The response of clamped-clamped microbeams under mechanical shock

We present modeling, simulation, and characterization for the dynamic response of clamped-clamped microbeams under mechanical shock. A Galerkin-based reduced-order model is utilized and its results are verified by comparing to finite-element results. The results indicate that the response of a microbeam to mechanical shock is inherently non-linear because of the dominating effect of mid-plane stretching. The effect of the shock pulse shape is investigated. It is concluded that the shape of the shock pulse can result in significant dynamic amplification in the response of the microbeam even in cases where the shock load is considered quasi-static.The combined effect of the electrostatic force and mechanical shock is investigated. The results show that this combined effect can lead to early instability in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices through dynamic pull-in. This could explain some of the reported experimental evidences for the existence of strange modes of failure of MEMS devices under mechanical shock and impact. These failures are characterized by overlaps between moving microstructures and stationary electrodes, which cause electrical shorts. The shock-electrostatic interaction is shown to be promising to design smart MEMS switches triggered at predetermined level of shock and acceleration. Finally, the mechanical shock combined with the packaging effect of MEMS devices is analyzed. A single-degree-of-freedom model representing the motion of the package, which is mounted over a printed circuit board, coupled with the continuous beam model is utilized. Our results reveal that neglecting the effect of the package motion on the response of microbeams can overestimate or underestimate their response. It is concluded that a poor design of the package may result in severe amplification of the shock effect leading to a device failure.     

Lyapunov exponents as a criterion for the dynamic pull-in instability of electrostatically actuated microstructures

The dynamic pull-in instability of double clamped microscale beams actuated by a suddenly applied distributed electrostatic force and subjected to non-linear squeeze film damping is investigated. A reduced order model is built using the Galerkin decomposition with undamped linear modes as base functions and verified through comparison with numerical finite differences solution. The stability analysis of a beam actuated by one and two electrodes symmetrically located at two sides of the beam and operated by a step-input voltage is performed by evaluating the largest Lyapunov exponent, the sign of which defines the character of the response. It is shown that this approach provides an efficient quantitative criterion for the evaluation of dynamic pull-in instability, especially when combined with compact reduced order models. Based on the Lyapunov exponent criterion, the influence of various parameters on the beam dynamic stability is investigated.     

Application of homotopy analysis method in studying dynamic pull-in instability of microsystems

In this study, homotopy analysis method is used to derive analytic solutions to predict dynamic pull-in instability of electrostatically-actuated microsystems. The model considers midplane stretching, initial stress, distributed electrostatic force and fringing fields effect. Influences of different parameters on dynamic pull-in instability are investigated. Results are in good agreement with numerical and experimental findings.     

An investigation into the effects of electrostatic and squeeze-film non-linearities on the shock spectrum of microstructures

We present an investigation into the effects of some of the common microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) non-linearities on their shock response and shock spectrum. As a case study, a capacitive accelerometer is selected to investigate theoretically and experimentally the effect of non-linearities due to squeeze film damping (SQFD) and electrostatic actuation. For the theoretical investigation, a non-linear single-degree-of-freedom model is used to simulate the response of the device. It is shown that, in the case of light damping, the electrostatic forces soften the microstructure and raise its deflection significantly. Dynamic pull-in instability is predicted near the dynamic range zone of the shock spectrum. On the other hand, SQFD is found to highly suppress the deflection of the microstructure in the dynamic range, while it is of less effect in the quasi-static range. Experimentally, the capacitive accelerometer is powered with a DC load and then subjected to acceleration pulses generated by a shaker. Tests are conducted while the accelerometer is operated in air, where the squeeze film effect is significant, and while placed inside a vacuum chamber. Simulation results are compared to experimental data showing excellent agreement.     

Pull-in instability of a typical electrostatic MEMS resonator and its control by delayed feedback

Pull-in instability of the electrostatic microstructures is a common undesirable phenomenon which implies the loss of reliability of micro-electromechanical systems. Therefore, it is necessary to understand its mechanism and then reduce the phenomenon. In this work, pull-in instability of a typical electrostatic MEMS resonator is discussed in detail. Delayed position feedback and delayed velocity feedback are introduced to suppress pull-in instability, respectively. The thresholds of AC voltage for pull-in instability in the initial system and the controlled systems are obtained analytically by the Melnikov method. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the numerical results. It follows that pull-in instability of the MEMS resonator can be ascribed to the homoclinic bifurcation inducing by the AC and DC load. Furthermore, it is found that the controllers are both good strategies to reduce pull-in instability when their gains are positive. The delayed position feedback controller can work well only when the delay is very short and AC voltage is low, while the delayed velocity feedback will be effective under a much higher AC voltage and a wider delay range.     

