bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Simulation, Structural Optimization, and Winding Sequence Optimization Strategies for the Design and Fabrication of Coreless Filament Wound Composite Lattices
Authors: Mo Yaru , Ye Siwei , Johnson Shane
Published: February 2024

Coreless Filament Winding (CFW) is a structural and time-efficient fabrication method for composite lattice structures. Since the fiber is wound around pins whose diameter cannot be infinitesimally small, each structural element may have four possible beam configurations, which depend on the in-plane local coordinates of the start and/or end of the beam. In this case, layer inconsistency, a condition that a structural element with multiple layers has different beam configurations, may inevitably occur in the fabricated structure. It will decrease the second moment of area of the structural element and may lead to reduced flexural stiffness of the structure. However, this effect was not considered in previous research. Therefore, a detailed Finite Element Model (FEM) which characterizes the practical beam configurations was developed to explore the influence of layer inconsistency on the flexural stiffness of the structure. To improve the structural-efficiency and the fabrication speed, a structural optimization was conducted to minimize the fiber-length and provide the feasibility to wind with continuous roving(s). In addition, a winding sequence optimization was then implemented to minimize the stiffness reduction effect due to layer inconsistency. The detailed FEM provides a reliable prediction of the structural stiffness (average error ⩽ 5.4%). Moreover, the developed sequence optimization decreases the stiffness reduction due to layer inconsistency from 51.3% to 13.7%. The proposed strategies of structural and sequence optimization provide instructions for the design and fabrication of CFW structures, which improve the fabrication time-efficiency and the structural-efficiency.
Implementation Risk Indicator and Application of Reliability Management to Ensure the Success of LCM and Risk Management Integration
Authors: Rooscote Didi , Hendragiri Danianto , Suharwanto Agung
Published: February 2024

In providing services or products for PT PLN as our single buyer, one of the strategies undertaken by PT PLN Indonesia Power is to manage its assets and risks together and deliver customer products beyond demand. Asset life cycle management (LCM)-based risk management is the strategic approach employed, in which the firm controls its assets and risks that may result in actions that may have an impact on the company’s aim before prioritizing investments to extend the life of the assets and reduce the risk associated with those assets. Therefore, the treatment of assets can increase reliability and enhance availability. In order to accomplish that, it developed a boiler tube risk application that can combine the boiler’s root cause with the risk cause and problem solutions with risk reduction. In this application, the primary risk-causing factors are tracked using the risk indicator and its monitoring system.

Boiler tube leaks are a problem that commonly occurs and has a significant impact. This incident resulted in a considerable loss of production. The two existing mitigations that are most usually applied are tube replacement and conventional manual monitoring. Consequently, it makes use of the opportunity for innovation by including digital monitoring and prediction as part of a risk management process. “Digital online tube boiler analysis” is the name of a digital application in dependability management that may offer boiler tube risk information in a step-by-step manner, down to the most specific sub-positions. Additionally, this program can provide data on the erosion rate (mm/yr), the remaining life of each boiler tube component, and the estimation of material requirements based on boiler tube risk. Risk mapping’s findings allow it to concentrate on monitoring the riskiest locations.
Dependency of the Blast Wave Characteristics on the Rupture Mode of a Failed Pneumatic Test of a Pipe Segment
Authors: Botros Kamal K. , Hawryluk Andrew , Clavelle Eric , Martens Michael
Published: February 2024

