Neuronal growth, extension, branching, and formation of neural networks are markedly influenced by the extracellular matrix—a complex network composed of proteins and carbohydrates secreted by cells. In addition to p...Neuronal growth, extension, branching, and formation of neural networks are markedly influenced by the extracellular matrix—a complex network composed of proteins and carbohydrates secreted by cells. In addition to providing physical support for cells, the extracellular matrix also conveys critical mechanical stiffness cues. During the development of the nervous system, extracellular matrix stiffness plays a central role in guiding neuronal growth, particularly in the context of axonal extension, which is crucial for the formation of neural networks. In neural tissue engineering, manipulation of biomaterial stiffness is a promising strategy to provide a permissive environment for the repair and regeneration of injured nervous tissue. Recent research has fine-tuned synthetic biomaterials to fabricate scaffolds that closely replicate the stiffness profiles observed in the nervous system. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular matrix stiffness regulates axonal growth and regeneration. We highlight the progress made in the development of stiffness-tunable biomaterials to emulate in vivo extracellular matrix environments, with an emphasis on their application in neural repair and regeneration, along with a discussion of the current limitations and future prospects. The exploration and optimization of the stiffness-tunable biomaterials has the potential to markedly advance the development of neural tissue engineering.展开更多
Fault activation has been the focus of research community for years.However,the studies of fault activation remain immature,such as the fault activation mode and its major factors under constant normal stiffness(CNS)c...Fault activation has been the focus of research community for years.However,the studies of fault activation remain immature,such as the fault activation mode and its major factors under constant normal stiffness(CNS)conditions associated with large thickness of fault surrounding rock mass.In this study,the rock friction experiments were conducted to understand the fault activation modes under the CNS conditions.Two major parameters,i.e.the initial normal stress and loading rate,were considered and calibrated in the tests.To reveal the response mechanism of fault activation,the local strains near the fault plane were recorded,and the macroscopic stresses and displacements were analyzed.The testing results show that the effect of displacement-controlled loading rate is more pronounced under the CNS conditions than that under constant normal load(CNL)conditions.Both the normal and shear stresses drop suddenly when the stick-slip occurs.The decrease and increase of the normal stress are synchronous with the shear stress in the regular stick-slip scenario,but mismatch with the shear stress during the chaotic stick-slip process.The results are helpful for understanding the fault sliding mode and the prediction and prevention of fault slip.展开更多
An analytical method is proposed with the “stiffness gradient of the response” as a sensitivity metric, and the relationships between the vibration responses and stiffness changes are established. First, a 2-degree-...An analytical method is proposed with the “stiffness gradient of the response” as a sensitivity metric, and the relationships between the vibration responses and stiffness changes are established. First, a 2-degree-of-freedom (DOF) system is used as an example to propose a stiffness gradient-based evaluation method, taking the effective control bandwidth ratio as a metric of effectiveness. The results show that there is an optimal mass ratio in both variable mass and variable stiffness cases. Then, a typical 16-DOF system is used to investigate the frequency domain characteristics of the stiffness gradient values in the complex system. The distributions of stiffness gradient values show multiple peak intervals corresponding to the sensitive regions for vibration control. By assigning random mass parameters, a significant exponential decay relationship between the subsystem’s mass and effective control is identified, emphasizing the importance of the optimal mass ratio. The finite-element simulation results of solid plate models with springs and oscillators further validate the theoretical results. In short, the gradient value of stiffness effectively quantifies the effects of subsystems on vibration control, providing an analytical tool for active control in complex systems. The identified exponential decay relationship offers meaningful guidance for implementation strategies.展开更多
Quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)isolators have received considerable attention over the past years due to their outstanding vibration isolation performance in low-frequency bands.However,traditional mechanisms for achieving ...Quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)isolators have received considerable attention over the past years due to their outstanding vibration isolation performance in low-frequency bands.However,traditional mechanisms for achieving QZS suffer from low stiffness regions and significant nonlinear restoring forces with hardening characteristics,often struggling to withstand excitations with high amplitude.This paper presents a novel QZS vibration isolator that utilizes a more compact spring-rod mechanism(SRM)to provide primary negative stiffness.The nonlinearity of SRM is adjustable via altering the raceway of its spring-rod end,along with the compensatory force provided by the cam-roller mechanism so as to avoid complex nonlinear behaviors.The absolute zero stiffness can be achieved by a well-designed raceway curve with a concise mathematical expression.The nonlinear stiffness with softening properties can also be achieved by parameter adjustment.The study begins with the forcedisplacement relationship of the integrated mechanism first,followed by the design theory of the cam profile.The dynamic response and absolute displacement transmissibility of the isolation system are obtained based on the harmonic balance method.The experimental results show that the proposed vibration isolator maintains relatively low-dynamic stiffness even under non-ideal conditions,and exhibits enhanced vibration isolation performance compared to the corresponding linear isolator.展开更多
