Load Application Research Articles

Evaluation of the biomechanics of Aramany class I obturators of different designs using numerical and experimental methods. Part II: Stress distribution

Evidence regarding stress evaluations of removable obturators with Aramany class I defects is lacking. Whether the stress distribution on Aramany class I prostheses can be improved by modifying the currently used designs is also unclear. The purpose of part II of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution in different designs of Aramany class I obturators using finite element analysis (FEA) and photoelastic stress analysis. Four finite element and 8 photoelastic models, including 2 acrylic resin base obturators retained with 2 Adams clasps, 2 linear, 2 tripodal, and 2 fully tripodal design obturators, were used in this study. The frameworks were fabricated on the casts obtained from a modified printed model. Vertical and oblique loads were applied on 2 points (anterior and posterior) of the models. The quantitative measurement was done by measuring the fringe orders and von Mises values to compare the influences of occlusal forces on the obturator components and their supporting structures. The qualitative evaluation was done by visual color mapping to identify the stress concentration. In the photoelastic analysis, the anterior abutments of the tripodal showed the highest stress, followed by the fully tripodal obturators, while, in FEA, the anterior abutments of the linear design received the most in both vertical and oblique load. The central incisor received the most stress in photoelastic (3 or more fringe orders) and FEA (687.3 and 150.1MPa for vertical and oblique loads, respectively), followed by the lateral incisors. Upon posterior loading, the base of the defect of the linear design demonstrated the most stress in photoelastic (3 or more fringes) and FEA (94.3 and 130.5MPa for vertical and oblique loads, respectively). The acrylic resin base obturator retained with Adams clasps demonstrated the lowest stress distribution in abutments and their supporting bone upon anterior and posterior loads. Upon vertical and oblique load application, the fully tripodal design was comparable with the tripodal in terms of stress distribution. Both designs were better than the linear in response to the same loading. The stress was concentrated at the anterior palatal part of the obturator, the base of the defect, and the junction of the metal and acrylic resin part of the prostheses upon anterior and posterior loading, respectively.

Study on intelligent tyre force estimation algorithm based on strain analysis

The objective of this paper is to propose a novel approach to develop an algorithm for estimating the grounding force between a tyre and the road surface. First, a finite element model of a heavy-duty tyre is developed in this paper, and the validity of the model is verified by load application tests and mechanical vibration tests. When the tyres are operated under various operating conditions, that is, load, side deflection, side tilt and longitudinal slip conditions, the sensitivity analysis is performed by combining the three-directional forces based on the strain curves measured when the tyres are rolling, respectively. In order to achieve accurate estimation of the three-directional forces, this paper establishes a three-directional force estimation model using the support vector machine (SVM) technique, with the tyre force-sensitive eigenvalues as inputs and the tyre forces as outputs, so as to achieve the three-directional force estimation of the tyre-grounded three-directional forces. joint estimation of tyre-road contact force. The results show that the estimation error of vertical force is 1.79%, the estimation error of lateral force is 3%, the estimation error of longitudinal force is 4.65% and in general, the estimation error of grounding force is kept within 5%, and the estimation effect is good.

Optimizing Building Rehabilitation through Nondestructive Evaluation of Fire-Damaged Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete.

Fire incidents pose significant threats to the structural integrity of reinforced concrete buildings, often necessitating comprehensive rehabilitation to restore safety and functionality. Effective rehabilitation of fire-damaged structures relies heavily on accurate damage assessment, which can be challenging with traditional invasive methods. This paper explores the impact of severe damage due to fire exposure on the mechanical behavior of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. After being exposed to direct fire, the SFRC specimens are subjected to fracture testing to assess their mechanical properties. NDE techniques, specifically acoustic emission (AE) and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), are employed to assess fire-induced damage. The primary aim of this study is to reveal that AE parameters-such as amplitude, cumulative hits, and energy-are strongly correlated with mechanical properties and damage of SFRC due to fire. Additionally, AE monitoring is employed to assess structural integrity throughout the loading application. The distribution of AE hits and the changes in specific AE parameters throughout the loading can serve as valuable indicators for differentiating between healthy and thermally damaged concrete. Compared to the well-established relationship between UPV and strength in bending and compression, the sensitivity of AE to fracture events shows its potential for in situ application, providing new characterization capabilities for evaluating the post-fire mechanical performance of SFRC. The test results of this study reveal the ability of the examined NDE methods to establish the optimum rehabilitation procedure to restore the capacity of the fire-damaged SFRC structural members.

