Outward Bending Research Articles

The surrogate model for short-term extreme response prediction based on ANN and Kriging algorithm

Numerical simulation is a common method for calculating the short-term extreme response of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). However, it requires significant computational resources. This study presents a dynamic response database for a 5MW semi-submersible FOWT under complex environmental conditions, including wind speed, effective wave height, and wave spectral peak period, using a numerical model. The peak over threshold (POT) method can be used to obtain the parametric database of short-term extreme responses, which includes the short-term extreme response distribution parameters for four responses: float surge, mooring tension, outward bending moment at the leaf root surface (OoPBM) and tower base pitching moment (TBPM). And the parameter database is applied to train models such as the Genetic Algorithm optimization Back Propagation neural network (GA-BP) and Kriging algorithm models. The research indicates that a correlation can be established between environmental conditions and short-term extreme response parameters using two algorithms. The accuracy of surrogate model prediction for some parameters can be improved by grouping the data based on wind speed and training separately. Additionally, selecting the appropriate surrogate model for each parameter separately can improve the accuracy of short-term extreme response prediction.

Static sphere observers and geodesics in Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime

We analyze null- and spacelike radial geodesics in Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime connecting two conjugate static sphere observers, i.e. free-falling observers at a fixed radius in between the two horizons. We explicitly determine the changes in the causal structure with respect to these natural observers as a result of the inward bending of the black hole singularity, as well as the outward bending of asymptotic infinity. Notably, the inward and outward bending changes as a function of the black hole mass, first increasing towards a maximum and then decreasing to vanish in the extreme Nariai limit. For a generic mass of the black hole this implies the existence of finite size (temporal) windows for the presence of symmetric radial geodesics between the static sphere observers probing the interior region of the black hole, as well as the exterior de Sitter region. We determine the size of the interior (black hole) and exterior (de Sitter) temporal windows in 4, 5 and 6 spacetime dimensions, finding that they are equal in D = 5, and compute the proper lengths of the symmetric radial geodesics. We comment on the implications for information exchange and the potential role of the symmetric radial geodesics in a geodesic approximation of static sphere correlators in Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime.

Direct coating of transparent and wear-resistant polysilsesquioxane on ultra-thin glass for flexible cover windows

This study presents a wear-resistant and anti-fragile ultra-thin glass (UTG) as a flexible cover window. Direct coating of ladder-like polysilsesquioxane (PSQ) onto UTG was introduced to achieve flexibility and protective properties at the same time. In contrast, conventional lamination-based protective films for UTG compromise surface hardness and wear resistance because of using the soft adhesive. The resulting cover window demonstrated pencil hardness of 8H and 1000 cycles of abrasion resistance with 91 % of optical transmittance. Pen and ball drop test results also revealed impact resistance of PSQ-coated UTG improved dramatically compared to the bare UTG. Lastly, a rigorous 200,000-fold test at 3R inward and 6R outward bending verifies the outstanding folding cycle reliability, making it suitable for innovative protective layers for the flexible display industry.

The Excellent Bending Limit of a Flexible Si-Based Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 Ferroelectric Capacitor with an Al Buffer Layer

Flexible Si-based Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) ferroelectric devices exhibit numerous advantages in the internet of things (IoT) and edge computing due to their low-power operation, superior scalability, excellent CMOS compatibility, and light weight. However, limited by the brittleness of Si, defects are easily induced in ferroelectric thin films, leading to ferroelectricity degradation and a decrease in bending limit. Thus, a solution involving the addition of an ultra-thin Al buffer layer on the back of the device is proposed to enhance the bending limit and preserve ferroelectric performance. The device equipped with an Al buffer layer exhibits a 2Pr value of 29.5 μC/cm2 (25.1 μC/cm2) at an outward (inward) bending radius of 5 mm, and it experiences a decrease to 22.1 μC/cm2 (16.8 μC/cm2), even after 6000 bending cycles at a 12 mm outward (inward) radius. This outstanding performance can be attributed to the additional stress generated by the dense Al buffer layer, which is transmitted to the Si substrate and reduces the bending stress on the Si substrate. Notably, the diminished bending stress leads to a reduced crack growth in ferroelectric devices. This work will be beneficial for the development of flexible Si-based ferroelectric devices with high durability, fatigue resistance, and functional mobility.

