Topology optimization of flexure hinges with a prescribed compliance matrix based on the adaptive spring model and stress constraint

This paper focuses on the configuration design of flexure hinges with a prescribed compliance matrix and preset rotational center position. A new method for the topology optimization of flexure hinges is proposed based on the adaptive spring model and stress constraint. The hinge optimization model is formulated by maximizing the bending displacement with a spring while optimizing the compliance matrix to a prescribed value. To avoid numerical instability, an artificial spring is used as an auxiliary calculation, and a new strategy is developed for adaptively adjusting the spring stiffness according to the prescribed compliance matrix. The maximum stress of flexure hinge is limited by using a normalized P-norm of the effective von Mises stress, and a position constraint of rotational center is proposed to predetermine the position of the rotational center. In addition, to reduce the error of the stress measurement, a simple but effective filtering method is presented to obtain a complete black-and-white design. Numerical examples are used to verify the proposed method. Topology results show that the obtained flexure hinges have the prescribed compliance matrix and preset rotational center position while also meeting the stress requirements.     

Enhancement of Flexural Design of Horizontally Curved Prestressed Bridges

In this paper, flexural behavior of horizontally curved prestressed (posttensioned) box bridges is studied by using three-dimensional and refined finite-element modeling and analysis. Bridge length, section geometry, and material properties are the same in all the models, while angle of curvature varies from 0 to 90°. The results of analysis show that in curved bridges, stress distribution is significantly different in comparison to straight bridges. Also, the level of stresses at some locations of section width is considerably high. It is proposed to vary the distribution of the prestressing tendons across section width in order to optimize the bridge capacity. Results show that by proper redistribution of prestressing in section width, significant reduction in resultant stress is possible.     

Analytical model of displacement amplification and stiffness optimization for a class of flexure-based compliant mechanisms

The paper formulates an analytical method for displacement and stiffness calculations of planar compliant mechanisms with single-axis flexure hinges. The procedure is based on the strain energy and Castigliano’s displacement theorem and produces closed-form equations that incorporate the compliances characterizing any analytically-defined hinge, together with the other geometric and material properties of the compliant mechanism. Displacement amplification, input stiffness and output stiffness calculations can simply be performed for any serial compliant mechanism. The class of amplifying compliant mechanisms that contain symmetric corner-filleted or circular flexure hinges is specifically addressed here. A parametric study of the mechanism performance is performed, based on the mathematical model, and an optimization procedure is proposed, based on Lagrange’s multipliers and Kuhn-Tucker conditions, which identifies the design vector that maximizes the performance of these flexure-based compliant mechanisms. Independent finite element simulation confirms the analytical model predictions.     

Ductility of FRP plated flexural members

The design of reinforced concrete (RC) flexural members such as beams, slabs and columns is intrinsically based on the inherent ductility of the member. In reinforced concrete beams and slabs, ductility is generally achieved by using ‘under-reinforced’ sections and generally governed by the neutral axis depth parameter k_u which requires ultimate failure by concrete crushing at a specified strain ε_c. As the plates of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) plated RC beams can fracture or debond before the concrete crushes at ε_c, the k_u approach is not directly applicable. Hence, new fundamental approaches and a deeper understanding of ductility are required which are the subjects of this paper.     

柔性铰链微操作机构的误差源分析

深入分析了微操作机构的各种误差源机理及作用规律 ,提出了减小微操作机构误差、提高操作精度的措施 ,为高精密的柔性微操作机构设计、加工及装配提供了理论依据 ,也为进行精度测试及实现控制算法打下基础     

Modeling and analysis of an over-constrained flexure-based compliant mechanism

Bridge-type micro-displacement amplifier with flexure hinges is a classic displacement amplification mechanism. Existing theoretic models cannot predict its amplification ratio and input stiffness accurately and make it very difficult to confirm the amplifier’s performance and error compensation by means of these models, which is very significant in ultra-precision positioning. This paper focuses on the development of design equations that can accurately calculate the ideal displacement amplification ratio and input stiffness of the amplifier based on the thought of statically indeterminate structure. Force Method, Maxwell–Mohr Method, principle of superposition and deformation compatibility are used together to establish uncanonical linear homogeneous equations. The analytical results are verified by FEA simulations. The influence of the geometric parameters on the amplifier performance is investigated. It is noted that amplifier performance is more sensitive to the longitudinal distance of flexure hinges. Besides, two same-sized amplifiers with the opposite output directions can be clearly differentiated by these equations.     

Development of a high speed and precision wire clamp with both position and force regulations

This paper presents the mechanism and robust control of a monolithic wire clamp to achieve fast and precision operations for strong and robust micro device packaging. The wire clamp is piezoelectrically actuated and a two-stage flexure-based amplification was designed to obtain large and parallel jaw displacements. The grasping forces of the wire clamp were evaluated based on finite element analysis (FEA), and the force measurement was presented. The wire clamp was manufactured using wire EDM technique and the position and force transfer functions were obtained based on the frequency response approach. The position/force switching control strategy was employed to regulate the motion position and grasping force, and the position/force switching controller composed of a PID controller for position control and a sliding model controller (SMC) for force control was designed. Experimental tests were carried out to investigate the performance of wire clamp with the position/force switching controller during the grasping and releasing operations. The results show that the wire clamp exhibits good performance and demonstrate that high speed and precision grasping operations can be realized through the developed wire clamp and the control strategy.     

Fracture toughness testing of small ceramic discs and plates

A new fracture toughness test for discs and plates is presented, which can be applied to small specimens (>5 mm diameter). A semi-elliptical surface crack is made into the centre of the top plane using a Knoop intender. Then the layer containing the plastically deformed zone is ground off and the crack is loaded in tension using the Ball-on-3-Balls test.Applied to five different ceramic materials the results gained with the new method agree well with those of standardised methods.     

AutoCAD ActiveX在圆管带式输送机弯曲段桁架的设计应用

系统地总结分析了圆管带式输送机线路布置的弯曲形式,并着重讨论了利用AutoCAD ActiveX技术来完成转弯段六边形托辊组桁架的设计。