Piezoelectric energy harvesters have been widely developed in last decade due to their simplicity and practicality, but they suffer from low density. To increase the density, ferroelectric/ferroelastic switching could be an effective alternative harvesting approach. However, nonlinearity irreversibility of ferroelectric produces difficulty establishing a stable working cycle. In this work, nove...

A new severe plastic deformation (SPD) based technique entitled Accumulative channel-die compression bonding (ACCB) is proposed for the fabrication of high strength multi-layered Al/Cu composites for the first time. In order to primarily demonstrate the capabilities of ACCB in the fabrication of metal matrix composites (MMCs), AA 1050 and pure Cu strips were processed. The primary Al/Cu sandwic...

In this study, the salt weathering effects on engineering properties and weight loss potential of three types of granitoid rocks were investigated. Sodium and magnesium sulfates tests were performed on core and aggregate samples. The cyclic salt weathering tests on core samples were done up to 90 cycles, while these tests on aggregate samples were done up to 40 cycles. The results showed that d...

Freezing-thawing resistance is a very significant characteristic for concrete in severe environment (such as cold region with the lowest temperature below 0°C). In this study, ordinary-air-entrained (O-A-E) concrete was produced in a laboratory environment; the compressive strength, cubic compressive strength of C50, C40, C30, C25, and C20 ordinary-air-entrained concrete, tensile strength, and ...

Optical nonlinearities, such as thermo-optic mechanisms and free-carrier dispersion, are often considered unwelcome effects in silicon-based resonators and, more specifically, optomechanical cavities, since they affect, for instance, the relative detuning between an optical resonance and the excitation laser. Here, we exploit these nonlinearities and their intercoupling with the mechanical degr...

This preliminary in vitro study evaluated the simulated retention force of O-rings used for mini-implant overdenture treatment and the effect of mechanical fatigue corresponding to 6 months of wear. A mandibular overdenture analog device was attached to two mini-implants and underwent a tensile strength test before and after the application of insertion-removal and simulated masticatory cycles....

Zero transvalvular pressure fixation is thought to improve porcine bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) durability by preserving the collagen fiber architecture of the native tissue, and thereby native mechanical properties. However, it is not known if the native mechanical properties are stable during long-term valve operation and thus provide additional durability. To address this question, we exa...

Aim: To evaluate the surface alterations of soft liners with or without sealer coating after mechanical brushing abrasion. Methods: Thirty specimens were made of a methacrylate(Coe-Soft) and a siloxane-based material (Ufi-Gel SC), and 15 received two coatings of surface sealer. The specimens were submitted to a mechanical brushing-dentifrice assay under 200 g of force at 250 cycles/min. Mechani...

The distal muscle-tendon units of cursorial species are commonly composed of short muscle fibres and long, compliant tendons. It is assumed that the ability of these tendons to store and return mechanical energy over the course of a stride, thus avoiding the cyclic absorption and regeneration of mechanical energy by active muscle, offers some metabolic energy savings during running. However, th...