Centrifuge investigation on behavior of geosynthetic-encased stone column supported embankment under freeze-thaw cycles

In this paper, two centrifuge tests were conducted on geosynthetic-encased stone column (GESC) supported embankment to investigate the behavior under freeze-thaw cycles considering the effects of initial degree of consolidation and number of freeze-thaw cycles. The embankments with a height of 4.5 m supported by GESC-reinforced foundation with a thickness of 9 m in prototype were first consolidated to initial degrees of consolidation of 30% and 60%, respectively, and then subjected to three freeze-thaw cycles. The results showed that the foundation soil under the embankment toe experienced a higher degree of freezing than the soil outside the embankment with non-uniform frozen depths observed at different positions in soil under the embankment, and that multiple freeze-thaw cycles contributed to extra settlement in the foundation. Both the frost heave and thaw settlement appeared on GESCs prior to soil. During freezing, the stress on GESC increased first, while decreased rapidly when soil began freezing. The stress concentration ratio (SCR) reached nearly 1.0 before complete freezing. After the complete thawing of GESCs, the stress on GESC increased significantly. As the number of freeze-thaw cycles grew, the variation in settlement, stress and pore pressure was reduced. The final settlement on soil was greater in the foundation with lower initial degree of consolidation, as well as the SCR. The GESCs had larger deformation and showed outward bending under lower initial degree of consolidation, but inward bending appeared on GESCs under higher one.

Ultrasensitive strain sensor based on graphite coated fibrous frameworks for security applications

The increasing demands of low cost, flexible, foldable and disposable electronic devices have directed the attentions of researchers towards applications of paper substrates. Here, we report the fabrication of strain sensor based on graphite-on-paper strategy. Graphite coating is applied on cellulose paper by direct drawing method. SEM and EDS analyses of the graphite electrodes are performed which respectively inform about the morphological features and elemental composition of the samples. Moreover, XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy of the graphite electrodes are performed to investigate their structural and optical features. A device is fabricated using the graphite electrode which acts as strain sensor. The sensor responds to applied bending strain by showing changes in its relative resistance. The response of sensor towards applied strain is linear with linearity as 0.997. The sensor responds differently for applied inward and outward bending strains. An exceptional sensitivity of 122,701 is recorded for outward strain and 4,021 for inward bending strain. The response time of the sensor is measured as 0.59 s, while that of recovery time as 0.69 s. The sensor is applied on a door at its axis of motion for which it responds when the door is opened or closed. The results show that the demonstrated sensor could be worthful for advanced security applications.

Baseline demographic, clinical and multimodal imaging features of young patients with type 2 macular telangiectasia

PurposeMacular telangiectasia (MacTel) type 2 is observed in patients in their 5th–8th decades of life. The clinical and imaging findings in younger patients is unknown in larger cohorts. The study purpose is to report prevalence, baseline clinical and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) findings in young MacTel patients below 40 years.MethodsThis hospital-based, multicentre, retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients between 2011 and 2023. Retinal photographs from multiple imaging techniques were evaluated to diagnose and stage type 2 MacTel and describe their SDOCT findings. Imaging characteristics were correlated with clinical stages and visual acuity.ResultsAmong all MacTel patients seen in hospital, prevalence of young MacTel cases less than age 40 was 1.77% (32/1806; 62 eyes). Youngest participant was 34 years, while mean age was 38.44 ± 1.795 years. Sixteen patients (50%) were diabetics. Perifoveal greying (n = 56, 90%) and perifoveal hyperreflective middle retinal layers (n = 47, 76%) were the most prevalent clinical and SDOCT imaging finding respectively. Less than 10% (n = 6) eyes had proliferative disease. Presence of retinal pigment clumps (RPC) (7% vs. 67%; p = 0.002) coincided with proliferative MacTel. Poor vision was associated with presence of outer retinal layer SDOCT findings like outward bending of inner retinal layers (p = 0.047), RPC (p = 0.007), subfoveal neurosensory detachment (p = 0.048) and subretinal neovascular membrane (p = 0.001).ConclusionType 2 MacTel before age 40 is rare, common in women and diabetics, and affects vision in advanced stage. Disease symmetry, comparison with older cases, and longitudinal SDOCT changes in such patients require further study.

