Structural Dynamic Properties Research Articles

Strain aided drastic reduction in lattice thermal conductivity and improved thermoelectric properties in Janus MXenes.

Surface and strain engineering are among the cheaper ways to modulate structure property relations in materials. Due to their compositional flexibilities, MXenes, the family of two-dimensional materials, provide enough opportunity for surface engineering. In this work, we have explored the possibility of improving thermoelectric efficiency of MXenes through these routes. The Janus MXenes obtained by modifications of the transition metal constituents and the functional groups passivating their surfaces are considered as surface engineered materials on which bi-axial strain is applied in a systematic way. We find that in the three Janus compounds Zr2COS, ZrHfO2and ZrHfCOS, tensile strain modifies the electronic and lattice thermoelectric parameters such that the thermoelectric efficiency can be maximised. A remarkable reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity due to increased anharmonicity and an elevation in Seebeck coefficient are obtained by application of moderate tensile strain. With the help of first-principles electronic structure method and semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory we analyse the interplay of structural parameters, electronic and dynamical properties to understand the effects of strain and surface modifications on thermoelectric properties of these systems. Our detailed calculations and in depth analysis lead not only to the microscopic understanding of the influences of surface and strain engineering in these three systems, but also provide enough insights for adopting this approach and improve thermoelectric efficiencies in similar systems.

Dynamic stability and vibration isolation property of a foot-leg coupling bio-inspired vibration isolation structure

Dynamic stability and vibration isolation property of a foot-leg coupling bio-inspired vibration isolation structure

Analysis of structural dynamic response of vertical sound barriers under natural wind and vehicle induced pulsating wind effects

Abstract Aiming at the influence of natural wind and vehicle-induced pulsating wind on vertical sound barriers, a finite element plug-in panel sound barrier is established based on the finite element method for dynamic response analysis. This paper establishes a sound barrier finite element analysis model based on finite element analysis software. It takes the 8-span vertical sound barrier as the basic working condition to analyze the dynamic response analysis of the sound barrier structure under the action of natural wind of different grades, i.e., the influence of pressure and displacement; the dynamic response of the sound barrier structure with a natural wind speed of 7 grades or more. In addition, it analyzes the dynamic properties of the sound barrier structure caused by train-induced pulsating wind pressure at speeds of more than 200 km/h, i.e., the influence of pressure and displacement, and investigates the dynamic characteristics of different vehicles with different wind speeds, pressure, and displacement. Furthermore, the response of the vertical sound barrier at different vehicle speeds is also explored, and the results are compared to examine its dynamic response. The research findings show that the sound barrier structure does not resonate during the self-resonance analysis, but the vibration of adjacent sound barrier panels affects each other. As natural wind speeds increase, the displacement of the steel column endpoints of the vertical sound barrier gradually increases; along the length of the sound barrier, the change of the peak pressure at the top of the steel columns and the top of the unit plate shows a symmetrical trend, and the displacements of the steel columns and the top of the unit plate show a trend of gradual increase in the travelling direction, and they both increase at the end of the column. The displacement of the top of the steel column and the top of the unit plate both show a trend of gradual increase along the direction of the vehicle, and both reach the maximum value at the end of the steel column and the unit plate. With the increase in vehicle speed, the overall peak displacement value also increases synchronously.

Strain-tunable electronic structure, optical and thermoelectric properties of BAs

Strain engineering stands as a reliable method for tailoring the physicochemical properties of materials to achieve desired performance. However, the effects of strain on the physicochemical properties of BAs remain unclear, impeding the comprehensive understanding of its practical performance. Here, employing first-principles calculations coupled with semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory, we investigate the dynamic stability, mechanical stability, electronic structure, and thermoelectric properties of cubic boron arsenide (BAs) under various strains. The results demonstrate that BAs maintains excellent stability throughout the triaxial strain range. The electronic structure of BAs is less affected by strain. Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio show a corresponding linear increase when the compression strain increases. The optical absorption coefficient in the visible region of BAs under tensile strain showed an overall increasing trend, and the optical absorption coefficient in the visible wavelength region of BAs under 5% tensile strain was as high as 2 × 105 cm−1. The thermoelectric properties of BAs under tensile strain have been improved, and the ZT value of BAs under 5% tensile strain at 1500 K has been increased to 0.6. The research findings address the gaps in understanding the properties of BAs under strain and provide theoretical support for its applications in the fields of thermoelectrics and optoelectronics.