Analytical Analysis of Buckling Of Layered Composite Columns

Abstract: Lightweight composite construction is of great interest in the design and manufacture of spacecraft and marine vehicles because of high specific stiffness and strength. In addition, sandwich construction offers enhanced corrosion resistance, noise suppression and reduction in life-cycle costs. There are several issues and questions related to the use of composite construction that require attention and answers. One of the important issues is the prediction of buckling loads, under either static or sudden load application. For the static case, closed form solutions are derived for a symmetric composite column under axial compression and for various boundary conditions. In this study, improved analytical models are developed to characterize interface behavior of layered composite column-type structures. The mechanics models of the bonded interface with and without adhesive layer are established, from which the interface fracture, delamination buckling, free vibration and stress analysis across the adhesive layer of corresponding interface are studied.

The effects of setup parameters on the measured kinetic output of cervical disc prostheses

Mechanical testing machines are used to evaluate kinematics, kinetics, wear, and efficacy of spinal implants. The simulation of "physiological" spinal loading conditions necessitates the simultaneous use of multiple actuators. The challenge in achieving a desired loading profile lies in achieving close synchronization of these actuators. Errors in load application can be attributed to both the control system and the intrinsic sample response. Moreover, the presence of friction in the setup can have an impact on the measured outcome. The optimization of setup parameters can substantially improve the ability to simulate spinal loading conditions and obtain reliable data on implant performance. In this study, a reproducible kinematic test protocol was developed to evaluate the sensitivity of the kinetic response (i.e., measured loads, moments, and stiffnesses) of a cervical disc prosthesis to several testing parameters. In this context, five ceramic ball and socket sample implants were mounted in a 6 DOF material testing machine and tested with a constant axial compressive force of 100 N in two motion modes: 1) flexion-extension (±7.5°) and 2) lateral bending (±6°). Parameters including rotation rate, slider friction, friction between the samples' articulating surfaces, and moment arm were considered to determine their effects on measured kinetic parameters. The sensitivity analysis indicated that all setup parameters except friction between the samples' articulating surfaces had a substantial effect on the results. The findings were then compared to predictions from a free body diagram to determine the optimal setup parameters. Consequently, the setup with the lowest rotation rate and employing passive sliders yielded results that were consistent with the free body diagram. This study demonstrated the significance of a comprehensive setup evaluation for reliable and reproducible testing of spinal implants, also for comparison between labs.

Power of photo-stress analysis in unravelling the mechanics of granular materials and its applications in interdisciplinary research

Granular materials, such as various grains and granulated powders, are essential in numerous industrial applications and natural processes, including the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and materials processing industries. They also play a significant role in geotechnical phenomena like the shear-driven collapses of embankments and landslides, which can lead to extensive damage and disruptions. Despite a significant surge in research activities and advancements in discrete element modelling (DEM) tools since the late 1970s, understanding the mechanical characteristics of granular materials remains complex. Experimental techniques such as photo stress analysis (PSA), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and X-ray tomography (XRT) offer valuable insights, yet there is still a lack of detailed information on how granular materials respond mechanically at the microscale under various loading conditions. This knowledge gap affects industrial product quality, equipment safety, production efficiency, operational costs, environmental compliance, and overall safety. In this paper, we initially focus on our scientific contributions to the development of photo stress analysis (PSA) in unravelling the load-transmission characteristics of granular materials of varying sizes and structures (two-dimensional and quasi-three-dimensional) under different mechanical loading environments and applications. Where relevant, discrete element modelling (DEM) complements PSA to enhance our understanding of granular mechanics. We then present the application of PSA to selected key interdisciplinary areas from our recent work, demonstrating the power of PSA. Despite current challenges in applying PSA to three-dimensional granular systems, the results reported here significantly advance our fundamental understanding of the particle-scale and micromechanical characteristics in granular mechanics and particulate engineering. This work highlights the potential of PSA in addressing various inter- and multidisciplinary research problems in the future.

