Design Tool Research Articles

The Damietta Server: a comprehensive protein design toolkit.

The growing importance of protein design to various research disciplines motivates the development of integrative computational platforms that enhance the accessibility and interoperability of different design tools. To this end, we describe a web-based toolkit that builds on the Damietta protein design engine, which deploys a tensorized energy calculation framework. The Damietta Server seamlessly integrates different design tools, in addition to other tools such as message-passing neural networks and molecular dynamics routines, allowing the user to perform multiple operations on structural models and forward them across tools. The toolkit can be used for tasks such as core or interface design, symmetric design, mutagenic scanning, or conformational sampling, through an intuitive user interface. With the envisioned integration of more tools, the Damietta Server will provide a central resource for protein design and analysis, benefiting basic and applied biomedical research communities.The toolkit isavailable with no loginrequirement through https://damietta.de/.

Modelling of energy harvesting with bendable concrete and surface-mounted PVDF

Abstract Polyvinyl alcohol fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite (PVA-ECC) using piezoelectric polymer film has attracted significant interest due to its energy harvesting potential. This work provides a theoretical model for evaluating the energy harvesting of bendable Engineering Cementitious Composite (ECC) using surface-mounted polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In the mechanical part, concrete damage plasticity (CDP) model based on the explicit dynamic analysis was utilized to simulate the dynamic flexural behavior of ECC beam under different dynamic loading rates. The mechanism of force transfer through the bond layer between the PVDF film and ECC specimen was simulated by a surface-surface sliding friction model wherein the PVDF film was simplified as shell element to reduce computational cost. Then, the electromechanical behavior of the piezoelectric film was simulated by a piezoelectric finite element model (FEM). A simplified model was also given for a quick calculation. The theoretical model was verified with the experimentally measured mechanical and electrical results from the literature. Finally, a parametric analysis of the effects of electromechanical parameters on the efficiency of energy harvesting was performed. The verified theoretical model can provide a useful tool for design and optimization of cementitious composite systems for energy harvesting application.

Experimental research on mechanical behavior of UHPCFST under repeated axial compression

This paper investigates the mechanical behavior of ultra-high performance concrete-filled steel tubes (UHPCFST) subjected to repeated axial compression. A total of 34 specimens of UHPCFST were systematically designed, constructed, and evaluated experimentally. The design parameters encompassed steel tube wall thickness, UHPC type, specimen size (varying diameters while preserving a consistent diameter-to-thickness ratio), and loading scheme. The failure patterns, stress-strain relationships, axial load-bearing capacity, and stiffness were meticulously examined. Predominantly, shear failure and drum-shaped upsetting failure were identified as the primary failure mechanisms in the specimens. The axial load-bearing capacity was found to increase notably with the use of thicker steel tubes and higher-grade UHPC. Under repeated loading, a reduction in stiffness was noted, which was dependent on factors such as the steel content, tube diameter, and the volume of coarse aggregate of UHPC. Current predictive equations for the axial load-bearing capacity of CFST were assessed using the experimental results of UHPCFST and were determined to over-predict the axial load-bearing capacity of UHPCFST. Consequently, a refined equation is proposed to yield a more precise estimation of the axial load-bearing capacity for UHPCFST. Furthermore, an empirical model was developed to characterize the stress-strain behavior of UHPCFST under repeated axial compression, offering a tool for practical engineering design and analysis.

An incremental interpolation scheme with discrete cosine series expansion for multi-material topology optimization

Abstract Topology optimization is a powerful tool for structural design, while its computational cost is quite high due to the large number of design variables, especially for multi-material systems. Herein, an incremental interpolation approach with discrete cosine series expansion (DCSE) is established for multi-material topology optimization. A step function with shape coefficients (i.e., ensuring that no extra variables are required as the number of materials increases) and the use of the DCSE together reduces the number of variables (e.g., from 8400 to 120 for the optimization of the clamped-clamped beam with four materials). Remarkably, the proposed approach can effectively bypass the checkerboard problem without using any filter. The enhanced computational efficiency (e.g., a ∼89.2% reduction in computation time from 439.1 s to 47.4 s) of the proposed approach is validated via both 2D and 3D numerical cases.

