Articles tagged with Mechanical Engineering
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed guidelines to understand auxetic materials that become thicker when stretched, applicable for protective sports equipment, body armor and biomedical devices. The new tools aim to democratize auxetic design, making it accessible to engineers from novice to advanced experience levels.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new approach to reduce adhesion in small parts, which is expected to improve next-generation microdevices. The study uses nanomaterials to create rough surfaces that prevent tiny objects from sticking together.
Researchers have developed a self-righting robot inspired by the legless jumping mechanism of click beetles. The beetle's unique hinge-like structure allows it to flip back onto its feet after being knocked over, and the researchers aim to integrate this mechanism into their robot prototypes.
Researchers at Brigham Young University have developed a nano composite smartfoam that measures the impact of hits via electrical signals, collecting data in real time to determine impact severity and location. The technology has shown 90% accuracy in measuring concussion risks, revolutionizing football safety protocols.
Long-Qing Chen, a renowned professor at Penn State, has been awarded the Humboldt Research Award for his significant contributions to materials science and engineering. He plans to establish international collaborations and learn about European cultures through a one-year research project in Germany.
Researchers at the University of Illinois created a crawling robot inspired by origami structures and biological systems, such as Venus Flytrap movement and uni-flagellated bacteria swimming. The robot uses origami building blocks to mimic earthworms' gait and setae design for forward and turning motions.
Researchers at Utah State University have developed a novel design for an inflatable speedboat that utilizes elastic materials to absorb wave energy and reduce the impact on passengers. The study reveals unique differences in water-impact behavior between rigid and elastic bodies.
Researchers at UTA are working on developing algorithms to minimize risks for unmanned aerial systems operating in populated areas. The goal is to increase public acceptance and benefit commercial use of UAS technology, ultimately contributing to safer operation in various risk conditions.
Researchers studied cicada wings to understand their water-repelling ability, discovering that habitat is not a good predictor of superhydrophobicity. The team found that life cycles and species relatedness are better predictors of this extreme water-repelling ability.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have made breakthrough discovery on optimizing dew droplet size to improve efficiency of removing condensation. By fine-tuning surface nanoscopic topography, they found that droplets can be made small enough to jump off surfaces as early as 2 micrometers.
The University of Arizona has received a nearly $2 million award from the Office of Naval Research to study problems of instability and materials failure for aircraft and missiles flying at hypersonic speeds. Researchers will build two additional wind tunnels to explore laminar-turbulent transition, aerothermodynamic heating, and other...
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and Stanford University have created a soft robot that can extend its tip and control its growth direction based on external sensors, enabling it to navigate complex environments. The robot has potential applications in endovascular surgery, search and rescue operations, and construction.
The new robot grows in one direction when material at the front everts, allowing it to move without body movement. It successfully navigated an obstacle course, lifted a 100-kilogram crate, and formed a free-standing structure.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a framework that enables autonomous underwater vehicles to navigate strong currents with greater energy efficiency. This improvement allows AUVs to gather data for longer periods, revolutionizing oceanography research.
Scientists discovered that changes in mechanical behavior and gene signaling play a crucial role in the development of heart defects, with LOX-deficient mice exhibiting protection against aneurysms. The research provides new insights into the chemo-mechanics of heart defects and its potential applications for disease prevention.
Research by M. Teresa Cardador found that women in managerial roles in engineering firms experience mixed identification with the profession, feeling they don't belong in technical roles. This can lead to stereotypes about women's suitability for technical work and increased work-life balance tensions.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a soft, four-legged robot that can walk on rough surfaces like sand and pebbles. The breakthrough was made possible by combining soft and rigid materials using 3D printing, enabling complex shapes for the robot's legs.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed a novel bio-inspired nonlinear anti-vibration system that significantly reduces vibration in various mechanical systems. The innovation boasts superior performance and cost-efficiency compared to existing devices.
