Adaptronics – Smart Structures and Materials


Book Description

Since the 1980s, scientists have been researching adaptive structures for materials, for multifunctional elements or even for complete systems. Adaptronics (smart materials, smart structures, smart systems) is a field of distinct interdisciplinarity. The book therefore offers an interdisciplinary view of adaptronic systems, materials and functional elements and their applications. The subject matter integrates various engineering disciplines, from electrical engineering and information technology to manufacturing and control engineering, materials engineering and structural mechanics - to name but a few of the relevant subject areas. Starting from the basic principles and variants of adaptronic systems and functional materials, the textbook explains the different construction methods of functional elements. Building on this, readers learn how to apply this knowledge to active shape control, active vibration control and active vibroacoustics. For each of these topics the author presents current examples from research, discusses research results and future research questions. Each of the nine chapters closes with references to further literature. An index of the mathematical symbols used and a keyword index facilitate learning for readers.The book is aimed at Master's students in engineering courses such as mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechatronics, automotive engineering and related courses. The book provides a comprehensive overview for industrial practitioners who want to familiarize themselves with the field of adaptronics and also serves as a reliable reference book.




Adaptronics and Smart Structures


Book Description

Adaptronics is the term encompassing technical fields that have become known internationally under the names "smart materials", "intelligent structures", and "smart structures". Adaptronics contributes to the optimisation of systems and products. It bridges the gap between material and system or product, and incorporates the search for multi-functional materials and elements and their integration in systems or structures. The authors of this book have taken on the task of displaying the current state of the art in this fascinating field. The system components, actuators, sensors and controllers, technical fundamentals, materials, design rules and practical solutions are all described. Selected sample applications are also presented and current development trends are demonstrated.




Smart Structures


Book Description

A structure is an assembly that serves an engineering function. A smart structure is one that serves this function smartly, i.e. by responding adaptively in a pre-designed useful and efficient manner to changing environmental conditions. Adaptive behaviour of one or more materials constituting a smart structure requires nonlinear response. This book describes the three main types of nonlinear-response materials: ferroic materials, soft materials, and nanostructured materials. Information processing by biological and artificial smart structures is also discussed. A smart structure typically has sensors, actuators, and a control system. Progress in all these aspects of smart structures has leant heavily on mimicking Nature, and the all-important notion in this context has been that of evolution. Artificial Darwinian and Lamarckian evolution holds the key to the development of truly smart structures. Modestly intelligent robots are already on the horizon. Projections about the low-cost availability of adequate computing power and memory size indicate that the future really belongs to smart structures. This book covers in a compact format the entire gamut of concepts relevant to smart structures. It should be of interest to a wide range of students and professionals in science and engineering.




Advances in Ergonomics in Design


Book Description

This book provides readers with a timely snapshot of ergonomics research and methods applied to the design, development and prototyping – as well as the evaluation, training and manufacturing – of products, systems and services. Combining theoretical contributions, case studies, and reports on technical interventions, it covers a wide range of topics in ergonomic design including: ecological design; educational and game design; cultural and ethical aspects in design; user research and human–computer interaction in design; as well as design for accessibility and extreme environments, and many others. The book places special emphasis on new technologies such as virtual reality, state-of-the-art methodologies in information design, and human–computer interfaces. Based on the AHFE 2017 International Conference on Ergonomics in Design, held on July 17–21, 2017, in Los Angeles, California, USA, the book offers a timely guide for both researchers and design practitioners, including industrial designers, human–computer interaction and user experience researchers, production engineers and applied psychologists.













Actuators


Book Description

Authored by a team of acknowledged experts, this book presents a multidisciplinary view of the state of the art in the field of actuators. The goal of the book is to provide a comprehensive overview of the properties, applications, and potential applications of traditional and unconventional actuators, together with their corresponding power electronics. Special attention is paid to the objective assessment of competing actuator principles. The book is written primarily for designers and engineers in research and development, but will also be valuable as a textbook for students of automation engineering, mechatronics and adaptronics.




Modeling, Control and Implementation of Smart Structures


Book Description

This book presents an overview over smart structures - its concepts, its active involvement in the vibration control, their applications and the extensive research work done.




Smart Materials in Additive Manufacturing, volume 2: 4D Printing Mechanics, Modeling, and Advanced Engineering Applications


Book Description

Smart Materials in Additive Manufacturing, Volume 2 covers the mechanics, modeling, and applications of the technology and the materials produced by it. It approaches the topic from an engineering design perspective with cutting-edge modeling techniques and real-world applications and case studies highlighted throughout. The book demonstrates 4D printing techniques for electro-induced shape memory polymers, pneumatic soft actuators, textiles, and more. Modeling techniques with ABAQUS and machine learning are outlined, as are manufacturing techniques for highly elastic skin, tunable RF and wireless structures and modules, and 4D printed structures with tunable mechanical properties. Closed-loop control of 4D printed hydrogel soft robots, hierarchical motion of 4D printed structures using the temperature memory effect, multimaterials 4D printing using a grasshopper plugin, shape reversible 4D printing, and variable stiffness 4D printing are each discussed as well. - Outlines cutting-edge techniques, structural design, modeling, simulation, and tools for application-based 4D printing - Details design, modeling, simulation, and manufacturing considerations for various fields - Includes case studies demonstrating real-world situations where the techniques and concepts discussed were successfully deployed - Applications covered include textiles, soft robotics, auxetics and metamaterials, micromachines, sensors, bioprinting, and wireless devices - Covers the mechanics, manufacturing processes and applications of 4D-printed smart materials and structures - Discusses applications in civil, mechanical, aerospace, polymer and biomedical engineering - Presents experimental, numerical and analytical studies in a simple and straightforward manner, providing tools that can be immediately implemented and adapted by readers to fit their work