Targeting SHP2 Cryptic Allosteric Sites for Effective Cancer Therapy.

SHP2, a pivotal component downstream of both receptor and non-receptor tyrosine kinases, has been underscored in the progression of various human cancers and neurodevelopmental disorders. Allosteric inhibitors have been proposed to regulate its autoinhibition. However, oncogenic mutations, such as E76K, convert SHP2 into its open state, wherein the catalytic cleft becomes fully exposed to its ligands. This study elucidates the dynamic properties of SHP2 structures across different states, with a focus on the effects of oncogenic mutation on two known binding sites of allosteric inhibitors. Through extensive modeling and simulations, we further identified an alternative allosteric binding pocket in solution structures. Additional analysis provides insights into the dynamics and stability of the potential site. In addition, multi-tier screening was deployed to identify potential binders targeting the potential site. Our efforts to identify a new allosteric site contribute to community-wide initiatives developing therapies using multiple allosteric inhibitors to target distinct pockets on SHP2, in the hope of potentially inhibiting or slowing tumor growth associated with SHP2.

Dynamic compressive behavior of functionally graded triply periodic minimal surface cellular structures

The Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structure is regarded as a porous structure used for impact protection due to its lightweight, high strength, and high specific energy absorption (SEA). This paper investigates the dynamic mechanical properties of the TPMS structure by Split Hopkinson Bar (SHPB) experiments and finite element analysis (FEA). We compare stress peak, SEA, strain rate effect, and deformation pattern for functionally graded Primitive (P), uniform P, and uniform Gyroid (G) structures. It is found that the increasing magnitude of peak stress in the TPMS structures becomes more evident under high-impact loads. As the relative density increases, the strain rate effect becomes more prominent. The uniform G structures exhibit higher plateau stress and SEA than uniform P structures. Besides, graded P structures exhibit a climbing phenomenon compared to uniform P structures in the platform section. The FEA results also demonstrate that higher SEA and plateau stresses are exhibited in the graded P structure. The graded design minimizes the strain rate effect compared to the corresponding uniform structures. It is essential to set a properly graded index to enhance the dynamic energy absorption capacity of the TPMS structure, as more fluctuations occur when the graded index increases.

Finite element model updating and response prediction of a frame structure based on optimal sensor placement

This paper proposes an approach for finite element (FE) model updating and response prediction of frame structures based on optimal sensor placement (OSP), which integrates sensor placement optimization, mode expansion, and model updating techniques. Firstly, sensor optimization layout and modal testing analysis are conducted on a bolted laboratory frame structure. The covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification (SSI-COV) method identifies the real-world structure’s natural frequencies, modal damping, and mode shapes. Secondly, the complete mode shapes are expanded using the measured incomplete modal data from the limited number of sensors. Thirdly, a multi-objective function based on frequency and mode shapes is established to adjust the parameters of the FE model. This ensures that the updated model accurately represents the dynamic properties of the actual structure within a specific frequency range. Finally, the Rayleigh damping of the frame structure is estimated, and the damping matrix is assembled to enhance the accuracy of dynamic response prediction in the updated model. By comparing the response prediction results of the updated FE model with and without considering the updated damping effects to the measurement data of the real-world structure, it is demonstrated that the proposed method considering updated damping effects can more effectively predict the structural response.

