Frame Height Research Articles

Height Control Strategy Design and Simulation of Electronic Control Air Suspension for Trucks

To address the large height error and attitude destabilization phenomenon in regulating the frame height of trucks with electronic control air suspension (ECAS), a height control strategy was designed. Firstly, the fundamental principles of height control were elucidated based on the single degree-of-freedom (DOF) vehicle model. The limitations of the classic non-linear mathematical model for the air spring were also highlighted. Thus, a dynamic model was constructed, consisting of an AEMSim model for the ECAS and a Simulink model for the truck. A frame height fuzzy controller was designed based on the fuzzy control theory to improve the height control accuracy and to solve the control conflict problem of the solenoid valves. Additionally, three typical control modes of the height and corresponding control strategies were proposed based on the practical requirements of usage scenarios for trucks. Finally, dynamic simulations were conducted under different modes. The results show that, compared to the existing switching control method, the proposed control approach can reduce height control errors by an order of magnitude and decrease the pitch angle by over 30%. The steady-state error remains nearly unchanged under the 30% variation of the sprung mass. The proposed control approach exhibits the superior control performance and robustness. It effectively reduces height errors and avoids the posture instability during the adjustment of the ECAS.

Design and Experiment of Automatic Transport System for Planting Plate in Plant Factory

In the plant factories using stereoscopic cultivation systems, the cultivation plate transport equipment is an essential component of production. However, there are problems, such as high labor intensity, low levels of automation, and poor versatility of existing solutions, that can affect the efficiency of cultivation plate transport processes. To address these issues, this study designed a cultivation plate transport system that can automatically input and output cultivation plates, and can flexibly adjust its structure to accommodate different cultivation frame heights. We elucidated the working principles of the transport system and carried out structural design and parameter calculation for the lift cart, input actuator, and output actuator. In the input process, we used dynamic simulation technology to obtain an optimum propulsion speed of 0.3 m·s−1. In the output process, we used finite element numerical simulation technology to verify that the deformation of the cultivation plate and the maximum stress suffered by it could meet the operational requirements. Finally, operation and performance experiments showed that, under the condition of satisfying the allowable amount of positioning error in the horizontal and vertical directions, the horizontal operation speed was 0.2 m·s−1, the maximum positioning error was 2.87 mm, the vertical operation speed was 0.3 m·s−1, and the maximum positioning error was 1.34 mm. Accordingly, the success rate of the transport system was 92.5–96.0%, and the operational efficiency was 176–317 plates/h. These results proved that the transport system could meet the operational requirements and provide feasible solutions for the automation of plant factory transport equipment.

Perancangan Alat Press Hidrolik Kapasitas 20 Ton

A press tool is a tool to help shape, bend, cut products from sheet metal (plate) base material which is operated using a press tool. To increase effectiveness and productivity, currently many hydraulic systems are combined with other systems such as electrical/electronic, pneumatic and mechanical systems so that more optimal hydraulic system work can be obtained. This press applies pressing or loading movements using hydraulic power. In order for the pressing process to be even or precise, one cylinder is needed which moves the top plate (Punch). The working load on the single acting cylinder has a maximum capacity of 20 tons. The design of this press tool is designed by following the type and shape of the selected material sample. The design of this press tool aims to make the user's work easier to get more precise press results. The material used is profile steel. Simulation results on the press frame: frame length 400 mm, frame width 600 mm, frame height 850 mm, frame strength 16407 N/m2

Innovative Selective Harvesting Technology for Cauliflower: A Design Approach using Plant Characteristics

Traditional manual harvesting methods for cauliflower are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly, and non-selective harvesting often leads to significant yield losses due to immature curds being harvested. To address these challenges, there is growing interest in developing selective cauliflower harvesters that can accurately identify and harvest mature and healthy cauliflower heads while minimizing damage and waste. This research paper focuses on the determination of design parameters for an efficient and adaptive selective cauliflower harvester based on a comprehensive understanding of the physical and mechanical properties of cauliflower plants. Two cauliflower varieties, Pusa Meghna, and Pusa Sharad, were studied to measure various physical properties such as plant width, height, curd diameter, curd depth, stalk diameter, stalk length, and stalk moisture content. Additionally, cutting force was measured to design the cutting unit of the harvester. The results revealed that design parameters, including frame height, width, length, cutter length, and cutter height, should be tailored to the specific physical properties of cauliflower plants to optimize the selective harvesting process. This research contributes valuable insights to the advancement of agricultural robotics and engineering, laying the groundwork for the development of sophisticated selective cauliflower harvesters.

