SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES

Minghui Zhu, Feng Zhang, Ningsong Xiong, Zhiyuan Zou et al.

Abstract Due to their simple design, adjustable damping, and rapid response, magnetorheological (MR) dampers have received significant attention and are widely used in fields such as automotive suspensions, recoil mitigation, and seismic protection for bridges. However, in single-rod MR dampers, the reciprocating motion of the piston rod induces variations in cylinder volume. C…

Chong Li, Zhi Li, Jianqiao Zhang, Liang Chen et al.

Abstract To address the poor control performance of flexible beams with variable cross-sections, this study proposes an improved Linear Quadratic Gaussian with Loop Transfer Recovery (LQG/LTR) active vibration control method optimized with an improved differential evolution algorithm, which relies on piezoelectric actuation and sensing. Based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and …

Ali Aghaei, Saeed Ajeli, Mohsen Shanbeh

Abstract Soft actuators based on polymer artificial muscles are increasingly employed in robotics, biomedical devices, and assistive technologies owing to their flexibility, biocompatibility, and scalability. Among these, twisted and coiled actuators (TCAs) fabricated from Nylon 6 fishing line offer a low-cost, thermally responsive solution. Since conventional TCAs often suffer…

Yi-Wen Huang, Tsung-Chin Hou, Ko-Hung Tai

Abstract Current research in self-sensing concrete mostly relies on functional fillers, such as carbon nanotubes. However, these conductive fillers are difficult to apply to large-scale infrastructure due to their high cost and poor dispersion uniformity. Therefore, this study returns to the fundamentals to investigate the capability of plain Portland cement composites (with a …

Jinho Kim, Jiyong Min, Youngsu Cha

Abstract In the present work, a theoretical model for a soft piezoelectric actuator-sensor pair is proposed. Specifically, the pair consists of a thin film actuator and a sensor. Between the actuator and the sensor, there is a tiny gap. The actuator generates an electric field and mechanical vibration when the input voltage is applied. Mutual capacitance between the electrodes …

yiyang bai, Junyu Chen, Limeng Peng, Dong Li et al.

Abstract Abstract: To address the requirements for miniaturization and high torque density in clutch systems, this study optimizes a multi plate shear mode magnetorheological (MR) clutch employing a dry MR powder. First, a nonlinear magnetic circuit model based on the magnetic potential difference theory is established to predict the radial distribution of magnetic flux density…

Zirong Chen, Jianwei Cheng, Yifan Li, Yang Liu et al.

Abstract Polymeric porous piezoelectrets offer advantages for flexible electronics because of their mechanical compliance and low density. Their piezoelectric-like response originates from charge accumulation at pore interfaces and deformation of pores and wrinkles. Therefore, enhancing charge density and precisely manipulating pore shape are critical for enhancing electromecha…

Xiaozheng Li, Geng Wang, Qingzhong Hu, Xiangyu Tian et al.

Abstract Based on the high power density of shape memory alloys (SMAs) and the zero-power latching capability of bistable mechanisms, this paper proposes a bistable rotary actuator driven by antagonistic SMA wire windings to fulfill rotational functional requirements under specific environmental constraints. An analytical relationship between the geometric parameters of the bis…

Shizhao Wang, Yong Ku Kwon, Hyoung Jin Choi

Abstract Two types of giant electrorheological (GER) material based on calcium titanyl oxalate (CTO) have been successfully synthesised. One type is CTO modified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SCTO), while the other is coated with urea (UCTO). Their morphologies were examined using SEM and TEM, while their chemical and crystal structures, and thermal properties were studied using F…

Zhongjie Zhang, Yongqi Cui, Liang Zeng, Liping Huang

Abstract Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are extensively used in the manufacturing of ships, aircraft, and land vehicles. Conventional structural health monitoring (SHM) approaches typically rely on dense sensor networks, which significantly increase system complexity and cost. To address this issue, this paper proposes a multi-information fusion framework for precise …

Aravi Muzaffar, Rajesh Prasad, Suresh Neelakantan

Abstract The properties of porous fibre networks, made from metal fibres, are typically dependent on their network architecture, which encompasses two- or three-dimensional structural features associated with the arrangement of metal fibres. Consideration of NiTi fibres in a porous fibre network also influences their characteristic shape memory effect (SME) and superelasticity …

Botao Ye, Zhicheng Xu, Bo Li

Abstract The effect of irradiation on the ferroelectric performance and domain structure of HfO2-based ferroelectric thin films was investigated using a phase-field model combined with Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that irradiation induces an inhomogeneous distribution of oxygen vacancies owing to the low displacement threshold of the oxygen atoms, thereby generating…

Yafeng Chang, Hui Wang

Abstract Hyperbolic curves featuring negative Gaussian curvature are distinctive in structural design, because of improved rigid over conventional circular and elliptical curves. Inspired by this, a novel hyperbolic hybrid auxetic structure is designed, in which four tetrachiral elements are placed at the corners of re-entrant element and all ribs are hyperbolic. Particularly, …

Yuchen Huang, Xiao Wang, Xudong Chen, Yifeng Fu

Abstract To address the urgent demand for low-frequency, broadband, and compact noise control structures in modern engineering, this paper proposes an intelligent design framework based on deep learning (DL) for hybrid acoustic absorbers combining micro-perforated panels (MPPs) and space-coiling structures. This hybrid design achieves excellent impedance matching at deep subwav…

Jiahe Tang, Liang Liang, Junjie Wang, You Huang et al.

Abstract Existing flexible grippers driven by wire-type shape memory alloy (SMA) suffer from limited load capacity and insufficient integration of sensing and feedback. This paper presents a composite laminar SMA soft gripper that integrates a real-time dual-parameter sensing system (temperature and bending angle) and a force-sensor-free contact detection control strategy based…

Chenglin Li, Mingyong Xin, Jingran Chen, Jie Liu et al.

Abstract Wind energy harvesting from varying wind directions remains challenging for piezoelectric harvesters with direction-sensitive structural responses. In this study, a cross-coupled dual-beam piezoelectric wind energy harvester with different bluff-body configurations is investigated under varying wind directions and attack angles. The cross-coupled structure provides two…

Vivek Gupta, Aditya Natu, S.Hassan HosseinNia

Abstract Passive elastic metamaterials offer effective vibration attenuation through locally resonant bandgaps, but suffer from fundamental limitations in real-time tunability, narrow operational bandwidth, and non-adaptive behavior. This work presents an experimental framework for inducing and tuning vibration bandgaps in digitally controlled mechatronic metamaterials. A slend…

Pufan Zhu, Can Zhong, Bin Zhang, Yu Lou et al.

Abstract Precision platforms subject to three-axis, broadband (1-500 Hz), low-amplitude random vibrations that critically affect their dynamic performance can be effectively addressed by a magnetically controllable variable-damping magnetorheological (MR) triaxial vibration absorber. However, achieving vibration suppression control for such a triaxial nonlinear MR system remain…

Andrew Keller, Zhangxian Deng

Abstract Magnetostrictive materials exhibit changes in magnetization under applied mechanical stress and undergo deformation in response to magnetic fields. This bidirectional magneto-mechanical coupling has enabled a wide range of innovative devices, including actuators, sensors, and energy harvesters. However, their intrinsic multiphysics behavior poses significant modeling c…

Tongyu Wu, S A Meguid

Abstract Smart composite laminates (SCLs) integrated with piezoelectric materials enable sensing and actuation for adaptive structural applications. In previous studies, the authors developed a fully coupled nonlinear finite element (FE) framework incorporating geometric nonlinearity and temperature-dependent material properties. Specifically, our earlier work investigated base…