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In this paper, an innovative flexible sandwich structure is introduced which can be used in shape changing (morphing) aircrafts that adapt their external shape to different flight conditions. First, different ideas for achieving smart aircraft in the literature is briefly reviewed and then characteristics of the new deformable sandwich structure as well as its different features in comparison to other proposed structures are described. Moreover, fabrication details of deformable and load bearable sandwich panel are explained. In an aircraft with variable camber wings, deformable sections can be supposed as a cantilever beam. As a result some specimens of new deformable sandwich structure are constructed and then tested as end-loaded beams. Since the numerical study of the new proposed structure requires an understanding of the mechanical behavior of components used, a comprehensive study about the mechanical behavior of individual components of structure is conducted. According to the observation of broken samples, a distribution of cavities resulting from the manufacturing process is supposed in one type of model to obtain more accurate numerical results. Finally, another example is analyzed with the same assumptions and it is shown that in the second example, the numerical results are close to the experimental data.

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In this paper, employing a thermomechanical constitutive model for shape memory polymers (SMP), a beam element made of SMPs is presented based on the kinematic assumptions of Timoshenko beam theory. Considering the low stiffness of SMPs, the necessity for developing a Timoshenko beam element becomes more prominent. This is due to the fact that relatively thicker beams are required in the design procedure of smart structures. Furthermore, in the design and optimization process of these structures which involves a large number of simulations, we cannot rely only on the time consuming 3D finite element (FE) analyses. In order to properly validate the developed formulations, the numeric results of the present work are compared with those of 3D finite element results of the same authors, previously available in the literature. The parametric study on the material parameters e.g., hard segment volume fraction, viscosity coefficient of different phases, and the external force applied on the structure (during the recovery stage) are conducted on the thermomechanical response of a short I-shape SMP beam. For instance, the maximum beam deflection error in one of the studied examples for the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory is 7.3%, while for the Timoshenko beam theory, is 1.5% with respect to the 3D FE solution. It is noted that for thicker or shorter beams, the error of the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory even more increases. The proposed beam element in this work, could be a fast and reliable tool for modeling 3D computationally expensive simulations.

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Many people suffering from neuromuscular diseases, have some degree of limitations in their walking pattern. Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (KAFOs) help correct patients’ gait pattern by supporting knee and ankle joints. Patients with quadriceps muscle weakness suffer from some restrictions in extension as well as in controlling their flexion during the gait cycle because of abnormal stiffness pattern of the knee joint. This paper addresses patients with quadriceps muscle weakness by designing an appropriate orthosis utilizing two different mechanisms for the stance and swing phases. Stance phase mechanism locks knee joint movement from the initial-contact up to the end of mid-swing phase and with regards to the orientation of the foot after mid-stance phase, the knee joint can flex freely. The required moment to reproduce the stiffness of a normal knee joint is calculated using the OpenSim software package in conjunction with the data collected from the motion analysis of each patient.
The required moment to modify the stiffness of the knee joint for two patients with different levels of muscle weakness was reproduced using a torsional spring. By designing patient-specific orthosis, the stiffness profile of normal joint for each patient with distinct level of muscle weakness can be reproduced, allowing patients to experience smother gait cycle. Using this orthosis not only improves the patient’s gait cycle but also prevents potential damage to healthy muscles.

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In this work, torsional modeling and experimental characterization of a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) rod is investigated. Experimental tests of previous studies proved that different direction of loading is effective on torque-angle response of a rod. Accordingly, using improved Brinson’s model and converting it to a torsional model and referring a twist deformation in the clockwise direction to a positive twist and a twist deformation in the counter clockwise direction to a negative twist, the asymmetry effect on the rod is investigated. Assuming a linear strain through the cross section and then finding stresses, using the asymmetric Brinson model, and integrating the stresses through the cross section the torque-angle response of the rod is presented, by using a numerical procedure. The parameters for Brinson model, including phase transformation temperatures, are derived from experimental tests and there is more than 95% agreement between the present model and experimental test. Regarding the results, a verification for the derived parameters is presented and a parametric study on SMA rod is considered. The average error of asymmetric and symmetric models with respect to the experimental tests are 5% and 15% respectively. Moreover, hysteresis inner loops are studied and asymmetric model is compared to the experimental tests. The results show good agreement of the asymmetric model when compared to experimental tests.