Pneumatic test failure results in high-pressure blast waves that propagate outward and impact humans, structures, and objects, potentially causing fatality and damages. To mitigate the risk of such damage, codes recommend safe exclusion distances depending on the stored energy that would release and drive these blast waves. However, there are different opinions about the amount of stored energy and how to quantify it in a more definitive and science-based manner. As such, the approach taken in this work was to study the relevant blast wave characteristics generated from four different modes of pipe failure bracketing two extreme pipe failure modes. One extreme assumes the pipe ruptures in a totally arrested fracture such that the pipe severs, and two-sided full cross-sectional area ejecting high-pressure directional jets drive the external blast waves. The other extreme is a pipe rupture in an un-arrested longitudinal running ductile fracture along the entire length of the pipe so that the contained high-pressure test medium is released to ambient radially in a cylindrical (or semi-cylindrical) fashion. Other intermediate modes of ruptures are also considered between these two extremes, based on a fixed rupture length of 8D according to ASME PCC-2, or an actual ductile fracture arrest length based on fundamental fracture mechanics. Respective correlations are provided to aid in the development of risk assessment programs, and safety management plans prior to commencing a contemplated pneumatic test in a given environment and surrounding infrastructures.
Characterization of the Viscoelastic Mechanical Properties of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber Reinforced Composites
Authors: Weaver Jonmichael A. , Miller David A.
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the effect of fiber orientation on the viscoelastic properties of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber-reinforced composite with a polyurethane matrix. Samples were prepared with two fiber orientations: [0/90]2 and [±45]2. Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed on the samples from −50 °C to 100 °C at a frequency of 1 Hz with a strain in both samples’ linear region of a tensile stress-strain diagram. The [0/90]2 layup had a storage modulus four times higher than the [±45]2 orientation at −50 °C. The [0/90]2 had a slight increase in storage modulus between 18 °C and 28 °C, but generally decreased with temperature as the polymer chains became more rubbery. The [±45]2 had a consistent decrease in storage modulus over the entire temperature range. The [0/90]2 had the highest loss modulus at temperatures between 35 °C and 100 °C, while the [±45]2 performed best at dissipation of energy around −30 °C. The Tan δ for both fiber orientations increased with temperature, except for the [±45]2, which peaked at 28 °C before decreasing slightly as temperatures increased. At higher frequencies, both the loss and storage modulus increased at a higher percentage for the [±45]2 orientation compared to the [0/90]2.
Opportunities and Recommendations: Integrating Advanced Reactors for Industrial Heat and Electricity Users
Authors: Worsham Elizabeth , Bolisetti Chandrakanth , Mikkelson Daniel , Saeed Rami , Choi Byung-Hee , Toman Jakub , Joseck Frederick , Popli Nipun , Griffith George
Published: February 2024

Nuclear power in the United States has been used traditionally to provide baseload electric power to the grid. Advancements in nuclear power to create smaller and safer reactors have renewed interest in nuclear as a source of both heat and electricity for a variety of applications. There is great interest in coupling nuclear reactors with industrial applications because nuclear power is a low carbon energy source that can be utilized for process heating, hydrogen generation, on-site electricity demand, and more.

Idaho National Laboratory is developing guidelines to identify and assist industrial heat and electricity decarbonization by integrating with nuclear power plants (NPPs) to provide clean, abundant, and dispatchable energy. Considerations include specific industrial hazards which impact NPP siting, heat transport requirements and associated technologies, and implementation feasibility based on site-specific demand profiles. To assess integration feasibility, facility process models are developed based on real data obtained from a survey of baseline requirements and process information from industrial facilities in the United States. An assessment of safety and siting requirements is also performed to determine how nuclear industrial pairings could meet licensing requirements for NPPs. In addition, site characterization of an industrial plant is essential to determining the feasibility and suitable integration methods for each industry. Characterization includes facility distance from the nearest population center, site size, rail or water transport availability, and proximity to undeveloped land. These characteristics are important to determine reactor- or industry-side design requirements for safe, efficient operation.

The siting and technical data assessment will reveal opportunities for single-use nuclear integration and co-location opportunities for industries to share benefits from a single reactor. In addition to existing facilities, this “energy-park” style cooperation could include new construction like data centers which can cost-share energy investments or provide a stable demand-and-revenue stream to the investor. Deliverables will contain a library of documents and models to guide various industries toward understanding nuclear technologies based on their users’ needs. This paper is a summary of the current project status, and provides insights on suitable pairings for specific industries and reactor technologies.
Friction Moments in Single and Double Contact Points in Deep Prerolling: Precision Positioning Under Oscillatory Motion Condition
Authors: Mekid Samir
Published: February 2024

Ultra-precision positioning to better than nanometer in accuracy with low level of vibration is of great interest to various applications such as actuators for precision positioning of mobile stages in CNC machines, robotics in medical applications towards large scale devices like very large telescopes (VLT). The paper reports on recent pre-rolling experimental measurements of moment friction during the phase of pre-rolling i.e., at start and at finish. The development resulted in a single-point contact system set up and double points contact setup in a form of a pendulum generating pure pre-rolling and to study the laws of rolling resistance to contacting bodies at a distance significantly reduced compared to the elastic contact spot size. Phenomenological effects have been observed during both extensive tests. It is noted that the single point pendulum posed several technical challenges to secure perfect balancing and hence allow for pre-rolling to occur and precisely measured characteristics. The surface tension of solids on the contact zone, parameters of the frequency-independent internal friction and the pressure of the adhesion forces are found. The sensitivity of measuring rolling friction moments is of the order of 10-10 Nm, the measurement error does not exceed 10% with for example 120 nm minimum displacement of the ball Peel adhesion density extremely low. The swing of the pendulum with a maximum period has a stable swing plane. In the deep pre-rolling (DPR) zone before full rolling, there is an effect of a sharp decrease in the swing period of the pendulum with a decrease in the swing amplitude. In this case, the rolling friction also decreases and tends to its minimum final value, determined by the work of adhesion forces on separation. In the study of rolling resistance in the DPR zone, it is necessary to measure not only the reliance of the swing amplitude on the time, but also the reliance of the swing period of the pendulum on time. The developed phenomenological theory and measurement procedure allowed us for the first time to build a simple instrument for direct measurements with high sensitivity and accuracy of the surface energy density of the adhesion forces (or surface tension) in the case of a solid body, and the parameters of internal frequency-independent friction and the pressure generated by adhesion forces.
Characterization of Additively Manufactured 18Ni Maraging 300 Steel and the Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Property
Authors: Walker Ryan , Eden Chance , Gebre Fisseha L. , Xu Jiajun
Published: February 2024

