Bacteriophage viruses spontaneously self-assemble in the presence of their component parts (certain protein molecules). It is believed that conformational switches, interacting chemical bonding sites that allow tentative incorrect bonds, facilitate this randomized assembly process. A onedimensional conformational switch is proposed and used to study the randomized assembly of mechanical parts. ...

Composites are being used extensively in several engineering applications. However, the efficiency of the joints used in joining composites and metals can be improved. To move towards a sustainable and environment friendly future, natural fibre composite material was used. Towards the above objective, research work was carried out for the assembly between a composite and aluminium. Three differ...

Loading conditions and complex geometry have led the cylinder heads to become the most challenging parts of diesel engines. One of the most important durability problems in diesel engines is due to the cracks valves bridge area. The purpose of this study is a thermo-mechanical analysis of cylinder heads of diesel engines using a two-layer viscoelasticity model. The results of the thermo-mechani...

The assembly of clathrin triskelia into polyhedral cages during endocytosis is regulated by adaptor proteins (APs). We explore how APs achieve this by developing coarse-grained models for clathrin and AP2, employing a Monte Carlo click interaction, to simulate their collective aggregation behavior. The phase diagrams indicate that a crucial role is played by the mechanical properties of the dis...

This paper applies network connectivity analysis to mechanical assemblies. Assemblies have extensive intentional structure while simultaneously displaying some of the properties of previously analyzed networks. Fundamental principles impose restrictions on the structure of assemblies, as do some practical principles. Fundamental restrictions stem from the desire to avoid over-constraining the a...

A self-assembling and self-repairing mechanical system is experimentally studied to demonstrate its effectiveness. We developed a 2-D model of autonomous mechanical unit capable of dynamic reconfiguration and inter-unit communication. Self-assembly and self-repair experiments have been carried out using a distributed algorithm developed under the constraints of the system’s homogeneity and loca...

As additive manufacturing of mechanical parts gains broad acceptance, efforts to embed electronic or electromechanical components in these parts are intensifying. We discuss recent work in printable electronics and introduce an alternative, which we call Bitblox. Bitblox are small, modular, interconnecting blocks that embed simple electromechanical connectivity and functionality. Not all blocks...

Loading conditions and complex geometry have led the cylinder heads to become the most challenging parts of diesel engines. One of the most important durability problems in diesel engines is due to the cracks valves bridge area. The purpose of this study is a thermo-mechanical analysis of cylinder heads of diesel engines using a two-layer viscoplasticity model. The results of the thermo-mechani...

The development of the musculoskeleton and the ability to locomote requires controlled cell division as well as spatial control over deposition of extracellular matrix. Self-assembly of procollagen and its final processing into collagen fibrils occurs extracellularly. The formation of crosslinked collagen fibers results in the conversion of weak liquid-like embryonic tissues to tough elastic so...

Homophilic binding of immunoglobulin superfamily molecules such as the Aplysia cell adhesion molecule (apCAM) leads to actin filament assembly near nascent adhesion sites. Such actin assembly can generate significant localized forces that have not been characterized in the larger context of axon growth and guidance. We used apCAM-coated bead substrates applied to the surface of neuronal growth ...