Search Results (168)

Conventional adhesively bonded joints, such as single-lap, curved-lap, wavy-lap, double-lap, stepped-lap, and scarf joints, are widely used for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications. These adhesively bonded joints exhibit different load transfer mechanisms and stress distributions within adhesive layers, which depend primarily on their geometries and mechanical properties of bonded materials. As such, joint geometry and material properties play a critical role in determining the capability of the joints to withstand high loads, resist fatigue, and absorb energy under impact loading. This paper investigates the effects of geometry and material dissimilarity on the performance of both conventional bonded and interlocking joints under tensile loading based on the information available in the literature. In addition, bonding and load transfer mechanisms were analysed in detail. It was found that stress concentration often occurs at free edges of the adhesive layer due to geometric discontinuities, while most of the load is carried by these regions rather than its centre. Sharp corners further intensify resulting stresses, thereby increasing the risk of joint failure. Adhesives typically resist shear loads better than peel loads, and stiffness mismatches between adherents induce an asymmetric stress distribution. Nonetheless, similar materials promote symmetric load sharing. Among conventional joints, scarf joints provide the most uniform load distribution. In interlocking joints such as dovetail, T-slot, gooseneck, and elliptical types, the outward bending of the female component under tension can lead to mechanical failure. Full article

The beam–column connection is an important element in frame construction. Despite numerous studies, there is still no uniform procedure for shear force design across countries. We continue to witness serious problems and even collapse of buildings under seismic activity caused by failures in the beam–column connection of the frame. During the last 60 decades, a large number of experimental studies have been carried out on frame assemblies, where various parameters and their compatibility under cyclic activities have been investigated. What remains misunderstood is the magnitude and distribution of the forces passing through the joint and their involvement in the magnitude of the shear force. Here, the creation of a new mathematical model for the beam and column contributes significantly to our understanding of the flow of forces in the frame connection. For this purpose, the full dimensions of the beam and its material properties are taken into account. All investigations were carried out before crack initiation and after crack propagation along the face of the column, where it separates from the beam. In the present work, the beam is subjected to two symmetrical, transverse, uniformly distributed loads. Expressions are derived to determine the magnitudes of the support reactions from the beam, as a function of the height of its lateral edge. The load positions corresponding to the extreme values of the support reactions are determined. Numerical results are presented for the effect over the magnitudes of the support reactions from different strengths of concrete and steel on the beam. The results are compared with those given in the Eurocode for shear force calculation. It is found that the shear force determined by the proposed new model exceeds the force calculated by Eurocode by 4–62.5%, depending on the crack development stage and the beam materials. Full article

This study investigates the shell hydroforming of 1.2 mm-thick AA5052 aluminum alloy sheets to produce hemispherical domes which possess inherent spatial symmetry about their central axis. Shell hydroforming is widely used in fabricating lightweight, high-strength components for aerospace, automotive, and energy applications. The forming process was driven by a spatially symmetrical internal pressure distribution applied uniformly across the blank to maintain balanced deformation and minimize geometrical distortion. Experimental trials aimed at achieving a dome depth of 50 mm revealed wrinkle formation at the blank periphery caused by circumferential compressive stresses symmetrical in nature with respect to the dome’s central axis. To better understand the forming behavior, a validated 3D finite element (FE) model was developed, capturing key phenomena such as material flow, strain rate evolution, hydrostatic stress distribution, and wrinkle development under symmetric boundary conditions. The effects of the internal pressure (IP), blank holding force (BHF), coefficient of friction (CoF), and flange radius (FR) were systematically studied. A strain rate of 0.1 s⁻¹ in the final stage improved material flow, while a symmetric tensile hydrostatic stress of 160 MPa facilitated dome expansion. Although tensile stresses can induce void growth, the elevated strain rate helped suppress it. An optimized parameter set of IP = 5.43 MPa, BHF = 140 kN, CoF = 0.04, and FR = 5.42 mm led to successful formation of the 50 mm dome with 19.38% thinning at the apex. Internal pressure was identified as the most critical factor influencing symmetric formability. A process window was established to predict symmetric failure modes such as wrinkling and bursting. Full article

