Dynamic problems for metamaterials: Review of existing models and ideas for further research

Metamaterials are materials especially engineered to have a peculiar physical behaviour, to be exploited for some well-specified technological application. In this context we focus on the conception of general micro-structured continua, with particular attention to piezoelectromechanical structures, having a strong coupling between macroscopic motion and some internal degrees of freedom, which may be electric or, more generally, related to some micro-motion. An interesting class of problems in this context regards the design of wave-guides aimed to control wave propagation. The description of the state of the art is followed by some hints addressed to describe some possible research developments and in particular to design optimal design techniques for bone reconstruction or systems which may block wave propagation in some frequency ranges, in both linear and non-linear fields. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Piezo-electromechanical smart materials with distributed arrays of piezoelectric transducers: Current and upcoming applications

This review paper intends to gather and organize a series of works which discuss the possibility of exploiting the mechanical properties of distributed arrays of piezoelectric transducers. The concept can be described as follows: on every structural member one can uniformly distribute an array of piezoelectric transducers whose electric terminals are to be connected to a suitably optimized electric waveguide. If the aim of such a modification is identified to be the suppression of mechanical vibrations then the optimal electric waveguide is identified to be the 'electric analog' of the considered structural member. The obtained electromechanical systems were called PEM (PiezoElectroMechanical) structures. The authors especially focus on the role played by Lagrange methods in the design of these analog circuits and in the study of PEM structures and we suggest some possible research developments in the conception of new devices, in their study and in their technological application. Other potential uses of PEMs, such as Structural Health Monitoring and Energy Harvesting, are described as well. PEM structures can be regarded as a particular kind of smart materials, i.e. materials especially designed and engineered to show a specific andwell-defined response to external excitations: for this reason, the authors try to find connection between PEM beams and plates and some micromorphic materials whose properties as carriers of waves have been studied recently. Finally, this paper aims to establish some links among some concepts which are used in different cultural groups, as smart structure, metamaterial and functional structural modifications, showing how appropriate would be to avoid the use of different names for similar concepts. © 2015 - IOS Press and the authors

Frequency shifts in natural vibrations in pantographic metamaterials under biaxial tests

In this paper a 2D continuum model, thought as the homogenized limit of a microstructured pantographic sheet, is studied. The microstructure is characterized by two families of parallel fibers, whose deformation measures account for bending, elongation and relative rotation of the fibers. The deformation energy density of the homogenized model depends on both first and second gradients of the displacement. Modal analysis is performed in order to assess the peculiarities of the dynamic behavior of higher gradient models, and in particular the difference, with respect to classical laminae, in the dependence of the eigenfrequencies on the stiffness

Wave reflection at a free interface in an anisotropic pyroelectric medium with nonclassical thermoelasticity

In this paper, the well-established two-dimensional mathematical model for linear pyroelectric materials is employed to investigate the reflection of waves at the boundary between a vacuum and an elastic, transversely isotropic, pyroelectric material. A comparative study between the solutions of (a) classical thermoelasticity, (b) Cattaneo–Lord–Shulman theory and (c) Green–Lindsay theory equations, characterised by none, one and two relaxation times, respectively, is presented. Suitable boundary conditions are considered in order to determine the reflection coefficients when incident elasto–electro–thermal waves impinge the free interface. It is established that, in the quasi-electrostatic approximation, three different classes of waves: (1) two principally elastic waves, namely a quasi-longitudinal Primary (qP) wave and a quasi-transverse Secondary (qS) wave; and (2) a mainly thermal (qT) wave. The observed electrical effects are, on the other hand, a direct consequence of mechanical and thermal phenomena due to pyroelectric coupling. The computed reflection coefficients of plane qP waves are found to depend upon the angle of incidence, the elastic, electric and thermal parameters of the medium, as well as the thermal relaxation times. The special cases of normal and grazing incidence are also derived and discussed. Finally, the reflection coefficients are computed for cadmium selenide observing the influence of (1) the anisotropy of the material, (2) the electrical potential and (3) temperature variations and (4) the thermal relaxation times on the reflection coefficients

Verifica Sperimentale del Controllo di Posizione e delle Vibrazioni di Sistema Robotico Flessibile

Siena (Italia

Modelli Dinamici di un Braccio Robotico Flessibile per il Controllo delle Vibrazioni e della Posizione

Napoli (Italia

Non-linear lumped-parameter modeling of planar multi-link manipulators with highly flexible arms

The problem of the trajectory-tracking and vibration control of highly flexible planar multi-links robot arms is investigated. We discretize the links according to the Hencky bar-chain model, which is an application of the lumped parameters techniques. In this approach, each link is considered as a kinematic chain of rigid bodies, and suitable springs are added in order to model bending resistance. The control strategy employed is based on an optimal input pre-shaping and a feedback of the joint angles to treat the effects of undesired disturbances. Some numerical examples are given to show the potentialities of the proposed control, and a comparison with a standard collocated Proportional-Derivative (PD) control strategy is performed. In particular, we study the cases of a linear and a parabolic trajectory with a polynomial time law chosen to minimize the onset of possible vibrations

Theoretical and experimental dynamic analysis aimed at the improvement of an acoustic method for fresco detachment diagnosis

An acoustic non-invasive method for the diagnosis of detachment in frescos was previously proposed by the authors. This method is based on the indirect evaluation of the vibrations due to detachments, by means of a surface inspection. In this paper the relations between the dynamics of the structure to be inspected and the operational principles of the acoustic method of diagnosis are presented. The dynamic analysis is carried out using experimental investigations and analytical and numerical models. It shows that the quality of the diagnosis depends on the capability of the acoustic device to excite the structural resonances related to the detachments. These results are useful for future improvements, in particular to enhance the sensitivity of the proposed method. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Thermal Bow in an Axi-symmetrical Shaft Containing a Transverse Notch and Related Vibrational Behaviour

Lione (Francia