Adaptive semiactive control of structure with magnetorheological dampers using wavelet packet transform

Conventional active controllers generally adopt initial dynamic properties of intact structures to calculate optimal control force for magnetorheological damper, which eventually leads to ideal damping force of the device. Also, they cannot assure trade-off between damping force and response reduction under non-stationary excitations. To this end, an adaptive semiactive control algorithm for magnetorheological damper is proposed. Using wavelet packet transform, an improved control law determines optimal control forces in terms of resonant and non-resonant frequency bands in time interval. Both frequency bands are established based on natural frequency(ies) of structures, making damping force rely on actual structural properties and achieving trade-off under non-stationary disturbances. A refined clipped-optimal control algorithm is then deployed to convert optimal control force to the device’s voltage. A numerical study of a six-degree-of-freedom structure under four near- and far-fault ground accelerations reveals that the scheme outperforms existing controllers while attaining cost-effectiveness of damping force versus response alleviations.

An Experimental Study on the Dynamic Properties of 3D-Printed Structures with Different Layer Orientations

An Experimental Study on the Dynamic Properties of 3D-Printed Structures with Different Layer Orientations

Estimation of wind load on supertall buildings using partial output measurements

Supertall buildings possess distinctive characteristics such as high flexibility, low damping, and susceptibility to wind. The impact of the wind load and wind-induced responses plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and functionality of these structures. Consequently, investigating the wind load and wind-induced responses of supertall buildings has immense practical significance and engineering value to guarantee the secure operation of such buildings under strong wind conditions. However, the direct measurement of wind loads and wind-induced responses across all building floors presents substantial challenges, including considerable engineering workload and implementation difficulties. This study proposes a novel approach based on Kalman filtering to estimate wind loads and wind-induced responses in supertall buildings. This approach involves fusing partial acceleration and displacement measurements to estimate wind load and wind-induced response accurately. Additionally, optimized sensor placement was considered based on the iterative process of the effective independence method. Wind-induced responses were obtained through numerical testing and subsequently utilized to estimate the wind loads on a supertall building. Various factors, such as measurement noise, modeling errors of structural dynamic properties, sensor placement, and response synchronization, were thoroughly discussed to assess their impact on the overall analysis.

A consumption-based term structure model of bonds and equity

In this study, I propose a consumption-based asset pricing model to capture the dynamic properties of term structures of bonds and equity. I extend the long-run risks model by introducing a mean-reversion of dividend growth and the external habit formation of a representative agent. The mean-reverting dividend growth generates a negative equity term premium, while the habit formation augments the equity premium and renders an upward-sloping bond yield curve, on average. In addition, fluctuations in the surplus consumption ratio and the conditional variance of consumption growth allow the model to reproduce pro-cyclical variations in bond and equity yield spreads and counter-cyclical variations in bond and equity term premiums, as observed in the U.S. data.

The influence of anions in the ionic liquid-water mixtures on the conformational structures of emeraldine base and emeraldine salt form of polyaniline

The development of antifouling membranes for water filtration applications is challenging. Conducting polymers can show enhanced antifouling characteristics by blending with various polymers, nanomaterials, and Ionic liquids (ILs). In this paper, we perform an all-atom molecular dynamics simulation on a conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) immersed in IL-water mixtures. Two forms of PANI were considered, namely Emeraldine base (EB) and Emeraldine salt (ES) as well as two different water-mixed ILs are considered namely (a) 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium [EMIM]+ hexafluorophosphate [PF6]- and (b) 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium [EMIM]+ tetra-fluoroborate [BF4]-. We present various intra- and inter-molecular structural properties, solvation thermodynamics, and dynamic properties. We observe that with an increase in IL concentration, the radius of gyration (Rg) value shows a decrease for ES in pure state in both ILs; on the other hand, we see a minimal increase in the Rg values of EB in both ILs. The dihedral angle distribution analysis shows a combination of gauche and trans state for ES, whereas trans state is more pronounced for the case of EB in both water-IL mixtures. The radial distribution function (RDF) analysis between the ortho, meta carbons of the benzene rings, and the amine groups on ES with [BF4]- and [PF6]- show significant structural peaks. On the other hand, EB and ES show lower interaction with the water molecules. The number of hydrogen bonds (h-bonds) between polymer and water is higher for EB than ES in both IL-water mixtures. The hydrogen bond lifetime (τ) values show one-fold higher values for EB than ES. The self-diffusion coefficient (D) values of water show a decrease with an increase in IL concentration. The thermodynamic properties solvation enthalpy (ΔH) and excess molar volume (VmE) for both ES and EB show a more favorable solvation in [EMIM]+[BF4]- when compared to [EMIM]+[PF6]- with an increase in IL concentration. These observations are crucial for selecting ILs and designing sustainable polymers for antifouling membranes.

