimental in nature and will be carried out at the Materials Engineering Laboratory of the DICCA Department, in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the INAIL Prosthetics Centre.
The thesis work will begin with a literature review on the state of the art of prosthetic feet and sustainable materials, followed by an experimental phase involving the mechanical characterization of the selected materials. The project will also include the design of the device using 3D CAD modeling and finite element analysis (FEA), the fabrication of the prototype, and the subsequent evaluation of its mechanical performance.

During the course of the thesis, the student will acquire skills in the mechanical design of biomedical devices, the experimental characterization of materials, the use of CAD and finite element analysis (FEA) software, prototyping techniques, and the analysis and interpretation of experimental and numerical results. The project will also foster the development of problem-solving abilities, interdisciplinary design skills, and the application of the scientific method to engineering research.