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is one of the leading-edge additive manufacturing processes used to date, characterized by layer-by-layer deposition of powder metal, which is sintered by laser power. Maraging steel powder is one of the metal powders broadly used in metal AM processes for various applications. It is a strong, tough, low-carbon martensitic steel, and the rare combination of high strength and toughness makes it well-suited and preferable for high-performance components in the aerospace industry. Aerospace products must be produced with high quality and precision. The purpose of this research is to investigate the quality of the output product as it is manufactured, comparing it with different heat treatment methods. This can be addressed by mechanical and microstructure tests. Specimens were manufactured with MS118NI-300 Maraging steel powder using an EOS M280 metal printer. Fourteen compression and tensile test pieces were made and designed to abide by ASTM standards. Two control group pieces were set aside while the other 12 pieces underwent various heat treatment (HT) processes to alter mechanical and microstructure properties. The heat treatment processes considered for this research work are normalizing, annealing, carburizing, age hardening, and cryogenic treatments. All HT’s but carburizing impacted the steel with positive results. It was found that cryogenic treatment slightly increased the toughness, while age hardening significantly increased both toughness and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Normalizing and annealing were found to reduce the UTS but increase the ductility with a very small reduction in toughness when compared to the control group.
Part 2: Gyroscopic Control of Robotic Smart Vehicles Using SE(3)
Authors: Rykkje Thorstein , Johnsen Kristian , Skjelvik Hole Petter , Hernar Jacobsen Joakim , Luchtenburg Dirk , Impelluso Thomas
Published: February 2024

This paper deploys the Moving Frame Method (MFM) for the analysis of the gyroscopic-induced pitch of a car; and in the context of a senior design project. While there is a research and development component, the primary focus of this and the companion paper (Part 1) is pedagogical reform to ensure student engagement. First, this paper presents the primary goals of the MFM: to bridge the chasm between engineering mathematics and real-world problems. To this end, this paper presents the underlying MFM theory, discussing aspects of Lie Group theory and associated Lie Algebra, distilled to the simplicity of matrix multiplications. In the project, the undergraduate students accounted for the dual mass system of the spinning disks, precessing gimbals and the mass of the car. It modeled the lift of the car, while avoiding its yaw. It presents a modification of the Runge-Kutta numerical integration scheme to conduct the simulation. It shows design trade-offs, and a comparison between MFM model and experimental results. It presents the motivational questions raised, and how this the MFM empowers insight into the modeling process. The paper then segues into a discussion of how the MFM motivated the manufacturing of the components of the car, the coding of the 3D simulations, and the understanding of machine motion, and motivated international student collaboration. Finally, it closes with the assertion that to inspire engineering students, various interventions might not work as well as modernizing the mathematics.
Development of Laser Induced Particle Impact Test (LIPIT) as High-Speed Micro Impact Testing
Authors: Kajihara Miki , Nagaami Kanari , Miyagawa Takeru , Yonezu Akio
Published: February 2024

Since grain refinement such as nano twin and nano crystalline in a metallic material is possible to improve the mechanical property, surface modification to generate the nanostructure is demanded. This study aims to develop ultrahigh velocity impact testing using microparticle projectile, resulting in generation of impact indentation crater. Due to extreme severe plastic deformation with high strain rate, grain refinement is expected. Regarding the impact test, this study developed Laser Induced Particle Impact Test (LIPIT), in which laser ablation induces supersonic ejection of microparticle, resulting in generation of impact crater. We first proposed a measurement method of particle projectile velocity using mechanoluminescence (ML). A particle collision against the ML emits light due to mechanical stimulus. The light is detected to determine the timing of particle arrival, so that the particle projectile velocity is obtained. This measurement method was verified using a high-speed video camera. Next, LIPIT was applied to a pure copper (Cu), and it is found that nano structure including twinning was developed around the impact indentation crater. The developed microstructure was compared with the crater obtained by quasi-static indentation to investigate strain rate effect on the microstructure. This indicated that plastic deformation due to LIPIT improves the mechanical property owing to extreme plastic strain and strain rate. Therefore, our developed LIPIT may realize a new surface modification technique in order to induce severe plastic deformation with ultrahigh strain rates, resulting in grain refinement.
Effect of Roll Rotation on Sway Displacement of Stewart Platform for Flight Simulation
Authors: Miller Spencer , Piovesan Davide , Arzalluz Irati , Ji Xiaoxu
Published: February 2024

