• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 2019

In the case of conventional soft robots, the basic stiffness is small due to the use of flexible materials. Therefore, there is a limitation that the load that can bear is limited. In order to overcome these limitations, a study on a variable stiffness method has been conducted. And it can be seen that the jamming mechanism is most effective in increasing the stiffness of the soft robot. However, the jamming mechanism as a method in which a large number of variable act together is not even theoretically analyzed, and there is no study on intrinsic principle. In this paper, a study was carried out to increase the stability of the force chain to increase the stiffness due to the jamming transition phenomenon. Particle size variables, backbone mechanisms were used to analyze the stability of the force chains. We choose a jamming mechanism as a variable stiffness method of a soft robot, and improve the effect of stiffness based on theoretical analysis, modeling FEM simulation, prototyping and experiment.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.361-377
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• 2019

The stiffness of shape memory alloy (SMA) spring while in actuation is represented by an empirical model that is derived from the logistic differential equation. This model correlates the stiffness to the alloy temperature and the functionality of SMA spring as active variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is analyzed based on factors that are the input conditions (activation current, duty cycle and excitation frequency) and operating conditions (pre-stress and mechanical connection). The model parameters are estimated by adopting the nonlinear least square method, henceforth, the model is validated experimentally. The average correlation factor of 0.95 between the model response and experimental results validates the proposed model. In furtherance, the justification is augmented from the comparison with existing stiffness models (logistic curve model and polynomial model). The important distinction from several observations regarding the comparison of the model prediction with the experimental states that it is more superior, flexible and adaptable than the existing. The nature of stiffness variation in the SMA spring is assessed also from the Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), which as well proves the proposal. This model advances the ability to use SMA integrated mechanism for enhanced variable stiffness actuation. The investigation proves that the stiffness of SMA spring may be altered under controlled conditions.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.449-456
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• 2003

Hybrid semi-active control system is applied to improve the seismic peformance of the building structure against earthquake excitation and the LQR-based semi-active control algorithm is developed to tune the integrated stiffness/damping characteristics of the hybrid system complementarily. Numerical simulation for a 8-story shear building has been carried out to verify the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method. Analysis results showed that the hybrid system can be a compromising solution to the seismic response control problem, compared with conventional variable stiffness or variable damping systems. Comparison results proved that the proposed algorithm can perform refined tuning of the stiffness and damping coefficients of the hybrid semi-active control system better than sliding mode control algorithm.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.373-392
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• 2012

Tracking control of systems with variable stiffness hysteresis using a gain-scheduled (GS) controller is developed in this paper. Variable stiffness hysteretic system is represented as quasi linear parameter dependent system with known bounds on parameters. Assuming that the parameters can be measured or estimated in real-time, a GS controller that ensures the performance and the stability of the closed-loop system over the entire range of parameter variation is designed. The proposed method is implemented on a spring-mass system which consists of a semi-active independently variable stiffness (SAIVS) device that exhibits hysteresis and precisely controllable stiffness change in real-time. The SAIVS system with variable stiffness hysteresis is represented as quasi linear parameter varying (LPV) system with two parameters: linear time-varying stiffness (parameter with slow variation rate) and stiffness of the friction-hysteresis (parameter with high variation rate). The proposed LPV-GS controller can accommodate both slow and fast varying parameter, which was not possible with the controllers proposed in the prior studies. Effectiveness of the proposed controller is demonstrated by comparing the results with a fixed robust $\mathcal{H}_{\infty}$ controller that assumes the parameter variation as an uncertainty. Superior performance of the LPV-GS over the robust $\mathcal{H}_{\infty}$ controller is demonstrated for varying stiffness hysteresis of SAIVS device and for different ranges of tracking displacements. The LPV-GS controller is capable of adapting to any parameter changes whereas the $\mathcal{H}_{\infty}$ controller is effective only when the system parameters are in the vicinity of the nominal plant parameters for which the controller is designed. The robust $\mathcal{H}_{\infty}$ controller becomes unstable under large parameter variations but the LPV-GS will ensure stability and guarantee the desired closed-loop performance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.345-359
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• 2013

For the purpose of investigating the free vibration response of the spatial curved beams, the governing equations are derived in matrix formats, considering the variable curvature and torsion. The theory includes all the effects of rotary inertia, shear and axial deformations. Frobenius' scheme and the dynamic stiffness method are then applied to solve these equations. A computer program is coded in Mathematica according to the proposed method. As a special case, the dynamic stiffness and further the natural frequencies of a cylindrical helical spring under fixed-fixed boundary condition are carried out. Comparison of the present results with the FEM results using body elements in I-DEAS shows good accuracy in computation and validity of the model. Further, the present model is used for reciprocal spiral rods with different boundary conditions, and the comparison with FEM results shows that only a limited number of terms in the resultant provide a relatively accurate solution.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.141-159
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• 2016

