Some engineering applications require structures to expand and contract in size, while retaining their exterior shape. The applications range from mundane daily life objects to more fancy art structures. In contrast to a multi degree-of-freedom structure, a single degree-of-freedom structure can be driven by a single actuator, reducing cost and simplifying the control. In this paper, we study s...

Prosthetic wrists need to be compact. By minimizing space requirements, a wrist unit can be made for people with long residual limbs. This prosthetic wrist uses two motors arranged across the arm within the envelope of the hand. The drive is transmitted by a differential so that it produces wrist flexion and extension, pronation and supination, or a combination of both. As a case study, it was ...

In this thesis, the performance criteria for the objective comparison of different classes of single-degree-of-freedom oscillators under stochastic excitation are developed. For each family of oscillators, these objective criteria take into account the maximum possible energy harvested for a given response level, which is a quantity that is directly connected to the size of the harvesting confi...

This paper is about discrete sensitivity analysis. A triangular bending element with constant moment and six degrees of freedom is used. The required derivatives for sensitivity analysis are calculated explicitly. These formulations, finite element method and sequential linear programming are utilized to find shape optimization of plate bending structures. The numerical examples, which show the...

In the present work, the biodynamic response behavior of seated human body subject to vibration in vertical direction have been extensively examined. The biodynamic response parameter of seated human body have been analyzed in terms of apparent masss (AM).The AM describe “to –the -body”force motion relationship at the interface of huma and seat. The present work proposed the six degrees of free...