Self-passivated freestanding superconducting oxide film for flexible electronics

The integration of high-temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3O6+x (YBCO) into flexible electronic devices has the potential to revolutionize the technology industry. The effective preparation of high-quality flexible YBCO films therefore plays a key role in this development. We present a novel approach for transferring water-sensitive YBCO films onto flexible substrates without any buffer layer. Freestanding YBCO film on a polydimethylsiloxane substrate is extracted by etching the Sr3Al2O6 sacrificial layer from the LaAlO3 substrate. In addition to the obtained freestanding YBCO thin film having a Tc of 89.1 K, the freestanding YBCO thin films under inward and outward bending conditions have Tc of 89.6 and 88.9 K, respectively. A comprehensive characterization involving multiple experimental techniques, including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy, is conducted to investigate the morphology, structural, and electronic properties of the YBCO film before and after the extraction process where it shows the preservation of the structural and superconductive properties of the freestanding YBCO virtually in its pristine state. Further investigation reveals the formation of a YBCO passivated layer serves as a protective layer that effectively preserves the inner section of the freestanding YBCO during the etching process. This work plays a key role in actualizing the fabrication of flexible oxide thin films and opens up new possibilities for a diverse range of device applications involving thin-films and low-dimensional materials.

Asymmetric bending characteristics and failure mechanism of bamboo under different loading directions

Bamboo has a special microstructure, its fiber content decreases gradually from the outside to the inside. This kind of gradient distribution results in obviously asymmetric bending characteristics of bamboo, and shows different bending properties and failure modes in different bending directions. In this study, bending properties of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) in three different directions (type A: outward bending, type B: tangential bending, type C: inward bending) were tested. Digital image correlation (DIC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the failure process, strain field change and failure morphology of bamboo, and summarized the failure mechanism of bamboo bending in different directions. Results indicated that the tangential bending have the highest modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE), and the inward bending has the best flexural toughness. The failure mechanism of the three bending directions was different. For type A, the initial crack appeared in the parenchyma tissue in the tensile region where the fiber content was less, so the crack rapidly expanded inside the parenchyma tissue, forming a neat failure section, then led to low toughness of bamboo. For type B, the initial crack appeared in the parenchyma tissue in the tensile region. Due to the moderate fiber content in the tensile region, the fiber bridging phenomenon appeared in the fracture section, led to the higher elastic modulus and strength of the type B. For type C, the initial crack appeared in the parenchyma tissue in the compression region. Because of the more fiber content in the tensile region, the cracks in this part propagated transversely and formed the failure morphology of interlayer separation, which increased the toughness of the specimen. This study is helpful to understand the asymmetric bending characteristics of bamboo, and provide guidance for the use of bamboo as a structural material and the preparation of composite materials.

Investigating the mechanochemistry of membrane area asymmetry generation: A combined mass-action and micromechanical study using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin.

Membrane asymmetry is important for cell signaling and is coupled with membrane morphological remodeling protein conformational regulation, sorting, and function. With respect to the lipids composing a bilayer, membrane asymmetry is divided into two contributions including 1) area asymmetry- that is, unequal monolayer surface areas that two apposed leaflets would tend to favor were they uncoupled and 2) compositional asymmetry- that is, different lipid compositions between the leaflets. For in vitro research on membrane asymmetry, methyl-β-cyclodextrin (mbCD) has been previously applied as a lipid-exchange catalyst to tune the compositional asymmetry of synthetic membranes. Inspired by this approach, we opted to study the physical chemistry of 1-component vesicle systems where mbCD was present not as a catalyst but as a reactant. In reaction mixtures at ambient conditions containing nanoscale vesicles, we performed a fluoresence-quenching assay to see that mbCD extracts phospholipids from only the outer leaflets of vesicles and, thereby, must generate area asymmetry in such mixtures. For certain molar ratios, mbCD can fully solubilize all phospholipid and we used 90o light scattering to map this behavior on a two-dimensional phase diagram at ambient temperature. Through temperature-cycling experiments, we showed an irreversibility in mbCD-phospholipid phase behavior. This granted access to stable solutions containing no self-assembled lipid structures with larger molar ratios of phospholipid to mbCD than could be achieved by isothermal reaction conditions. By adjusting the molar ratios of these solutions, we generated both negative and positive curvature in microscopic vesicles (i.e., inward and outward bending, respectively). Tunability of the curvature is consistent with mass-action considerations relating to net flow of phospholipid out of/into vesicles. We believe our approach using mbCD pre-complexed with phospholipid will enhance experimental research on the biophysical consequences of area asymmetry.