Finite element analysis of the dynamic response of clamped sandwich beams subject to shock loading

The finite element (FE) method is employed to analyse the response of clamped sandwich beams subject to shock loadings. Pressure versus time histories representative of shock loadings are applied uniformly to the outer face of the sandwich beam; an impulse applied uniformly to the outer face of the sandwich beam is shown to model adequately shock loadings. Material elasticity and strain hardening representative of structural steels have only a minor effect upon the beam response. Further, the magnitude of the compressive strength of the core has only a limited influence upon the dynamic response of the sandwich beam for the representative range of core strengths considered. The FE results for the deflections and structural response time agree well with the rigid ideally-plastic analytical predictions of Fleck and Deshpande (J. Appl. Mech. (2003), in press).     

Non-linear dynamic instability of a double-sided nano-bridge considering centrifugal force and rarefied gas flow

Double-sided electromechanical nano-bridges can potentially be used as angular speed sensors and accelerometers in rotary systems such as turbine blades and vacuum pumps. In such applications, the influences of the centrifugal force and rarefied flow should be considered in the analysis. In the present study, the non-linear dynamic pull-in instability of a double-sided nano-bridge is investigated incorporating the effects of angular velocity and rarefied gas damping. The non-linear governing equation of the nanostructure is derived using Euler-beam model and Hamilton׳s principle including the dispersion forces. The strain gradient elasticity theory is used for modeling the size-dependent behavior of the system. The reduced order method is also implemented to discretize and solve the partial differential equation of motion. The influences of damping, centrifugal force, length scale parameters, van der Waals force and Casimir attraction on the dynamic pull-in voltage are studied. It is found that the dispersion and centrifugal forces decrease the pull-in voltage of a nano-bridge. Dynamic response of the nano-bridge is investigated by plotting time history and phase portrait of the system. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed by comparing the results from the present study with the experimental and numerical results reported in the literature.     

Suppression of pull-in in a microstructure actuated by mechanical shocks and electrostatic forces

This work investigates the effect of a high-frequency voltage (HFV) on the pull-in instability in a microstructure actuated by mechanical shocks and electrostatic forces. The microstructure is modelled as a single-degree-of-freedom mass-spring-damper system. The method of direct partition of motion is used to split the fast and slow dynamics. Analysis of steady-state solutions of the slow dynamic allows the investigation of the influence of the HFV on the pull-in. The results show that adding HFV rigidifies the system, creates new stable equilibria and suppresses the pull-in instability for adequate high-frequency voltages. To illustrate the applicability of the result, a specific capacitive microelectromechanical system consisting of a clamped-clamped microbeam is considered.     

Dynamic response of clamped sandwich beams: analytical modeling

An improved analytical model is developed to predict the dynamic response of clamped lightweight sandwich beams with cellular cores subjected to shock loading over the entire span.The clamped face sheets are simplified as a single-degree-of-freedom(SDOF) system, and the core is idealized using the rigid-perfectly-plastic-locking(RPPL) model. Reflection of incident shock wave is considered by incorporating the bending/stretching resistance of the front face sheet and compaction of the core. The model is validated with existing analytical predictions and FE simulation results, with good agreement achieved. Compared with existing analytical models, the proposed model exhibits superiority in two aspects: the deformation resistance of front face sheet during shock wave reflection is taken into account; the effect of pulse shape is considered. The practical application range of the proposed model is therefore wider.     

Ho's theorem in global-local mode interaction of pin-jointed bar structures

This paper is focused on the interaction phenomena among a global critical mode and some local Eulerian critical modes in pin-jointed structures. These phenomena are framed within Koiter's theory of elastic instability, by an asymptotic reduction into cubic systems. The aim is to present an algorithm for the appraisal of the lowest critical load characterizing the structure under the effect of small imperfections. First of all, the Ho's theorem, concerning the definition of the most dangerous imperfection, is presented and discussed. Then, a FEM code aimed at the determination of the most dangerous shape for the imperfection, and at performing the related sensitivity analysis, is implemented, by superimposing a proper FE beam model (able to model Eulerian instability) to a non-linear FE model for spatial pin-jointed structures. Some numerical results having a practical interest are presented and discussed.     

Nonlinear static and dynamic responses of an electrically actuated viscoelastic microbeam

On the basis of the Euler-Bernoulli hypothesis, nonlinear static and dynamic responses of a viscoelastic microbeam under two kinds of electric forces [a purely direct current （DC） and a combined current composed of a DC and an alternating current] are studied. By using Taylor series expansion, a governing equation of nonlinear integro-differential type is derived, and numerical analyses are performed. When a purely DC is applied, there exist an instantaneous pull-in voltage and a durable pull-in voltage of which the physical meanings are also given, whereas under an applied combined current, the effect of the element relaxation coefficient on the dynamic pull-in phenomenon is observed where the largest Lyapunov exponent is taken as a criterion for the dynamic pull-in instability of viscoelastic microbeams.     