Exploration and Characterization of Dynamic Properties for Cultural Heritage Conservation: A Case Study for Historical Stone Masonry Buildings in Zanzibar

Ancient civilizations have imprinted their legacy on Zanzibar Stone Town through the construction of revered stone masonry buildings, which are experiencing rapid deterioration due to severe ambient environmental impacts. In response to these challenges, this study presents a comprehensive field exploration through the ambient vibration test (AVT) and numerical prediction of historical stone masonry buildings in Zanzibar Stone Town to analyze the dynamic characteristics. The ambient vibration test (AVT) reveals structural dynamic properties in terms of peak resonance frequencies (fr(avg)), mode shape, and damping ratio, in conjunction with the development of correlation with the geometric parameters of the building. The results reveal fr(avg) ranges between 2.8 and 5.3 Hz for investigated structures, non-uniform deformed mode shapes, and damping ratio ranges between 1.35% and 4.45% at various orientation axes of the understudy buildings. However, the relationship between natural frequencies indicates a higher association with the geometrical parameters of the building, yielding a correlation coefficient (R2) between 0.85 and 0.99. Moreover, the numerical prediction via eigenvalue analysis (EVA) yields a considerable association with the investigated data, quantified by root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) ranged between 0.29 and 0.3, with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and R2 between 0.81 and 0.99, respectively. Furthermore, conservation work guidelines were also developed to assist the structural engineer and conservationist in adopting targeted conservation strategies for the efficient preservation of the historical integrity in Stone Town.

Structural, hydrogen storage capacity, electronic and optical properties of Li-N-H hydrogen storage materials from first-principles investigation

Although Li-N-H systems are promising hydrogen storage materials, the structural feature, phonon dynamical, electronic and optical properties of Li-N-H systems are unclear. To solve these problems, we apply the first-principles method to study the structural stability, hydrogen storage capacity, dehydrogenation energy, electronic and optical properties of three Li-N-H systems (Li4NH, Li2NH and LiNH2). The calculated results show that Li4NH and LiNH2 are thermodynamic and dynamical stabilities. Although Li2NH is a dynamical instability, it is a thermodynamic stability at the ground state. Importantly, the calculated gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity is 1.19 wt% for Li4NH, 3.35 wt% for Li2NH and 8.02 wt% for LiNH2, respectively. Essentially, the high hydrogen storage capacity of LiNH2 is related to the formation of [NH2] group due to the strong electronic interaction between N and H. Furthermore, Li2NH shows metallic behavior. However, the calculated band gap is 1.958 eV for Li4NH and 3.016 eV for LiNH2. The change of band gap of Li-N-H hydrides is demonstrated by the dielectric functional. In addition, this LiNH2 with high concentration of hydrogen has better storage optical properties compared to Li4NH and Li2NH.

