Investigation of the Damping Capacity of CFRP Raft Frames

In this paper, based on the composite laminated plate theory and a strain energy model, the damping capacity of a Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) raft frame was studied. According to the finite element analysis (FEA) and damping ratio prediction model, the influences of different layups on the damping capacity of the raft frame and its components (top/bottom plate and I-support) were discussed. Comparing the FEA results with the test results, it can be figured out that the CFRP laminate layup has a great influence on the damping ratio of the raft frame, and the maximum error of the first-order natural frequency and damping ratio of the top/bottom plate were 5.6% and 15.1%, respectively. The maximum error of the first-order natural frequency of the I-support between the FEA result and the test result was 7.5%, suggesting that because of the stress concentration, the error of the damping ratio was relatively large. As for the raft frame, the damping performance was affected by the I-support arrangement and the simulation analysis was in good agreement with the experimental results. This study can provide a useful reference for improving the damping performance of CFRP raft frames.

Evaluation of the Lateral Vibration Response of Footbridges under Uncertainty Conditions

<p>The evaluation of the vibration performance of footbridges due to walking pedestrians is an issue of increasing importance in current footbridge design practice. The growing trend of slender footbridges with long spans and light materials has led to serviceability problems in lateral vibrations, which occur when the number of pedestrians reaches a “critical number”. Considering the mode of vibration in which the lateral instability is more likely to develop, the structural response depends on the modal characteristics of the footbridge; in particular, the natural frequency and the damping ratio. These modal parameters are stochastic variables, as it is not possible to determine them without a level of uncertainty. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to obtain the value of the lateral dynamic response of slender footbridges with a certain confidence level under uncertainty conditions. The uncertainties of those modal parameters are considered using a probabilistic approach. Both the natural frequency and the damping ratio are modelled as uncorrelated random variables that follow a predetermined probabilistic distribution function. Consequently, the structural response will also be described by a probabilistic distribution function, which can be estimated through Monte Carlo numerical simulations. As a result, the study allows the footbridge lateral response and the critical number of pedestrians to be calculated for different confidence levels and load scenarios, especially for crowd densities above the “critical number”.</p>

Multiobjective Design Optimization of Reentrant Auxetic Model Using Lichtenberg Algorithm Based on Metamodel

The optimization of five different responses of an auxetic model was considered: mass; critical buckling load under compression effort; natural frequency; Poisson’s ratio; and failure load. The Response Surface Methodology was applied, and a new meta-heuristic of optimization called the Multi-Objective Lichtenberg Algorithm was used to find the optimized configuration of the model. It was possible to increase the failure load by 26,75% in compression performance optimization. Furthermore, in the optimization of modal performance, it was possible to increase the natural frequency by 37.43%. Finally, all 5 responses analyzed simultaneously were optimized. In this case, it was possible to increase the critical buckling load by 42.55%, the failure load by 28.70% and reduce the mass and Poisson’s ratio by 15.97% and 11%, respectively. This paper shows something unprecedented in the literature to date when evaluating in a multi-objective optimization problem, the compression and modal performance of an auxetic reentrant model.

Beam Damage Assessment Using Natural Frequency Shift and Machine Learning

Damage detection based on modal parameter changes becomes popular in the last decades. Nowadays are available robust and reliable mathematical relations to predict the natural frequency changes if damage parameters are known. Using these relations, it is possible to create databases containing a large variety of damage scenarios. Damage can be thus assessed by applying an inverse method. The problem is the complexity of the database, especially for structures with more cracks. In this paper, we propose two machine learning methods, namely the random forest (RF) and the artificial neural network (ANN) as search tools. The databases we developed contain damage scenarios for a prismatic cantilever beam with one crack and ideal and non-ideal boundary conditions. The crack assessment is made in two steps. First, a coarse damage location is found from the networks trained for scenarios comprising the whole beam. Afterward, the assessment is made involving a particular network trained for the segment of the beam on which the crack is previously found. Using the two machine learning methods, we succeed to estimate the crack location and severity with high accuracy for both simulation and laboratory experiments. Regarding the location of the crack, which is the main goal of the practitioners, the errors are less than 0.6%. Based on these achievements, we concluded that the damage assessment we propose, in conjunction with the machine learning methods, is robust and reliable.

A Large Range Compliant Nano-Manipulator Supporting Electron Beam Lithography

Electron beam lithography (EBL) is an important lithographic process of scanning a focused electron beam (e-beam) to direct write a custom pattern with nanometric accuracy. Due to the very limited field of the focused election beam, a motion stage is needed to move the sample to the e-beam field for processing large patterns. In order to eliminate the stitching error induced by the existing “step and scan” process, we in this paper propose a large range compliant nano-manipulator so that the manipulator and the election beam can be moved in a simultaneous manner. We also present an optimization design for the geometric parameters of the compliant manipulator under the vacuum environment. Experimental results demonstrate 1 mm × 1 mm travel range with high linearity, ~ 0.5% cross-axis error and 5 nm resolution. Moreover, the high natural frequency (~ 56 Hz) of the manipulator facilitates it to achieve high-precision motion of EBL.

Grey relation analysis of natural frequency and semi-active robust optimal control of a multi-dimensional isolator based on parallel mechanism and magneto-rheological damper

For isolating multi-dimensional vibrations experienced by precise facilities carried on a vehicle, a novel isolator is proposed based on 2-RPC/2-SPC parallel mechanism with magneto-rheological dampers. Kinematics and dynamics of the isolator are analyzed by geometrics and the Lagrange method. Grey relation analysis approach is conducted to determine the contributions of geometric parameters on natural frequency conveniently. Through analysis, the first order natural frequency of the isolator is affected by the length of the fixed platform most significantly. Due to manufacturing and assembling errors which could not be avoided in the isolator, robust optimal control algorithm is conducted to ensure control effect and robustness of the isolator at the same time. The gain of robust optimal control algorithm is obtained by deducing and solving linear matrix inequality. Compared to passive control, velocity root mean square values of robust optimal semi-active control decreased obviously in horizontal, longitudinal, vertical, and roll directions.

Vibration and Sound Response of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide 6 Using Microcellular-Foaming-Process-Applied Injection Molding Process

In this study, the vibration and sound response characteristics of composites produced via injection molding applied with a microcellular foaming process (MCPs) were improved. The study was conducted using PA6 and glass fiber composites, which are representative thermoplastic engineering plastics. Two types of specimens were used: a plate specimen to confirm the basic sound and vibration characteristics, and a large roof-rack specimen from an actual vehicle with a complex shape. The frequency response function curve was calculated by conducting an impact test, and natural frequency and damping ratio were measured based on the curve. The results confirmed that, in the case of a specimen manufactured through the injection molding process to which MCPs were applied, the natural frequency was lowered, and the damping ratio decreased. The degree of change in the natural frequency and damping ratio was confirmed. To determine the cause of the change in the natural frequency and damping ratio, the mode shape at the natural frequency of each specimen was measured and the relationship was confirmed by measuring the density and the elastic modulus of the composite. In addition, the usability of the specimens to which MCPs were applied was verified by conducting impact strength and tensile strength tests.