Frequency–Amplitude Relationship of a Nonlinear Symmetric Panel Absorber Mounted on a Flexible Wall

This study addresses the frequency–amplitude relationship of a nonlinear symmetric panel absorber mounted on a flexible wall. In many structural–acoustic works, only one flexible panel is considered in their models with symmetric configuration. There are very limited research investigations that focus on two flexible panels coupled with a cavity, particularly for nonlinear structural–acoustic problems. In practice, panel absorbers with symmetric configurations are common and usually mounted on a flexible wall. Thus, it should not be assumed that the wall is rigid. This study is the first work employing the weighted residual elliptic integral method for solving this problem, which involves the nonlinear multi-mode governing equations of two flexible panels coupled with a cavity. The reason for adopting the proposed solution method is that fewer nonlinear algebraic equations are generated. The results obtained from the proposed method and finite element method agree reasonably well with each other. The effects of some parameters such as vibration amplitude, cavity depth and thickness ratio, etc. are also investigated.

A Novel Two-Stage Constant Force Compliant Microgripper

The manipulating objects of the micron scale are easily damaged, hence the microgrippers, the key components in micro manipulating systems, demand precise force control, plus miniaturized size. Consequently, the constant force microgrippers, generally lack the ability to fit different sizes. To avoid the overload damage, apply multi-size microparts and simplify the control method, a novel two-stage compliant constant force microgripper is proposed in this paper. Based on the negative stiffness effect, this gripper is connected in parallel with a two-stage negative stiffness module and a positive stiffness module. Then, the elliptic integral method and the pseudo-rigid-body method are both employed to derive the kinetostatic and dynamic performances. Finally, the analytical results are validated. It is observed that two-stage constant forces of 1.33 N in 305.6 μm and 1.11 N in 330.8 μm are acquired.

Closed-Form Elliptic Integral Solution of Initially-Straight and Initially-Curved Small-Length Flexural Pivots

Compliant mechanisms gain some or all of their mobility from the deflection of their flexible members. The pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) concept allows compliant mechanisms to be modeled using existing knowledge of rigid-body mechanisms, thereby, simplifying the design process. A pseudo-rigid-body model represents a compliant segment with two or more rigid-body segments, connected by pin joints or characteristic pivots. A compliant segment that is small in length, compared to the relatively rigid segments between which it is affixed, is termed a small-length flexural pivot (SLFP). This paper presents closed-form deflection solutions using the elliptic integral method for initially-straight and initially-curved SLFPs. The assumptions made in modeling the small-length flexural pivots in a PRBM are validated by means of the elliptic integral solutions.