Mechanics of Materials Commons^™

Methods, Systems, And Devices Relating To Force Control Surgical Systems, Shane M. Farritor, Thomas Frederick, Kearney Lackas, Joe Bartels, Jacob Greenburg

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The various embodiments herein relate to robotic surgical systems and devices that use force and/or torque sensors to measure forces applied at various components of the system or device. Certain implementations include robotic surgical devices having one or more force/torque sensors that detect or measure one or more forces applied at or on one or more arms. Other embodiments relate to systems having a robotic surgical device that has one or more sensors and an external controller that has one or more motors such that the sensors transmit information that is used at the controller to actuate the motors to …

Frequency Dependent Deformation Reversibility During Cyclic Loading, Shuai Shao, Michael M. Khonsari, Jian Wang, Nima Shamsaei, Nan Li

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

High-frequency testing (HFT) is useful for accelerated fatigue testing of conventional materials that typically serve under low-frequency loading conditions, as well as for the assessment of the robustness of microelectromechanical systems which typically experience high-frequency service conditions. Using discrete dislocation dynamics, we attempt to elucidate the effect of loading frequency on the reversibility of cyclic deformation. We demonstrate that the HFT induces a higher fraction of reversible cyclic deformation because of a larger portion of elastic/anelastic deformation due to limited dislocation mobility, and a higher degree of reversibility in plastic deformation owing to the less occurrence of cross-slip.

Neuroprotective And Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Rhus Coriaria Extract In A Mouse Model Of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, Saba Khalilpour, Ghazaleh Behnammanesh, Fouad Suede, Mohammed O. Ezzat, Jayadhisan Muniandy, Yasser Tabana, Mohamed B. K. Ahamed, Ali Tamayol, Amin Malik Shah Majid, Enrico Sangiovanni, Mario Dell'agli, Aman Shah Majid

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Modulating oxidative stresses and inflammation can potentially prevent or alleviate the pathological conditions of diseases associated with the nervous system, including ischemic optic neuropathy. In this study we evaluated the anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activities of Rhus coriaria (R. coriaria) extract in vivo. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) for DPPH, ABTS and B-carotene were 6.79 ± 0.009 µg/mL, 10.94 ± 0.09 µg/mL, and 6.25 ± 0.06 µg/mL, respectively. Retinal ischemia was induced by optic nerve crush injury in albino Balb/c mice. The anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of R. coriaria (ERC) and linoleic acid (LA) on …

Molecular Doping Enabled Scalable Blading Of Efficient Hole-Transport-Layer-Free Perovskite Solar Cells, Wu-Qiang Wu, Qi Wang, Yanjun Fang, Yuchuan Shao, Shi Tang, Yehao Deng, Haidong Lu, Ye Liu, Tao Li, Zhibin Yang, Alexei Gruverman, Jinsong Huang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The efficiencies of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are now reaching such consistently high levels that scalable manufacturing at low cost is becoming critical. However, this remains challenging due to the expensive hole-transporting materials usually employed, and difficulties associated with the scalable deposition of other functional layers. By simplifying the device architecture, hole-transport-layer-free PSCs with improved photovoltaic performance are fabricated via a scalable doctor-blading process. Molecular doping of halide perovskite films improved the conductivity of the films and their electronic contact with the conductive substrate, resulting in a reduced series resistance. It facilitates the extraction of photoexcited holes from perovskite directly …

Design And Analysis Of A 3d-Printed, Thermoplastic Elastomer (Tpe) Spring Element For Use In Corrective Hand Orthotics, Kevin Thomas Richardson

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This thesis proposes an algorithm that determine the geometry of 3D-printed, custom-designed spring element bands made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for use in a wearable orthotic device to aid in the physical therapy of a human hand exhibiting spasticity after stroke. Each finger of the hand is modeled as a mechanical system consisting of a triple-rod pendulum with nonlinear stiffness at each joint and forces applied at the attachment point of each flexor muscle. The system is assumed quasi-static, which leads to a torque balance between the flexor tendons in the hand, joint stiffness and the design force applied to …

Structural And Optical Investigations Of Rbxcs1-Xh2po4, Alex D. Price

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Proton conductor solid acid electrolytes RbxCs1-xH2PO4 (0≤x≤1) have been investigated using second harmonic generation and powder x-ray diffraction. Second harmonic generation is an optical technique which can be used to study the structural properties of materials. Microscopes of this nature have the ability to image objects with a variable penetration depth in a non-destructive manner, allowing for great potential to be used for in situ observations of the electrolyte’s structure when in a fuel cell under operating conditions.