Flight simulation is a growing interest in the military to reduce accidents involving the jets used in the air force. Reducing accidents not only saves the lives of the pilots, but also money as the jets will not be destroyed. A Stewart platform can be used as a moving component to be used in flight simulation to acclimatize the pilots to moving during flight without flying a real jet. In this paper the fidelity of the roll rotational direction and the effect the roll has on the lateral sway movement will be tested. A set path will be created and then followed by the platform with a range of 12 different frequencies. These trials are then plotted against the generated data to display the correlation between them. The fidelity of the gain and phase values are calculated and plotted to show proper fidelity. The results of the study show that the platform is within the fidelity requirements to be considered a flight simulator training device.
Human Factors, Physiological Signals, Emotions, What Else?
Authors: Leão Celina P. , Loureiro Isabel , Silva Vinicius , Costa Susana P.
Published: February 2024

This paper describes an activity carried out as part of a University’s Summer on Campus program, which aimed to introduce high school students to the field of Human Factors. The program is designed to provide non-formal education activities in various scientific areas, being Human Factors in Engineering a crucial area of study that considers the individual, functionality, expectations, and impact of the end result while studying human emotions involved in cognitive processes like decision-making and perception. As Industry 5.0 emphasizes the importance of human involvement and collaboration with advanced technologies, it is crucial to understand and identify human responses to better understand human behavior. After the introduction to the topic of Human Factors and their importance for sustainability, several participatory and dynamic pedagogical activities were developed, including the collection of physiological data from high school students (n = 12) in a non-invasive way and after obtaining informed consent from their educational guardians, including GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) and ECG (electrocardiogram) signals. The importance of Human Factors in Engineering, the pedagogical approach used, the students’ attitudes and opinions regarding the set of Human Factors activities, and the lessons learned when approaching this topic with high school students are presented. The results indicated that the students were engaged and interested in the activities and showed an improved understanding of Human Factors and their importance in sustainability. Overall, this activity demonstrated the importance of introducing high school students to Human Factors, as it can help them develop a better understanding of human behavior, decision-making, and perception. By providing engaging and participatory activities, it is possible to foster interest and curiosity in this field, leading to future careers and research opportunities in Human Factors and related areas.
Design of an Extendable Robot Arm Based on Origami Foldpatterns
Authors: Huber Markus M. , Merz Judith U. , Rehekampff Christoph , Irlinger Franz , Lueth Tim C.
Published: February 2024

Recently, the trend to use robots to support household tasks has increased significantly. So far, these robots are primarily entrusted with fixed tasks, for example, vacuum cleaning or mowing, and operate with few degrees of freedom. In order to be able to take over even more household tasks in the future, a length-adjustable robotic arm is presented in the following. The unique feature of this robot arm is that it is origami-based, which makes the activating structure and the guiding structure the same. In addition, the fold-based approach offers the advantages of origami-based engineering: Due to the high number of kinematic constraints created by repeating fold-schemes, a very high stiffness can be achieved. In addition, the facet-based design of folding mechanisms structures allows the integration of sandwich-structured lightweight panels, which significantly reduces the weight of these structures. The construction of this arm was made possible by the Matlab toolbox SG-Libary [1]. This design process is automated and adaptable to the users requirements regarding the desired retracted, respectively extended length of the robot arm. With the process shown in this paper, a robotic arm was created and manufactured using SLS 3D printing. The robotic arm was then tested for deformation with and without external load using an optical tracking method.
Quantification of the Energy Saving Associated With Early Detection of Faulty Operation of Rooftop Units
Authors: Allen-Magande Hugh , Khazaii Javad , Esmaeili Amin
Published: February 2024

As stated in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2018 survey, commercial building space heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) operation, accounted for little more than one-half of total end-use consumption in the U.S., or approximately 3,529.24 trillion Btu. This HVAC industry contains multiple subsections and different equipment, but one of the most used equipment types with a significant market share in the commercial industry is the packaged rooftop unit (RTU). When units operate with faults, malfunctioning sensors, actuators, or airflow issues, the system will experience longer run-time to achieve and maintain conditions, thus increasing energy use and cost. Therefore, reducing energy consumption via early recognition of faults and taking prompt corrective actions will contribute to the system’s overall energy saving.