Evaluation of Material Characteristics and Structural Dynamic Properties of a Historical Church: The Case of 19th Century Bursa Derekoy Church (Ayia Paraskevi)

Derekoy (Ayia Paraskevi) Church, built by the Orthodox Greeks in Bursa, is one of the prominent monuments built in the 19th century. The structure, which lost its community with the population exchange (1923) between Turkey and Greece, has since then been out of service and a rapid deterioration process has begun. Analysis works are frequently implemented for this purpose and become crucial in Turkey, of which a large part is within the earthquake zone. However, the majority of the studies on the preservation of historical buildings are lacking in detailed material analysis and numerical methods. Conducting a series of material tests and numerical analyses for the structure provides more reliable and qualified interventions since they influence the decisions on the reinforcement and protection methods employed for historical buildings. For this purpose, the material characterizations of the mortar, plaster and stones used in the church were carried out by performing physical, chemical, mechanical, petrographic and mineralogical tests on samples taken from the church. Afterwards, mechanical tests of the walls and vibration tests were conducted to determine the dynamic behavior of the building. Based on the results obtained from the analyses, a series of intervention methods were proposed. It is understood that the flat-jack, shear and vibration tests are vital for determining the real structural behavior of the building. Furthermore, it is recommended that vibration tests are carried out on both the overall structure and individual walls to determine the dynamic behavior of similar structures where only outer walls remain standing.

Mechanical and viscoelastic characterization of Al2O3 based polymer nanocomposites: An experimental and molecular dynamics simulation approach

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) being revolutionary materials, comprises polymer matrix phase and nanoparticles (NPs) phase. This study focuses on incorporating alumina (Al2O3) into poly-dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) matrix to analyze viscoelastic behavior and damping in response to dynamic mechanical loading. The experiments were performed using nano-DMA for comparing how Al2O3 reinforcement influences structural conformations and dynamic properties of PNCs. At 100 Hz, the storage modulus (E′) increases by 150%, 20%, and 74% for 1.0 wt% NPs with average particle sizes of 25 nm, 80 nm, and 200 nm, respectively. The significant changes in storage modulus and hardness values occur during variable frequencies (10 to 50 Hz) for 1.0 wt%, 9.0 wt%, and 7.0 wt% with reinforcements of 25 nm, 80 nm, and 200 nm, respectively. Adhesion factor and reinforcement efficiency factor highlight complementary effects of reinforcements at different frequencies. Further, an all-atom MD simulation method characterizes static and dynamic properties, predicting comprehensive dynamical and structural–property relationships. This quantifies damping capacity and reveals insights into how Al2O3 alters the material’s behavior. In summary, the study provides a precise comparative analysis of overall PNC performance, emphasizing the intrinsic effect on mechanical properties. It recognizes deformation mechanisms driving energy storage and dissipation for developing PNCs with enhanced mechanical performance.

Dynamic characteristics of stone masonry walls before and after damage: Experimental and numerical investigations

Seismic behavior of masonry walls has been heavily investigated, especially by means of laboratory experiments employing cyclic tests to determine the mechanical parameters and seismic capacity. Nevertheless, the dynamic properties of the tested walls often remain unknown, even though the nature of the seismic response is dynamic and profoundly affected by the structure's dynamic properties. This paper presents an investigation on the dynamic properties of three different masonry wall panels in healthy and damaged states, and examines if damage quantification via tracking the changes in dynamic properties is feasible. Ambient vibration and impact measurements are used for the dynamic identification of wall panels, before and after they are tested in reversed-cyclic in-plane shear-compression tests. The natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes of the walls are determined and compared to each other. Moreover, the damage progression and its effect on the dynamic features of the URM wall panel is investigated using a discrete element model of the benchmark wall that is validated in terms of the force-displacement response and damage pattern of the wall. The results of the study indicate that changes in natural frequencies and mode shapes are traceable, although it is difficult to infer damage quantification relationships from these changes. The outcomes of this study also highlight that numerical models verified with the nonlinear quasi-static behavior do not necessarily match the wall's dynamic behavior, and that more research is required to update nonlinear numerical models. Overall, the results contribute to the knowledge regarding the dynamic characteristics of masonry walls in healthy and damaged conditions, and to quantify the damage in masonry walls as well as the changes in their dynamic properties.