A novel strain field reconstruction method for test monitoring

For the static loading test in the aerospace field, conventional strain field reconstruction based on finite element analysis (FE-SFRM) is difficult to meet the accuracy requirements of test monitoring. A novel experiment strain field reconstruction method (EXP-SFRM) is proposed to improve the accuracy and monitoring effect of reconstructed field. Firstly, the coordinates of strain gauges are introduced to build the connections in space between discrete strain gauges and make it possible to check the accuracy of finite element analysis. Next, the real-time strains with high-precision coordinates are employed to reconstruct the strain field by radial basis function. A cantilever plate test and a large opening cylindrical shell (LOCS) test are performed to validate the high accuracy and good monitoring effect of EXP-SFRM. For the LOCS test, a maximum inward and outward bending criterion (MIOBC) is also proposed to determine the buckling regions. The results show that the average errors of EXP-SFRM are 2.8% (cantilever plate) and 17.4% (LOCS), which are 4.8% and 26.4% lower than these of FE-SFRM. Additionally, for LOCS, the risk regions predicted by EXP-SFRM are finally consistent with the real buckling regions, while these predicted by FE-SFRM are not. Compared with conventional FE-SFRM, the EXP-SFRM is proved to have high accuracy and good monitoring effect during test process.

Effect of off-axis bending on microstructural and transport properties of coated conductor tape

In this work, the changes in the microstructural and DC transport properties of coated conductor tape, deformed in helical form during the manufacturing of a round cable, were studied. The superconducting layer experienced both outward (‘OUT’) and inward (‘IN’) bending with respect to the round core (rod) at various lay angles and former diameters. The microstructure of a rare-earth barium copper oxide (REBCO) surface was observed using a scanning electron microscope. Direct transport measurements in liquid nitrogen were used to investigate the influence of the bending parameters on the DC transport properties. In the OUT configuration, cracks on the REBCO surface were formed at a diameter of 9 mm or less at a lay angle of 45°. The critical current of the tape started to degrade at a diameter of 10 mm or less. The investigation showed that cracks are formed in the direction following the rod axis. In the IN configuration, the measurements were performed at lay angles of 25°, 30°, 38°, 45°, 52° and 60°. The highest critical current retention and the lowest degree of damage on the REBCO layer were observed at a lay angle of 30°; in particular, the critical current visibly degraded at diameters as small as 3 mm, and defects were visibly observed at diameters of 2 mm. At lay angles higherthan 30°, the critical current degraded sooner (at higher diameters), and an increased density of defects in the form of ‘protrusion lines’ was observed. We found that the protrusion lines followed the preferential cleavage direction at approximately 80° to the tape length, independently of the lay angle used. By using a lay angle lower than 30°, the critical current degraded sooner; no protrusion lines were observed, but cracks were formed at the tape edges. For both bending configurations, the lower former diameters led to a higher density of defects on the REBCO surfaces accompanied by the degradation of superconducting properties.

The medial wall and medial compartment of the cavernous sinus: an anatomic study using plastinated histological sections

The medial wall of the cavernous sinus (CS) has a significant role in evaluation and treatment of pituitary adenomas. This study was conducted to clarify the fine architecture of the medial wall and medial compartment of the CS at both macro- and micro-levels in twenty-one human cadaveric heads by using the epoxy sheet plastination technique. The sellar part medial wall is an intact dural layer that separates the CS from the pituitary gland. This dural wall adhered to the diaphragma sellae and the periosteum of the sella turcica to form fibrous triangles. Eight micro-protrusions of the pituitary gland were found at both sides of that wall. The thickness of the sellar part medial wall at its central portion was significantly thinner than that at the other surrounding portions. From the superior view, tortuous intracavernous carotid arteries can be divided into outward bending type and inward bending type. The inward bending intracavernous carotid was apt to bent towards the central part of the sellar part medial wall, where there were usually wide and short fibrous bands with more densely stained connective tissues between them. The micro-protrusion of the pituitary gland in the medial wall of the CS could provide an anatomical basis for the occult tumor invasion and the recurrence of residual tumor. Different bending facing states of tortuous intracavernous carotid arteries in the lateral direction may be a factor of the determination of the direction of growth of pituitary tumors.

Facile Preparation of a Transparent and Rollable Omniphobic Coating with Exceptional Hardness and Wear Resistance.