This study investigates the structural integrity and dynamic behavior of symmetry-optimized battery pack systems for new energy vehicles through advanced finite element analysis. It examines symmetry-optimized battery pack systems with mechanically stable and thermally adaptive potentials. Leveraging geometric symmetry principles, a high-fidelity three-dimensional (3D) model was constructed in SolidWorks 2023 and subjected to symmetry-constrained static analysis on ANSYS Workbench 2021 R1 platform. The structural performance was systematically evaluated under three critical asymmetric loading scenarios: emergency left/right turns and braking conditions, with particular attention to symmetric stress distribution patterns. The numerical results confirmed the initial design’s compliance with mechanical requirements while revealing symmetric deformation characteristics in dominant mode shapes. Building upon symmetry-enhanced topology configuration, a novel lightweight strategy was implemented by substituting Q235 steel with ZL104 aluminum alloy. While mechanical symmetry has been widely studied, thermal gradients in battery packs can induce asymmetric expansions. For example, uneven cooling may cause localized warping in aluminum alloy shells. This multiphysics effect must be integrated into symmetry constraints to ensure true stability. Symmetric material distribution optimization reduced the mass by 19% while maintaining structural stability, as validated through comparative static and modal analyses. Notably, the symmetric eigenfrequency arrangement in optimized modules effectively avoids common vehicle excitation bands (8–12 Hz/25–35 Hz), demonstrating significant resonance risk reduction through frequency redistribution. This research establishes a symmetry-driven design paradigm that systematically coordinates structural efficiency with dynamic reliability, providing critical insights for developing next-generation battery systems with balanced performance characteristics. Full article

Compared with the traditional rigid solar wings, flexible solar arrays are characterized by light weight and high stowing/deployment ratio, and the repeatable stowing/deployment flexible solar arrays have become one of the hotspots of solar arrays research in the aerospace field. As integrated rigid–flexible structures, flexible solar arrays face risks of repeatable stowing/deployment function failure due to the nonlinear force-heat coupling effects. This paper takes symmetry as the core design concept, and through the introduction of rotationally symmetric sector layout, material stacking, and the stowing/deployment mechanism, the thermal response of flexible solar arrays under extreme thermal environments was systematically investigated, which significantly improves thermal distribution uniformity of the flexible solar arrays and provides a new way of solving the problem of repeatable stowing/deployment of flexible solar arrays. Furthermore, we propose a high- and low-temperature unfolding test method for fan-shaped flexible solar arrays, which verifies the reliability of symmetric fan-shaped arrays in high and low temperatures during the working process of repeatable stowing/deployment and the safety of the stowing/deployment process, as well as providing a reference for the subsequent design and test of flexible solar arrays of other configurations. Full article

In recent years, flexible piezoresistive sensors based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix materials have developed rapidly, showing broad application prospects in fields such as human motion monitoring, electronic skin, and intelligent robotics. However, achieving a balance between structural durability and fabrication simplicity remains challenging. Traditional methods for preparing PDMS flexible substrates with high porosity and high stability often require complex, costly processes. Breaking through the constraints of conventional material systems, this study innovatively combines the high elasticity of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with the stochastically distributed porous topology of a sponge-derived biotemplate through biomimetic templating replication technology, fabricating a heterogeneous composite system with an architecturally asymmetric spatial network. After 5000 loading cycles, uncoated samples experienced a thickness reduction of 7.0 mm, while PDMS-coated samples showed minimal thickness changes (2.0–3.0 mm), positively correlated with curing agent content (5:1 to 20:1). The 5:1 ratio sample demonstrated exceptional mechanical stability. As evidenced, the PDMS film-encapsulated architecturally asymmetric spatial network demonstrates superior stress dissipation efficacy, effectively mitigating stress concentration phenomena inherent to symmetric configurations that induce matrix fracture, thereby achieving optimal mechanical stability. Compared to the pre-test resistance distribution of 10–248 Ω, after 5000 cyclic loading cycles, the uncoated samples exhibited a narrowed resistance range of 10–50 Ω, while PDMS-coated samples maintained a broader resistance range (10–240 Ω) as the curing agent ratio increased (from 20:1 to 5:1), demonstrating that increasing the curing agent ratio helps maintain conductive network stability. The 5:1 ratio sample displayed the lowest resistance variation rate attenuation—only 3% after 5000 cycles (vs. 80% for uncoated samples)—and consistently minimal attenuation at all stages, validating superior electrical stability. Under 0–6 kPa pressure, the 5:1 ratio device maintained a linear sensitivity of 0.157 kPa⁻¹, outperforming some existing works. Human motion monitoring experiments further confirmed its reliable signal output. Furthermore, the architecturally asymmetric spatial network of the device enables superior conformability to complex curvilinear geometries, leveraging its structural anisotropy to achieve seamless interfacial adaptation. By synergistically optimizing material composition and structural design, this study provides a novel technical method for developing highly durable flexible electronic devices. Full article