Modeling viscoelastic dielectrics

Dielectric elastomers, as an important category of electroactive polymers, are known to have viscoelastic properties that strongly affect their dynamic performance and limit their applications. Very few models accounting for the effects of both electrostatics and viscoelasticity exist in the literature, and even fewer are capable of making reliable predictions under general loads and constraints. Based on the principles of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, this paper develops a field theory that fully couples the large inelastic deformations and electric fields in deformable dielectrics. Our theory recovers existing models of elastic dielectrics in the equilibrium limit. The mechanism of instantaneous instability, which corresponds to the pull-in instability often observed on dielectric elastomers, is studied in a general non-equilibrium state. The current theoretical framework is able to adopt most finite-deformation constitutive relations and evolution laws of viscoelastic solids. As an example, a specific material model is selected and applied to the uniform deformation of a dielectric elastomer. This model predicts the stability criteria of viscoelastic dielectrics and its dependence on loading rate, pre-stress, and relaxation. The dynamic response, as well as the hysteresis behavior of a viscoelastic dielectric elastomer under cyclic electric fields, is also studied.     

INTERFACE EVOLUTIONS AND GROWTH PREDICTIONS OF MIXING ZONE ON PREMIXED FLAME INTERFACE DURING RM INSTABILITY 1)

预混火焰界面的RM (Richtmyer-Meshkov)不稳定导致的界面混合区增长过程在自然界和工程实践中十分常见,但化学反应对其增长的影响机理仍不明确,反应性界面混合区增长速率的预测也未见报道, 因此,开展RM不稳定过程中火焰界面演化和混合区预测的研究十分必要.本文采用带单步化学反应的Navier-Stokes方程和高精度数值格式,研究了正弦形预混火焰界面在平面入射激波及其反射激波作用下的RM不稳定过程.结果表明, 在入射激波作用后的阶段,除RM不稳定本身导致的界面演化为"钉-帽"和"泡"形结构外,化学反应一方面以预混火焰传播的方式促进了界面中"泡"结构的增长,另一方面通过与涡结构的复杂相互作用促进了"钉-帽"结构的增长.化学反应活性越强, 火焰界面的"泡" 结构和"钉-帽"结构的增长越快.在第一次反射激波作用后的阶段,化学反应以相同的火焰传播方式对"泡"和"钉-帽"结构产生影响, 两者效应相抵,因而导致反射激波作用后的阶段中界面混合区增长不受化学反应活性的影响.根据以上分析,分别针对入射激波和第一次反射激波作用后的火焰界面混合区增长速率提出了相应的预测模型,为探索反应性RM不稳定过程的理论预测方法提供了有益参考.     

RM不稳定过程中预混火焰界面演化及混合区增长预测

预混火焰界面的RM (Richtmyer-Meshkov)不稳定导致的界面混合区增长过程在自然界和工程实践中十分常见,但化学反应对其增长的影响机理仍不明确,反应性界面混合区增长速率的预测也未见报道, 因此,开展RM不稳定过程中火焰界面演化和混合区预测的研究十分必要.本文采用带单步化学反应的Navier-Stokes方程和高精度数值格式,研究了正弦形预混火焰界面在平面入射激波及其反射激波作用下的RM不稳定过程.结果表明, 在入射激波作用后的阶段,除RM不稳定本身导致的界面演化为"钉-帽"和"泡"形结构外,化学反应一方面以预混火焰传播的方式促进了界面中"泡"结构的增长,另一方面通过与涡结构的复杂相互作用促进了"钉-帽"结构的增长.化学反应活性越强, 火焰界面的"泡" 结构和"钉-帽"结构的增长越快.在第一次反射激波作用后的阶段,化学反应以相同的火焰传播方式对"泡"和"钉-帽"结构产生影响, 两者效应相抵,因而导致反射激波作用后的阶段中界面混合区增长不受化学反应活性的影响.根据以上分析,分别针对入射激波和第一次反射激波作用后的火焰界面混合区增长速率提出了相应的预测模型,为探索反应性RM不稳定过程的理论预测方法提供了有益参考.      

Size-dependent dynamic pull-in instability of hydrostatically and electrostatically actuated circular microplates

In the present study, the dynamic pull-in instability and free vibration of circular microplates subjected to combined hydrostatic and electrostatic forces are investigated. To take size effects into account, the strain gradient elasticity theory is incorporated into the Kirchhoff plate theory to develop a nonclassical plate model including three internal material length scale parameters. By using Hamilton’s principle, the higher-order governing equation and the corresponding boundary conditions are obtained. Afterward, a generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method is employed to discritize the governing differential equations along with simply supported and clamped edge supports. To evaluate the pull-in voltage and vibration frequencies of actuated microplates, the hydrostatic-electrostatic actuation is assumed to be calculated by neglecting the fringing field effects and utilizing the parallel plate approximation. Also, a comparison between the pull-in voltages predicted by the strain gradient theory and the degenerated ones is presented. It is revealed that increasing the dimensionless internal length scale parameter or decreasing the applied hydrostatic pressures leads to higher values of the pull-in voltage. Moreover, it is found that the value of pull-in hydrostatic pressure decreases corresponding to higher dimensionless internal length scale parameters and applied voltages.     