The authors of this paper will present uncertainty-based simulated (computer-based) model of multiple RTUs with selected capacities to quantify the effects of different sensor and actuators malfunctions on the overall system’s operation while evaluating the system’s energy impact under varying fault conditions. Room temperature, outdoor air temperature, and cooling coil leaving air temperature sensors are among the primary sensors the RTU’s control panel will utilize to facilitate the planned system evaluation and are analyzed in this research. The positions of the outdoor air and return air dampers are also evaluated for their respective impact on energy use. With this, the authors demonstrate the potential excess energy consumption of operating a typical RTU with faults and the potential energy savings opportunity that can be realized if units operate within the given specifications, and without faults. A novel method for detection of these malfunctions is discussed.
Inversion Method of Material Parameters in Different Areas of Automotive Tires Based on Stiffness Experiment
Authors: Lang Yuling , Wang Yizhuo , Yuan Shenglong , Luo Jintao , Kong Decai , Shan Yingchun , Xu Shiwen
Published: February 2024

Based on the tire stiffness test, this paper presents a method for retrieving the tire material parameters with the help of finite element software and optimization software under the condition of reasonable simplification of the tire structure.

Based on the radial stiffness and lateral stiffness test, the displacement-load curves of the tire under different tire pressure and different load conditions are obtained. Through the cyclic parameter optimization process, the material parameters of different specifications of tires are inverted. By comparing the experimental and simulation results of radial and lateral stiffness of each tire, the effectiveness of the material parameter inversion method proposed in this paper is verified, that is, the tire finite element model with the material parameters obtained can accurately reflect the overall stiffness performance of the tire. The tire model based on the proposed method can be used for the simulation of radial fatigue test, biaxial fatigue test, 13-degree and 90-degree impact test of wheels, which provides strong support for the evaluation of wheel mechanical properties. In addition, based on the stiffness test and simulation results of different sizes of tires, the influence of tire size, shape and other parameters on the stiffness characteristics is analyzed.
Industrial Fluid Degradation Monitoring With an Electromechanical Impedance Active Sensor
Authors: Lu Runye , Shen Yanfeng
Published: February 2024

Industrial fluids, such as lubricant oil and cutting fluid, are ubiquitous in various manufacturing situations. During the service period, the industrial fluids are vulnerable to degradation and contamination, rendering the abnormal function of the subordinate machine and product quality. This paper proposes an Electro-Mechanical Impedance Spectroscopy (EMIS) for the real-time monitoring of industrial fluids degradation. To develop a profound understanding on the interaction mechanism between the industrial fluids and the piezoelectric sensory device, a three-dimensional analytical model is established. The influence of the fluid is processed as the additional inertial load and the dissipative viscosity. Meanwhile, Finite Element (FE) analysis is performed to examine the influence of the fluid and verify the analytical model. Fluid-Structural Interaction (FSI) is utilized to introduce the interaction at the interfaces, while the spring-damper element (COMBIN 14) is employed to simulate the viscosity of the fluid. Ultimately, the experimental assessment is performed to mutually validate the analytical and FE model, and to practically demonstrate the feasibility of the EMIS methodology for the real-time monitoring of fluid degradations. EMI index is exploited to quantify the severity of the degradation.
The Tremendous Increase of Clearance–Induced Uncertainty Near the Singularity Positions of Planar Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Chan Cody Leeheng , Lai Yu-Chieh
Published: February 2024

This paper investigates the impact of joint clearances on the uncertainty error of five-bar linkages and explores the relationship between the error size and linkage configuration, particularly near singularities. The position uncertainty of the end-effector is characterized by the workspace of a simplified, remodeled five-bar linkage using the concepts of invariant link rotatability and the clearance link model. A numerical example involving an air-hockey robot as a five-bar linkage is analyzed. The paper presents two key scientific findings. Firstly, in general cases, the size of the uncertainty region is directly proportional to the magnitude of the clearance error. Secondly, when considering different linkage configurations, the uncertainty region significantly increases near positions corresponding to the second kind of singularity, where three passive joints align in a straight line. The engineering contribution of this study lies in providing guidance for controllers to prevent five-bar linkages with joint clearance effects from reaching the second kind of singularity.
A Hybrid Time-Varying Integrator-Gain Control Strategy for an Ultra-Precision Wafer Stage
Authors: Liu Tao , Yang Kaiming , Zhu Yu
Published: February 2024