Bearing joint dynamic parameter identification is crucial in modeling the high speed spindles for machining centers used to predict the stability and natural frequencies of high speed spindles. In this paper, a hybrid method is proposed to identify the dynamic stiffness of bearing joint for the high speed spindles. The hybrid method refers to the analytical approach and experimental method. The support stiffness of spindle shaft can be obtained by adopting receptance coupling substructure analysis method, which consists of series connected bearing and joint stiffness. The bearing stiffness is calculated based on the Hertz contact theory. According to the proposed series stiffness equation, the stiffness of bearing joint can be separated from the composite stiffness. Then, one can obtain the bearing joint stiffness fitting formulas and its variation law under different preload. An experimental set-up with variable preload spindle is developed and the experiment is provided for the validation of presented bearing joint stiffness identification method. The results show that the bearing joint significantly cuts down the support stiffness of the spindles, which can seriously affects the dynamic characteristic of the high speed spindles.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2020

Cross-beams of modern through truss bridges are connected to truss chord at its nodes and between them. It results in variable rotational end restraint for cross-beams, thus variable bending moment distribution. This feature is captured in three-dimensional modelling of through truss bridge structure. However, for preliminary design or rapid assessment of service load effects such technique of analysis may not be available. So an analytical method of assessment of rotational end restraint for cross-beam of through truss bridges was worked out. Two cases - nodal cross-beam and inter-nodal cross-beam - were analyzed. Flexural and torsional stiffness of truss members, flexural stiffness of deck members and axial stiffness of wind bracing members in the vicinity of the analyzed cross-beam were taken into account. The provision for reduced stiffness of the X-type wind bracing was made. Finally, general formula for assessment of rotational end restraint was given. Rotational end restraints for cross-beams of three railway through truss bridges were assessed basing on the analytical method and the finite element method (three-dimensional beam-element modelling). Results of both methods show good agreement. The analytical method is able to reflect effects of some structural irregularities. On the basis of the obtained results the general values of rotational end restraint for nodal and inter-nodal cross-beams of railway through truss bridges were suggested.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.135-151
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• 2022

The generalized displacement method is a nonlinear solution scheme that follows the equilibrium path of the structure based on the development of the generalized displacement. This method traces the path uniformly with a constant amount of generalized displacement. In this article, we first develop higher-order generalized displacement methods based on multi-point techniques. According to the concept of generalized stiffness, a relation is proposed to adjust the generalized displacement during the path-following. This formulation provides the possibility to change the amount of generalized displacement along the path due to changes in generalized stiffness. We, then, introduce higher-order algorithms of variable generalized displacement method using multi-point methods. Finally, we demonstrate with numerical examples that the presented algorithms, including multi-point generalized displacement methods and multi-point variable generalized displacement methods, are capable of following the equilibrium path. A comparison with the arc length method, generalized displacement method, and multi-point arc-length methods illustrates that the adjustment of generalized displacement significantly reduces the number of steps during the path-following. We also demonstrate that the application of multi-point methods reduces the number of iterations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.243-256
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• 1999

Using appropriate transformations, the differential equation for flexural free vibration of a cantilever bar with variably distributed mass and stiffness is reduced to a Bessel's equation or an ordinary differential equation with constant coefficients by selecting suitable expressions, such as power functions and exponential functions, for the distributions of stiffness and mass. The general solutions for flexural free vibration of one-step bar with variable cross-section are derived and used to obtain the frequency equation of multi-step cantilever bars. The new exact approach is presented which combines the transfer matrix method and closed form solutions of one step bars. Two numerical examples demonstrate that the calculated natural frequencies and mode shapes of a 27-storey building and a television transmission tower are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. It is also shown through the numerical examples that the selected expressions are suitable for describing the distributions of stiffness and mass of typical tall buildings and high-rise structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.783-800
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• 2011

This paper addresses the finite strip formulations for the stability analysis of viscoelastic composite plates with variable thickness in the transverse direction, which are subjected to in-plane forces. While the finite strip method is fairly well-known in the buckling analysis, hitherto its direct application to the buckling of viscoelastic composite plates with variable thickness has not been investigated. The equations governing the stiffness and the geometry matrices of the composite plate are solved in the time domain using both the higher-order shear deformation theory and the method of effective moduli. These matrices are then assembled so that the global stiffness and geometry matrices of a moderately thick rectangular plate are formed which lead to an eigenvalue problem that is solved to determine the magnitude of critical buckling load for the viscoelastic plate. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified against the results which have been reported elsewhere whilst a comprehensive parametric study is presented to show the effects of viscoelasticity parameters, boundary conditions as well as combined bending and compression loads on the critical buckling load of thin and moderately thick viscoelastic composite plates.