Dimensional synthesis of the optimal RSSR mechanism for a set of variable design parameters

This paper deals with the dimensional synthesis of the RSSR mechanism, also known as spatial four-bar linkage (R and S stand for revolute and spherical kinematic pairs respectively). To univocally describe the geometry of the RSSR mechanism a specific set of geometry parameters is necessary. Generally speaking, in a synthesis problem a subset of these parameters, defined as design parameters, is usually considered as assigned whereas the remaining ones, defined as design variables, have to be found by the synthesis procedure. That is, the goal of the synthesis procedure is to find the values of the design variables, while satisfying both functional requirements of the mechanism and constraints on the design parameters. In this paper each design parameter is assigned as variable within a given range rather than being assigned as a single value. In general, varying a design parameter means obtaining a different mechanism which has different functional performances as a consequence. This feature gives raise to a novel synthesis problem, which has not been treated in the literature yet. In particular, the RSSR mechanism synthesis presented in this paper takes the optimization of the force transmission as an objective function, while referring to a given range of values of each design parameter. In addition, prescribed constraints on given extreme angular positions for both the input and the output links, on the upper and lower bounds for the transmission ratio, and on the upper and lower bounds for the design variable values have to be satisfied. The synthesis problem, set as a constrained minimization problem, is solved numerically in two steps by means of a Genetic algorithm followed by a quasi-Newton algorithm. As an example of application, a dimensional synthesis of an RSSR mechanism used in a hand exoskeleton is reported.     

On the influence of interfacial properties to the bending rigidity of layered structures

Layered structures are ubiquitous, from one-atom thick layers in two-dimensional materials, to nanoscale lipid bi-layers, and to micro and millimeter thick layers in composites. The mechanical behavior of layered structures heavily depends on the interfacial properties and is of great interest in engineering practice. In this work, we give an analytical solution of the bending rigidity of bilayered structures as a function of the interfacial shear strength. Our results show that while the critical bending stiffness when the interface starts to slide plastically is proportional to the interfacial shear strength, there is a strong nonlinearity between the rigidity and the applied bending after interfacial plastic shearing. We further give semi-analytical solutions to the bending of bilayers when both interfacial shearing and pre-existing crack are present in the interface of rectangular and circular bilayers. The analytical solutions are validated by using finite element simulations. Our analysis suggests that interfacial shearing resistance, interfacial stiffness and preexisting cracks dramatically influence the bending rigidity of bilayers. The results can be utilized to understand the significant stiffness difference in typical biostructures and novel materials, and may also be used for non-destructive detection of interfacial crack in composites when stiffness can be probed through vibration techniques.     

基于边界位移的复合材料力学参数无损反演方法

非均质材料参数识别在工程学、医学以及生物力学等众多领域具有重要意义.目前求解材料参数识别这类反问题主要采用优化方法,通常需要已知结构的全场位移信息,使含有位移的目标函数最小化,从而获得材料参数分布.然而在实际工程中,结构内部的位移较难测量且测量精度低.因此,本文拟提出一类仅利用边界位移就能进行非均质材料参数分布反演的方...     

On the mathematical problems of composite materials with a doubly periodic set of cracks

In this paper,the mathematical problem of the second fundamental problem of composite materials with a doubly periodic set of arbitrary shape cracks are investigated,and the interface are arbitrary smooth closed contours.At first,we establish mathematical models by using Muskhelisvili complex variable methods,change the primitive problems into searching complex stress functions which satisfy four boundary value problems and construct forms of the solution,then,under some general restrictions it is reduced to normal type singular integral equation,the unique solvability is proved mathematically     

Properties of Love waves in layered piezoelectric structures

Love waves propagating in a layered structure with an elastic layer deposited on a piezoelectric substrate are analytically investigated. We present a general dispersion equation that describes the properties of Love waves in the structure. A detailed discussion regarding the dispersion equation is presented, and the parameters for Love-mode sensors are also introduced. The properties of Love waves are illustrated by means of sample results for a layered structure with an SiO₂ layer sputtered on an ST-cut 90°X-propagating quartz substrate. Interestingly, we found that a threshold-normalized layer thickness existed for the fundamental Love mode in such a structure.     

Elastic analysis of some punch problems for a layered medium

The problems of flat-ended cylindrical, quadrilateral, and triangular punches indenting a layered isotropic elastic half-space are considered. The former two are analyzed using a basis function technique, while the latter problem is analyzed via a singular integral equation. Solutions are obtained numerically. Load-deflection relations are obtained for a series of values of the ratio of Young's modulus in the layer and substrate, and for a variety of punch sizes. These solutions provide an accurate basis for the estimation of Young's modulus of thin films from the initial unloading compliance observed in indentation tests, and are specifically relevant to axisymmetric, Vicker's, and triangular indenters. The results should also be of interest in foundation engineering.     