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In this paper, a sandwich beam of a SMP material which have a corrugated core is studied. The corrugated core is from a polymeric material. Structures with corrugated profiles show higher stiffness-to-mass ratio in the transverse to corrugation direction compared to flat structures. As a result, the beam with corrugation along the transverse direction is stiffer than the one with corrugation along the beam length. The flexural behavior of the composite corrugated beam is studied employing a developed constitutive model for SMP and the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The constitutive model utilized is in integral form and is discretized employing finite difference scheme. To verify the results of the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and finite difference method, finite element models of different corrugated sections have been simulated in a 3D finite element program. The results demonstrate that the developed model for the composite beam presented in this study predicts the behavior of the beam successfully. The sandwich beam with different corrugated cores (triangular, sinusoidal and trapezoidal shapes) are compared with each other. Also, results show that the shape fixity is decreased a little, like any other reinforcing method. This decrease in shape fixity results in increase of load capacity in composite beams. The stress-free strain recovery and constrained stress-recovery cycles are both studied.

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In this research, using a thermomechanical constitutive model for shape memory polymers and employing the von Kármán theory, a finite element analysis of a shape memory polymer beam is presented. The importance of introducing the von Kármán theory for shape memory polymers is that the beam can have relatively high slopes during loading. Also, for optimization and designing processes we need to solve multiple problems and due to the high processing time the use of 3D model is not suitable. To validate the presented formulations, the reported results are compared with the 3D solution which was previously reported by the same authors. Accordingly, the effect of the hard segment volume on response of a thin beam has been investigated, and the results of the von Kármán beam have been reported and compared with the 3D and Euler-Bernoulli solutions. As an example, the error of the beam response in one of the solved examples is 27% for Euler-Bernoulli beam and 1% for the von Kármán solution compared to the three-dimensional solution. In general, the lower the beam thickness or the beam is longer, the Euler-Bernoulli beam error will be higher. The proposed finite element model can provide a reliable alternative response comparing to 3D modeling that requires a lot of processing time, and can be used for geometry and material parametric study.

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In this research, processing and 3D printing of PETG-ABS- Fe 3 O 4  nanocomposites reinforced with iron oxide nanoparticles in three different weight percentages of iron oxide nanoparticles with PETG70-ABS30 polymer matrix was done. This research was carried out with the aim of strengthening the shape memory properties, thermal properties, mechanical properties and adding the ability to indirectly stimulate the background matrix through the addition of iron oxide nanoparticles. SEM images confirmed that the mixture of PETG-ABS is immiscible and adding nanoparticles does not change the compatibility and miscibility of the base polymer, and this result is consistent with the DMTA analysis was also checked and confirmed. With increasing amount of iron oxide, the tensile strength and elongation decrease, and this decrease in mechanical properties is more pronounced in the sample of 20% by weight of iron oxide compared to the sample of 10% by weight. Nevertheless, the final strength of the samples is around 25 to 32 MPa, which indicates a suitable and acceptable distribution of nanoparticles up to 15% by weight in the polymer field. By increasing the amount of iron oxide nanoparticles, the amount of shape recovery increases and the nanocomposites containing 10, 15 and 20% by weight show shape recovery of 63.77%, 88.48 and 93.33%, respectively.

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Smart materials can react to environmental changes like living organisms and adapt themselves to environmental conditions and changes such as changes in temperature, electric current, magnetic field, light, humidity, etc. Using 3D printing to process smart materials is a new approach known as 4D printing. In this research, processing, manufacturing and 3D printing of PETG-ABS in three weight percentages of 70/30, 50/50 and 30/70 were done. The results of SEM also confirmed the compatibility of these two polymers. In all PETG-ABS mixtures, a combination of sea-island and drop-matrix morphology was observed, and for the 30/70 and 30/70 blends, phase droplets dispersed in the matrix were clearly observed. The results of mechanical properties also showed that as the percentage of ABS in the mixture increases, the tensile strength increases and the elongation decreases. The results obtained from the shape memory test indicate the existence of the ability to program the shape memory property in 4D printing mixtures. As expected, the increase in the weight percentage of ABS was associated with the disorder in the recovery of the mixtures, so the mixture with 70% by weight of PETG and 30% by weight of ABS showed the most favorable shape memory properties.