BACKGROUND The hepatic venous pressure gradient serves as a crucial parameter for assessing portal hypertension and predicting clinical decompensation in individuals with cirrhosis.However,owing to its invasive nature...BACKGROUND The hepatic venous pressure gradient serves as a crucial parameter for assessing portal hypertension and predicting clinical decompensation in individuals with cirrhosis.However,owing to its invasive nature,there has been growing interest in identifying noninvasive alternatives.Transient elastography offers a promising approach for measuring liver stiffness and spleen stiffness,which can help estimate the likelihood of decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease.AIM To investigate the predictive ability of the liver stiffness measurement(LSM)and spleen stiffness measurement(SSM)in conjunction with other noninvasive indicators for clinical decompensation in patients suffering from compensatory cirrhosis and portal hypertension.METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 200 patients who were diagnosed with viral cirrhosis and who received computed tomography,transient elastography,ultrasound,and endoscopic examinations at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University between March 2020 and November 2022.Patient classification was performed in accordance with the Baveno VI consensus.The area under the curve was used to evaluate and compare the predictive accuracy across different patient groups.The diagnostic effectiveness of several models,including the liver stiffness-spleen diameter-platelet ratio,variceal risk index,aspartate aminotransferase-alanine aminotransferase ratio,Baveno Ⅵ criteria,and newly developed models,was assessed.Additionally,decision curve analysis was carried out across a range of threshold probabilities to evaluate the clinical utility of these predictive factors.RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that SSM,LSM,and the spleen length diameter(SLD)were linked to clinical decompensation in individuals with viral cirrhosis.On the basis of these findings,a predictive model was developed via logistic regression:Ln[P/(1-P)]=-4.969-0.279×SSM+0.348×LSM+0.272×SLD.The model exhibited strong performance,with an area under the curve of 0.944.At a cutoff value of 0.56,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value for predicting clinical decompensation were 85.29%,88.89%,87.89%,and 86.47%,respectively.The newly developed model demonstrated enhanced accuracy in forecasting clinical decompensation among patients suffering from viral cirrhosis when compared to four previously established models.CONCLUSION Noninvasive models utilizing SSM,LSM,and SLD are effective in predicting clinical decompensation among patients with viral cirrhosis,thereby reducing the need for unnecessary hepatic venous pressure gradient testing.展开更多
Groundwater quality is pivotal for sustainable resource management,necessitating comprehen-sive investigation to safeguard this critical resource.This study introduces a novel methodology that inte-grates stiff diagra...Groundwater quality is pivotal for sustainable resource management,necessitating comprehen-sive investigation to safeguard this critical resource.This study introduces a novel methodology that inte-grates stiff diagrams,geostatistical analysis,and geometric computation to delineate the extent of a confined aquifer within the Chahrdoly aquifer,located west of Hamadan,Iran.For the first time,this approach combines these tools to map the boundaries of a confined aquifer based on hydrochemical characteristics.Stiff diagrams were used to calculate geometric parameters from groundwater chemistry data,followed by simulation using a linear model incorporating the semivariogram parameterγ(h).The Root Mean Square Error(RMSE)of the linear model was used to differentiate confined from unconfined aquifers based on hydrochemical signatures.Validation was conducted by generating a cross-sectional hydrogeological layer from well logs,confirming the presence of aquitard layers.The results successufully delineated the confined aquifer's extent,showing strong agreement with hydrogeological log data.By integrating stiff diagrams with semivariogram analysis,this study enhances the understanding of hydrochemical processes,offering a robust framework for groundwater resource identification and management.展开更多
The average stiffness performance indices throughout the workspace are commonly used as global stiffness performance indices to evaluate the overall stiffness performance of parallel mechanisms,which involves an analy...The average stiffness performance indices throughout the workspace are commonly used as global stiffness performance indices to evaluate the overall stiffness performance of parallel mechanisms,which involves an analysis of the stiffness performance of numerous discrete points in the workspace.This necessitates time-consuming and inefficient calculation,which is particularly pronounced in the optimization design stage of the mechanism,where the variations in the global stiffness performance indices versus various dimensional and structural parameters need to be analyzed.This paper presents a semi-analytical approach for stiffness modeling of the novel(R(RPS&RP))&2-UPS parallel mechanism(referred to as the Trifree mechanism)and proposes“local”stiffness performance indices as alternatives to global indices.Drawing on the screw theory,the Cartesian stiffness matrix of the Trifree mechanism is formulated explicitly by considering the compliances of all elastic elements and the over-constraint characteristics inherent in the mechanism.Based on the spherical motion pattern of the Trifree mechanism,four special reference configurations are extracted within the workspace.This yields“local”stiffness performance indices capable of accurately evaluating the overall stiffness performance of the mechanism and effectively improving the computational efficiency.The variations in global and“local”stiffness performance indices versus key design parameters are investigated.Furthermore,the proposed indices are applied to the Tricept and Trimule mechanisms.The results demonstrate that the proposed indices exhibit excellent computational accuracy and efficiency in evaluating the overall stiffness performance of these spherical parallel mechanisms.Moreover,the stiffness performance of the novel parallel mechanism investigated in this study closely resembles that of the well-known Tricept and Trimule mechanisms.This research proposes a semi-analytic stiffness model of the Trifree mechanism and“local”stiffness performance indices to evaluate the overall stiffness performance,thereby substantially improving the computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.展开更多
The contact stiffness of the tool-holder assembly interface affects the overall dynamic performance of the milling system.Currently,the contact parameters are primarily established by minimizing the frequency response...The contact stiffness of the tool-holder assembly interface affects the overall dynamic performance of the milling system.Currently,the contact parameters are primarily established by minimizing the frequency response in modal tests and through dynamic simulation results.However,alterations in the structure or material of the tool-holder system necessitate multiple modal tests,thereby increasing computational costs.This study aims to streamline the process of determining contact stiffness and enhance accuracy by developing an analytical model that considers tool-holder contact properties.Initially,the microstructure of the contact surface is characterized via fractal theory to determine its fractal parameters.Then the contact coefficient is introduced to precisely depict the area distribution function of the microcontact.Building upon this,a contact stiffness model is established which is verified by the modal tests.The test results indicate that utilizing this model can reduce the structural modal frequency calculation error to 0.56%.Finally,the Monte Carlo algorithm is employed to investigate the sensitivity of fractal parameters and radial interference on contact characteristics.The findings demonstrate that the fractal dimension has the greatest influence on the dynamic behavior of the tool-holder structure.This study proposes a milling tool-holder contact stiffness modeling method from a microscopic perspective,which offers sufficient computational accuracy to provide a theoretical basis for the selection of milling tool-holder structures in practical machining.展开更多