Machinability of Basalt/PBS sustainable composites: a comprehensive experimental analysis

ABSTRACT Basalt fiber reinforced polybutylene succinate (BFPBS) composite offer competitive solutions for medium load applications but face significant drilling challenges. Present study seeks to perform an exhaustive machinability analysis and optimize pivotal drilling variables, to mitigate delamination and enhance machining efficacy in BFPBS laminates. Experimental exploration involved three distinct drill geometries: an 8 mm twist drill and two modified step drills, facilitating scrutiny of pilot diameter’s impact on drilling behavior. Mapping force signals, morphological analysis, chip formation investigation, and specific cutting energy calculation were conducted to deepen comprehension of BFPBS machinability. Modified step drill showed superior performance with lower thrust force and torque. Feed rate primarily affected thrust force, whereas tool geometry notably influenced exit delamination. Multiple linear regression models enabled Genetic Algorithm optimization, revealing Pareto optimal sets balancing thrust, torque, and delamination. Step drills show potential for reduced energy use and improved efficiency in BFPBS composite machining, benefiting various industries.

Research and application of short-term load forecasting based on CEEMDAN-LSTM modeling

Accurate short-term load forecasting plays a crucial role in guiding and regulating the operation of power companies. In this study, we propose a combined prediction model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Improved Whale Optimization Algorithm (IWOA) to enhance prediction accuracy and address the limitations of existing single methods. The parameter optimization of the LSTM model requires significant computing resources and time. To tackle this issue, we introduced the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) and improved the algorithm through the roulette method to form a whale optimization algorithm that enhances its global search capability and avoids falling into local optimal solutions. Additionally, in order to handle the nonlinearity and non-smoothness of the input data of the model, we utilized fully integrated Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) in this study to improve the efficiency of model training. By combining these techniques, we constructed a new CEEMDAN-IWOA-LSTM combined prediction model. The simulation results in MATLAB demonstrate that the prediction accuracy of this model reaches 99.05 %, which surpasses other prediction models in all evaluation indexes.

Experimental investigations on the cyclic load-bearing behavior of structural glazing joints under seismic load

In addition to static loads, structural glazing joints in glass and facade construction in many regions are subject to extraordinary effects such as earthquakes. Seismic actions are characterized by a randomly recurring and dynamic load that affects the structural behavior of the viscoelastic material. Publications on the load-bearing behavior and design of structural glazing joints against seismic loading have not systematically considered these effects. In this paper, relevant parameters influencing the seismic loading of structural glazing joints are determined, evaluated, and narrowed down to areas of practical relevance as part of a theoretical stress analysis. On this basis, extensive experimental investigations of the low-cycle fatigue behavior of structural glazing joints are presented. Cyclic stress–strain curves are determined and compared with quasi-static reference tests to describe the basic low-cycle fatigue behavior. The influence of the previously determined parameters on the cyclic load-bearing behavior can thus be determined and presented. These investigations provide an important basis for describing the behavior under typical seismic random loading. In particular, the type of load application caused by the different construction types of glass and facade buildings can be mentioned as a decisive influencing factor in addition to the frequency of building construction. The results provide a first important contribution to the modeling and design of structural glazing joints against earthquake effects. Further extensive scientific investigations will be carried out on this basis in order to develop a design model for structural glazing joints in disaster scenarios.

Enhanced measurement and optimization of railway profile parameters for large tamping machine operations

Abstract In the realm of modern railway maintenance, the employment of large tamping machine for the enhancement of track geometry and elasticity, and the minimization of disturbance to the roadbed, has become a key operational approach. However, factors such as repeated load applications, changes in topography and geology, and ongoing maintenance activities have been known to cause significant deviations of the actual track location from its original design. These deviations present challenges, such as increased construction difficulty and workload, during tamping operations predicated on the original design. Moreover, methods based on manual intervention have rendered large machine maintenance operations inefficient. In this paper, an optimisation method for railway profile parameters suitable for large tamping machine operations is proposed. The method integrates the total least squares method and the direct search method, enabling the accurate fitting of slope segments preceding and following the slope change points and the alignment of circular curve segments to determine the optimal curve radius. Consequently, optimised profile parameters for the continuous track section are obtained. Focusing on the Beijing–Guangzhou line, the operational efficacy of the proposed optimisation method is compared with that of the artificial slope method. The results showed that the proposed optimisation method is not only more accurate and efficient but also adheres to the principle of ‘prefer lifting rather than descending’ of the railways. The method further provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the optimisation of railway profile, underscoring the potential for improved maintenance efficiency and enhanced safety in train operations.

