Articles tagged with Mechanical Engineering
University of Illinois researchers have created a simple and scalable graphene patterning technique using stencil masks fabricated via a laser cutter. This approach enables rapid design iterations and pattern replications, promoting cleaner quality graphene patterns without polymeric transfer layers or organic solvents.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard University have successfully fabricated nanoscrolls made from graphene oxide flakes. The scrolls exhibit mechanical properties similar to graphene and can be tailored to trap specific molecules and pollutants.
A recent study found that a droplet hitting a thin fiber will be captured at low speeds, pass through at intermediate speeds, and split at high speeds. The researchers' model has significant implications for optimizing water collection systems and fiber-coating technologies.
A new approach to modifying 2D materials has led to an enhancement in the light absorption and stretchability of atomically thin materials. By engineering the two-dimensional material into three-dimensional crumpled structures, researchers achieved more than an order-of-magnitude enhancement in photoresponsivity.
A new theory predicts the mechanical response of shells, from small pharmaceutical capsules to large airplane bodies. By controlling a few key variables, engineers can create uniformly smooth shells with precisely tailored thickness, with applications far beyond the chocolate shop.
A Kansas State University engineer has developed a paperlike battery electrode made from glass-ceramic that improves the performance of tools for space exploration and unmanned aerial vehicles. The electrode has high cycling efficiency and can function at low temperatures, making it suitable for long-duration missions.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a computer model to analyze wind conditions on the Masters' notorious 12th hole, revealing that tall tree canopies significantly impact accuracy. The system can predict wind direction and speed's effect on golf shots, aiding golfers in choosing clubs and aiming strategies.
Researchers at Brigham Young University have developed origami-inspired engineering techniques to create ultra-small surgical instruments, allowing for minimally invasive procedures. The technology aims to reduce the size of incisions necessary for surgery, potentially enabling self-healing wounds without sutures.
Ankur Jain, an assistant professor at UTA, has received a five-year, $500,000 NSF CAREER grant to develop a fundamental understanding of thermal transport in Li-ion batteries. His goal is to improve the safety and efficiency of these batteries for widespread applications.
Researchers at Northwestern University have designed a way to prevent protein unfolding under mechanical stress, which causes devastating neurodegenerative diseases. By attaching polymers to proteins, they can stabilize their shape and prevent them from unfolding even when subjected to large forces.
Using video footage and geodesic Lagrangian coherent structures theory, researchers found unsteady material transport barriers surrounding Jupiter's Great Red Spot and jet streams. This analysis enhances knowledge of the planet's atmosphere, with potential applications in oceanography, meteorology, and environmental monitoring.
Vittoria Flamini has created computer models to determine if a percutaneous pulmonary valve will fit in a child's heart before surgery. The simulation takes at least a day and involves manipulating images of the patient's heart sent by medical teams.
Researchers at Lehigh University and City University of Hong Kong have discovered a way to control liquid droplet movement on extremely hot surfaces, utilizing microscale topographical features. This breakthrough could improve technologies such as power plant reactors and water management systems by reducing cooling time.
Researchers from the University of Illinois have developed a simplified approach to fabricating flat, ultra-thin optics using plasmon-assisted etching. This technique enables simple etching without hazardous chemical agents, greatly simplifying design iteration steps and reducing workload in cleanrooms.
Diana Shu-Lian Chow, a University of Houston professor, has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in recognition of her work on developing new drug formulations. Her work has led to significant improvements in the safety and efficacy of stem cell transplants for leukemia patients.
Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a unique lie-detecting software using real court case data, achieving up to 75% accuracy in identifying deceivers. The system analyzes both speech patterns and body language, uncovering common behaviors such as eye contact, hand gestures, and vocal fill.
Engineers completed two deployments for the James Webb Space Telescope's wings, a crucial step in assembling the telescope's carbon fiber framework. The telescope will hold 18 mirrors and fold up to fit inside a launch vehicle.
By 'crumpling' hybrid nanostructures, researchers increased surface area and improved SERS detection sensitivity. The new design enables enhanced nanoplasmonic sensing applications for environmental analysis, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical research.
Jesse Little's three-year grant aims to develop guidelines for designing aircraft that can withstand structural and heat stresses of sustained supersonic flight. The study focuses on understanding shock waves interacting with near-surface air flows in three dimensions.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University studied spider crickets' aerial acrobatics, discovering that their limbs stabilize posture during jumps. This knowledge can be applied to designing tiny robots with more efficient locomotion, such as jumping robots for rugged terrain.