The wafer stage is a crucial component in lithography machines, requiring nanometer-level motion control accuracy. To overcome the performance limitation between low-frequency trajectory tracking performance and high-frequency noise amplification of fixed-value hybrid integrator-gain system (HIGS), a novel hybrid time-varying integrator-gain control (HTVIGC) strategy is proposed for an ultra-precision wafer stage. Specially, a time-varying parameter design method is newly introduced into HIGS, and the integrator frequency and gain value in HTVIGC vary with the trajectory phase. Furthermore, the time-domain properties and approximate frequency-domain characteristics of HTVIGC are analyzed in detail, and the stability condition of the closed-loop system is obtained through an analysis similar to the circle criterion. Finally, experimental results on wafer stage demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve excellent control performance in both the acceleration and constant velocity phases of the trajectory.
Thermal Behaviour of HYPROB DEMO-0A Oxygen/Methane Rocket Engine Demonstrator
Authors: Ricci Daniele , Battista Francesco , Fragiacomo Manrico , Ferraiuolo Michele
Published: February 2024

The successful operation and the life cycle of liquid rocket engines need the development of reliable and performant cooling systems since very hard conditions in terms of thermal and mechanical loads must be managed. This is typically achieved by efficient cooling jackets, considering narrow axial channels surrounding the thrust chambers. A further complication is related to the use of a regenerative architecture. In the case of methane, indeed, the fuel is injected as a supercritical liquid in the cooling system and, while flowing in the jacket and dissipating the huge heat from the thrust chamber, warms up until exiting as a supercritical vapour. Thus, operation conditions of the cooling jacket change along the thrust chamber and depend also on the heat released during the combustion.

In the present paper, the thermal and the related thermo-structural analyses concerning the cooling jacket belonging to the liquid oxygen/liquid methane demonstrator, developed in HYPROB (HYdrocarbon PROpulsion test Bench) Program, are presented. Besides the methane-cooled mode, also the water-cooled mode has been investigated. In fact, the first firing campaign of the demonstrator has been conducted adopting water as refrigerant in order to validate the technology used to realize the cooling jacket.
Mechanics of Scorpion-Inspired Curved Tip Needle Moving in Soft Tissue
Authors: Kim Doyoung , Hutapea Parsaoran
Published: February 2024

Soft tissue biopsy is a necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, but traditional biopsy needles can cause harm to the patient, including tissue damage, bleeding, and pain. These can compromise the accuracy of the sample and negatively impact the patient’s well-being. Hence, there has been a growing interest in developing bio-inspired surgical needles that are safer, more effective, and more comfortable for the patient. The scorpion-inspired curved tip needle study focuses on analyzing the mechanics of needle-tissue interaction and creating needles that travel through soft tissue with minimum resistance at the tip. An essential aspect of the study is the mechanics and geometry of the needle tip, which plays a crucial role in its performance. The study incorporates structures of curved scorpion’s stinger to balance between penetration and minimal needle-tissue interaction forces. In this study, various parameters of curved tip geometry are explored to decrease the insertion and extraction forces. Tests are initially performed on brain tissue mimicking medical gelatin with Young’s modulus of 2kPa. It is observed that the insertion force with curved tip needles is decreased by up to 21.7%, and the extraction force is decreased by up to 28.2%. This study shows that a scorpion-inspired tip design can minimize insertion and extraction forces, leading to less tissue damage and deformation. Furthermore, the proposed tip design has great potential to improve surgical needles for more effective minimally invasive percutaneous procedures with various applications such as biopsy, brachytherapy, tumor ablation, and drug delivery to the brain.
Rapid Cross-Plane Thermal Conductivity Characterization From Data Automation and System Miniaturization
Authors: Nakamura Matthew , Okura Kailer , Murillo Andrea , Brown Joseph J.
Published: February 2024

Advancing work continues to push the limits of material science, requiring more cutting-edge sensor measuring techniques to better characterize emerging materials. Meanwhile, improvements in microelectrical/mechanical systems (MEMS) and sensors have opened new avenues to acquire data. Traditional work on heat flow characterization requires large-scale and expensive testing, which is not ideal for most sample sizes. Preliminary work has shown that integrating MEMS heat flow meters with commercial bulk measurement systems has allowed for the testing of small bulk samples. This method has provided an accurate and reliable way to acquire thermophysical properties of small samples that could not be sampled utilizing traditional systems.