In response to the current research status and existing problems of material distribution during major emergency events, we construct an intelligent emergency logistics route model based on cellular space AGNES clustering (AGglomerative NESting clustering) and a symmetrical fruit fly optimization algorithm. We establish the cellular algorithm based on urban road nodes and node local spaces, and construct the topology algorithm to implement the cellular space in a way that includes distribution centers and delivery points. In the cellular space, we develop an improved AGNES clustering algorithm based on the cellular space model in accordance with the neighboring relationship between distribution centers and delivery points, which quantifies the spatial clustering relationship between the distribution centers and the delivery points. Based on the clustering model, we construct an emergency logistics route model by using a symmetrical fruit fly optimization algorithm. In line with the symmetrical feature of a logistics route from one destination to another, the traveling distances within one route section are the same in both directions. Thus, we construct the logistics sub-intervals and logistics intervals by using distribution centers and delivery points, and the optimal fruit fly individuals and corresponding fitness functions are searched within the two-level intervals to obtain the emergency logistics routes with the lowest costs. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can output the optimal logistics routes for each logistics sub-interval and the entire logistics interval. Compared with the traditional route planning methods Dijkstra’s algorithm and the A* algorithm, it can reduce the cost of route planning and achieve optimization rates of 9.89% and 13.12%, respectively. The t-test proves that the constructed algorithm is superior to the traditional route planning algorithms in saving route costs. Full article

The article presents the results of experimental studies on the symmetrical and asymmetrical rolling process of composite laminate sheets consisting of difficult-to-deform Ti and Ni materials. Composite sheets joined by explosive welding were used for the tests. The aim of the research was to determine the impact of plastic shaping conditions in the rolling process on the quality and selected functional properties of the materials constituting the layered composite. The rolling process was carried out cold on a duo laboratory rolling mill with a roll diameter of 300 mm. During the rolling process, the influence of the rolling process conditions on the distribution of metal pressure forces on the rolls was determined, as well as the shear strength and microstructural studies of the joint area of the layered composites. As part of the conducted considerations, residual stress tests were carried out using the Barkhausen noise method. The scientific aim of the presented work was to determine the optimal conditions for the plastic processing of multi-layer Ti-Ni sheets. The results presented in the work allowed for determining the most favorable conditions for the rolling process. Full article

In this work, hollow dodecahedral carbon structures with abundant N-doping sites and metal nanoparticles (NC-Co-CNTs) based on MOF-derivative materials were designed and prepared as host materials for lithium metal to ensure uniform lithium deposition on a Cu current collector. NC-Co-CNTs have good electrical conductivity, which ensures fast electron transport and Li⁺ transfer. The carbon nanotubes catalytically derived by Co can promote the uniform distribution of Li⁺ along the hollow dodecahedral carbon surface and deposition inside the cavity, and the larger electronegativity of N-doped sites and lithophilic sites such as Co nanoparticles can effectively adsorb lithium, inducing the Li⁺ to be deposited in the form of spherical lithium in a dendrite-free state, inhibiting the growth of dendritic lithium and improving the electrochemical performance of the lithium metal battery. Based on the above advantages, the electrodes of NC-Co-CNT-based symmetric cells present superior cycling performance for more than 1100 h with low overpotential at 1 mAh cm⁻²/1 mAh·cm⁻². Even cycling at high current density of 5 mA cm⁻² and high deposition parameters of 5 mAh cm⁻², it still cycles for up to 800 h at a relatively low overpotential. Full article