The encapsulating film for the touchscreen of a foldable smartphone consists of a flexible polymer layer covered by a hard coating and an antismudge coating, and the two coating layers are currently deposited via separate steps. This paper reports the preparation of a bilayer bifunctional coating via the deposition of a single polymer mixture. The base material for the coating is a ladder-like polysilsesquioxane (LASQ) that is derived from the sol-gel chemistry of 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane. Reacting a limiting amount of the liquid antismudge agent FP-COOH, which is a perfluorinated poly(propylene oxide) bearing a terminal carboxyl group, with LASQ yields m-LASQ-FP, a mixture of unreacted LASQ, and a graft copolymer LASQ-FP. m-LASQ-FP at a fluorine mass fraction of 6.0% is photocured to yield a coating with a surface energy of 12.3 ± 1.5 mJ/m2. At a thickness of 40 μm, the coating has at 500 nm a transmittance of >99% measured against its glass substrate, a remarkable nanoindentation hardness H value of 1.4 GPa, and a pencil hardness of > 9H. After being abraded for 300 strokes under a pressure of 26 kPa with steel wool, the coating exhibits no noticeable degradation in its ink contraction properties. At a thickness of 10 μm on a poly(ethylene terephthalate) film, the coating can undergo inward (on the inner surface of the bend) and outward bending to radii <1 and <2 mm, respectively, without cracking. Aside from being a superb candidate as a protective antismudge coating for foldable smartphones, this marvelous material should also have many other applications.

Physical Modeling of Ice Cover Deformation Under the Action of a Moving Load at Low Speed

The current paper considers the possibility of physical modeling of ice cover deformation under the action of a moving load at low speed. Using an equation for elastic plate oscillations on the foundation of a hydraulic type, it is shown that similarity of a stress and strain state (SSS) of model ice can be achieved but within the scope of the approaches based on a classical theory of Nogid-Shimansky modeling of ice cover. Taking into account certain complications connected with practical implementation of the above method, the applicability of a reduced-thickness ice model developed at NNSTU is investigated. This model uses the ice thickness that intentionally does not comply with the similarity requirements, all other requirements being satisfied, thus providing incomplete similarity of the model. Some disagreements with a Nogid-Shimansky model connected with that are revealed and their influence on the end result is evaluated. The applicability of a thin ice model is investigated in natural cooled model tanks of classical shape used for modeling of load movement at low speed. The results of the experimental investigation of ice cover deformation under the action of a moving load using a model for the natural thin ice are given. The modification of a wave shape and maximum ice deflection depending on change of a movement speed and loading are investigated. The connection of decrease of a ratio of the deflection basin profile area to the outward ice bending profile in front of a moving load with increase of speed at the start of the movement is demonstrated, which can be an evidence of a sharp growth of energy expenses for ice cover deformation when the interaction between the technical facility and ice cannot be considered as quasistatic. An exact evaluation of such expenditures is crucial when designing the ice-breaking facilities clearing a path through floe ice.

Smooth or with a Snap! Biomechanics of Trap Reopening in the Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula).

Fast snapping in the carnivorous Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) involves trap lobe bending and abrupt curvature inversion (snap‐buckling), but how do these traps reopen? Here, the trap reopening mechanics in two different D. muscipula clones, producing normal‐sized (N traps, max. ≈3 cm in length) and large traps (L traps, max. ≈4.5 cm in length) are investigated. Time‐lapse experiments reveal that both N and L traps can reopen by smooth and continuous outward lobe bending, but only L traps can undergo smooth bending followed by a much faster snap‐through of the lobes. Additionally, L traps can reopen asynchronously, with one of the lobes moving before the other. This study challenges the current consensus on trap reopening, which describes it as a slow, smooth process driven by hydraulics and cell growth and/or expansion. Based on the results gained via three‐dimensional digital image correlation (3D‐DIC), morphological and mechanical investigations, the differences in trap reopening are proposed to stem from a combination of size and slenderness of individual traps. This study elucidates trap reopening processes in the (in)famous Dionaea snap traps – unique shape‐shifting structures of great interest for plant biomechanics, functional morphology, and applications in biomimetics, i.e., soft robotics.

