Modeling and waveform optimization of stick–slip micro-drives using the method of dimensionality reduction

In this paper, the dynamics of piezo-actuated stick–slip micro-drives are studied experimentally and theoretically. First, the stick–slip-based force-generating test stand is introduced, and experimental results are presented. Then, a numerical model is formulated which explicitly includes the dynamics of normal and tangential properties of the contact areas in the frictional driving elements of the drive. The contact forces are simulated using the method of dimensionality reduction. We show that the experimentally observed behavior can be described without using any fitting parameters or assuming any generalized laws of friction if the explicit contact mechanics of the frictional contacts is taken into account. Furthermore, an even simpler model of the drive is developed to get a qualitative understanding of the system. It is employed to gain a new actuation method, which reduces the vibrations of the drive’s runner and therefore enhances its performance.     

Extracting the stress–strain properties of non-linear viscoelastic materials using the bubble inflation test

In this study, an inverse method based on the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was evaluated in a numerical experiment to determine the large strain viscoelastic properties from the bubble inflation test. The properties were determined by iteratively matching the calculated bubble pressure–piston displacement data from finite element simulations to a single set of bubble pressure–piston displacement data. The strain-dependent behaviour was characterised by a two-parameter Mooney–Rivlin hyperelastic model, while the time-dependent behaviour was characterised by a three-parameter power law equation. Different initial guesses were used to evaluate the inverse method, and transformation functions were applied to constrain the intermediate guesses to be within bounds. It was found that estimates of the viscoelastic properties could be obtained reasonably using only one set of bubble pressure–piston displacement data. Estimates of the properties were likely affected by the limited time duration of the test, as the behaviour at shorter and particularly larger time scales was less accurately predicted.     

Isothermal viscoelastic properties of PMMA and LDPE over 11 decades of frequency and time: a test of time–temperature superposition

Many instruments used to measure viscoelastic properties are only capable of subjecting a sample to a limited range of loading frequencies. For thermorheologically simple materials, it is assumed that a change in temperature is equivalent to a shift of the viscoelastic behavior on the log frequency or time axis. For many materials, time–temperature superposition appears to work well for modulus or compliance curves over three decades of time or frequency, but some deviations are known if the window is expanded to five or six decades. To apply a more stringent test of the validity of time–temperature superposition, broadband viscoelastic spectroscopy is used to isothermally study polymethylmethacrylate and low-density polyethylene at several temperatures in the glassy region. Shear modulus and damping (tan δ) are measured isothermally over a wide range (up to 11 decades) of time and frequency. Results indicate that, while modulus curves can be approximately superimposed, the damping (tan δ) curves change in height and shape with temperature.     

Determination of two-dimensional space–time correlations in jet flows using simultaneous PIV and LDV measurements

The two-dimensional space–time turbulence statistics of free shear jet flows in the form of the two-point velocity correlation tensor are important for aeroacoustic noise source modelling based on the acoustic analogy approach. This paper presents a direct application of the Point-Referenced Global Correlation (PRGC) technique to measure the components of this correlation tensor for a sector of the flow field in two jet configurations. The PRGC approach combines single point and global measurement techniques and enables two-point space–time correlations over a region of the flow to be obtained. The technique is applied to a single stream jet and a co-axial coplanar jet at a Mach number of 0.24 using commercial Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and low-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) systems. Results for the one-dimensional correlations are shown to compare well with two-point measurements. The results for the two-dimensional space–time correlations are presented and the characteristics for both configurations discussed.     

Determination of the full-field stress and displacement using photoelasticity and sampling moiré method in a 3D-printed model

The quantitative characterization of the full-field stress and displacement is significant for analyzing the failure and instability of engineering materials. Various optical measurement techniques such as photoelasticity, moiré and digital image correlation methods have been developed to achieve this goal. However, these methods are difficult to incorporate to determine the stress and displacement fields simultaneously because the tested models must contain particles and grating for displacement measurement; however, these elements will disturb the light passing through the tested models using photoelasticity. In this study, by combining photoelasticity and the sampling moiré method, we developed a method to determine the stress and displacement fields simultaneously in a three-dimensional (3D)-printed photoelastic model with orthogonal grating. Then, the full-field stress was determined by analyzing 10 photoelastic patterns, and the displacement fields were calculated using the sampling moiré method. The results indicate that the developed method can simultaneously determine the stress and displacement fields.     

Influence of microstructural features on the yield strength of Ti–6Al–4V: a numerical study by using the crystal plasticity finite element method

Meccanica - In this paper, a numerical study was presented on the influence of microstructural features on the yield strength of bimodal α–β Ti–6Al–4V. Tensile tests and...     

Preparation,characterization and combustion properties of Zr/ZrH_2 particles coated with α-FeOOH crystal grains

Zr/ZrH2 particles with irregular morphologies and broad size distribution were uniformly coated with acicular-FeOOH crystal grains via a facile route without using polymers or surfactants. The as-synthesized material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), UV-vis diffusion reflection (UV-vis) and Raman spectrometry. Based on these characterizations, the synthesis mechanism was explained in terms of combined heterogeneous nucleation and...     

Finite element analysis of the piezocone test in cohesive soils using an elastoplastic–viscoplastic model and updated Lagrangian formulation

In this research, the finite element analysis of piezocone penetration has been conducted using the elastoplastic–viscoplastic bounding surface model in the updated Lagrangian reference frame. A finite element formulation has been performed considering the viscoplastic contribution of the model and the theory of mixtures has been incorporated to explain the behavior of the soil. The formulated model has been implemented into a finite element program, EPVPCS-S (elastoplastic–viscoplastic coupled system-soil), to analyze the mechanism of piezocone penetration. The results of the finite element analysis have been compared and investigated with the experimental results from the piezocone penetration and dissipation tests conducted using LSU/CALCHAS (Louisiana State University Calibration Chamber System).     

Analysis of gas–solid flow and shaft-injected gas distribution in an oxygen blast furnace using a discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics coupled model

Ironmaking using an oxygen blast furnace is an attractive approach for reducing energy consumption in the iron and steel industry. This paper presents a numerical study of gas–solid flow in an oxygen blast furnace by coupling the discrete element method with computational fluid dynamics. The model reliability was verified by previous experimental results. The influences of particle diameter, shaft tuyere size, and specific ratio (X) of shaft-injected gas (SIG) flowrate to total gas flowrate on the SIG penetration behavior and pressure field in the furnace were investigated. The results showed that gas penetration capacity in the furnace gradually decreased as the particle diameter decreased from 100 to 40 mm. Decreasing particle diameter and increasing shaft tuyere size both slightly increased the SIG concentration near the furnace wall but decreased it at the furnace center. The value of X has a significant impact on the SIG distribution. According to the pressure fields obtained under different conditions, the key factor affecting SIG penetration depth is the pressure difference between the upper and lower levels of the shaft tuyere. If the pressure difference is small, the SIG can easily penetrate to the furnace center.     

Employing the dynamics of poles in the complex plane to describe properties of rogue waves: case studies using the Boussinesq and complex modified Korteweg–de Vries equations

Nonlinear Dynamics - The dynamics and properties of rogue waves of two classical evolution equations are studied in terms of trajectories of the poles of the exact solutions, by analytically...