Subject to a voltage, a dielectric elastomer can deform substantially, making it a desirable material for actuators. Designing such an actuator, however, has been challenging due to nonlinear equations of state, as well as multiple modes of failure, parameters of design, and measures of performance. This paper explores these issues, using a spring-roll actuator as an example. We formulate the e...

A complete database of the mechanical properties of an epoxy polymer reinforced with uni-weave carbon fibre non-crimp fabric (NCF) is established. In-plane and through-the-thickness tests were performed on unidirectional laminates under normal loading and shear loading. The response under cyclic shear loading was also measured. The material has been characterised in terms of stiffness, strength...

A theory with experimental verifications has been developed to investigate the nonlinear behavior of comb drive actuators under applied external electrical potential and Joule heating effects. The nonlinear behavior originates from coupled effects of the beam structure under applied electrical potential with electrostatically induced tensile stress and thermally induced compressive stress. Deta...

Energy principles are used to investigate the adhesion of two parallel thin cylindrical shells under external compressive and tensile loads. The total energy of the system is found by adding the strain energy of the deformed cylinder, the potential energy of the external load, and the surface energy of the adhesion interface. The elastic solution is obtained by linear elastic plate theory and a...

The structural hierarchy inherent to tensegrities enables a building skin that performs on multiple levels simultaneously. While having one function in the global building mechanics, its individual components can work as self-contained systems balancing tensile and compressive forces locally within them. The behavior of elements under load is linear and thus describable analytically. When these...

Poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citric acid) (POC) is a synthetic biodegradable elastomer that can be processed into three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds for tissue engineering. We investigated the effect of designed porosity on the mechanical properties, permeability, and degradation profiles of the POC scaffolds. For mechanical properties, scaffold compressive data were fitted to a one-dimensional (1D) no...

The cytoskeleton is known to play an important role in the biomechanical nature and structure of cells, but its particular function in compressive characteristics has not yet been fully examined. This study focused on the contribution of the main three cytoskeletal elements to the bulk compressive stiffness (as measured by the compressive modulus), volumetric or apparent compressibility changes...

Using nano-technology materials in the asphalt pavement industry is new compared with Portland cement concrete. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of nano-silica modification on some properties of a penetration grade asphalt cement and a typical asphalt concrete. 60/70 penetration grade bitumen was modified with different percentages of nano-silica (i.e. 1, 3 and 5%,...