Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Control-Oriented Nonlinear Modeling Of Polyvinyl Chloride (Pvc) Gel Actuators, Mohammed Al-Rubaiai, Xinda Qi, Zachary Frank, Ryohei Tsuruta, Umesh Gandhi, Kwang J. Kim, Xiaobo Tan May 2021

Control-Oriented Nonlinear Modeling Of Polyvinyl Chloride (Pvc) Gel Actuators, Mohammed Al-Rubaiai, Xinda Qi, Zachary Frank, Ryohei Tsuruta, Umesh Gandhi, Kwang J. Kim, Xiaobo Tan

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel-based actuators are a new class of soft, electroactive polymer actuators with several attractive properties, including low cost, large compliance, large strain output, high-stress output, fast response, and stability against thermal influence. While PVC gel actuators are quickly gaining attention, they remain largely unexplored despite their great potential in a long list of applications compared with many other smart material actuators. In particular, little work has been reported on modeling nonlinear dynamics of PVC actuators. In this work a nonlinear, control-oriented Hammerstein model, with a polynomial nonlinearity preceding a transfer function, is proposed to capture the amplitude-dependent …


Effect Of Heat Treatment On Microstructure And Hardness Of A Worn Rail Repaired Using Laser Powder Deposition, Ershad Mortazavian, Zhiyong Wang, Hualiang Teng Jan 2021

Effect Of Heat Treatment On Microstructure And Hardness Of A Worn Rail Repaired Using Laser Powder Deposition, Ershad Mortazavian, Zhiyong Wang, Hualiang Teng

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

The frequent replacement of worn rails on tracks brings an immense economic burden on the railroad industry, and also causes significant interruptions to railroad operation. Restoration of worn rails via laser powder deposition (LPD) can considerably reduce the associated maintenance costs. This study was focused on the use of LPD to repair the worn profile of a standard U.S. rail. The microstructure of the 304L stainless steel deposits with a minimum hardness of 85 HRB was composed of austenite, δ-ferrite, and sigma. Micropores were dispersed throughout the deposit, and microcracks were found at the rail-deposition interface. The pearlitic rail substrate …