Science and Technology of Advanced Mechanical Engineering Applied to Society, Including Collections from the Latest Papers of KRIS 2023

A special issue of Machines (ISSN 2075-1702). This special issue belongs to the section "Robotics, Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 5273

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering, National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Kumamoto College, Kumamoto, Japan
Interests: impact engineering; fluid–structure interaction; mechanics of plasticity

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sojo University, 4-22-1 Ikeda, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City 860-0082, Japan
Interests: explosive welding; impact engineering; numerical simulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Humanity faces numerous challenges that have never been faced before. There are fears that if we continue in this way, humanity will not be able to continue living on this planet. People from all fields around the world have discussed and established specific goals to be achieved by 2030: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Achieving the SDGs requires the development of advanced science and technology in mechanical engineering, including the development of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, material processing, control engineering, mechatronics, numerical analyses, etc.

The National Institute of Technology (KOSEN) is Japan's largest higher education institution for science and technology, which will host KRIS 2023: KOSEN Research International Symposium 2023 in March 2023. One of the major themes of this international conference is the SDGs. The papers relating to the above technologies to be discussed at this international conference will be published in this Special Issue. The Editors of this Special Issue are happy to receive submissions from colleagues around the world.

Prof. Dr. Hirofumi Iyama
Prof. Dr. Akihisa Mori
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Machines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fluid dynamics
  • thermodynamics
  • materials science
  • material processing
  • control engineering
  • mechatronics
  • numerical analysis