Spectral domain OCT features in type 2 macular telangiectasia (type 2 MacTel): its relevance with clinical staging and visual acuity

BackgroundTo report spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) imaging findings in type 2 macular telangiectasia (MacTel) and correlate them with clinical stages and visual acuity.MethodsThis retrospective, cross-sectional study included type 2 MacTel cases who underwent SDOCT imaging with Spectralis machine. Macular SDOCT images were analysed. Imaging features were tested for correlation with different clinicals stages and visual acuity.Results212 eyes of 108 type 2 MacTel patients were included. Hyperreflective middle retinal layer (87%) was the most frequently detected abnormality. This was followed by inner retinal cavities (49%), outward bending of inner retinal layers (35%), retinal pigment clumps (35%) and foveal contour irregularity (31%). Hyperreflective middle retinal layers (p < 0.001), inner (p = 0.032) and outer retinal (p = 0.002) cavities and internal limiting membrane drape (p = 0.031) were associated with poor vision in non-proliferative group and presence of retinal pigment clumps (p = 0.002), subretinal fluid (p = 0.037) and foveal contour irregularity (p < 0.001) were associated with poor vision in proliferative group.ConclusionThe described SDOCT features are practical for the diagnosis and staging in type 2 MacTel. Presence of hyperreflective middle retinal layers, hyporeflective inner and outer retinal cavities and internal limiting membrane drape were associated with poor vision in the non-proliferative group while retinal pigment clumps and subretinal neovascular membrane were associated with proliferative group and poor vision. Further long-term studies are required to describe the progressive and sequential changes on SDOCT.

Optimization of bidirectional bending sensor as flexible ternary terminal for high-capacity human-machine interaction

The recent mergence of Human-machine interaction and flexible electronics has heralded a revolutionary era that changes the communication pattern between people and the environments. To pursue a more fascinating and convenient life, expansion of command capacity is inevitable towards multiple functionalities. However, traditional flexible sensors, which collect the user requirement and convert to electrical commands, are binary inputs (idle status for ‘0′ and applied stimuli for ‘1′) and the expansion possibility is restricted. In view of this, we developed a flexible sensor which can precisely perceive the bidirectional stimuli even under a small bending angle of ± 5°. Upon inward bending, the optimized microflakes/cilia enabled more contact points for resistance decrease, while an outward bending generated increased resistance due to the applied strain. With the non-overlapping signals, ternary inputs ‘1′, ‘0′, and ‘− 1′ could thus be defined by the bending direction from human joints, e.g. the wrist. The ternary-based devices exhibited overall superiorities when compared with the binary system, e.g. effective Morse code communication, intuitive robotic control, and expanded capacity for logic outputs and mouse system. The study raises a facile strategy to design the ternary bridge between human and machine that meets the growing pursuit for an intelligent future.

Effect of basal reinforcement on performance of floating geosynthetic encased stone column-supported embankment

In this paper, two centrifuge modeling tests were performed to investigate the influence of basal reinforcement on the global performance of floating geosynthetic encased stone column (GESC)-supported embankments. Based on the centrifuge tests, a 3-dimensional (3D) numerical modeling was carried out to investigate the influence of basal reinforcement on the deformation behavior of the floating GESC-supported embankment. The centrifuge and numerical modeling results showed that the basal reinforcement reduced total and uneven settlement at the embankment crest and base significantly. Moreover, the inclusion of the basal reinforcement significantly reduced the lateral displacement on top of the column, preventing outward bending of the floating GESCs below the embankment toe. However, the basal reinforcement increased the lateral displacement at the bottom of columns.

Performance characterization of transparent and conductive grids one-step-printed on curved substrates using template-guided foaming.

Next-generation electronic devices require electrically conductive, mechanically flexible, and optically transparent conducting electrodes (CEs) that can endure large deformations. However, patterning conditions of such CEs have been mainly limited to flat substrates because of the nature of conventional fabrication techniques; thus, comprehensive studies are needed to be conducted on this topic. Herein, we characterize the material and structural properties of CEs, curvature of substrates, and their operational performance. We use a single-step printing method, termed template-guided foaming (TGF), to fabricate flexible transparent conducting electrodes (FTCEs) on various substrates with initial curvatures. We adopted silver nanowires (AgNWs) and a conductive polymer (PEDOT:PSS) to characterize and compare the effect of initial substrate curvatures on the sheet resistance during inward and outward bending. The AgNW-based grids exhibited a considerably low sheet resistance, which was linearly proportional to the working curvature of the substrate, whereas PEDOT:PSS-based grids exhibited a relatively higher sheet resistance, which increased regardless of the initial and working curvatures of the substrate. Although both CE grids exhibited a high flexibility and transmittance during 10 000 cyclic tests, the initial curvature of the substrate affected the sheet resistance; hence, operational conditions of FTCEs must be considered to improve the repeatability and durability of such FTCE-integrated devices. Finally, we believe that our study introduces a novel methodology for the design, fabrication, and operation strategy of flexible electronic devices and wearable devices with high performances.