Soft actuators are inherently flexible and compliant,traits that enhance their adaptability to diverse environments and tasks.However,their low structural stiffness can lead to unpredictable and uncontrollable complex...Soft actuators are inherently flexible and compliant,traits that enhance their adaptability to diverse environments and tasks.However,their low structural stiffness can lead to unpredictable and uncontrollable complex deformations when substantial force is required,compromising their load-bearing capacity.This work proposes a novel method that uses gecko setae-inspired adhesives as interlayer films to construct a layer jamming structure to adjust the stiffness of soft actuators.The mechanical behavior of a single tilted microcylinder was analyzed using the energy method to determine the adhesion force of the adhesives.The gecko-inspired adhesive was designed under the guidance of the adhesion force model.Testing under various loads and directions revealed that the tilted characteristic of microcylinders can enhance the adhesion force in its grasping direction.The adhesive demonstrated excellent adhesion performance compared to other typical adhesives.A tunable stiffness actuator using gecko setae-inspired adhesives(TSAGA),was developed with these adhesives serving as interlayer films.The stiffness model of TSAGA was derived by analyzing its axial compression force.The results of stiffness test indicate that the adhesives serve as interlayer films can adjust the stiffness in response to applied load.TSAGA was compared with other typical soft actuators in order to evaluate the stiffness performance,and the results indicate that TSAGA exhibits the highest stiffness and the widest tunable stiffness range.This demonstrates the superior performance of the setae-inspired adhesives as interlayer films in terms of stiffness adjustment.展开更多
In engineering practice,there are many factors causing the vibration to which rods are usually subjected.Generally,the vibration of elastic rods motivated by determined vibration excitations can be controlled effectiv...In engineering practice,there are many factors causing the vibration to which rods are usually subjected.Generally,the vibration of elastic rods motivated by determined vibration excitations can be controlled effectively.However,the working frequency of vibration excitation may vary due to environmental changes,the working conditions of equipment,and other factors.Consequently,it remains a challenge to restrict the longitudinal vibration of elastic rods within a wide frequency band.In order to meet the relevant engineering requirements and address the existing limitations,the longitudinal vibration control of an elastic rod within a wide frequency band is explored in this study through an adjustable stiffness internal support.To achieve this purpose,the variable stiffness longitudinal vibration control theory of the elastic rod is validated.The model of an adjustable stiffness internal support is designed,constructed,and tested,demonstrating that the stiffness coefficients of the adjustable stiffness internal support can be effectively controlled.Through the adjustable stiffness internal support,the experiment on longitudinal vibration control of the elastic rod is designed and performed.It leads to the conclusion that the adjustable stiffness internal support within the adjustable working region is effective in restricting the longitudinal vibration within a wide frequency band of the elastic rod.Furthermore,the existence of the adjustable working region in the experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the adjustable stiffness internal support intended for the variable stiffness longitudinal vibration control of an elastic rod.To sum up,this study provides insights into an adjustable stiffness mechanism for applying the theory of variable stiffness longitudinal vibration control on an elastic rod in engineering practice.展开更多
This paper first analyzes the vibration environment at the spacecraft/launch vehicle(SC/LV)interface during the powered flight phase.Second,it proposes a method to enhance satellite panel stiffness.Satellite frequency...This paper first analyzes the vibration environment at the spacecraft/launch vehicle(SC/LV)interface during the powered flight phase.Second,it proposes a method to enhance satellite panel stiffness.Satellite frequency response analysis examines stiffness compatibility between the satellite(including its components)and the integrated launch stack.The environmental effect equivalence method then determines satellite ground verification test condi-tions.Ground test responses are compared with SC/LV coupling analysis results to ensure that ground tests envelope the coupling analysis results,confirming the adequacy of ground verification.展开更多
The stiffness information of the grasped object at the initial contact stage can be effectively used to adjust the grasping force of the prosthetic hand,thereby preventing damage to the object.However,the object’s de...The stiffness information of the grasped object at the initial contact stage can be effectively used to adjust the grasping force of the prosthetic hand,thereby preventing damage to the object.However,the object’s deformation and contact force are often minimal during the initial stage and not easily obtained directly.Additionally,stiffness estimation methods for prosthetic hands often require contact sensors,which can easily lead to poor contact issues.To address the above issues,this paper proposes the model-based stiffness estimation of grasped objects for underactuated prosthetic hands without force sensors.First,the kinematic model is linearized at the contact points to achieve the estimation of the linkage angles in the underactuated prosthetic hand.Secondly,the motor parameters are estimated using the Kalman filter method,and the grasping force is obtained from the dynamic model of the underactuated prosthetic hand.Finally,the contact model of the prosthetic hand grasping an object is established,and an online stiffness estimation method based on the contact model for the grasped object is proposed using the iterative reweighted least squares method.Experimental results show that this method can estimate the stiffness of grasped objects within 250 ms without contact sensors.展开更多