3D-Kagome lattice sandwich panels are mainly composed of upper and lower panels and a series of symmetrically and periodically arranged lattices, known for their excellent high specific stiffness, high specific strength, and energy absorption capacity. The inherent geometrical symmetry of the 3D-Kagome lattice plays a crucial role in achieving superior mechanical stability and load distribution efficiency. This structural symmetry enhances the uniformity of stress distribution, making it highly suitable for automotive vibration suppression, such as battery protection for electric vehicles. In this study, a polyurethane foam-filled, symmetry-enhanced 3D-Kagome sandwich panel is designed following an optimization of the lattice structure. A novel fabrication method combining precision wire-cutting, interlocking core assembly, and in situ foam filling is employed to ensure a high degree of integration and manufacturability of the composite structure. Its mechanical properties and energy absorption characteristics are systematically evaluated through a series of experimental tests, including quasi-static compression, three-point bending, and low-speed impact. The study analyzes the effects of core height on the structural stiffness, strength, and energy absorption capacity under varying loads, elucidating the failure mechanisms inherent to the symmetrical lattice sandwich configurations. The results show that the foam-filled sandwich panels exhibit significant improvements in mechanical performance compared to the unfilled ones. Specifically, the panels with core heights of 15 mm, 20 mm, and 25 mm demonstrate increases in bending stiffness of 47.3%, 53.5%, and 51.3%, respectively, along with corresponding increases in bending strength of 45.5%, 53.1%, and 50.9%. The experimental findings provide a fundamental understanding of foam-filled lattice sandwich structures, offering insights into their structural optimization for lightweight energy-absorbing applications. This study establishes a foundation for the development of advanced crash-resistant materials for automotive, aerospace, and protective engineering applications. This work highlights the structural advantages and crashworthiness potential of foam-filled Kagome sandwich panels, providing a promising foundation for their application in electric vehicle battery enclosures, aerospace impact shields, and advanced protective systems. Full article

Discontinuity damage and shear strength weakening under dynamic loading are important causes of engineering rock instability. To study the damage mechanism of rock discontinuities under dynamic loading and the law of shear strength weakening after disturbance, the dominant controlling factors of dynamic loading-induced discontinuity damage were analyzed using the discrete element method. The evolution characteristics and formation mechanism of discontinuity damage were revealed, and the shear strength weakening law of discontinuities under dynamic loading was quantitatively characterized and verified by laboratory tests. The results are as follows: (1) Due to the symmetry of the structural distribution and material properties, a 2D UDEC-Tri model containing a discontinuity specimen was established. The number of failure blocks and the crack development length were calculated using Fish scripting in UDEC. Based on the orthogonal design method, it was found that the dominant controlling factors of dynamic load-induced discontinuity damage are the dynamic load frequency, peak dynamic load, and cycle number. (2) In the rising stress stage, the discontinuity mainly accumulates energy, causing minor damage with slight shear crack development. In the falling stress stage, energy release increases the damage, leading to significant shear and tensile crack growth with a hysteresis effect. The cracks are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the discontinuity. (3) The greater the damage to the discontinuity caused by the dynamic load disturbance, the more obvious the shear strength weakening after the disturbance. By comprehensively considering the symmetry characteristics of the damage distribution and strength weakening law of the discontinuity, and based on mathematical analysis, the model of discontinuity shear strength weakening after dynamic load disturbance was established. The model considers three dominant controlling factors: the dynamic loading frequency, peak dynamic load, and cycle number. The research results reveal the damage mechanism of discontinuities under dynamic loading and obtain the shear strength weakening law, which provides a reference for the stability evaluation of engineering rock masses under dynamic loading. Full article

The precise preparation and application of nanomicrospheres is currently an emerging research hotspot in the cutting-edge cross-disciplines. As an important functional material, nanosized microspheres show a broad application prospect in biomedicine, chemical engineering, materials science, and other fields. However, microspheres with good monodispersity are still facing technical bottlenecks, such as complicated preparation process and high cost. In this study, a multistage cyclic dielectrophoresis (MC-DEP) technique is innovatively proposed to successfully realize the high-resolution sorting of submicron microspheres. A dielectrophoresis chip adopts a unique electrode design, in which the electrodes are arranged at the top and bottom of the microchannel at the same time. This symmetric electrode structure effectively eliminates the difference in the distribution of dielectrophoretic force in the perpendicular direction and ensures the homogeneity of the initial state of particle sorting. Three pairs of focusing electrodes are in the front section of the microchannel for preaggregation of the microspheres, and the deflection electrodes in the back section are to realize particle size sorting. After this, the upper and lower limits of particle size are limited by multiple cycles of sorting. The multistage cyclic sorting increases the stability of particle deflection under dielectrophoretic forces and reduces the error perturbation caused by the fluid environment. The experimental results show that the multistage cycling sorting scheme significantly improves the monodispersity of the microspheres, and the coefficient of variation of the particle size is significantly reduced from the initial 12.3% to 5.4% after three cycles of sorting, which fully verifies the superior performance of this technology. Full article