Generative Design of A 6-Axis Quadcopter Drone for Weight Optimization

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), known as drones, can be remotely operated using embedded technology and software-controlled flight plans. A six-axis drone's main problem is that its significant weight limits how much it can be used. As a result, the flexibility and endurance of the drone's design are necessary for excellent performance during altitude displacement. In order to create a body frame for the quadcopter, the project intends to solve the weight optimization problem via generative design. The three main steps of the optimization attempts utilizing generative design procedures are (a) abstraction, (b) initialization, and (c) interpretation. These are accomplished by employing the five generative design processes. The stress analysis and the generative design process were used to confirm that the generative design technique will help reduce the drone's weight. The drone using three (3) generative designs, was set to a total weight of less than 1kg. The results show that Generative Design 2 shows good optimization as follows, (a)50.00% of parts of assembly optimized from eight parts to four parts, (b) 54.09% of the weight of the body frame optimized from 1.1565kg to 0.531kg, (c) 36.17% of the height of the body frame optimized from 94mm to 60mm, (d) 45.44% of stress analysis increased from 3.457MPa to 5.028MPa, (e) 83.00% reduction of displacement elongation from 3.918mm to 0.666mm and (f) 61.25% of production time optimized from 40 hours to 15.5 hours.

The Performance of Concentrically Braced Frames (CBF) in Chevron V Brace and Diagonal Configuration by Considering Various Frame Heights

Concentrically Braced Frame (CBF) is a structural system with high stiffness, so it is recommended to be implemented in earthquake-hazard areas. The stiffness in CBF is contributed by its diagonal component, which is called bracing. Bracing reduces lateral deformation on the frame system because of the earthquake and prevents heavy damage or failure of the structure. So far, several studies have been conducted. However, the effect of the frame height and the bracing configuration on the CBF performance has not yet been clarified. This study analytically investigated several models of CBF in Chevron V Brace and Diagonal configurations. Those models were prepared with different frame heights. The analyses were conducted by employing the cyclic load and considering yield displacement control in each model. The observation was emphasized on the load-displacement hysteresis curve, from which the performance of each model can be revealed. Three parameters of performance are evaluated: strength, stiffness, and dissipation energy. The analysis discovered that the Diagonal CBF performed better than the Chevron V Brace CBF by presenting a larger and more stable hysteresis curve, which is addressed to better energy dissipation. It is also discovered that reducing the frame height is suggested to enhance the CBF performance due to the earthquake

Design of Wind Power Generator for Tambak Houses

Wind Power Generation (WPG) requires specific wind conditions to generate electrical energy. Indonesia's wind potential enables the development of small-scale power plants. Innovations in windmill technology need to be developed to ensure maximum results in low wind speed conditions. This research proposes the design and implementation of WPG using a vertical axis to provide lighting for pond houses. The goal is to benefit pond workers in coastal areas that lack electricity from the National Electric Company. The manufacturing stages include design and testing. Based on the design results, the dimensions of the propeller area are 0.393m, the frame height is 1.5m, and the wind turbine height is 0.75m. The performance test of the WPG yielded the highest turbine power value at 15.30 WITA, with a turbine power output of 25.38 Watts.

Toward self-powered integrated smart packaging system − Desiccant-based triboelectric nanogenerators

Smart packaging plays a crucial role in safeguarding products, monitoring their quality, and ensuring supply chain efficiency during distribution and transportation. However, the extensive use of sensors in smart packaging systems requires a sustainable power supply for long-term monitoring. Unfortunately, portable batteries may not meet the needs for next-generation smart packaging as they have a limited lifetime, are heavy, and may cause environmental pollution after use. To address this issue, we propose a self-powered integrated smart packaging system driven by a novel desiccant-based triboelectric nanogenerator (D-TENG). The D-TENG is designed using a contact-separation mode and includes a paperboard-based honeycomb frame, two PTFE/Cu triboelectric layers, and desiccants stored in the honeycomb holes as the freestanding triboelectric material. We systematically investigate the significant parameters affecting the energy harvesting performance of the D-TENG, including the type of desiccants, frame height, number of honeycomb holes, frequency and amplitude of external excitation, and device orientation with the vibration direction. Furthermore, we demonstrate a self-powered integrated smart packaging system based on the D-TENGs that harvests vibration energy to power sensors integrated into the package. This research provides a practical strategy to continuously monitor the status and quality of packaged products throughout the supply chain for an extended period, reducing food waste and ensuring a complete record of logistics history in vaccine delivery.