Hydrodynamic processes in designing diamond drilling tools

Relevance. The rational choice of drilling tools is one of the components of a positive result of exploration, mining, drilling operations. The function of a complex solution of problems arising when drilling wells is assigned to a modern drilling tool. Today there is a great variety of designs of rock cutting drilling tools. However, scientific achievements in improving the material and technical production base contribute to the development of drilling technology and creation of new, more efficient tool designs. The most promising and effective in various mining conditions is a diamond drilling tool. During the operation of such a tool, flushing fluid circulation is of great importance, especially in the bottomhole zone of the well being constructed. When designing the structures of a diamond rock cutting tool, it is necessary to take into account not only the strength, cutting, and stabilizing properties, but also the possibility of an effective fluid flow in its circulation system, i.e. without flow energy consumption to overcome resistance, with sufficient capacity for cuttings removal and the necessary level of cooling, lubrication and implementation of other functions of the flushing fluid, which contribute to improving drilling results. At the same time, modern methods of designing a drilling tool should take into account the influence of the drilling fluid, its properties, and the nature of the flow on the rock destruction mechanism, i. e. require a thorough study of the nature of the fluid flow in the contact zone of the tool cutters with the rock. The article proposes the position of considering the design of a diamond drilling tool cutting surface from the point of view of the influence of hydrodynamic processes on the nature of cutters rock interaction. The results of the study of both the author herself and well-known world manufacturers of diamond drilling tools are given as arguments. Aim. To study the influence of the design features of the existing diamond drilling tool on the nature of the fluid flow in the bottomhole zone of the well during drilling. Objects. Designs of diamond drilling tools, hydrodynamic processes associated with drilling. Methods. Analytical method, computer simulation method. Results. Differences in fluid circulation in certain types of diamond drilling tools are determined. The zones of the diamond rock-cutting tool are distinguished. They differ in the nature of the fluid flow. Directions for reducing hydraulic resistance in the bottomhole zone of the well due to changes in the design features of the drilling tool were established.

3D electromagnetic analytical model for radial-flux eddy-current couplers

Purpose This paper aims to develop a new 3D analytical model in cylindrical coordinates to study radial flux eddy current couplers (RFECC) while considering the magnetic edge and 3D curvature effects, and the field reaction due to the induced currents. Design/methodology/approach The analytical model is developed by combining two formulations. A magnetic scalar potential formulation in the air and the magnets regions and a current density formulation in the conductive region. The magnetic field and eddy currents expressions are obtained by solving the 3D Maxwell equations in 3D cylindrical coordinates with the variable separation method. The torque expression is derived from the field solution using the Maxwell stress tensor. In addition to 3D magnetic edge effects, the proposed model takes into account the reaction field effect due to the induced currents in the conducting part. To show the accuracy of the developed 3D analytical model, its results are compared to those from the 3D finite element simulation. Findings The obtained results prove the accuracy of the new developed 3D analytical model. The comparison of the 3D analytical model with the 2D simulation proves the strong magnetic edge effects impact (in the axial direction) in these devices which must be considered in the modelling. The new analytical model allows the magnetic edge effects consideration without any correction factor and also presents a good compromise between precision and computation time. Practical implications The proposed 3D analytical model presents a considerably reduced computation time compared to 3D finite element simulation which makes it efficient as an accurate design and optimization tool for radial flux eddy current devices. Originality/value A new analytical model in 3D cylindrical coordinates has been developed to find the electromagnetic torque in radial flux eddy current couplers. This model considers the magnetic edge effects, the 3D curvature effects and the field reaction (without correction factors) while improving the computation time.

Evaluating the anisotropic thermal–mechanical coupling strength of slate: A discrete element method approach

This study utilizes the discrete element method (DEM) to explore the thermal–mechanical coupling behavior of slate. Initially, a series of triaxial compression tests are conducted on slate specimens with varying orientation angles, temperatures, and confining pressures. Subsequently, the DEM is employed to replicate the mechanical and failure characteristics of the slate under identical laboratory conditions. The DEM constitutive models incorporate the parallel bond model for the rock matrix and the smooth-joint model for foliation. A thermal-degradation function for the parallel bond model is proposed, reasonably capturing the temperature's effect on the strength and failure characteristics of the slate. The simulation results exhibit a series of U-shaped curves in peak strength at different orientation angles, mirroring experimental findings. The study's findings indicate that orientation angles significantly influence the mechanical behavior and failure characteristics of slate. Elevated temperatures have minimal effects on strength anisotropy. Furthermore, applying high confining pressure is observed to mitigate the impact of high temperatures on bond weakening. This proposed method provides a useful tool for tunnel designs and geothermal energy development.