Tissue surface adaptation and retention of digital obturator after one year of use

BackgroundEffect of aging on tissue adaptability and retention of digital obturator is still under investigation.Methods A maxillary Armany (class I) epoxy reference model was scanned to fabricate digital obturator fabricated from milled Co-Cr framework and 3D printed bulb. A color map of the scanned reference and digital obturator was made using Geomagic software to evaluate the accuracy of fit before and after cyclic loading using ROBOTA chewing simulator at 37,500, 75,000 and 150,000 cycles to simulate clinically 3-, 6- and 12-months chewing condition. Insertion-removal condition simulating the placement and removal of the obturator was done using repeated 360, 720 and 1440 cycles and retention was evaluated before and after the repeated cycles. Data were collected, tabulated and statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics 26). Student t-test and multi variable ANOVA test were used to detect significance. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant difference.ResultsFor retention test: There was a significant difference between baseline and 3, 6 and12 months. For the tissue surface adaptation test: There was significant difference at all measured areas (P-value < 0.05) before and after application of load.Conclusiondigitally designed and fabricated obturator was highly retentive and has excellent tissue surface adaptation upon fabrication, After application of load; reduction of retention and lack of tissue adaptation were resulted.The clinical implicationof this manuscript is that digital obturator can be used successfully with the shortcomings of loosening retention and adaptation afterwhile. So, clinical trials should investigate the clinical acceptance of these shortcomings.

In-situ stress field simulation and fracture distribution prediction of middle lower Ordovician in Zone B of Tahe Oilfield, Tarim Basin

This study constructed a heterogeneous rock mechanics model through well seismic joint inversion, set up a dual cycle statement to optimize the application of boundary loads, and obtained the current stress field distribution in Zone B. At the same time, we preferred the rock fracture criterion, carried out the quantitative characterization of different natures of fractures, and used the integrated fracture development rate to portray the integrated fracture development situation. Finally, the horizontal stress difference, stress heterogeneity coefficient, and comprehensive fracture rate were proposed to define the development index of fractured reservoirs. The results show that (1) the maximum horizontal principal stress is 102–144 MPa, and the minimum horizontal principal stress is 85–125 MPa; (2) the development rate of tension fractures is 0.03–0.23, the development rate of shear fractures is 0.15–0.54, and the integrated fracture development rate is 0.28–0.79; (3) the development index of fracture-type reservoirs is >2.3, Class I; 1.8–2.3, Class II; When it is lower than 1.8, Grade III. This article attempts to apply the stress field simulation results to the quantitative prediction of reservoir fractures, adding new ideas for the practical application of stress field results.

Increased force and elastic energy storage are not the mechanisms that improve jump performance with accentuated eccentric loading during a constrained vertical jump.

Accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) involves higher load applied during the eccentric phase of a stretch-shortening cycle movement, followed by a sudden removal of load before the concentric phase. Previous studies suggest that AEL enhances human countermovement jump performance, however the mechanism is not fully understood. Here we explore whether isolating additional load during the countermovement is sufficient to increase ground reaction force, and hence elastic energy stored, at the start of the upward movement and whether this leads to increased jump height or power generation. We conducted a trunk-constrained vertical jump test on a custom-built device to isolate the effect of additional load while controlling for effects of squat depth, arm swing, and coordination. Twelve healthy, recreationally active adults (7 males, 5 females) performed maximal jumps without AEL, followed by randomised AEL conditions prescribed as a percentage of body mass (10%, 20%, and 30%), before repeating jumps without AEL. No significant changes in vertical ground reaction force at the turning point were observed. High load AEL conditions (20% and 30% body weight) led to slight reductions in jump height, primarily due to decreased hip joint and centre of mass work. AEL conditions did not alter peak or integrated activation levels of the knee extensor muscles. The constrained movement task used here, which excluded potential contributions of trunk motion, arm swing, rate of descent, squat depth, and point of load application, allows the conclusion that increased elastic energy return is not the primary mechanism for potentiating effects of AEL on jump performance.