The response of circular composite plates to underwater blast: Experiments and modelling

We present a new experimental technique to allow laboratory-scale observation of underwater blast loading on circular plates, including dynamic deformation and failure of the plates as well as the sequence of cavitation events in water. The apparatus is used to measure and compare the responses of a quasi-isotropic glass/vinylester composite and of a woven carbon/epoxy plate. Dynamic explicit FE simulations are conducted and their predictions are found in good agreement with experiments. Measurements and FE predictions are used to validate a recently developed theoretical model for the response of elastic orthotropic plates to underwater blast.     

DYNAMIC PULL-IN INSTABILITY OF DOUBLE-SIDED ACTUATED NANO-TORSIONAL SWITCHES

A nonlinear frequency-amplitude relation is developed to investigate the vibrational amplitude effect on the dynamic pull-in instability of double-sided-actuated nano-torsional switches. The governing equation of a nano-electro-mechanical system pre-deformed by an electric field contains the quintic nonlinear term. The influences of basic parameters on the pull-in instability and natural frequency are investigated using a powerful analytical approach called the homotopy perturbation method. It is demonstrated that two terms in series expansion are sufficient to produce an acceptable solution. The numerical results obtained have verified the soundness of the asymptotic procedure. The phase portraits of the double-sided nano-torsionalactuator exhibit periodic, homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits.     

Dynamic stability of electrostatically actuated initially curved shallow micro beams

Micro and nano devices incorporating bistable structural elements have functional advantages including the existence of several stable configurations at the same actuation force, extended working range, and tunable resonant frequencies. In this work, after a short review of operational principles of bistable micro devices, results of a theoretical and numerical investigation of the transient dynamics of an initially curved, shallow, double-clamped micro beam, actuated by distributed electrostatic and inertial forces are presented. Due to the unique combination of mechanical and electrostatic nonlinearities, typically not encountered in large scale structures, the device exhibits sequential snap-through and electrostatic (pull-in) instabilities. A phase plane analysis, performed using a consistently derived lumped model along with the numerical results, indicate that critical voltages corresponding to the dynamic snap-through and pull-in instabilities are lower than their static counterparts, while the minimal curvature required for the appearance of the dynamic snap-through is higher than in the static case. The boundaries of the bistability region of a quasi-statically loaded beam are found in terms of the geometrical and loading parameters and are shown to be bounded from above by the dynamic pull-in instability. Some of the post-buckling states cannot be reached under suddenly applied or quasi-statically increasing voltages: specially tailored loading schemes are suggested for realization of these configurations often beneficial in applications.     

Primary resonance excitation of electrically actuated clamped circular plates

We investigate the response of an electrically actuated clamped circular plate to a primary resonance excitation of its first axisymmetric mode using an analytical reduced-order model (macromodel). We discuss the inf luence of the number of modes retained in the discretization on the predicted solutions. The reduced-order model, which is a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary-dif ferential equations, accounts for general residual stress and strain hardening and allows for general material and geometric design variables. Our reduced-order model is robust up to the pull-in instability and is general enough to be an ef fective design tool for capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers.     

Elastic structural response of prismatic metal sandwich tubes to internal moving pressure loading

The analytical and numerical modeling of the structural response of a prismatic metal sandwich tube subjected to internal moving pressure loading is investigated in this paper. The prismatic core is equivalent to homogeneous and cylindrical orthotropic solids via homogenization procedure. The sandwich tube with the “effective” homogenized core is modeled using multi-layer sandwich theory considering the effects of transverse shear deformation and compressibility of the core; moreover, the solutions are obtained by using the precise integration method. Several dynamic elastic finite element (FE) simulations are carried out to obtain the structural response of the tube to shock loading moving at different velocities. The comparison between analytic solutions and FE simulations demonstrates that the transient analytical model, based on the proposed sandwich model, is capable of predicting the critical velocity and the dynamic structural response of the sandwich tube with the “effective” homogenized core with a high degree of accuracy. In addition, the critical velocity predicted using FE simulations of the complete model is not in agreement with that of the effective model. However, the structural response and the maximum amplification factors obtained using FE simulations of the complete model are nearly similar to that of the effective model, when the shock loading moves at the critical velocity. The influences of the relative density on the structural response are studied, and the capabilities of load bearing for sandwich tubes with different cores are compared with each other and with the monolithic tube. The results indicate that Kagome and triangle-6 are preferred among five topologies.