Numerical modelling of thermal jet assisted rock cutting with double PDC cutters

AbstractPreconditioning of rock for drilling operations is a potential method to facilitate the mechanical breakage and mitigate the tool wear. This paper numerically investigates one such preconditioning technique, namely, the thermal jet assisted rock cutting. For this end, a numerical method for solving the governing thermo‐mechanical problem is developed and validated. The continuum approach is chosen to describe the rock failure, being based on a damage‐viscoplasticity model with the Drucker–Prager yield surface and the modified Rankine surface as the tensile cut‐off. In the damage part, separate scalar damage variables are employed for tension and compression. The cutters are modelled as rigid bodies and their interaction with the rock is modelled by imposing contact constraints by the forward increment Lagrange multiplier method, which is compatible with the chosen explicit time integration scheme. A damage‐based erosion criterion is applied to remove the contact nodes surrounded by heavily damaged elements. The thermal jets are modelled with a moving external heat flux boundary condition. The global thermo‐mechanical problem is solved with a staggered approach explicitly in time while applying mass scaling to increase the critical time step. The novel 3D numerical simulations involving two cutters demonstrate the capabilities of the method with a special emphasis on cutter‐thermal jet configurations. Therefore, the present method provides a potential tool for the bit design in thermal jet assisted drilling.

Diagnostic Instrument Design: Teleworking Efficiency Index

Purpose: To present the design of a new diagnostic tool called “Telework Efficiency Index” that is able to evaluate the performance of the telework modality for any business activity.   Method: For the design of the telework efficiency index, it was necessary to reveal some current experiences of the phenomenon of telework in Argentina, carrying out a field investigation through surveys and in-depth interviews with three companies operating at national and international level, two of them belonging to the telecommunications and IT sector, and another, belonging to the tourism sector as a corporate agency.   Results and conclusion: The field research carried out for the design of a new teleworking diagnostic tool, shows quite strong results of the benefits associated with the company and its workers. There is a better balance between work and family/personal activity in terms of a proportion of time spent on the order of 45% for work activities and 35% for family and personal leisure activities. í 83.33% of respondents say that the link in the ón labor relationship has improved since teleworking, and with respect to the link with their íworkñ 60% say that it has improved. In addition, 60% said they were á with teleworking, and the remaining 40% were very satisfied. Being that 50% states that the level of stress at work has decreased and has significantly improved their quality of life at the same time as their work performance. é. The biggest deficiency in 76.66% lies in the imperative need to educate and train the skills and abilities of people to perform telework optimally. The telework efficiency index represents a diagnostic tool that evaluates the performance of telework, taking as a central axis of analysis the person who exercises telework over other variables of lower incidence such as the technological infrastructure and the economic and financial aspects of organizations.   Implications of research: A phenomenon of growing global trend is taken as a starting point, which emerges strongly in recent decades as a result of the great development of information and communication technologies in the productive and social field, and in particular, from the COVID-19 pandemic that has definitively consolidated telework as a new modality of work organization, which benefits all parties involved. In this framework, the design of a diagnostic tool "telework efficiency index" that evaluates the performance of telework is presented, and facilitates better strategic decisions in organizations in the new era that transits society and the productive sector.   Originality/value: This study allows to present to the productive community a new diagnostic tool that evaluates the performance of telework, where the psychological and emotional aspects of the people willing to exercise telework over technological issues are placed in the center of the scene. This tool provides an original contribution of analysis to the discipline, considering telework as a disruptive methodology of work organization.

