Applied Mechanics Commons^™

Active Dense Tensegrity Structure: A Novel Concept For Shape Morphing Structures, Zhiwei Wu, Thomas Siegmund

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Shape morphing is of relevance for advanced engineering systems such as future aerospace vehicles. Tensegrity structures, a structure comprised of a set of discontinuous compressed struts held together with a continuous web of tensioned cables, can function as the foundation of a shape morphing system (Keith et al, 2007). However, the classic tensegrity structures may not be ideal in all configurations because the space within the structure is not utilized. As an alternative, the present work proposes a dense tensegrity system as an assembly of cables carrying tensions only and polyhedral elements under compression only. An active dense tensegrity can …

Computer Simulation Study Of Slipper Lubrication In Hydraulic Machines, Jordyn B. Miller, Monika Ivantysynova

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Hydraulic pumps and motors are vital components used in many applications today. Specifically, the axial piston pump is important because it is reliable, relatively compact, and has a high horsepower-to-weight ratio. These features make this type of pump very advantageous in hydraulic systems. Maintaining proper lubrication between surfaces in an axial pump, such as the slipper and swashplate, is imperative in order to have smooth operation of the system and prevent metal-to-metal contact. The aim of this research is to find the optimal slipper design and fluid film thickness to simultaneously maintain a balanced pressure and decrease power loss in …

Crane Shaking Platform Design, Bixing Yan, Andrea Vacca

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Most of the control methodology of Mobile hydraulic crane is not as energy efficient as people think or want, and the desire to innovate novel, energy-efficient control strategy is the target of most hydraulic experts. To develop or test the control method under real road and off-road conditions, a platform that could simulate the movement and vibration of the crane truck is desired. To design and build the multi-operation platform, a design process includes brain storming, design selection, FEA (Fundamental Element Analysis), mechanical sizing, hydraulic sizing and Bill of Material is required and preferred. After going through all the steps …

Linear Controller Establishment For Displacement-Control Pump Switching System, Yangqiao Zheng, Monika Ivantysynova

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Displacement Controlled (DC) hydraulics system is booming recently due to its high efficiency and accurate controllability, while the surplus numbers of pumps restrains its further development. DC pump switch technique is a promising application to reduce the number of pumps as well as the cost products to promote DC hydraulics technique. It is necessary to support an innovative DC hydraulic pump switching system with a controller which would allow rapid and accurate estimation and adaptation for all the parameters, like pressures and velocities, in the system. Dynamics and Hydraulics characteristics have initially been investigated for a simplified DC pump switching …

Vulnerability Of Progressive Collapse In Reinforced Concrete Flat-Plate Buildings, Jinrong Liu

College of Engineering: Graduate Celebration Programs

• Progressive collapse is the spread of initial local failure, causing partial or
  even total collapse of a building.
• Flat plate structure is widely used for office and residential buildings.
• There is a large inventory of older flat plate building without continuous slab bottom reinforcement through columns.
• Limited knowledge exists regarding the risk of disproportionate collapse in
  older flat-plates under sudden column removal during abnormal events.
• Reliable mechanical model is needed for structural evaluation.