Topology optimization of compliant adaptive wing leading edge with composite materials

AbstractAn approach for designing the compliant adaptive wing leading edge with composite material is proposed based on the topology optimization. Firstly, an equivalent constitutive relationship of laminated glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite plates has been built based on the symmetric laminated plate theory. Then, an optimization objective function of compliant adaptive wing leading edge was used to minimize the least square error (LSE) between deformed curve and desired aerodynamics shape. After that, the topology structures of wing leading edge of different glass fiber ply-orientations were obtained by using the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) model and sensitivity filtering technique. The desired aerodynamics shape of compliant adaptive wing leading edge was obtained based on the proposed approach. The topology structures of wing leading edge depend on the glass fiber ply-orientation. Finally, the corresponding morphing experiment of compliant wing leading edge with composite materials was implemented, which verified the morphing capability of topology structure and illustrated the feasibility for designing compliant wing leading edge. The present paper lays the basis of ply-orientation optimization for compliant adaptive wing leading edge in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) field

Anti-mold, self-cleaning superhydrophobic bamboo fiber/polypropylene composites with mechanical durability

Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composites (BPCs) have been widely used in buildings, interior decoration, and automobile components. However, pollutants and fungi can interact with the hydrophilic bamboo fibers on the surface of Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composites, degrading their appearance and mechanical properties. To improve their anti-fouling and anti-mildew properties, a superhydrophobic modified Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composite (BPC-TiO2-F) was fabricated by introducing titanium dioxide (TiO2) and poly(DOPAm-co-PFOEA) onto the surface of a Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composite. The morphology of BPC-TiO2-F was analyzed by XPS, FTIR, and SEM. The results showed that TiO2 particles covered on Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composite surface via complexation between phenolic hydroxyl groups and Ti atoms. Low-surface-energy fluorine-containing poly(DOPAm-co-PFOEA) was introduced onto the Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composite surface, forming a rough micro/nanostructure that endowed BPC-TiO2-F with superhydrophobicity (water contact angle = 151.0° ± 0.5°). The modified Bamboo fiber/polypropylene composite exhibited excellent self-cleaning properties, and a model contaminant, Fe3O4 powder, was rapidly removed from the surface by water drops. BPC-TiO2-F showed excellent anti-mold performance, and no mold was on its surface after 28 days. The superhydrophobic BPC-TiO2-F had good mechanical durability and could withstand sandpaper abrasion with a weight load of 50 g, finger wiping for 20 cycles, and tape adhesion abrasion for 40 cycles. BPC-TiO2-F showed good self-cleaning properties, mildew resistance, and mechanical resistance, giving it promising applications for automotive upholstery and building decoration

Nanoparticles of Block Ionomer Complexes from Double Hydrophilic Poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) Triblock Copolymer and Oppositely Charged Surfactant

The novel water-dispersible nanoparticles from the double hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA) triblock copolymer and oppositely charged surfactant dodecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) were prepared by mixing the individual aqueous solutions. The structure of the nanoparticles was investigated as a function of the degree of neutralization (DN) by turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering (DSL),ζ-potential measurement, and atomic force microscope (AFM). The neutralization of the anionic PAA blocks with cationic DTAB accompanied with the hydrophobic interaction of alkyl tails of DTAB led to formation of core–shell nanoparticles with the core of the DTAB neutralized PAA blocks and the shell of the looped PEO blocks. The water-dispersible nanoparticles with negative ζ-potential were obtained over the DN range from 0.4 to 2.0 and their sizes depended on the DN. The looped PEO blocks hindered the further neutralization of the PAA blocks with cationic DTAB, resulting in existence of some negative charged PAA-b-PEO-b-PAA backbones even when DN > 1.0. The spherical and ellipsoidal nature of these nanoparticles was observed with AFM

Impact of Causticizing Calcium Carbonate from Soda Pulping of Wheat Straw on AKD Sizing

The causticizing calcium carbonate (CCC) produced in the causticizing stage of the chemical recovery process in alkaline pulping of wheat straw has a high silicate content and is difficult to convert to calcium oxide in the lime kiln. The CCC can be utilized as a paper filler to avoid costly lime re-burning, but the silicate content of the CCC can have a negative impact on the wet-end chemistry of the papermaking process. In this paper, the effect of the silicate content of the CCC filler on AKD sizing was investigated. CCC fillers of various silicate contents were prepared in the lab by causticizing green liquor from the soda pulping of wheat straw and were added to fiber suspensions at the wet end of the papermaking process. The results show that the impact of the CCC filler on AKD sizing was associated with its silicate content. As the silicate content increased, the specific surface area and negative charge density of the CCC particles markedly increased, resulting in more AKD adsorption onto the CCC particles instead of fibers

Optimization and Experiment of a Novel Compliant Focusing Mechanism for Space Remote Sensor

The change of an external environment leads to the defocusing phenomenon of the space optical remote sensor. The performance of the focusing mechanism is related to the image quality of the remote sensor. It was optimized for a novel focusing mechanism comprised of a flexural hinge lever-type amplifier and several piezoelectric ceramics to improve the performance on high loads and large stroke in this research. It has advantages of a lightweight, simple structure and high reliability compared with the traditional focusing mechanism. The input displacement from the piezoelectric actuators was amplified by a two-stage flexure hinge lever-type mechanism. Dimensional parameters of the flexural hinges were considered as design variables. Based on the optimization ideology, reasonable compliance and dimension parameters of the flexural hinges were analyzed for the focusing mechanism. Simulation and experiments of deformation were conducted to validate the correctness of design optimization. The results show that the focusing mechanism designed by the proposed method has the capabilities of an amplification ratio of 100 times and a loading carrying capacity of 2 kg. This work provides a novel strategy to design an excellent focusing mechanism with lightweight, high loads and large stroke. Moreover, it is believed that this approach can be extended to other complex sensors