Evidence of nonlinearity tailoring in static and dynamic responses of honeycomb and auxetic hourglass lattice metastructures

Nature’s morphology and optimal energetic solutions remain the key motivation for designing cellular-based lattice structures. Understanding the nonlinear dynamical behaviors that arise from different lattice topologies of such structures in the metastructure framework is crucial for their successful implementation in various novel designs and technologies related to vibration and shape control. This paper presents a study of the static and dynamic response of auxetic and honeycomb lattices with hourglass or dome-shaped metastructures. The potential tailoring of nonlinearity of such responses through various design parameters that play a vital role in shaping the dynamic properties of such structures is discussed here. The impact of cell design parameters on the resulting macroscopic behavior is assessed using both numerical simulations and experimental studies. The transition from softening to hardening nonlinear dynamic responses is reported with cell topologies ranging from the regular honeycomb to auxetic topologies that are widely used as fundamental cells of cellular materials design. The experimental study is based on the time responses measured to verify the numerical predictions. The experimental system consists of different 3D printed hourglass samples based on the auxetic and honeycomb lattices on which dynamic testing using a laser Doppler vibrometer is performed. The design strategies proposed in this paper can be integrated into a wide range of lattice-based materials for noise and vibration control applications and biomedical devices.

Construction of Reconfigurable and Polymorphic DNA Origami Assemblies with Coiled-Coil Patches and Patterns.

DNA origami nanodevices achieve programmable structure and tunable mechanical and dynamic properties by leveraging the sequence-specific interactions of nucleic acids. Previous advances have also established DNA origami as a useful building block to make well-defined micron-scale structures through hierarchical self-assembly, but these efforts have largely leveraged the structural features of DNA origami. The tunable dynamic and mechanical properties also provide an opportunity to make assemblies with adaptive structures and properties. Here the integration of DNA origami hinge nanodevices and coiled-coil peptides are reported into hybrid reconfigurable assemblies. With the same dynamic device and peptide interaction, it is made multiple higher-order assemblies (i.e., polymorphic assembly) by organizing clusters of peptides into patches or arranging single peptides into patterns on the surfaces of DNA origami to control the relative orientation of devices. The coiled-coil interactions are used to construct circular and linear assemblies whose structure and mechanical properties can be modulated with DNA-based reconfiguration. Reconfiguration of linear assemblies leads to micron scale motions and ≈2.5-10-fold increase in bending stiffness. The results provide a foundation for stimulus-responsive hybrid assemblies that can adapt their structure and properties in response to nucleic acid, peptide, protein, or other triggers.

Numerical Simulation and Influence of Non-Gaussian Vibrations on Flexible Robotic Systems

Random vibration excitation is a standard method for obtaining the dynamic properties of aerospace structures and simulating loading conditions. Shaker-based random excitation and traditional finite element analysis techniques use random vibrations, assuming a Gaussian distribution of excitation impulse magnitudes. While Gaussian signals may sufficiently describe some vibrational environments, many real-world excitations have non-Gaussian distributions. These signals may contain vibrational impulses larger than those observed in a Gaussian signal and could cause damage if not considered. This paper examines the influence of non-Gaussian signals on flexible vs. rigid robotic architectures using NASA JPL’s Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Robot (PUFFER) and Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Explorer (CADRE). The results indicate that flexible systems can be significantly impacted by a non-Gaussian excitation profile and that neither a typical enveloping of a Gaussian excitation nor a superposition of the responses to a worst-case impulse load with the response to a Gaussian signal was sufficient to bound the response due to non-Gaussian excitation. The driving mechanism for increased sensitivity of flexible robotic systems appears to be inertial, and designers may consider shifting the relative flexibility of the system or its constraints to force particular deformation modes or designing hinge mechanisms with increased damping to minimize the influence of non-Gaussian signals on the response of a flexible robotic structure.