Ta₂AlC is an emerging ceramic material characterized by its high melting point, high hardness, excellent thermal stability, and superior mechanical properties, which allow for broad application prospects in aerospace and defense fields. This paper investigates the physical mechanisms underlying the modulation of the mechanical and photoelectric properties of Ta₂AlC through doping using the first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave method. We specifically calculated the geometric structure, mechanical properties, electronic structure, Mulliken population analysis, and optical properties of Ta₂AlC doped with V, Ga, or Si. The results indicate that doping induces significant changes in the structural parameters of Ta₂AlC. By applying the Born’s criterion as the standard for mechanical stability, we have calculated that the structures of Ta₂AlC, both before and after doping, are stable. The mechanical property calculations revealed that V and Si doping weaken the material’s resistance to deformation while enhancing its plasticity. In contrast, Ga doping increases the material’s resistance to lateral deformation and brittleness. Doping also increases the anisotropy of Ta₂AlC. Electronic structure calculations confirmed that Ta₂AlC is a conductor with excellent electrical conductivity, which is not diminished by doping. The symmetric distribution of spin-up and spin-down electronic state densities indicates that the Ta₂AlC system remains non-magnetic after doping. The partial density of states diagrams successfully elucidated the influence of dopant atoms on the band structure and electronic state density. Mulliken population analysis revealed that V and Ga doping enhance the covalent interactions between C-Ta and Al-Ta atoms, whereas Si doping weakens these interactions. Optical property calculations showed that V and Si doping significantly enhance the electromagnetic energy storage capacity and dielectric loss of Ta₂AlC, while Ga doping has minimal effect. The reflectivity of doped and undoped Ta₂AlC reaches over 90% in the ultraviolet region, indicating its potential as an anti-ultraviolet coating material. In the visible light region, both doped and undoped Ta₂AlC exhibit a similar metallic gray appearance, suggesting its potential as a temperature control coating material. The light loss of Ta₂AlC is limited to a narrow energy range, indicating that doping does not affect its use as a light storage material. These results demonstrate that different dopants can effectively modulate the mechanical and photoelectric properties of Ta₂AlC. Full article

This study introduces a novel titanium hollow structure for mandibular reconstruction designed to optimize mechanical stability and stress distribution. A comparative evaluation with a similar polyetheretherketone (PEEK) structure is performed to assess material-specific biomechanical behavior. Methods: Finite element analysis (FEA) simulations were conducted to evaluate stress distribution, displacement, and structural stability of the symmetrical titanium and PEEK hollow structures under physiological conditions. The reconstructions were designed based on Scherk minimal surfaces, integrating fixing plates to achieve optimal mechanical performance while maintaining symmetry. Results: The FEA simulations demonstrated that the titanium hollow structure exhibited higher mechanical stability, lower displacement, and more uniform stress distribution, ensuring structural integrity under applied forces. In contrast, the PEEK structure displayed greater flexibility, which reduced stress shielding but resulted in higher deformation and lower load-bearing capacity. While titanium inherently supports osseointegration, PEEK requires surface modifications to enhance bone integration and long-term stability. Conclusions: The titanium hollow structure presents a promising advancement in metal-based mandibular reconstruction, effectively balancing strength, durability, and biological integration. Future research should focus on using more structures, enhancing surface modifications and optimizing lattice structures to further improve the biological and biomechanical performance of PEEK-based and titanium-based implants in load-bearing conditions. Full article

This paper presents a comprehensive model for the inertia force field acting on a moving connecting rod. The derived formulas enable the accurate calculation of resultant inertia forces and their distribution on individual components for finite element analysis (FEA). The method applies to symmetrical and complex-shaped connecting rods, addressing challenges in modeling forces for asymmetrical designs. This work advances the precision of stress and vibration modeling in connecting rods, crucial for tribology and reliability studies. By improving the understanding of wear and failure mechanisms in reciprocating systems, it supports design optimization. The article presents the application of the proposed computational methods using three materials typically used for connecting rod construction: 42CrMo4, aluminum 2618, and Ti6Al4V. The presented results demonstrate how the material selection influences the total inertia force and the resulting stresses within the material. The numerical results are presented based on simulations conducted for two connecting rods of different sizes, operating at extremely different rotational speeds. The conducted analyses show that in the examined cases, rotational speed is the key factor influencing inertia stresses. The implementation, based on Open Source tools, allows a numerical analysis of inertia forces and stresses, with all the methods and models available in an open repository. Full article