As a crucial component of intelligent chassis systems,air suspension significantly enhances driver comfort and vehicle stability.To further improve the adaptability of commercial vehicles to complex and variable road ...As a crucial component of intelligent chassis systems,air suspension significantly enhances driver comfort and vehicle stability.To further improve the adaptability of commercial vehicles to complex and variable road conditions,this paper proposes a linear motor active suspension with quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)air spring system.Firstly,a dynamic model of the linear motor active suspension with QZS air spring system is established.Secondly,considering the random uncertainties in the linear motor parameters due to manufacturing and environmental factors,a dynamic model and state equations incorporating these uncertainties are constructed using the polynomial chaos expansion(PCE)method.Then,based on H_(2) robust control theory and the Kalman filter,a state feedback control law is derived,accounting for the random parameter uncertainties.Finally,simulation and hardware-in-the-loop(HIL)experimental results demonstrate that the PCE-H_(2) robust controller not only provides better performance in terms of vehicle ride comfort compared to general H_(2) robust controller but also exhibits higher robustness to the effects of random uncertain parameters,resulting in more stable control performance.展开更多
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is the most widespread chronic liver disease signified by serious life-threatening conditions.The prevalence of MASLD increases along the growing prevalen...Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is the most widespread chronic liver disease signified by serious life-threatening conditions.The prevalence of MASLD increases along the growing prevalence in obesity and metabolic syndrome.To minimize costs and complications,non-invasive diagnostic tools,including transient elastography(TE),were introduced for assessment of MASLD.TE measures liver stiffness(LS),a clinical marker for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.LS measurements are based on ultrasound wave imaging and quantification.Vibration-controlled TE,including FibroScan®,is commonly used TE methods which can accurately identify the degree of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis progression.TE was reported to predict the progression towards hepatocellular carcinoma,portal hypertension,and varices.However,the accuracy of LS diagnostics alone in patients with MASLD remains controversial.TE measurements have several limitations,including inadequate precision due to focal liver lesions,cholestasis,inflammation,and other pathological and anatomical factors which can lead to the stiffness variability.Overestimations of TE readings were reported in obese patients with body mass index(BMI)over 30 kg/m2,and older patients with ascites,diabetes,or hypertension.Not all MASLD patients have high BMI.The prevalence of obesity among MASLD patients varies worldwide,indicating the urgent need for comprehensive diagnostic tools.In patients with MASLD,improved diagnostic accuracy has been demonstrated by combining LS measurements with other blood test-based scores and simple clinical parameters(agile scores based on age,sex,platelet count,aminotransferases,and diabetes).This study reviews the limitations of TE-based diagnostics and discusses the combined scoring algorithm.In conclusion,the sequence of LS measurements along assessment of other important clinical markers is an effective,low-cost,reliable tool to identify and monitor fibrosis progression in MASLD.展开更多
Variable stiffness composites present a promising solution for mitigating impact loads via varying the fiber volume fraction layer-wise,thereby adjusting the panel's stiffness.Since each layer of the composite may...Variable stiffness composites present a promising solution for mitigating impact loads via varying the fiber volume fraction layer-wise,thereby adjusting the panel's stiffness.Since each layer of the composite may be affected by a different failure mode,the optimal fiber volume fraction to suppress damage initiation and evolution is different across the layers.This research examines how re-allocating the fibers layer-wise enhances the composites'impact resistance.In this study,constant stiffness panels with the same fiber volume fraction throughout the layers are compared to variable stiffness ones by varying volume fraction layer-wise.A method is established that utilizes numerical analysis coupled with optimization techniques to determine the optimal fiber volume fraction in both scenarios.Three different reinforcement fibers(Kevlar,carbon,and glass)embedded in epoxy resin were studied.Panels were manufactured and tested under various loading conditions to validate results.Kevlar reinforcement revealed the highest tensile toughness,followed by carbon and then glass fibers.Varying reinforcement volume fraction significantly influences failure modes.Higher fractions lead to matrix cracking and debonding,while lower fractions result in more fiber breakage.The optimal volume fraction for maximizing fiber breakage energy is around 45%,whereas it is about 90%for matrix cracking and debonding.A drop tower test was used to examine the composite structure's behavior under lowvelocity impact,confirming the superiority of Kevlar-reinforced composites with variable stiffness.Conversely,glass-reinforced composites with constant stiffness revealed the lowest performance with the highest deflection.Across all reinforcement materials,the variable stiffness structure consistently outperformed its constant stiffness counterpart.展开更多
With the aid of commercial finite element analysis software package ANSYS,investigations are made on the contributions of main components to stiffness of the main module for parallel machine tools,and it is found that...With the aid of commercial finite element analysis software package ANSYS,investigations are made on the contributions of main components to stiffness of the main module for parallel machine tools,and it is found that the frame is the main contributor.Then,influences of constraints,strut length and working ways of the main module have also been investigated.It can be concluded that when one of the main planes of the frame without linear drive unit is constrained,the largest whole stiffness can be acquired.And,the stiffness is much better when the main module is used in a vertical machine tool instead of a horizontal one.Finally,the principle of stiffness variation is summarized when the mobile platform reaches various positions within its working space and when various loads are applied.These achievements have provided critical instructions for the design of the main module for parallel machine tools.展开更多
Most current researches working on improving stiffness focus on the application of control theories.But controller in closed-loop hydraulic control system takes effect only after the controlled position is deviated,so...Most current researches working on improving stiffness focus on the application of control theories.But controller in closed-loop hydraulic control system takes effect only after the controlled position is deviated,so the control action is lagged.Thus dynamic performance against force disturbance and dynamic load stiffness can’t be improved evidently by advanced control algorithms.In this paper,the elementary principle of maintaining piston position unchanged under sudden external force load change by charging additional oil is analyzed.On this basis,the conception of raising dynamic stiffness of electro hydraulic position servo system by flow feedforward compensation is put forward.And a scheme using double servo valves to realize flow feedforward compensation is presented,in which another fast response servo valve is added to the regular electro hydraulic servo system and specially utilized to compensate the compressed oil volume caused by load impact in time.The two valves are arranged in parallel to control the cylinder jointly.Furthermore,the model of flow compensation is derived,by which the product of the amplitude and width of the valve’s pulse command signal can be calculated.And determination rules of the amplitude and width of pulse signal are concluded by analysis and simulations.Using the proposed scheme,simulations and experiments at different positions with different force changes are conducted.The simulation and experimental results show that the system dynamic performance against load force impact is largely improved with decreased maximal dynamic position deviation and shortened settling time.That is,system dynamic load stiffness is evidently raised.This paper proposes a new method which can effectively improve the dynamic stiffness of electro-hydraulic servo systems.展开更多