This work reports a system for analyzing small bulk-scale samples (25.4 mm × 25.4 mm area) to determine the effective thermal conductivity of a material. The apparatus implements ISO 8301:1991 and ASTM C518-21 and utilizes low-cost components to achieve a compact measurement system, fitting into a 200 mm × 300 mm footprint and using a MEMS heat flow meter. Additionally, the system had an average error across insulators and conductors of 4.15% from the commonly accepted values. The device provides rapid thermal characterization measurements of material samples, with potential applications in coatings for packaging and integrating with new materials in multiscale designs.
Study of the Water-Responsive Material Strain With Piezoelectric Sensor
Authors: Fang Shuo , Chen Xi , Voiculescu Ioana
Published: February 2024

Water-responsive (WR) materials have shown potential for use in artificial muscle designs, thanks to their impressive load ability and energy density. However, the integration of WR materials with sensors is an area that requires further investigation. This paper presents a study on the integration of a commercial piezoelectric sensor and WR cellulose paper for detecting WR actuation. The sensor was employed to sense the WR paper actuation under different humidity levels. Initially, the WR paper elongation as a response to humidity was small and the piezoelectric sensor response was weak. Therefore, we developed a simple mechanism to amplify the paper actuation. The amplification mechanism was inserted in the testing setup, between the WR paper and the piezoelectric sensor. Using the amplification mechanism, we demonstrated that the displacement of the WR paper under different levels of humidity can be monitored by the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensor. The results of this study provide valuable insight into the use of WR materials and sensors for actuation detection, with the possibility of designing artificial muscles from WR material and using a control system with the PVDF signal as feedback. The integration of PVDF sensors and WR materials will contribute to the development of soft robotics.
Numerical Investigation of the Effect of the Spark Plug Electrode Gap on Flame Propagation Under Engine-Like Conditions
Authors: Pinheiro Martins Fernanda , Teixeira Lacava Pedro
Published: February 2024

To attend the high demand for high performance, low fuel consumption, and low emissions, ethanol has become a potential candidate to replace gasoline applications worldwide. In this scenario, ethanol market share has increased in two spaces, blended with gasoline, where the goal is just to increase the knock limit during engine operation, and then leverage the thermal efficiency, or in its pure form, where the benefits of its green characteristics contribute significantly to Green House Gas (GHG) credits benefitting car manufacturers.

The objective of this research is to analyze the effects of different spark plug conditions, representing nominal and outwearing conditions, on flame propagation in engine-like conditions applying numerical modeling. The commercial software STAR-CD is adopted for the 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model mimicking the Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) optical engine adopted for the experimental tests. The numerical model adopts a 3-Zones Extended Coherent Flame (ECFM-3Z) and Imposed Stretch Spark Ignition Model (ISSIM), for the combustion and the spark plug modeling, respectively.

The engine operating conditions adopted consist of direct injection of ethanol (E100) partial load and low speed. The model was built and validated according to experimental measurements. Afterward, the tuned model was used to study a set of cases intended to evaluate how different spark plug discharge energy and electrode gaps influence flame propagation in engine-like conditions.

The results obtained identified the influence of non-optimal spark plug conditions in combustion propagation and indicated the influence of the parameters studied in engine performance.
Analytical and Numerical Investigations on the Stator Guide Vanes for Low-Pressure Axial Fans
Authors: Fritsche Manuel , Epple Philipp , Delgado Antonio
Published: February 2024

Due to the regulation (EU) Nr. 327/2011 for fans, higher and higher efficiencies are required in order to save energy. In the future, low-pressure axial fans in particular will must generally be designed with stator guide vanes in order to achieve the required level of efficiency. The guide vanes can be installed in front of the impeller or behind the impeller. In front of the impeller, it has the task of deflecting the flow in order to generate a pre-swirl. After the impeller, it has the task of reducing the swirl and to transform it into static pressure.

In the present study, the theoretical characteristic curves are derived analytically with the dimensionless variables considering a pre-swirl. From this it can be seen that a negative pre-swirl leads to an increase in the pressure coefficients (total-to-total and total-to-static) and the ideal total-to-static efficiency. On the other hand, a positive pre-swirl leads to a reduction in the characteristic curves. These analytical results have been validated performing numerical CFD simulations.

The design of the impeller and the guide vanes is performed with an extended design strategy for the entire blade channel, specifying the work distribution in the radial and axial directions. Using the concept of radial equilibrium, the blade angles of the impeller and the guide vanes can be determined analytically. A total of 6 different designs are modeled and analyzed in detail. On the one hand, the influence of the pre-swirl is examined. On the other hand, the impact between guide vanes in front of and behind the impeller is also investigated. The CFD model is modeled with ANSYS Workbench 2022R2 and the RANS equations are solved with ANSYS CFX, after performing a detailed grid independence study based on the Richardson extrapolation.