Detection of indentation damage in carbon fiber/epoxy composites via EIT during the application of bending loads

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a method of spatially mapping the conductivity distribution of a domain and has been studied as a potential embedded sensing or nondestructive evaluation (NDE) tool. An often touted advantage of EIT is that it can be used in-situ; that is, because the method only requires the application of unobtrusive electrodes, it can conceivably be used while the component or structure is in operation. This material-as-the-sensor philosophy strongly aligns with key components of the NDE 4.0 vision such as the realization of intelligent cyber–physical systems (CPS) and digital twins. To date, however, the claim of in-situ sensing via EIT has not been significantly substantiated. This is problematic because operational loads induce strains that often change the conductivity of the material. Establishing that EIT can detect damage-induced conductivity changes through the presence of unrelated strain-induced conductivity changes is therefore important. To that end, we herein study the application of EIT for detecting indentation damage in a carbon fiber/epoxy composite as the composite is loaded in a four-point bend. It was found that the bending load changes the contact impedance of the electrodes, which resulted in poor EIT images when solving the EIT inverse problem with the ℓ2-norm on the error term. Using the ℓ1-norm on the error term, solved via the primal–dual interior point method (PDIPM), significantly improved image quality. Image quality was even further improved through the use of a mixed prior for regularization, and EIT images were compared to thermography with good agreement. These results show that EIT can indeed detect damage through the presence of an applied load, but care must be taken to account for factors such as outlier data arising from electrode degradation and changing contact impedance. Use of the ℓ1-norm on the error term is therefore highly recommended for in-situ imaging via EIT.

Developing an optimised method for accurate wear testing of dental materials using the ‘Rub&Roll’ device

Dental materials are challenged by wear processes in the oral environment and should be evaluated in laboratory tests prior to clinical use. Many laboratory wear-testing devices are high-cost investments and not available for cross-centre comparisons. The ‘Rub&Roll’ wear machine enables controlled application of force, chemical and mechanical loading, but the initial design was not able to test against rigid antagonist materials. The current study aimed to probe the sensitivity of a new ‘Rub&Roll’ set-up by evaluating the effect of force and test solution parameters (deionized water; water + abrasive medium; acid + abrasive medium) on the wear behaviour of direct and indirect dental resin-based composites (RBCs) compared with human molars against 3D-printed rod antagonists. Molars exhibited greater height loss than RBCs in all test groups, with the largest differences recorded with acidic solutions. Direct RBCs showed significantly greater wear than indirect RBCs in the groups containing abrasive media. The acidic + abrasive medium did not result in increased wear of RBC materials. The developed method using the ‘Rub&Roll’ wear machine in the current investigation has provided a sensitive wear test method to allow initial screening of resin-based composite materials compared with extracted human molars under the influence of different mechanical and erosive challenges.

Shear deformation behavior of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel lattice structures

With the development of additive manufacturing, lattice structures have emerged as a disruptive technology across various fields, including aerospace, automotive, and defense. Lattice structures exhibit exceptional properties for lightweight and energy absorption capacities, especially under compressive loads. However, the lack of experimental data on complex loads, such as shear properties of lattice structures, poses challenges to their broader application across different load types. This study aims to analyze the shear deformation behavior of lattice structures and compare them with their compressive properties, enabling the safe design of lattice structures for various load applications. To achieve this, 316 L stainless steel lattice structures were fabricated using additive manufacturing in three different geometries: body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), and octet truss (OCT), all at the same relative density. The lattice geometries were compared for their mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms under the two types of loading using DIC and FEM analyses, compression and shear tests. It was found that the mechanical properties of the lattice structures under compression and shear loads varied depending on the geometry, showing that each lattice geometry has a unique load-bearing capacity that exhibits superior mechanical properties. Furthermore, under shear loading, the struts of the BCC lattice structure showed a bending-dominated deformation mode due to the rotation of the nodes, whereas the struts of the FCC and OCT structures presented a compression and tension-dominated deformation mode. As a result, the BCC lattice specimens showed a higher shear energy absorption capacity than the other specimens and were capable of bearing higher loads. In addition, the FCC specimens showed lower shear energy absorption. The OCT specimens presented a uniform strain distribution under both compression and shear loading and showed compliant performance. The shear deformation behavior of various lattice structures has been evaluated by considering both geometrical and local strain distribution aspects. Implications for optimization guidelines and potential improvements were also discussed. These results can be used for research and development of the shear properties of lattice structures, the safe design of lattice structures, and industrial applications.

An Experimental Investigation of Light Weight Concrete Using Pumice Aggregate for Short Wall Panel Under the Application of Axial Load

The project study with the special concrete such as light weight concrete by using pumice aggregate (Natural aggregate). One of the disadvantages of conventional concrete is having high self weight. This heavy self-weight will make it to some extent an uneconomical structural material. Light weight concrete having low density reduces dead load and increase the thermal insulation. The reduction in density is produced by using it as a replacement of coarse aggregate partially in concrete. In this Study an attempt has been made to find the compressive strength of light weight aggregate concrete using mix M25 with poly carboxyl ether admixture under the application of axial load on short wall panel. Light weight concrete is made by replacement of Coarse Aggregate of Pumice aggregates.