基金supported by the Natio`nal Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 81801241a grant from Sichuan Science and Technology Program,No. 2023NSFSC1578Scientific Research Projects of Southwest Medical University,No. 2022ZD002 (all to JX)。
文摘Neuronal growth, extension, branching, and formation of neural networks are markedly influenced by the extracellular matrix—a complex network composed of proteins and carbohydrates secreted by cells. In addition to providing physical support for cells, the extracellular matrix also conveys critical mechanical stiffness cues. During the development of the nervous system, extracellular matrix stiffness plays a central role in guiding neuronal growth, particularly in the context of axonal extension, which is crucial for the formation of neural networks. In neural tissue engineering, manipulation of biomaterial stiffness is a promising strategy to provide a permissive environment for the repair and regeneration of injured nervous tissue. Recent research has fine-tuned synthetic biomaterials to fabricate scaffolds that closely replicate the stiffness profiles observed in the nervous system. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular matrix stiffness regulates axonal growth and regeneration. We highlight the progress made in the development of stiffness-tunable biomaterials to emulate in vivo extracellular matrix environments, with an emphasis on their application in neural repair and regeneration, along with a discussion of the current limitations and future prospects. The exploration and optimization of the stiffness-tunable biomaterials has the potential to markedly advance the development of neural tissue engineering.
基金supported by the Key Projects of the Yalong River Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U1865203)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52109142 and 41941018).
文摘Fault activation has been the focus of research community for years.However,the studies of fault activation remain immature,such as the fault activation mode and its major factors under constant normal stiffness(CNS)conditions associated with large thickness of fault surrounding rock mass.In this study,the rock friction experiments were conducted to understand the fault activation modes under the CNS conditions.Two major parameters,i.e.the initial normal stress and loading rate,were considered and calibrated in the tests.To reveal the response mechanism of fault activation,the local strains near the fault plane were recorded,and the macroscopic stresses and displacements were analyzed.The testing results show that the effect of displacement-controlled loading rate is more pronounced under the CNS conditions than that under constant normal load(CNL)conditions.Both the normal and shear stresses drop suddenly when the stick-slip occurs.The decrease and increase of the normal stress are synchronous with the shear stress in the regular stick-slip scenario,but mismatch with the shear stress during the chaotic stick-slip process.The results are helpful for understanding the fault sliding mode and the prediction and prevention of fault slip.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52241103 and 52322505)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province of China(No.2023JJ10055)。
文摘An analytical method is proposed with the “stiffness gradient of the response” as a sensitivity metric, and the relationships between the vibration responses and stiffness changes are established. First, a 2-degree-of-freedom (DOF) system is used as an example to propose a stiffness gradient-based evaluation method, taking the effective control bandwidth ratio as a metric of effectiveness. The results show that there is an optimal mass ratio in both variable mass and variable stiffness cases. Then, a typical 16-DOF system is used to investigate the frequency domain characteristics of the stiffness gradient values in the complex system. The distributions of stiffness gradient values show multiple peak intervals corresponding to the sensitive regions for vibration control. By assigning random mass parameters, a significant exponential decay relationship between the subsystem’s mass and effective control is identified, emphasizing the importance of the optimal mass ratio. The finite-element simulation results of solid plate models with springs and oscillators further validate the theoretical results. In short, the gradient value of stiffness effectively quantifies the effects of subsystems on vibration control, providing an analytical tool for active control in complex systems. The identified exponential decay relationship offers meaningful guidance for implementation strategies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11732006)the“Qinglan Project”of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.
文摘Quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)isolators have received considerable attention over the past years due to their outstanding vibration isolation performance in low-frequency bands.However,traditional mechanisms for achieving QZS suffer from low stiffness regions and significant nonlinear restoring forces with hardening characteristics,often struggling to withstand excitations with high amplitude.This paper presents a novel QZS vibration isolator that utilizes a more compact spring-rod mechanism(SRM)to provide primary negative stiffness.The nonlinearity of SRM is adjustable via altering the raceway of its spring-rod end,along with the compensatory force provided by the cam-roller mechanism so as to avoid complex nonlinear behaviors.The absolute zero stiffness can be achieved by a well-designed raceway curve with a concise mathematical expression.The nonlinear stiffness with softening properties can also be achieved by parameter adjustment.The study begins with the forcedisplacement relationship of the integrated mechanism first,followed by the design theory of the cam profile.The dynamic response and absolute displacement transmissibility of the isolation system are obtained based on the harmonic balance method.The experimental results show that the proposed vibration isolator maintains relatively low-dynamic stiffness even under non-ideal conditions,and exhibits enhanced vibration isolation performance compared to the corresponding linear isolator.
基金Supported by Xi’an Science and Technology Plan,No.23YXYJ0172.