Design of curvilinear sections in vertical alignment of roads and railways using general transition curves

Creation of road and railway routes in general and also design of vertical alignment in particular constitute an significant engineering problem. The vertical alignment of roads, and especially of railways, is of great importance for passenger comfort under high-speed driving conditions. This requires alignment smoothness to a greater extent. In practice, the dominant tendency is to consider vertical arcs as parabolic curves (quadratic or cubic). Other solutions have been also proposed and analyzed in the literature, thus providing an alternative approach to traditional methods. This paper describes a design method of vertical arcs using the so-called general transition curves. These curves describe the entire curvilinear transition between two straight lines using a single equation, and the curvature at the contact points with the straight lines is zero, which is of great practical significance in the light of vehicle motion dynamics. As a result, relevant research shows that general transition curves, compared to other curves, provide a more favorable distribution of lateral changes of acceleration. The paper deals not only with appropriate design procedures of a general nature, but also specific procedures of fitting vertical arcs to preset points. The methods for designing vertical arcs constitute a useful extension of available methods, and offer a valuable tool for engineers and designers of road and railway routes.

Fostering Design for Sustainability through the Adoption of Computer-Aided Engineering Tools in the Development of Energy-Related Products

The main challenge to face in the development of energy-related products is represented by the adoption of effective design for sustainability strategies that encompasses the adoption of engineering design tools, knowledge collection, and reuse/sharing in technical departments. This present paper proposes an engineering design for sustainability methodology that assists engineers in developing energy-related products in compliance with ecodesign standards. The methodology uses virtual prototyping tools to assess energy consumption in compliance with energy labeling directives and analyze different use scenarios. The results obtained by numerical simulations (e.g., Finite Element Method—FEM, Computational Fluid Dynamics—CFD) are used to create specific design eco-knowledge in the field of energy-related products. Numerical results are linked with design configurations to understand the benefits introduced by engineering design choices. This knowledge is stored in a structured database with the aim of being reused when a new product is developed or improved/upgraded. The case study of an induction hob, belonging to the household appliance product family, is investigated to understand the potential and drawbacks of the presented approach in a real application. The results show that potential energy and environmental performance benefits are achieved (e.g., reduction of energy losses, achievement of A+ energy class, and overall life cycle environmental impact reduction). Additionally, a new set of ecodesign guidelines are defined for this product family and employed in developing new compliant products belonging to the same family.

Influence and Untimeliness in Modern Architecture: A Conversation between Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen and Amanda Reeser Lawrence

A conversation between Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen and Amanda Reeser Lawrence recorded on November 13, 2023 at the Yale School of Architecture. The conversation focuses on their shared interest in twentieth-century American architecture culture, including architectural pedagogy marked by the use of architectural precedents as a generative design tool and the rise of art historical formalism as a dominant method of teaching architectural history. During the discussions the authors unpacked the key concepts and intellectual roots of their respective projects, “untimeliness” and the “usable past” (Pelkonen) and “influence” and “anachronism” (Lawrence) and shared notes on how they approach history teaching in a design school setting so as to make it an integral part of architectural thought.

Modeling and experiments on flexible side-electrodes electrostatic actuators: Influence of the contact interface on the available force

This paper presents an in-depth study of electrostatic actuators based on flexible side-electrodes focusing on the available electrostatic force and the derived useful force. A design tool is proposed considering technological aspects as aspect ratio, insulating layer material and voltage level. A space discretized mechanical approach based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory is developed to model the bending deflection of the flexible movable electrode and “zipping” contact. Analytical developments and simplifications are achieved, rapidly and efficiently implemented in a proposed algorithm. ANSYS® simulations validate the procedure for updating the contact zone through the updating of the electrostatic pressure distribution. Optimum movable electrode width and appropriate “opposable” stiffness for guiding system are discussed. A “residual air thickness” parameter is introduced to address imperfect contact between the electrodes. Experimentalcharacterization studies various prototypes with different structural parameters as thickness (50 µm and 200 µm), gaps (5 µm and 15 µm) and material for insulating layers (silicon oxide and parylene C). The metrology campaign highlights the impact of aspect ratio and oxidation/deoxidation on electrode sidewall quality and hence mechanical performance.A comparison with well-known comb-drive shows higher electrostatic force for flexible side-electrode actuators. As an example, for a 10 µm stroke, the available electrostatic force for flexible electrodes with irregular sidewalls (residual air thickness 0.6 µm) is 2.2 times greater and rises to 7.3 times greater for perfect sidewalls (no residual air).