In summary, it can be stated that the numerical CFD results qualitatively correspond to the analytical results. In addition, it can be seen that with a similar design with the equal work distribution, the guide vanes behind the impeller (outlet stator) lead to higher pressure characteristics with a larger maximum volume flow rate. In contrast, only guide vanes in front of the impeller (inlet stator) lead to higher total-to-static efficiency in comparison. Whether guide vanes are installed in front of or behind the impeller or even both is therefore a question of the target values to be optimized and the production costs.
A Comparative Study of Different Optimization Techniques in Modelling and Predictive Controls
Authors: Abu-Ayyad Ma'moun , Lad Yash , Attaluri Anilchandra
Published: February 2024

This study summarizes different optimization techniques in modeling and predictive controls. Optimization plays an important role in Model Predictive Control (MPC). The optimization techniques help to evaluate the best solution to a mathematical model by comparing it with visual data. The different optimization techniques include the Polak method, Cauchy method, Newton method, Modified Newton method, Steep Decent method, David-Fletcher-Powell (DFP) method, and Momentum method. These optimization techniques can fit linear and non-linear models with n-number input variables. This can help to improve the performance of the MPC controller by addressing the challenges of the data being controlled. The solution to this problem is addressed in this study, including the mathematical modeling of optimization techniques. Simulation is conducted to verify the comparison test and model a nonlinear dynamic process. The output of the MPC controller shows a linear agreement with the open-loop test, for all the optimization techniques, with some deviation in the overshoot, rise times and settling times.
Modular and Reconfigurable Multiple Drive-Unit Based Rover - Design and Control
Authors: Sharma Manoj , Kitts Christopher A.
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a rover prototype designed for our ongoing work in the area of field robotics. The rover consists of a drive-unit as a fundamental building block. Two or more drive-units can be linked mechanically to form a rover with a desired shape and form. Here, we present a kinematic model for the rover in a generalized form for a given shape and form of the rover. This model allows us to translate the high level rover motion (linear and/or angular) commands into motor-level motion commands. We present our approach to design the modular rover system using Robot Operating System as a control framework. Furthermore, we present a ‘follow-the-leader’ mode where the follower rover uses a vision system to track and follow the leader at a predefined offset. In the later section we discuss the viability of this research for future field work in the human technology frontier by leveraging the advancements in robotics.
Integration of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Interface to Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) for Gas Adsorption Testbed
Authors: Pham Thi Kieu Ngan , Nakamura Matthew , Brown Joseph J.
Published: February 2024

In the past 20 years, many computational and theoretical works have set a foundation for the effect of thin film electrical properties on gas adsorption, and vice versa. However, there has been limited experimental work to explain this relationship, especially at the high sensitivity scale. In this work, we present packaging and interfacing adaptations that enable surface experiments on a commercially available quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) via mechanical and electrical integration with a printed circuit board. A van der Pauw measurement of resistance change of a metal (60:40 Au:Pd) film under a controlled ethanol vapor environment was conducted. The electrical resistance slightly decreases at a partial pressure of 0.01, then increases with increasing ethanol partial pressures. At room temperature, the Au:Pd film electrical resistivity was measured to be 3 × 10−8 Ω · m.
A Sensor-Integrated Textile for the Acquisition of Upper Extremity Electromyographic Signals
Authors: Ilg Julian , Hinderer Lukas , Struebig Konstantin , Lueth Tim C.
Published: February 2024

This paper presents a novel sensor-integrated wearable textile for the acquisition of upper extremity (UE) electromyographic (EMG) signals. The device utilizes dry high-density electrodes that are non-invasive, comfortable to wear, and do not require exact positioning over the respective muscles due to the high number and density of electrodes. The wearable EMG-textile was designed for ease of use and can be easily donned and doffed by the user. The authors tested the device on a group of 10 participants to recognize hand gestures via the acquired EMG signals. To enable gesture recognition, the authors compared various deep learning models and conventional classifiers, observing that a convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on Willison Amplitude (WAMP) features produced the most promising results. The trained CNN achieved an accuracy of 82.7% in recognizing 14 different hand gestures. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the proposed sensor-integrated wearable textile has the potential to be a convenient and effective tool for the acquisition and analysis of EMG signals. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the device in real-world scenarios and to investigate its potential for use in other applications.
Characterization and Numerical Modelling of Underwater Sound Transmission Through Periodically Structured Polyurethane Tiles
Authors: Hacquebard Luke R. P. , Drover Vincent J. , Szabo Jeffrey P.
Published: February 2024

Accurate modelling of underwater sound transmission through periodically structured acoustic tiles relies on the proper characterization of dynamic material properties. In this work, the measured dynamic response of a polyurethane resin was used to numerically predict the transmission and reflection loss spectra of tiles containing periodic cylindrical inclusions of different orientation and material. Model results are compared with experimentally measured values and the findings confirm the accuracy of the methods used for material characterization, tile fabrication, acoustic response measurement, and numerical modelling.