文摘BACKGROUND The hepatic venous pressure gradient serves as a crucial parameter for assessing portal hypertension and predicting clinical decompensation in individuals with cirrhosis.However,owing to its invasive nature,there has been growing interest in identifying noninvasive alternatives.Transient elastography offers a promising approach for measuring liver stiffness and spleen stiffness,which can help estimate the likelihood of decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease.AIM To investigate the predictive ability of the liver stiffness measurement(LSM)and spleen stiffness measurement(SSM)in conjunction with other noninvasive indicators for clinical decompensation in patients suffering from compensatory cirrhosis and portal hypertension.METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 200 patients who were diagnosed with viral cirrhosis and who received computed tomography,transient elastography,ultrasound,and endoscopic examinations at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University between March 2020 and November 2022.Patient classification was performed in accordance with the Baveno VI consensus.The area under the curve was used to evaluate and compare the predictive accuracy across different patient groups.The diagnostic effectiveness of several models,including the liver stiffness-spleen diameter-platelet ratio,variceal risk index,aspartate aminotransferase-alanine aminotransferase ratio,Baveno Ⅵ criteria,and newly developed models,was assessed.Additionally,decision curve analysis was carried out across a range of threshold probabilities to evaluate the clinical utility of these predictive factors.RESULTS Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that SSM,LSM,and the spleen length diameter(SLD)were linked to clinical decompensation in individuals with viral cirrhosis.On the basis of these findings,a predictive model was developed via logistic regression:Ln[P/(1-P)]=-4.969-0.279×SSM+0.348×LSM+0.272×SLD.The model exhibited strong performance,with an area under the curve of 0.944.At a cutoff value of 0.56,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value for predicting clinical decompensation were 85.29%,88.89%,87.89%,and 86.47%,respectively.The newly developed model demonstrated enhanced accuracy in forecasting clinical decompensation among patients suffering from viral cirrhosis when compared to four previously established models.CONCLUSION Noninvasive models utilizing SSM,LSM,and SLD are effective in predicting clinical decompensation among patients with viral cirrhosis,thereby reducing the need for unnecessary hepatic venous pressure gradient testing.
文摘Groundwater quality is pivotal for sustainable resource management,necessitating comprehen-sive investigation to safeguard this critical resource.This study introduces a novel methodology that inte-grates stiff diagrams,geostatistical analysis,and geometric computation to delineate the extent of a confined aquifer within the Chahrdoly aquifer,located west of Hamadan,Iran.For the first time,this approach combines these tools to map the boundaries of a confined aquifer based on hydrochemical characteristics.Stiff diagrams were used to calculate geometric parameters from groundwater chemistry data,followed by simulation using a linear model incorporating the semivariogram parameterγ(h).The Root Mean Square Error(RMSE)of the linear model was used to differentiate confined from unconfined aquifers based on hydrochemical signatures.Validation was conducted by generating a cross-sectional hydrogeological layer from well logs,confirming the presence of aquitard layers.The results successufully delineated the confined aquifer's extent,showing strong agreement with hydrogeological log data.By integrating stiff diagrams with semivariogram analysis,this study enhances the understanding of hydrochemical processes,offering a robust framework for groundwater resource identification and management.
基金Supported by National High-quality Development Project of China(Grant No.2340STCZB193).
文摘The average stiffness performance indices throughout the workspace are commonly used as global stiffness performance indices to evaluate the overall stiffness performance of parallel mechanisms,which involves an analysis of the stiffness performance of numerous discrete points in the workspace.This necessitates time-consuming and inefficient calculation,which is particularly pronounced in the optimization design stage of the mechanism,where the variations in the global stiffness performance indices versus various dimensional and structural parameters need to be analyzed.This paper presents a semi-analytical approach for stiffness modeling of the novel(R(RPS&RP))&2-UPS parallel mechanism(referred to as the Trifree mechanism)and proposes“local”stiffness performance indices as alternatives to global indices.Drawing on the screw theory,the Cartesian stiffness matrix of the Trifree mechanism is formulated explicitly by considering the compliances of all elastic elements and the over-constraint characteristics inherent in the mechanism.Based on the spherical motion pattern of the Trifree mechanism,four special reference configurations are extracted within the workspace.This yields“local”stiffness performance indices capable of accurately evaluating the overall stiffness performance of the mechanism and effectively improving the computational efficiency.The variations in global and“local”stiffness performance indices versus key design parameters are investigated.Furthermore,the proposed indices are applied to the Tricept and Trimule mechanisms.The results demonstrate that the proposed indices exhibit excellent computational accuracy and efficiency in evaluating the overall stiffness performance of these spherical parallel mechanisms.Moreover,the stiffness performance of the novel parallel mechanism investigated in this study closely resembles that of the well-known Tricept and Trimule mechanisms.This research proposes a semi-analytic stiffness model of the Trifree mechanism and“local”stiffness performance indices to evaluate the overall stiffness performance,thereby substantially improving the computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.
基金Supported by National Science and Technology Major Project of China(Grant No.J2019-VII-0001-0141).
文摘The contact stiffness of the tool-holder assembly interface affects the overall dynamic performance of the milling system.Currently,the contact parameters are primarily established by minimizing the frequency response in modal tests and through dynamic simulation results.However,alterations in the structure or material of the tool-holder system necessitate multiple modal tests,thereby increasing computational costs.This study aims to streamline the process of determining contact stiffness and enhance accuracy by developing an analytical model that considers tool-holder contact properties.Initially,the microstructure of the contact surface is characterized via fractal theory to determine its fractal parameters.Then the contact coefficient is introduced to precisely depict the area distribution function of the microcontact.Building upon this,a contact stiffness model is established which is verified by the modal tests.The test results indicate that utilizing this model can reduce the structural modal frequency calculation error to 0.56%.Finally,the Monte Carlo algorithm is employed to investigate the sensitivity of fractal parameters and radial interference on contact characteristics.The findings demonstrate that the fractal dimension has the greatest influence on the dynamic behavior of the tool-holder structure.This study proposes a milling tool-holder contact stiffness modeling method from a microscopic perspective,which offers sufficient computational accuracy to provide a theoretical basis for the selection of milling tool-holder structures in practical machining.