Generation of Character Designs Based on Pre-Islamic Beliefs of Turks

Turkish communities had lived under the belief system of Turkic mythology, known as Tengriism, in a significant part of their history. It is noteworthy that Turkic mythology elements, which have taken such a place in the cultural life of the Turks, are not sufficiently used as visual design tools. Considering the significance of preserving cultural heritage, Turkic mythology is rarely shown in animations, video games, or movies. The primary gods, goddesses, and supernatural creatures of Turkic mythology are not directly depicted, despite the existence of some animations relating to Turkic cultures such as Keloğlan, Nasreddin Hodja, and Dede Korkut. The main concern of this article is that the elements of Turkic mythology are unable to find enough depiction. Therefore some dominant creatures belonging to Turkic mythology were transformed into character designs. As the method, two-dimensional computer-based modelling techniques were selected to compose character designs of selected Turkic mythology creatures.  

Strategic team design for sustainable effectiveness: A data-driven analytical perspective and its implications

Teams are building blocks of organizations and essential inputs of organizational success. This article studies a data-driven analytical approach that exploits the rich data accumulated in organizations in the digital era to design teams, including prescribing team composition and formation decisions. We propose to evaluate a team regarding its performance and temporal stability, referred to as sustainable effectiveness (SE). Our approach estimates the team's performance and stability using machine learning models. It then optimizes an integrated objective of the team's performance and stability through mixed-integer programming models formulated according to predictive models. Consequently, this approach mines meaningful team compositions from historical data and guides strategic team formation accordingly. We conduct empirical studies using authentic data from our partner company in the real estate brokerage industry. The findings reveal that teams that adhere to our model's recommendations achieve an average percentage improvement of 153.1% to 156.5% higher than the benchmark teams, particularly when recruiting one or two members in their actual SE during the post-formation period. We further disclose the mechanism underlying this improvement from the perspective of changes in team compositions. Our study provides a decision support tool for team design and ensuing team dynamic management.

Design of a direct rapid tool for hydroforming of metal bellows using additively manufactured polymer die

Design of a direct rapid tool for hydroforming of metal bellows using additively manufactured polymer die

Temperature-dependent damage of magnesium alloy with ratchetting–fatigue interaction effects: Experiments and mesomechanical theory

Fatigue failure is a significant concern for magnesium (Mg) alloy components. However, fatigue damage mechanisms of Mg alloys, particularly in the case of ratchetting–fatigue interaction at elevated temperatures, are still not well understood. In this paper, we combine experiments and theoretical analysis to investigate the high-temperature damage mechanisms of the extruded AZ31 Mg alloy, specifically focusing on the effects of ratchetting–fatigue interaction. We reveal a distinct demonstration of damage, namely the formation of microvoids in the alloy due to significant ratchetting deformation, defined as ratchetting damage. Notably, this ratchetting damage is more prevalent at higher temperatures. Considering the mesomechanics-based energy mechanisms associated with grain boundaries (or twin boundaries), a mesomechanical damage model is established to capture the ratchetting damage under elevated temperatures and large ratchetting deformations. This model can reasonably simulate the intricate process of damage evolution and predict the critical condition of microvoid or microcrack formation. This work has the potential to serve as a theoretical tool for the safety design of structures made from Mg alloys under complex mechanical and thermal conditions.

Coupled responses of thermomechanical waves in functionally graded viscoelastic nanobeams via thermoelastic heat conduction model including Atangana–Baleanu fractional derivative