Design and Seismic Performance of Tied Braced Frames

In this work, a tied braced frame (TBF) was developed to achieve uniform inelastic deformation in an eccentrically braced frame (EBF) by connecting links across the entire frame height with tie members. Herein, a TBF design method is proposed, considering a new lateral force distribution pattern. To better evaluate the seismic performance, and verify the design advantages of the TBF, nonlinear time-history analysis and fragility analysis were conducted using 6-, 10-, and 20-story TBF models designed using this method, as well as EBF models for comparison. It was found that the maximum inter-story displacement angles of the TBF model were reduced by 10%, 3.3% and 6.3% at the 84th percentile at 6, 10 and 20 stories, respectively, and the DCF values were also reduced by about 5.5%, indicating that the design of the TBF structure is more reasonable. The results revealed that the TBF models featured more uniform distributions of the normalized link shear forces and inter-story drift ratios, resulting in a better damage distribution and more ductile behavior. Furthermore, under earthquakes, the tie axial forces were similar to those calculated using the design equation, thereby indicating the reliability of the design method. Under the same seismic conditions, the PGA values of the TBF structure are about 10~15% lower at 50% exceedance probability compared to the EBF structure; the CMR values of the 6-story, 10-story, and 20-story models are 1.12, 1.09, and 1.06 times higher than those of the EBF structure, respectively. Notably, based on a comparison of the exceedance probability from the fragility analysis results for the TBF and EBF models, the TBF model exhibited better anti-collapse performance.

Simulation Analysis and Online Monitoring of Suspension Frame of Maglev Train

A maglev train is a new type of high-speed railway transportation. A high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev system is one of the typical representatives in the field of maglev trains. In order to research the levitation characteristics of an HTS maglev train, the force characteristics and operation performance of the train were researched. However, at present, there is still no research that simulates the real load situation of a running maglev train while analyzing the suspension frame. Regarding this issue, in this paper, the suspension frame is simulated and analyzed to simulate the real load situation of a maglev train. The results show that the suspension frame of an HTS maglev train can bear corresponding loads under different working conditions, and its strength and stiffness meet the requirements of use, safety, and reliability. Random irregularity in the permanent magnet track of an HTS maglev train route is inevitable, which will make the suspension frame produce a vibration response under different running speeds of the train. Vibration of the suspension frame of the train is inevitable. For the electromagnetic levitation (EMS) train, researchers considered monitoring the train status. However, at present, there is no suspension frame condition monitoring device for an HTS maglev train. In addition, the levitation height of the suspension frame affects the suspension performance and traction performance of the vehicle, and the vibration of the suspension frame during running affects the dynamic performance and safety of the suspension frame and the vehicle. Regarding the issue above, through a suspension frame monitoring system, the lateral and vertical vibration acceleration and levitation height of the suspension frame are monitored at different train speeds. The maximum value of vibration acceleration and the fluctuation range of levitation height are within the safe range. It is verified that the simulation analysis of the suspension frame of an HTS maglev train is correct, the suspension frame is safe, and the train can run safely.

Improving the Seismic Performance of Eccentrically Braced Frames Using Tie Elements

In Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBFs), link beams in lower storeys may experience a high risk of vulnerability due to the nondistribution of plastic hinges in the frame height and this problem leads to the formation of the soft storey. To mitigate such vulnerabilities, successive link beams can be tied throughout the structure height employing tie elements to develop a tied EBF (TBF) system. Unlike many studies on K-TBFs with shear link beams, limited investigations have evaluated the performance of single diagonal TBFs and K-TBFs with flexural link beams. In this study, K-EBFs/TBFs refer to EBFs/TBFs having link beams with two braces and single diagonal EBFs/TBFs refer to EBFs/TBFs having link beams with one brace. K-EBFs with flexural link beams have drawn the attention of designers because these frames make more space in the architectural design to create larger openings. Accordingly, improving the performance of K-EBFs with flexural link beams is one of this research objectives. The results comparison for 18 2D EBFs with different storeys including K-EBF with shear behavior, K-EBF with flexural behavior, and single diagonal EBF with shear behavior indicated that tie elements in these models can increase energy dissipation capacity and distribute plastic hinges in the structure height. The results exhibited that not only this system performance was considerably improved using tie elements, but also offered better resistance against progressive collapse.