基金supported by Jiangsu Special Project for Frontier Leading Base Technology(Grant Nos.BK20192004)Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities(Grant Nos.B240201190)+3 种基金Changzhou Social Development Science and Technology Support Project(Grant Nos.CE20225037)Changzhou Science and Technology Project(Grant Nos.CM20223014)Suzhou Key Industrial Technology Innovation Forward-Looking Application Research Project(Grant Nos.SYG202143)Changzhou Science and Technology Project(Grant Nos.CJ20241061).
文摘Soft actuators are inherently flexible and compliant,traits that enhance their adaptability to diverse environments and tasks.However,their low structural stiffness can lead to unpredictable and uncontrollable complex deformations when substantial force is required,compromising their load-bearing capacity.This work proposes a novel method that uses gecko setae-inspired adhesives as interlayer films to construct a layer jamming structure to adjust the stiffness of soft actuators.The mechanical behavior of a single tilted microcylinder was analyzed using the energy method to determine the adhesion force of the adhesives.The gecko-inspired adhesive was designed under the guidance of the adhesion force model.Testing under various loads and directions revealed that the tilted characteristic of microcylinders can enhance the adhesion force in its grasping direction.The adhesive demonstrated excellent adhesion performance compared to other typical adhesives.A tunable stiffness actuator using gecko setae-inspired adhesives(TSAGA),was developed with these adhesives serving as interlayer films.The stiffness model of TSAGA was derived by analyzing its axial compression force.The results of stiffness test indicate that the adhesives serve as interlayer films can adjust the stiffness in response to applied load.TSAGA was compared with other typical soft actuators in order to evaluate the stiffness performance,and the results indicate that TSAGA exhibits the highest stiffness and the widest tunable stiffness range.This demonstrates the superior performance of the setae-inspired adhesives as interlayer films in terms of stiffness adjustment.
基金Supported by the Fundamental Research Project of SIA(Grant No.2022JC1G04)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52401364 and 52205091)。
文摘In engineering practice,there are many factors causing the vibration to which rods are usually subjected.Generally,the vibration of elastic rods motivated by determined vibration excitations can be controlled effectively.However,the working frequency of vibration excitation may vary due to environmental changes,the working conditions of equipment,and other factors.Consequently,it remains a challenge to restrict the longitudinal vibration of elastic rods within a wide frequency band.In order to meet the relevant engineering requirements and address the existing limitations,the longitudinal vibration control of an elastic rod within a wide frequency band is explored in this study through an adjustable stiffness internal support.To achieve this purpose,the variable stiffness longitudinal vibration control theory of the elastic rod is validated.The model of an adjustable stiffness internal support is designed,constructed,and tested,demonstrating that the stiffness coefficients of the adjustable stiffness internal support can be effectively controlled.Through the adjustable stiffness internal support,the experiment on longitudinal vibration control of the elastic rod is designed and performed.It leads to the conclusion that the adjustable stiffness internal support within the adjustable working region is effective in restricting the longitudinal vibration within a wide frequency band of the elastic rod.Furthermore,the existence of the adjustable working region in the experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the adjustable stiffness internal support intended for the variable stiffness longitudinal vibration control of an elastic rod.To sum up,this study provides insights into an adjustable stiffness mechanism for applying the theory of variable stiffness longitudinal vibration control on an elastic rod in engineering practice.
文摘This paper first analyzes the vibration environment at the spacecraft/launch vehicle(SC/LV)interface during the powered flight phase.Second,it proposes a method to enhance satellite panel stiffness.Satellite frequency response analysis examines stiffness compatibility between the satellite(including its components)and the integrated launch stack.The environmental effect equivalence method then determines satellite ground verification test condi-tions.Ground test responses are compared with SC/LV coupling analysis results to ensure that ground tests envelope the coupling analysis results,confirming the adequacy of ground verification.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 52275297.
文摘The stiffness information of the grasped object at the initial contact stage can be effectively used to adjust the grasping force of the prosthetic hand,thereby preventing damage to the object.However,the object’s deformation and contact force are often minimal during the initial stage and not easily obtained directly.Additionally,stiffness estimation methods for prosthetic hands often require contact sensors,which can easily lead to poor contact issues.To address the above issues,this paper proposes the model-based stiffness estimation of grasped objects for underactuated prosthetic hands without force sensors.First,the kinematic model is linearized at the contact points to achieve the estimation of the linkage angles in the underactuated prosthetic hand.Secondly,the motor parameters are estimated using the Kalman filter method,and the grasping force is obtained from the dynamic model of the underactuated prosthetic hand.Finally,the contact model of the prosthetic hand grasping an object is established,and an online stiffness estimation method based on the contact model for the grasped object is proposed using the iterative reweighted least squares method.Experimental results show that this method can estimate the stiffness of grasped objects within 250 ms without contact sensors.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51875256)Open Platform Fund of Human Institute of Technology(Grant No.KFA22009).
文摘As a crucial component of intelligent chassis systems,air suspension significantly enhances driver comfort and vehicle stability.To further improve the adaptability of commercial vehicles to complex and variable road conditions,this paper proposes a linear motor active suspension with quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)air spring system.Firstly,a dynamic model of the linear motor active suspension with QZS air spring system is established.Secondly,considering the random uncertainties in the linear motor parameters due to manufacturing and environmental factors,a dynamic model and state equations incorporating these uncertainties are constructed using the polynomial chaos expansion(PCE)method.Then,based on H_(2) robust control theory and the Kalman filter,a state feedback control law is derived,accounting for the random parameter uncertainties.Finally,simulation and hardware-in-the-loop(HIL)experimental results demonstrate that the PCE-H_(2) robust controller not only provides better performance in terms of vehicle ride comfort compared to general H_(2) robust controller but also exhibits higher robustness to the effects of random uncertain parameters,resulting in more stable control performance.