X-ray powder diffraction was carried out on the series of samples and found for values of 0≤x≤0.5 the structure of the material …

Multifunctional Operational Component For Robotic Devices, Shane M. Farritor, Amy Lehman, Mark Rentschler

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to modular medical devices, including various devices with detachable modular components and various devices with pivotally attached modular components. Additional embodiments relate to procedures in which various of the devices are used cooperatively. Certain embodiments of the medical devices are robotic in vivo devices.

Scaffold Structural Microenvironmental Cues To Guide Tissue Regeneration In Bone Tissue Applications, Xuening Chen, Hongyuan Fan, Xiaowei Deng, Lina Wu, Tao Yi, Linxia Gu, Changchun Zhou, Yujiang Fan, Xingdong Zhang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In the process of bone regeneration, new bone formation is largely affected by physico-chemical cues in the surrounding microenvironment. Tissue cells reside in a complex scaffold physiological microenvironment. The scaffold should provide certain circumstance full of structural cues to enhance multipotent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation, osteoblast growth, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and subsequent new bone formation. This article reviewed advances in fabrication technology that enable the creation of biomaterials with well-defined pore structure and surface topography, which can be sensed by host tissue cells (esp., stem cells) and subsequently determine cell fates during differentiation. Three important cues, including scaffold …

Complementary Microscopy Techniques Applied For Characterizing The Localized Nanoscale Structure Of Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride), Wen Qian, Shuo Sun, Charles Nguyen, Wenlong Li, Stephen Ducharme, Joesph A. Turner

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Poly (vinylidenefluoride) (PVDF), a well-recognized electroactive polymer, has been studied extensively over many decades. Recently, there has been increasing interest in tuning the electrical properties of PVDF from ferroelectric to piezoelectric and to pyroelectric, which can be attained via controlling the microscale structure down to the nanoscale structure [1-2]. To optimize the preparation conditions of PVDF and its copolymers, as well as to improve the performance for many applications, comprehensive analytical techniques are of great importance. In this paper, we demonstrate complementary nanoscale characterization and measurement techniques, by conducting a systematic and coordinated study involving scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high …

Tissue Stresses In Stented Coronary Arteries With Different Geometries: Effect Of The Relation Between Stent Length And Lesion Length, Xiang Shen, Song Ji, Yong-Quan Deng, Hong-Fei Zhu, Jia-Bao Jiang, Linxia Gu

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In-stent restenosis after stent deployment remains an obstruction in the long-term benefits of stenting. This study sought to investigate the influence of the relation between stent length and lesion length on the mechanics of the arterial wall with different geometries, including straight and tapered vessels. Results showed that when the length of the stent was longer than the lesion length, the maximum stress in plaque and vessel increased as the length of stent increased. When the length of the stent was shorter than the lesion length, the vessel stress induced by stent inflation was lower; both ends of the stenosis …

Experimental Measurement Of Dolphin Thrust Generated During A Tail Stand Using Dpiv, Frank E. Fish, Terrie M. Williams, Erica Sherman, Yae Eun Moon, Vicki Wu, Timothy Wei

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Estimation of force generated by dolphins has long been debated. The problem was that indirect estimates of force production for dolphins resulted in low values that could not be validated. Bubble digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) measured hydrodynamic force production for swimming dolphins and demonstrated high force production. To validate the bubble DPIV and reconcile force production measurements, two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) performing tail stands were measured with bubble DPIV. Microbubbles were generated from a finely porous hose and compressed air source. Displacement of the bubbles by the propulsive motions of the dolphin was tracked with a …

A New Approach To Multiplanar, Real-Time Simulation Of Physiological Knee Loads And Synthetic Knee Components Augmented By Local Composition Control In Fused Filament Fabrication, Joshua Taylor Green

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite numerous advances in biomedical engineering, few developments in surgical simulation have been made outside of computational models. Cadavers remain the primary media on which surgical research and simulation is conducted. Most attempts to quantify the effects of orthopedic surgical methods fail to achieve statistical significance due to limited quantities of cadaver specimen, large variations among the cadaver population, and a lack of repeatability among measurement techniques. The general purpose of the research covered in this dissertation is to develop repeatable simulation of physiological loads and develop techniques to fabricate a synthetic-based replacement of cadaver specimens. Future work applying this …

Streamlining Alloy Design And Thermo-Mechanical Processing Parameters For High Strength Line Pipe Steels And Hot Rolled Microalloyed Steels: Process - Structure - Property Paradigm, Venkata Vignesh Natarajan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The process parameters related to thermo-mechanical controlled processing (TMCP) of steels play a vital role in affecting the ultimate mechanical properties. We illustrate here the impact of coiling temperature, the impact of finish cooling temperature on interrupted cooling and compare with continuous cooling, and the impact of carbon and niobium on the microstructure and precipitation behavior and corresponding changes in mechanical properties, in an ultrahigh strength titanium-niobium microalloyed steel. The microstructural advancement was contemplated via transmission electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The goal was to underscore the impact of coiling temperature on the nature and distribution of microstructural …