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 3934 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Short-Term Clinical Effects of a Novel Repetitive Facilitation Exercise Training Program Using a Hemiplegic Elbow Extension Rehabilitation System
by Koutaro Taniguchi and Yong Yu
Machines 2024, 12(2), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12020085 - 23 Jan 2024
Viewed by 866
Abstract
Repetitive Facilitation Exercise (RFE) is known as an effective rehabilitation method that can elicit brain plasticity. In our previous study, we developed a hemiplegic upper limb rehabilitation system that can train the elbow and shoulder based on RFE theory. The system consists of [...] Read more.
Repetitive Facilitation Exercise (RFE) is known as an effective rehabilitation method that can elicit brain plasticity. In our previous study, we developed a hemiplegic upper limb rehabilitation system that can train the elbow and shoulder based on RFE theory. The system consists of a selective Arm-DoF constrainable mechanism and a multiple facilitative stimulus timing and duration control system. The selective Arm-DoF constrainable mechanism has three DoF, making it possible to selectively restrict a DoF of the shoulder or elbow. The multiple facilitative stimulation timing and duration control system only has an electrical stimulation source and a vibrator and no large actuators to perform the training exercise. In this study, we undertook an evaluation of the short-term clinical effects of a proposed elbow training program using the hemiplegic upper limb rehabilitation system. The training method consists of two sets, each involving 50 repetitions of the elbow extension exercise programmed in our system. We evaluated the short-term training effects through clinical trials for five stroke patients using the above method. In the evaluation, 10 repetitions of pre/post-tests without any facilitative stimulus were performed before and after the two sets of training. As a result, the maximum angular velocities or the average angular velocities of the elbow extensions improved significantly in most subjects. These results indicate that the quickness or the smoothness of elbow extension movements in the hemiplegic limb improved. Therefore, our clinical experiments support the short-term clinical benefits of the proposed method as well as the practicality of quantitative evaluation using our system. Full article
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19 pages, 9055 KiB  
Article
Model Predictive Control of Humidity Deficit and Temperature in Winter Greenhouses: Subspace Weather-Based Modelling and Sampling Period Effects
by Shin Nakayama, Taku Takada, Ryushi Kimura and Masato Ohsumi
Machines 2024, 12(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010056 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 916
Abstract
Generally, windows in greenhouses are automatically opened and closed to regulate the internal temperature. However, because the air outside during the winter in Japan is dry, opening windows to reduce the temperature causes the humidity deficit to increase above 6 g/m3, [...] Read more.
Generally, windows in greenhouses are automatically opened and closed to regulate the internal temperature. However, because the air outside during the winter in Japan is dry, opening windows to reduce the temperature causes the humidity deficit to increase above 6 g/m3, thereby inhibiting plant growth. Therefore, in this study, we developed a model that considers the effects of weather and the sampling period using a subspace (N4SID) method based on environmental data from inside and outside a greenhouse during winter. By adopting a data-driven model, models for greenhouse temperature and humidity deficits can be constructed conveniently. First, four models incorporating weather conditions were constructed over a 28-day modelling period. Moreover, the average root mean square error values from 8:00 to 16:00 during the 10-day model evaluation period were examined. Subsequently, model predictive controllers were developed from the four models with sampling periods of 1, 2, 4, and 8 min, and their performances were compared over the model evaluation period. The model predictive controller with a sampling period of 4 min was the most energy-efficient, achieving control of the humidity deficit of up to at most 6 g/m3 (close to the target value of 4.5 g/m3) while maintaining the target temperature of 26 °C. Full article
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15 pages, 8103 KiB  
Article
Strength Estimation and Fundamental Characteristics of the New Rotational Friction Damper with Translational Movement
by Shintaro Tahara, Koshiro Iwaya, Tsutomu Iwashita, Katsuhiko Goto and Minoru Yamanari
Machines 2024, 12(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010015 - 26 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1418
Abstract
This paper explores the strength estimation and hysteretic characteristics of a rotational friction damper with translational movement. The experiment comprised two distinct cases: one involving only rotation and the other allowing rotation combined with translational movement. Notably, in the case integrating translational movement, [...] Read more.
This paper explores the strength estimation and hysteretic characteristics of a rotational friction damper with translational movement. The experiment comprised two distinct cases: one involving only rotation and the other allowing rotation combined with translational movement. Notably, in the case integrating translational movement, the load demonstrated an incremental trend aligned with displacement, attributing this behavior to the effect of translational movement. Two strength estimation models were introduced and subsequently benchmarked against both experimental observations and finite element analysis outcomes. The findings indicated a strong alignment between the calculated values derived from the proposed strength estimation model, grounded in work principles, and the observed behavior evident in the test results. Full article
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16 pages, 5525 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Analytical Investigations of Wire-Partially Insulated Parallel Plate Electrode Type Electrohydrodynamic Fan
by Hiroaki Tsubone
Machines 2023, 11(5), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines11050537 - 10 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1081
Abstract
As an alternative to conventional mechanical fans, EHD fans and/or EHD gas pumps, which generate less noise, were investigated for cooling systems, such as in electronic equipment and automobiles. Wire-parallel plate electrode type EHD fans, which have greater design freedom and potential for [...] Read more.
As an alternative to conventional mechanical fans, EHD fans and/or EHD gas pumps, which generate less noise, were investigated for cooling systems, such as in electronic equipment and automobiles. Wire-parallel plate electrode type EHD fans, which have greater design freedom and potential for practical application, have been suggested. This study clarifies the characteristics of a wire-partially insulated parallel plate electrode type EHD fan under DC positive applied voltage. In order to understand the characteristics of the EHD fan more deeply, visualizations of the air flow in the flow channel and the exit area were conducted by using PIV and CFD analyses. In the experiment, air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature was used as a working fluid. The experimental results for fan characteristics of the EHD fan, such as the velocity profile, cross-sectional average velocity, volumetric flow rate in the flow channel or at the exit area, power, and so on, are considered in detail. In addition, the flow visualization and the instantaneous and time-averaged velocity profiles from the PIV analysis are discussed. A comparison with the experimental results described above, and differences of flow regime for different locations, are also presented and discussed. Furthermore, a two-dimensional steady state flow simulation by means of CFD analysis was conducted and its experimental results analyzed. Full article
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