文摘Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is the most widespread chronic liver disease signified by serious life-threatening conditions.The prevalence of MASLD increases along the growing prevalence in obesity and metabolic syndrome.To minimize costs and complications,non-invasive diagnostic tools,including transient elastography(TE),were introduced for assessment of MASLD.TE measures liver stiffness(LS),a clinical marker for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.LS measurements are based on ultrasound wave imaging and quantification.Vibration-controlled TE,including FibroScan®,is commonly used TE methods which can accurately identify the degree of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis progression.TE was reported to predict the progression towards hepatocellular carcinoma,portal hypertension,and varices.However,the accuracy of LS diagnostics alone in patients with MASLD remains controversial.TE measurements have several limitations,including inadequate precision due to focal liver lesions,cholestasis,inflammation,and other pathological and anatomical factors which can lead to the stiffness variability.Overestimations of TE readings were reported in obese patients with body mass index(BMI)over 30 kg/m2,and older patients with ascites,diabetes,or hypertension.Not all MASLD patients have high BMI.The prevalence of obesity among MASLD patients varies worldwide,indicating the urgent need for comprehensive diagnostic tools.In patients with MASLD,improved diagnostic accuracy has been demonstrated by combining LS measurements with other blood test-based scores and simple clinical parameters(agile scores based on age,sex,platelet count,aminotransferases,and diabetes).This study reviews the limitations of TE-based diagnostics and discusses the combined scoring algorithm.In conclusion,the sequence of LS measurements along assessment of other important clinical markers is an effective,low-cost,reliable tool to identify and monitor fibrosis progression in MASLD.
基金funded by the American University of Sharjah.United Arab Emirates award number EN 9502-FRG19-M-E75。
文摘Variable stiffness composites present a promising solution for mitigating impact loads via varying the fiber volume fraction layer-wise,thereby adjusting the panel's stiffness.Since each layer of the composite may be affected by a different failure mode,the optimal fiber volume fraction to suppress damage initiation and evolution is different across the layers.This research examines how re-allocating the fibers layer-wise enhances the composites'impact resistance.In this study,constant stiffness panels with the same fiber volume fraction throughout the layers are compared to variable stiffness ones by varying volume fraction layer-wise.A method is established that utilizes numerical analysis coupled with optimization techniques to determine the optimal fiber volume fraction in both scenarios.Three different reinforcement fibers(Kevlar,carbon,and glass)embedded in epoxy resin were studied.Panels were manufactured and tested under various loading conditions to validate results.Kevlar reinforcement revealed the highest tensile toughness,followed by carbon and then glass fibers.Varying reinforcement volume fraction significantly influences failure modes.Higher fractions lead to matrix cracking and debonding,while lower fractions result in more fiber breakage.The optimal volume fraction for maximizing fiber breakage energy is around 45%,whereas it is about 90%for matrix cracking and debonding.A drop tower test was used to examine the composite structure's behavior under lowvelocity impact,confirming the superiority of Kevlar-reinforced composites with variable stiffness.Conversely,glass-reinforced composites with constant stiffness revealed the lowest performance with the highest deflection.Across all reinforcement materials,the variable stiffness structure consistently outperformed its constant stiffness counterpart.
文摘With the aid of commercial finite element analysis software package ANSYS,investigations are made on the contributions of main components to stiffness of the main module for parallel machine tools,and it is found that the frame is the main contributor.Then,influences of constraints,strut length and working ways of the main module have also been investigated.It can be concluded that when one of the main planes of the frame without linear drive unit is constrained,the largest whole stiffness can be acquired.And,the stiffness is much better when the main module is used in a vertical machine tool instead of a horizontal one.Finally,the principle of stiffness variation is summarized when the mobile platform reaches various positions within its working space and when various loads are applied.These achievements have provided critical instructions for the design of the main module for parallel machine tools.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51075291)Shanxi Scholarship Council of China(Grant No.2012-076)
文摘Most current researches working on improving stiffness focus on the application of control theories.But controller in closed-loop hydraulic control system takes effect only after the controlled position is deviated,so the control action is lagged.Thus dynamic performance against force disturbance and dynamic load stiffness can’t be improved evidently by advanced control algorithms.In this paper,the elementary principle of maintaining piston position unchanged under sudden external force load change by charging additional oil is analyzed.On this basis,the conception of raising dynamic stiffness of electro hydraulic position servo system by flow feedforward compensation is put forward.And a scheme using double servo valves to realize flow feedforward compensation is presented,in which another fast response servo valve is added to the regular electro hydraulic servo system and specially utilized to compensate the compressed oil volume caused by load impact in time.The two valves are arranged in parallel to control the cylinder jointly.Furthermore,the model of flow compensation is derived,by which the product of the amplitude and width of the valve’s pulse command signal can be calculated.And determination rules of the amplitude and width of pulse signal are concluded by analysis and simulations.Using the proposed scheme,simulations and experiments at different positions with different force changes are conducted.The simulation and experimental results show that the system dynamic performance against load force impact is largely improved with decreased maximal dynamic position deviation and shortened settling time.That is,system dynamic load stiffness is evidently raised.This paper proposes a new method which can effectively improve the dynamic stiffness of electro-hydraulic servo systems.