Heterogeneous Integration Of Metallic, Semiconducting And Dielectric Two-Dimensional Layered Material Inks For Electronics And Sensing Device Platforms, Jay Amrish Desai

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In monolayers of two-dimensional (2-D) layered materials, the motion of electrons is confined to a 2-D plane yielding a "zero" effective thickness with regard to the electrons. These monolayers are commonly obtained by exfoliating membranes from the bulk crystal to overcome the weak interplanar Van der Waals bonding using the so-called top-down approach. The bottom-up approach is another avenue to realize these materials, where atoms and molecules coalesce together into increasingly larger assemblies for the realization of the bulk three-dimensional (3-D) crystal. The unique properties of many of these 2-D materials make them highly sought out candidates for advancing conventional …

Effects Of Air And Other Gases In The Stabilization Process Of The Superprotonic Phase Of Cesium Dihydrogen Phosphate Within A Hermetically Sealed Chamber, Israel Martinez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The solid acid CsH2PO4 (CDP), exhibits a sudden increase in its proton conductivity as it’s heated above a certain temperature (around T~235oC), which makes it a very attractive candidate to be used as an electrolyte in intermediate temperature fuel cells. Unfortunately, at these temperatures the sample is not stable, as starts to dehydrate; which causes a dramatic drop in the proton conductivity over a short period of time (less than one hour). In order to inhibit, or at least delay, the dehydration process, the solid acid it’s put under a saturated water vapor atmosphere. Another method to stabilize the highly …

Implementation Of Magnesium Alloy Az91d On Wire And Arc Additive Manufacturing, David Adrian Martinez Holguin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As progress on Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques focusing on ceramics and polymers evolve, metals continue to be a challenging material to manipulate when fabricating products. Current methods, such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) face many intrinsic limitations due to the nature of their processes. Material selection, elevated cost and low deposition rates are some of the barriers to consider when one of these methods is to be used for the fabrication of engineering products. The research here presented demonstrates the use of a Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) system for the creation of metallic …

Magnetic And Catalytic Properties Of Transition Metal Doped Mos2 Nanocrystals, Luis Martinez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Magnetism and catalytic activity of nanoscale layered two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have gained an increasing research interest in the recent past. To broaden the current knowledge and understanding on this subject, in this work, together with my collaborators, I study the magnetic and electrocatalytic properties of hydrothermally grown pristine and transition metal doped (10% of Co, Ni, Fe and Mn) 2H-MoS2 nanosheets/nanocrystals (NCs), with the particle size of 25-30 nm. A broad range of experimental measurements such as x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photo absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, magnetic, catalytic and electron spin resonance have been employed …

Solvent And Concentration Effects Governing The Hierarchical Organization Of Asphaltenes: A Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Study, Hasan Rejoanur Rahman

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Asphaltenes are a group of planar molecules found in crude oil and are prone to aggregation which often causes blockage of pipes along the oil production stream resulting a huge economic downside. In an effort to understand the hierarchical organization of asphaltene in different solvents and concentrations, the solution structure of various asphaltene solutions were studied using small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Solvents were chosen based on miscibility maps. Such maps are generated on the critical value of the solubility parameter difference between asphaltenes or asphaltene components, and a range of solvents. The critical factors that affect asphaltene and asphaltene component …

Tribological Characterization Of Ti-Based Alloys For Biomedical Applications In Simulated Body Fluid, Edgar Reyes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tribology is a terminology introduced in the 1960's and it is a study that relates to the investigation of the damage of materials. Titanium, as a material used for a wide range of application, it has been brought to the attention of researchers some characteristics such as its much lower density if compared to steel, its capability as an alloying agent with an amount of metals to enhance physical and mechanical properties, to name just a few characteristics. This paper will discuss the performance on tribology behavior in two different Titanium alloys. These Titanium alloys are Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64), and Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn …

Tungsten Doping Induced Superior Mechanical Properties Of Hafnium Oxide For Energy Applications, Ann Marie Uribe

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hafnium oxide, or hafnia, is a high temperature refractory material with good electrical, chemical, optical, and thermodynamic properties. The effects of dopants have been widely studied, especially after the discovery of ferroelectricity induced in hafnia thin films. While attractive and used in the opto-electronic, memory devices, and semiconductor industries, there is a lack in the literature on enhancing the mechanical properties of hafnium oxide, specifically through doping it with tungsten, another material of interest particularly for future high temperature device applications. Thus, this work aimed to grow hafnia thin films doped with varying amounts of tungsten. The samples were grown …