A new method of predicting the path of weaponized chemical agents has been developed by UTSA associate professor Kiran Bhaganagar, with a focus on tracking environmental conditions that affect the direction and movement of released chemical agents. The project aims to enable faster evacuation and response to chemical terrorist attacks.
A new study published in Biology Letters found that changing walking speeds can burn up to 20% more calories than maintaining a steady pace. The research measured the metabolic cost of varying speeds and found that even small changes in speed can significantly impact calorie burn.
A new DIY experiment by QUT physicists demonstrates how oceans expand as they heat up, causing sea levels to rise. The study finds that thermal expansion is responsible for most of the rising sea levels during the past century, with melting ice sheets contributing to further increases.
The OU School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering has been selected for a national diversity program to close the gender and minority gap in mechanical engineering. The school will receive education and training on diversity and inclusion to attract and retain underrepresented students and faculty.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are exploring the use of soft robots in various fields, including medicine and disaster response. The goal is to develop intelligent surgical assistants that can help surgeons perform more effective manipulation during surgery.
New analysis reveals that excessive bubble formation limits heat transfer, leading to overheating and equipment damage. The study identifies optimal surface texturing to improve boiler efficiency and plant safety.
Researchers discover that surfaces with valleys less than one micron wide can deflect water, keeping them dry for up to four months. This discovery could revolutionize industries such as shipping and pipe coatings by reducing drag and saving billions of dollars.
Joo H. Kim, an assistant professor at NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, receives the 2015 Freudenstein/General Motors Young Investigator Award for advancing study on energy expenditure in robotic systems. His research focuses on developing systems to measure and analyze with unprecedented accuracy the energy expenditure of robots.
Purdue researchers are working to learn precisely how much heat to apply and how frequently to use heat treatment for a given hair type without destroying it. The team has developed a prototype system that simulates a flat iron passing over hair, using an infrared microscope to study the behavior of heat on different hair types.
Researchers developed a novel model to predict the amount of nicotine emitted from e-cigarettes, achieving up to 90% accuracy. The study found that higher voltage devices paired with high-nicotine liquids can deliver more nicotine than traditional cigarettes.
A new algorithm developed by MIT researchers combines SLAM and object recognition to improve robots' performance. The system uses SLAM information to augment existing object-recognition algorithms, achieving comparable performance to special-purpose robotic object-recognition systems that factor in depth measurements.
A team of engineers and doctors at Vanderbilt University has developed a surgical robot with steerable needles equipped with wrists that provide needlescopic tools with previously lacked dexterity. This innovation allows for precise resections, suturing, and access to areas such as the nose, throat, ears, and brain.
Researchers from North Carolina State University and Brown University discovered that nanoscale wires have a significant anelasticity - they return slowly to their original shape when bent. The discovery was made while studying the buckling behavior of nanowires, and it has important implications for electronics and wearable devices.
A recent study published in the journal Science suggests that seahorse tails' square prism shape offers a functional advantage over cylindrical shapes. This unique design could inspire new forms of armor and lead to the development of search-and-rescue robots with improved control and versatility.
The seahorse tail's square shape provides better resistance to twisting and grasping control due to increased contact area. Its resilience is attributed to gliding joints, making it a valuable inspiration for designing search-and-rescue robots and other technologies.
Researchers have developed a cost-effective method for producing hundreds of female emerald ash borer decoys using biomimetic fabrication. The new approach, which requires only one mold, is 40% more successful than previous methods and can be produced faster and less expensively.
Porfiri's research on mechanical vibrations could lead to safer ships and ways to harvest energy from aquatic systems. His work aims to design lightweight, fuel-efficient marine vessels and microsystems with untapped energy-harvesting capabilities.
The researchers have developed a robust approach to integrate graphene onto 3D microstructured surfaces, maintaining the structural integrity of graphene. The process incorporates three sequential steps: substrate swelling, shrinking, and adaptation, allowing for damage-free integration of graphene on 3D microstructures.
Researchers apply insect vision principles to develop an 'active vision' system, which locks onto the background and lets the target move against it. This bio-inspired algorithm performs robustly, running up to 20 times faster than state-of-the-art engineering algorithms.