Seismic response of linked column steel braced frame with mechanical springs

Linked column frame (LCF) is a new resilient structure. However, previous studies have shown that both the plastic rotation and plastic hinge distribution of link beams in LCF system are unsatisfactory, which significantly affect the seismic performance. To expand the plastic deformation and optimize the plastic hinge distribution, an uplifted column foot with springs is introduced. A 1:3 scale pseudo-static test and numerical analysis were conducted to evaluate the hysteresis performance of LCF system with springs, specifically the frame lateral deformation, the shear deformation of link beams and yielding mechanism. Moreover, the virtual work principle was applied to analyze the lateral bearing capacity theoretically. The result shows that when the frame was subjected to lateral forces, axial deformation was observed in the springs, thus releasing the vertical restraint of columns, eventually the link beams are motivated to develop inelastic deformation and the frame rotated, similar to a rocking structure. Additionally, compared to the numerical simulation and experiment results, the relative errors were analyzed and the theoretical bearing capacity was modified. In conclusion, the proposed foot configuration can significantly improve the energy dissipation capacity of LCF system. The shear deformations of link beams in different storeys are relatively uniform along the frame height.

Target Detection for Motion Images Using the Improved YOLO Algorithm

The images of motion states are time-varying, and when actually detecting their internal motion targets, the formed detection frames overlap, resulting in small confidence values for the detection frames and low accuracy of the detection results. To address this problem, the authors propose a target detection for motion image using the improved YOLO algorithm. First, the YOLO algorithm is improved using deformable convolution; the edge weights of the front and back views within the image are collated, and the motion image is segmented using the improved YOLO algorithm. Second, the structure formed by the initial convolution is used as the initial detection frame structure, the parallel cross-ratio value is set, the overlap generated by the detection frame is controlled, the parameters of the detection frame compression processing are output, the threshold trigger value relationship is constructed, and finally, the detection of the motion image target is realized. The results show that the target false detection rate of the proposed method is only about 15%. The detection a priori frame height value is 80 pixels, and the average detection time consumed is 6.8ms, which proves that the proposed algorithm can be widely used in motion image target detection to improve the detection level.

Estimating catch rates in real time: Development of a deep learning based Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) counter for demersal trawl fisheries

Demersal trawling is largely a blind process where information on catch rates and compositions is only available once the catch is taken onboard the vessel. Obtaining quantitative information on catch rates of target species while fishing can improve a fisheries economic and environmental performance as fishers would be able to use this information to make informed decisions during fishing. Despite there are real-time underwater monitoring systems developed for this purpose, the video data produced by these systems is not analyzed in near real-time. In other words, the user is expected to watch the video feed continuously to evaluate catch rates and composition. This is obviously a demanding process in which quantification of the fish counts will be of a qualitative nature. In this study, underwater footages collected using an in-trawl video recording system were processed to detect, track, and count the number of individuals of the target species, Nephrops norvegicus, entering the trawl in real-time. The detection was accomplished using a You Only Look Once v4 (YOLOv4) algorithm. Two other variants of the YOLOv4 algorithm (tiny and scaled) were included in the study to compare their effects on the accuracy of the subsequent steps and overall speed of the processing. SORT algorithm was used as the tracker and any Nephrops that cross the horizontal level at 4/5 of the frame height were counted as catch. The detection performance of the YOLOv4 model provided a mean average precision (mAP@50) value of 97.82%, which is higher than the other two variants. However, the average processing speed of the tiny model is the highest with 253.51 frames per second. A correct count rate of 80.73% was achieved by YOLOv4 when the total number of Nephrops are considered in all the test videos. In conclusion, this approach was successful in processing underwater images in real time to determine the catch rates of the target species. The approach has great potential to process multiple species simultaneously in order to provide quantitative information not only on the target species but also bycatch and unwanted species to provide a comprehensive picture of the catch composition.

