In this paper, a physics-based model is proposed for a biomimetic robotic fish propelled by an ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) actuator. Inspired by the biological fin structure, a passive plastic fin is further attached to the IPMC beam. The model incorporates both IPMC actuation dynamics and the hydrodynamics, and predicts the steady-state cruising speed of the robot under a given period...

Crack initiation and propagation is a common concern for molecular composites such as plastic bonded explosives (PBXs) and pharmaceutical tablets. Under compressive stresses, cracks form at contacts between crystals and propagate along crystal-binder interfaces, causing composite failure. To investigate this process, crystal-binder interfaces have been characterised and their mechanical propert...

This paper deals with analysis of flexural stiffness, indentation and their energies in three point loading of sandwich beams with composite faces from Eglass/epoxy and cores from Polyurethane or PVC. Energy is consumed in three stages of indentation in laminated beam, indentation of sandwich beam and bending of sandwich beam. Theory of elasticity is chosen to present equations for indentation ...

The aim of this research is to examine the market potential for wood plastic composite (WPC) products in the highway construction sector in place of nonrenewable materials (e.g. virgin plastic and steel) and preservative-based products (treated wood). State-level transportation officials indicate that the majority of highway construction purchases are conducted by highway construction contracto...

Organic phase change material (PCM) with macro-encapsulation is attractive in energy storage applications as it has relatively low cost. This study focuses on using PET plastic pipes to encapsulate paraffin and using low-cost float stones to increase the thermal conductivity of PCM modules as they have a special structure of high porosity. Float stones were immersed in the liquid PCM and an ult...

An experimental study conducted to investigate the residual load carrying capacity of a commonly used structural composite plastic, isophthalic polyester, reinforced with S-glass fibreglass when exposed to heat-fluxes representative of a fire is presented. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between fire insult and the remaining flexural strength of a thermally damaged comm...

Composite tissue allotransplantation (CTA) is an option recently introduced for major reconstruction of tissue defects. Since announcements of successful hand, larynx, knee, muscle, nerve, abdominal wall and, most recently, partial face transplantation, CTA has become one of the techniques used by plastic and reconstructive surgeons [1]. Clinical success in CTA is the culmination of progress in...

We consider the mechanical response of random, heterogeneous materials, where each phase is elastic-plastic with an associated flow rule, and the microstnrcture’s statistics is homogeneous and ergodic. Under proportional monotonic loading, the effective (in the macroscopic sense, or overall) elastoplastic response is shown to be bounded from above and below by those obtained, respectively, from...

This paper presents a mixed finite element model for the nonlinear time-dependant analysis of composite beams with partial shear connection. The key idea is to consider, as a first approach, a viscoelastic/plastic model for the concrete slab in order to simulate the interaction between the time effects of concrete, such as creep and shrinkage, and the concrete cracking. Creep is taken into acco...

A resin monomer-soluble polyrotaxane (PRX) crosslinker with cleavable end groups was synthesized to develop degradable photosetting composite resins. The PRX containing 50 α-cyclodextrins (α-CDs) with disulfide end groups was initially modified with n-butylamine to obtain a resin monomer-soluble PRX. The PRX containing 13 n-butyl groups per α-CD molecule was completely soluble in conventional r...