Professor Matei Ciocarlie has received a three-year Young Investigator Program grant to develop collaborative manipulation systems for human-robot teams. His research aims to create novel mechanisms that combine mechanical and computational intelligence, enabling robots to perform versatile tasks in cluttered or occluded settings.
A team of researchers has found a new connection between physical forces and limb development in embryos, using live imaging and computer models. Their study could lead to simulations that help repair deformed limbs, potentially creating a drug to alter mechanical stress on cells.
Researchers created a highly efficient automated tool to deliver nanoparticles and other large cargo into mammalian cells at a rate of 100,000 cells per minute. This breakthrough enables new scientific research and potential medical applications, such as studying disease development and understanding cell responses.
Engineers can now predict how complex carbon nanostructures form through a new understanding of the forces involved. By analyzing these structures, designers can create nanotube forests with desired mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, leading to breakthroughs in various industries.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have made a groundbreaking discovery in the study of nanomaterials, revealing that tiny tungsten crystals can exhibit deformation twinning, which affects their strength and function. This phenomenon has significant implications for the development of nanostructured metals and alloys.
Researchers have developed a new design framework for powered lower-extremity exoskeletons, enabling highly customized designs with optimized performance and stability control. The custom-tailored exoskeletons aim to improve user comfort and safety while reducing development time and cost.
Researchers developed mobile applications that allow students to interact with real laboratory equipment, promoting deeper learning and engagement. The apps have been shown to be effective for students with special needs and can accommodate multiple simultaneous connections.
A numerical triaxial apparatus based on discrete element method simulates and reproduces the mechanical property of granular materials in landslide. The modified DEM model reflects the main mechanism of friction and dilatancy, providing detail information of mechanical properties such as friction angle and dilatancy angle.
Nadine Aubry recognized for innovative research in fluid mechanics, pioneering work on low dimensional modeling of turbulent flow, and invention of micromixers enabling efficient fluid combination at low cost
A team of Penn State engineering students designed workstations that allow users to share space while maintaining their own work areas. The researchers used simulations to determine optimal table shapes and sizes for accommodating groups of different sizes, ultimately publishing their findings in Applied Ergonomics.
The new journal aims to bridge the gap in publication options for the mechanics community, featuring short articles on cutting-edge research in various disciplines. It is edited by three distinguished scientists and offers immediate publication of papers without waiting for other articles.
The new gear reducer uses magnetism to transform speed, eliminating wear and lubrication needs. It can work in cryogenic temperatures and has applications in outer space, robotics, and various industries where conventional reducers are used.
A University of Washington startup has developed a new football helmet designed to mitigate concussion forces. The innovation reduces linear and rotational acceleration, a significant breakthrough in brain injury protection.
A team of researchers combined precision model experiments with computer simulations to study coiling patterns, discovering that natural curvature dramatically affects the process. The study has practical impacts on everyday life, including understanding transoceanic communication cables and rodlike structures.
The university will focus on athletes participating in various sports, including football, soccer, and lacrosse, and receive comprehensive preseason evaluations for concussion. The study aims to inform a comprehensive understanding of sport-related concussion and traumatic brain injury.
A team led by Nina Mahmoudian has created a tabletop model of a robot team that can bring power to places in need. The robots can link up power cords and batteries to light or set flags, operating independently to choose the shortest path and avoid obstacles.
Carnegie Mellon researchers found that mechanical processes, not just chemical signaling, are essential for cell communication during tissue growth. The study used a microfluidic control system to analyze cellular mechanics and revealed that disabling these connections impairs cell communication.
Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering are proposing enhanced modeling and simulation technology and new qualification standards for additive manufacturing. The research aims to improve quality and product integrity while reducing manufacturing time and costs.
The Soft Robotics Toolkit offers downloadable plans, how-to videos, and case studies to assist users in designing, fabricating, modeling, characterizing, and controlling soft robotic devices. The toolkit aims to stimulate innovation and learning in the field of soft robotics.
Materials scientist Scott X. Mao successfully creates metallic glasses from pure metals by applying ultrafast cooling rates, solving a long-standing issue in the field. The process involves a novel technique that enables transformation of liquefied elemental metals into glass.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a new class of walking 'bio-bots' powered by muscle cells, controlled with electrical pulses. The breakthrough allows for unprecedented control over their function, opening up possibilities for environmental and medical applications.