Effect of Veneering Technique on Shear Strength of Porcelain Veneered Zirconia (PVZ): Finite Element Analysis

Veneering technique is discussed as one of the reasons for chipping of porcelain veneered zirconia (PVZ) restorations, which impacts their longevity and success. This study aims to evaluate the effect of veneering technique; heat-pressed, and hand-layered, on the shear bond strength of PVZ ceramics through finite element analysis. Six cylindrical bilayer material model configurations were analysed; two types of zirconia, IPS e.max® ZirCad (Z) and Luxen Zr (L) and each veneered with three porcelain types, Shofu Vintage ZR (V), IPS e.max® Ceram (C), IPS e.max® Zirpress (P), with dimensions of (10 mm x 1.2 mm) and (5 mm x 3 mm), respectively. The force for threedimensional model configurations were fixed at 5 kN. The results show that heat-pressed groups (ZP and LP) have slightly higher bond strength value 49.12 MPa and 49.03 MPa, compared to hand-layered groups (ZC, LC, ZV, and LV), measuring 48.87 MPa with 0.5% difference at maximum. Bond strength in MPa underwent variance analysis, revealing a significant influence of ceramic material on mean values (p = 0.0017). Thus, the highest stress concentrations occur at the edges of the load application points, gradually decreasing as the distance from the point of load application increases. Results indicate that heat-pressed technique is better than hand-layered veneering technique due to its effectiveness in strong adhering veneer to the zirconia core.

Cyclic loading experiments and numerical analysis of laterally loaded piles constructed in marine soil

This study aims to thoroughly analyze the lateral loads that impact tubular steel piles, which are extensively employed in the construction of coastal structures. The ASTM D 3966 standard was followed for conducting field tests on test piles installed at the Mersin International Port. The “time-displacement” and “load-displacement” curves were obtained from the cyclic loading test of the laterally loaded piles at the construction site. The finite elements models of the tests conducted on the construction site with the same parameters was built to perform numerical analysis. At the end of the analysis, it was determined that the numerical model's results were highly consistent with those obtained from the field test. After verifying the field experiments with numerical models, a parametric study was conducted. Parametric studies were conducted to compare the lateral displacements of tubular steel piles with variations in pile diameter, wall thickness, and load application height effect. The relationship between pile head displacements and these parameters appears to be almost linear. It is noteworthy that a change of approximately 10 percent in these parameters shows a correlation with changes of up to 3 percent in deformations.

Tailoring the stress-free two-way shape memory effect in sol–gel crosslinked poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-based semicrystalline networks

Two-way shape memory polymers are stimulus-responsive materials capable of changing their shape between two configurations based on an on/off thermal stimulus. While the traditional effect has been studied under the application of an external mechanical load, it was demonstrated also in the absence of an external load. Such a response only relies on a carefully tailored macromolecular architecture of the polymer combined with a specific thermo-mechanical protocol. In particular, semicrystalline networks, either consisting of a multi-phase copolymer network or a homopolymer based network with broad phase transitions, have been proposed to this aim under ad hoc thermo-mechanical histories. In this work, the two-way shape memory behavior is studied on a poly(ϵ-caprolactone)-based network, crosslinked by means of a sol–gel approach and tailored on the selection of the molecular weight of the precursor polymer. Changing the prepolymer precursor allowed to tune the melting/crystallization regions of the networks, thus the thermal region of the reversible shape memory effect. The application of properly designed thermo-mechanical cycles allowed to study the two-way shape memory effect without the application of an external load under tensile conditions. Given a specific network, the stress-free actuation of the reversible elongation-contraction cycle under tensile conditions was induced across its specific melting/crystallization region. The extent of the effect was found to depend on the crystalline fraction remaining for the given actuation temperature and on the tensile stretched state imposed on the materials during the training step. The results were compared with the response achieved under the traditional two-way shape memory protocol under stress. The stress-free two-way shape memory effect was also successfully demonstrated and emphasized, under flexural conditions, which suggests the potential of these materials as intrinsically reversible actuators, promising for applications in the biomedical field and/or for soft robotics.