Seismic evaluation of vertically irregular RC frames subjected to mainshock-aftershock sequences of near-fault and far-fault ground motions

Sequential ground motions can significantly affect the seismic demands of reinforced concrete (RC) frames with irregularity along the height. In this paper, the effect of sequential near-fault and far-fault ground motion records with strong and weak aftershocks on the seismic demands of vertically irregular 10-story RC building frames is investigated. The vertically irregular frames with stiffness and mass irregularities were created by applying a modification factor of MF = 2 in three different locations along the height of the reference regular frame. Eigenvalue analysis was performed to evaluate the dynamic characteristics of the structures (i.e. the period and the effective modal participating mass ratio for different modes of vibration). In order to study the seismic demands of these structures, the non-linear response history analysis (NL-RHA), which is the most accurate method of seismic evaluation of structures, was carried out. The floor displacements, story drifts, plastic hinge rotations and residual story drifts obtained from the NL-RHAs were exhaustively studied, and the effect of seismic sequences on the seismic responses was investigated. Furthermore, the enhanced pushover analyses, including the modal pushover analysis (MPA), consecutive modal pushover (CMP) procedure, extended N2 (EN2) method, single-run multi-mode pushover (SMP) method and non-adaptive displacement-based pushover (NADP) procedure were implemented to consider the effect of higher modes in computing the seismic demands of the structures subjected to sequential near-fault and far-fault records as well as mainshocks. The results accentuate that the maximum seismic demands and damage of the structure for sequential near-fault and far-fault records with strong aftershocks are much greater than those for the corresponding mainshocks. Moreover, the enhanced pushover analyses in the case of sequential records have usually less accuracy in estimating the seismic demands in comparison with mainshocks only.

Seismic Performance and Optimization Design of a Post-Installed Elevator Shear Wall Structure

Post-installed elevator projects have grown significantly in recent years in response to the problem of insufficient vertical traffic capacity in existing buildings, but research on the seismic performance of post-installed elevator structures has been relatively limited. This study takes a 26-story-frame shear wall structure as an example. The seismic response characteristics of this structure before and after the installation of elevators were analyzed. In order to optimize the design scheme of the post-installed elevator structure, this study further analyzed how factors such as the standard height of the elevator shaft frame, the elevator location, and the way the post-installed elevator is connected to the structure affect the seismic response of the elevator structure. The results show that the post-installed elevators have a small impact on the seismic performance of the existing building and can slightly reduce the seismic response of the structure. In addition, the stiffness of the elevator shaft will be reduced, and its seismic response will be slightly increased as the standard shaft height is increased, but the construction cost can be reduced. The installation location has a greater impact on the seismic response of the post-installed elevator. The seismic response of the post-installed elevator is minimal when it is arranged near the elevator shaft of the existing building.

Numerical assessment of post-earthquake fire response of steel buildings

Accidental actions such as fires and earthquakes are generally referred to as high consequence, low probability events. Current national building regulations consider accidental events as completely independent; therefore, the concurrent or chain occurrence of earthquakes and fires is not accounted for in standard design practice. However, in numerous instances, fires have been observed to develop as a consequence of damage sustained during an earthquake and have resulted in structural failures and loss of human lives. The performance of buildings subjected to post-earthquake fires is a major concern that poses on-going challenges to both fire safety professionals as well as structural engineers, whilst representing a high risk for fire and rescue service personnel.The aim of this study was to assess and attempt to quantify the potential impact of an earthquake on the fire resistance of a moment-resisting steel frame, resulting from the permanent deformations (also referred to as residual drifts) of the members or from the damage sustained by the passive fire protection material during peak deformations. Multiple finite element numerical analyses have been carried out on a 5-storey and a 10-storey internal frame of a building, which have been investigated assuming both the cases of fire protected and uninsulated members. The effect of the earthquake on the fire resistance of the structures has been quantified by directly comparing the time until failure when the frames are subjected to the sole action of fire and when they are exposed to the same fire action after having been subjected to an earthquake.The results indicated that the effect of an earthquake on the fire resistance of uninsulated steel frames is negligible irrespective of the frame height. On the other hand, a significant reduction of the fire resistance was observed in case of protected steel frames, which is directly related to the extent of insulation damage. Furthermore, the collapse mode of the frames changes in a detrimental way, if the damage of the insulation is large enough. While the reduced time until failure may directly affect the safety of the occupants, the collapse mode of a building has implications on the safety of the fire brigades and rescue service, as well as people and properties in the vicinity of the building.