Optimization of ballistic properties of layered ceramic armor with a ductile back plate

On the basis of generalization of the Florence model to several ceramic layers, it is proved that arranging the ceramic plates in order of increasing material density implies the maximum the ballistic limit velocity of the armor in comparison with other arrangements.     

Exact bounds for the static response set of structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters

The numerical estimation of the static displacement bounds of structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters is considered in this paper. By representing each uncertain-but-bounded parameter as an interval number or vector, a static response analysis problem for the structure can be expressed in the form of a system of linear interval equations, in which the coefficient matrix and the right-hand side term are, respectively, the interval matrix and the interval vector. In this study, we present two new simple mathematical proofs of the vertex solution theorem using Cramer’s rule for solving linear interval equations, different from the other proof methods, to find the upper and lower bounds on the set of solutions. The first takes advantage of optimization theory, while the second is based on interval extension. By means of a typical example considered first by Hansen, it can be seen that the result calculated by the vertex solution theorem is the same as one predicted by the Oettli–Prager criterion. Examples of a three-stepped beam and a 10-bar truss are presented to illustrate the computational aspects of the vertex solution theorem in comparison with the interval perturbation method.     

On the solution of three-dimensional boundary-value problems for layered bodies with nonplanar interfaces

The interfaces play an important role in various buildup bodies, and also in the composite materials and structural elements. Special monographs [7, 8] have been devoted to this question, presenting the results of scientific studies of the physical and chemical phenomena on the interfaces, the mechanical behavior, and the role of the interfaces in the damage processes, and also their influence on the basic mechanical properties of the composites. In many cases the interfaces deviate from the ideal geometric shapes: planar (in the layered composites), circular cylindrical (in the fibrous composites), and spherical (in the granular composites). Numerous theoretical and experimental studies confirm this. Thus, in the explosive welding of metals (and nonmetals) there form wavy surfaces, the sections of which may be close to sinusoids, for example in the welding of niobium and copper [9]. If the densities of the materials differ significantly, then the sinusoidal nature of the interface distorts as illustrated in [12] for the example of the welding of lead and steel. In addition, in view of the nature of the technological processes [10] the interfaces may become curved in the layered composite materials and deviate locally or periodically from the ideal coordinate planes. Theoretical and experimental studies have shown that the shape of the interface has a significant influence on the physical and mechanical processes and phenomena (bond strength, stress concentration, wave diffraction, thermal conduction, and so on). Numerous publications that are cited in the survey works [1, 3, 11] confirm this. A second variant of the boundary shape perturbation method was developed in [4, 5] for the solution of the three-dimensional boundary-value problems for nonorthogonal surfaces that are close to the coordinate planes. It was assumed that the equations of the interfaces are linear relative to the small parameter characterizing the degree of deviation from the coordinate planes. This narrowed significantly the class of the examined boundary-value problems and their practical importance. In the present work we examine the three-dimensional boundary-value problems of the mechanics of layered bodies with interfaces that are described by nonlinear equations relative to a small parameter. We construct in general form the recurrence relations and the differential operators of the boundary conditions, making it possible to solve the three-dimensional boundary-value problems with the accuracy that is required for applications. We examine particular cases and present one of the possible criteria for evaluating the accuracy of the approximate solutions that are obtained with the aid of the described variant of the boundary shape perturbation method.S. P. Timoshenko Institute of Mechanics, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kiev. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 23–32, February, 1994.     

Design of the optimal nozzle of a hypersonic flight vehicle for given overall dimensions and moment

The problem of designing the optimal nozzle of a hypersonic ramjet engine for a given isoperimetric condition imposed on the moment and restricted overall dimensions is solved by the method of an indefinite control contour. The lift of the flight vehicle is treated as the optimized functional. It is shown that an increase in the moment due to the replacement of thrust optimization by lift optimization is efficiently compensated by taking the moment constraint into account. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 1, pp. 118–124, January–February, 1999.     

Studies on optimal topology design of structures with discrete variables

Some problems in the optimal topology design of structures with discrete variables are studied in this paper. The problem of a model of discrete optimization is discussed and a neglected fact that discrete optimum design may be controlled by the discreteness of sizing variables and global constraints is pointed out. A heuristic algorithm for solving discrete topology optimization problems of trusses and frames is proposed.