Accurately characterizing the thermomechanical parameters of nanoscale systems is essential for understanding their performance and building innovative nanoscale technologies due to their distinct behaviours. Fractional thermal transport models are commonly utilized to correctly depict the heat transfer that occurs in these nanoscale systems. The current study presents a novel mathematical thermoelastic model that incorporates a new fractional differential constitutive equation for heat conduction. This heat equation is useful for understanding the effects of thermal memory. An application of a fractional-time Atangana–Baleanu (AB) derivative with a local and non-singular kernel was utilized in the process of developing the mathematical model that was suggested. To deal with effects that depend on size, nonlocal constitutive relations are introduced. Furthermore, in order to take into consideration, the viscoelastic behaviour of the material at the nanoscale, the fractional Kelvin–Voigt model is utilized. The proposed model is highly effective in properly depicting the unusual thermal conductivity phenomena often found in nanoscale devices. The study also considered the mechanical deformation, temperature variations, and viscoelastic characteristics of the functionally graded (FG) nanostructured beams. The consideration was made that the material characteristics exhibit heterogeneity and continuous variation across the thickness of the beam as the nanobeam transitions from a ceramic composition in the lower region to a metallic composition in the upper region. The complicated thermomechanical features of simply supported viscoelastic nanobeams that were exposed to harmonic heat flow were determined by the application of the model that was constructed. Heterogeneity, nonlocality, and fractional operators are some of the important variables that contribute to its success, and this article provides a full study and illustration of the significance of these characteristics. The results that were obtained have the potential to play a significant role in pushing forward the design and development of tools, materials, and nanostructures that have viscoelastic mechanical characteristics and graded functions.

Sensitivity Analysis for Design Parameters of Electric Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

In recent years, there has been rapid development in electric aircraft, particularly electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, as part of efforts to promote green aviation. During the conceptual design stage, it is crucial to select appropriate values for key parameters and conduct sensitivity analysis on these parameters. This study focuses on an electric tilt-rotor aircraft and proposes a performance analysis method for electric aircraft while developing a general design tool specifically for this type of aircraft. Subsequently, the impact of wing incidence angle, sweep angle, span, propeller solidity, battery-specific energy, and battery mass on range, maximum takeoff weight, and hover power are analyzed. The results show that the battery mass, wingspan, and wingtip chord length have great effects on the maximum takeoff weight; among these, battery mass had the greatest influence. In terms of range, the battery energy density has a great positive effect on range, while the increase in wing angle of incidence, wingtip chord length and battery mass have some negative effects on range.

Academic Detailing as a Health Information Technology Implementation Method: Supporting the Design and Implementation of an Emergency Department-Based Clinical Decision Support Tool to Prevent Future Falls.

Clinical decision support (CDS) tools that incorporate machine learning-derived content have the potential to transform clinical care by augmenting clinicians' expertise. To realize this potential, such tools must be designed to fit the dynamic work systems of the clinicians who use them. We propose the use of academic detailing-personal visits to clinicians by an expert in a specific health IT tool-as a method for both ensuring the correct understanding of that tool and its evidence base and identifying factors influencing the tool's implementation. This study aimed to assess academic detailing as a method for simultaneously ensuring the correct understanding of an emergency department-based CDS tool to prevent future falls and identifying factors impacting clinicians' use of the tool through an analysis of the resultant qualitative data. Previously, our team designed a CDS tool to identify patients aged 65 years and older who are at the highest risk of future falls and prompt an interruptive alert to clinicians, suggesting the patient be referred to a mobility and falls clinic for an evidence-based preventative intervention. We conducted 10-minute academic detailing interviews (n=16) with resident emergency medicine physicians and advanced practice providers who had encountered our CDS tool in practice. We conducted an inductive, team-based content analysis to identify factors that influenced clinicians' use of the CDS tool. The following categories of factors that impacted clinicians' use of the CDS were identified: (1) aspects of the CDS tool's design (2) clinicians' understanding (or misunderstanding) of the CDS or referral process, (3) the busy nature of the emergency department environment, (4) clinicians' perceptions of the patient and their associated fall risk, and (5) the opacity of the referral process. Additionally, clinician education was done to address any misconceptions about the CDS tool or referral process, for example, demonstrating how simple it is to place a referral via the CDS and clarifying which clinic the referral goes to. Our study demonstrates the use of academic detailing for supporting the implementation of health information technologies, allowing us to identify factors that impacted clinicians' use of the CDS while concurrently educating clinicians to ensure the correct understanding of the CDS tool and intervention. Thus, academic detailing can inform both real-time adjustments of a tool's implementation, for example, refinement of the language used to introduce the tool, and larger scale redesign of the CDS tool to better fit the dynamic work environment of clinicians.