Black Queen Cell Disease in Honeybees. Effect of a Citric Extract Adsorbed To a Tintanium Nanoparticle

Titanium nanoparticles with citrus extracts adsorbed to its structure dissolved in water was used to control this viral disease of bees. Initially, two nuclei of two- and three-frame bees, four well-populated three-frame nuclei with a progenitor queen selected and inseminated to obtain larvae for translarvae, two starter hives consisting of two jumbo hive bodies separated by a queen excluder, two finisher hives with a queen excluder and a queen excluder were used, two finishing hives with a capacity of one and a half jumbo hives (fifteen frames), with a queen excluder placed vertically at the height of the tenth frame acting as a separator between the queen part and the queenless section. 1ST STAGE. A dilution of 1 litre of product in 10,000 litres of water, equivalent to 0.1 ml of product per litre of water. 2nd STAGE A dilution of 1 litre in 200 litres of water, equivalent to 5 ml of product per litre of water. The dilution was sprayed directly to each of the honeycombs with the bees on the surface. Three applications, one every week, the product has a life of 72 hours. After the last application there have been at least 5 translarvae without signs of the disease in the real cells of 10 to 11 days of age and transferred to their nuclei of fertilization, there were deaths of pupae or queens almost to be born but these are fully formed situation or symptom that does not correspond to the disease that concerns us. It is concluded that NANOCYT is effective in controlling black queen cell disease in honey bees.

A new lateral load pattern for optimum design of concrete structures using the wave propagation theory

The current design procedure known as Force-Based Design (FBD) method, generally, does not lead to uniform distribution of drift, hysteretic energy, and ductility demands (or structural damage) along the height of the moment frames under strong earthquakes and these performance parameters can be much higher and concentrate damage on one or more of the lower structural stories. This paper presents an iterative wave propagation (WP) based technique to calculate the seismic nonlinear response of multistory buildings as an extension of the layered soil media, founded on bedrock and subjected to vertically propagating shear waves, which leads to the introduction of a new Lateral Load Pattern (LLP) for analysis and design of moment frames. In the proposed method, the stiffness and damping are assumed as displacement dependent variables, not as constant parameters, also, the method could extend to consider the soil-structure interaction (SSI). Targeting to achieve the almost equal ductility demand for different stories, the proposed LLP, focuses on changing stiffness and strength distributions simultaneously. Evaluating the amount of strain energy absorbed by different layers and also the displacement demand, the location and amount of cumulative damage caused in the structure could be calculated with appropriate accuracy and verified by Park-Ang Damage Index (PADI), as a cumulative concept that produces a more rational indication of the damage level, this paper also provided a more realistic modified PADI. Proposed LLP leads to better distribution of stiffness and strength along with the height of the structures and while the economical design; the more structural members contribute in energy dissipation. The low computational costs and high accuracy of the proposed method, besides the economic and optimal seismic design of structures, are the advantages of the proposed method.

Novel hysteretic damper to improve the distribution of story drifts and energy dissipation along the height of braced frames

A novel hysteretic damper is designed for deployment in Chevron-braced frames of buildings to improve their seismic performance. The new damper, Torsional Hysteretic Damper for Frames (THDF), is a device that utilize torsional yielding of energy dissipating units in the shape of cylinders, which are made of ductile steel, to dissipate the imposed energy through seismic movements. The damper is distinguished by a variable, displacement-dependent post-elastic stiffness. This feature of the damper is intended to improve the height-wise distribution of story drifts and reduce the drift concentration in multi-story buildings. Following the conceptual development of the damper, derivation of force–displacement equations and other analytical studies necessary to implement the damper in practice are performed. Next, numerical studies are conducted to explore the effect of the THDF on the height-wise distribution of story drifts. The THDF was found to improve the distribution of story drifts along the height of braced frames. In the experimental phase of the research, a 1/3rd–scale Chevron-braced frame equipped with the newly-developed damper was subjected to cyclic tests, in order to verify the performance of the THDF and its force–displacement characteristics. Experimental force–displacement loops of the THDF was compared with analytical predictions and a good agreement was observed.