A Rutgers-led team has invented a promising technology for killing microbes using paper-based sanitizers, which can eliminate more than 99 percent of bacteria cells. The devices consist of paper with thin layers of aluminum and hexagon/honeycomb patterns that produce plasma to kill microorganisms.
A novel optical technique enables rapid sorting of amino acid sequences in living bacteria, revealing structural properties crucial for materials development. This technology uses femto-pico second lasers to inspect proteins without heating them up, enabling non-lethal screening and separation.
A new approach using a combination of silver, titanium oxide and hydroxyapatite nanocoatings successfully inhibited bacterial growth on dental implants by 97.5%, reducing the risk of peri-implantitis. The findings have great potential for increased patient comfort and satisfaction, as well as reduced costs.
Researchers created a mouse model to study how cerebral malaria leads to epilepsy in children and develop treatments. The model, developed by Penn State, is the first of its kind and has potential applications for preventing seizures and sudden unexplained death from epilepsy.
Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology developed a microhotplate using SU-8 polymer material, achieving good thermal isolation and mechanical stability. The device displayed high temperature resistance up to 550 °C and low power consumption, making it suitable for miniature smart gas sensor chips.
Scientists and engineers must communicate their work's potential impacts to the public and use their expertise to advance societal goals. Iowa State University is working to help researchers succeed in broader impacts activities, including public engagement.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed new mechanical metamaterials that can easily transmit motion in one direction while blocking it in another. These nonreciprocal materials have potential applications in soft robotics, prosthetics, and energy harvesting.
Researchers at University of Illinois developed a new approach to dynamically tune the micro- and nano-scale roughness of atomically thin MoS2, improving its hydrophobicity for various applications including waterproof electronics and medical devices. The study expands toolkit for tunable wettability of 2D materials.
Engineers at Caltech and ETH Zurich developed artificial skin that senses temperature changes, similar to pit vipers' prey-sensing organs. The material can detect tiny temperature changes and has a responsivity two orders of magnitude larger than existing electronic skins.
Professors Ateshian and Myers have made significant contributions to the fields of cartilage mechanics and soft tissue biomechanics. Ateshian's work focuses on developing better modalities for osteoarthritis treatment, while Myers studies the mechanics of the uterus and cervix to prevent premature births.
Researchers at MIT have developed a fast and precise printing process that can fabricate electronic surfaces for a wide range of applications. The team has created stamps made from carbon nanotubes that can print electronic inks onto rigid and flexible surfaces, enabling the creation of high-performance, fully printed electronics.
Researchers use acoustic emissions techniques to explore corn stalk growth and breakage, discovering that plant growth involves millions of tiny breakage events. This finding may lead to improved crop yields by strengthening plant structures.
The spherical mechanical seal's performance is influenced by structure size, including radius, stator-ring distance, and diameter. Increasing the spherical radius reduces contact area but raises temperature and pressure.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a steel-brass battery that can store energy comparable to lead-acid batteries and charge/dischcharge at rates comparable to ultra-fast charging supercapacitors. The secret lies in anodization, a common chemical treatment used to give aluminum a durable finish.
A team of researchers from Utah State University, Dartmouth College and Brigham Young University used high-speed imaging and particle image velocimetry to describe the phenomenon. They found that buoyant spheres ascending through a fluid don't always behave as expected, with speed and vortex structures affecting their trajectory.
A team of researchers at Colorado State University has developed a superomniphobic tape that can be applied to any surface, giving it liquid-repelling properties. The tape's potential impact is extraordinary, with applications in various civilian, commercial, and military fields.
The University of Pennsylvania has been awarded a $24 million grant to establish a Science and Technology Center focused on engineering mechanobiology. This research will provide insights into embryonic development, stem-cell differentiation, cancer metastasis, and other clinically relevant topics.
The Pitt team has received a $2.5 million contract from the US Department of Defense to further develop a retrievable stent for treating life-threatening hemorrhages in servicemen and civilian gunshot victims. The device can be rapidly placed by non-vascular physicians with minimal training, simplifying treatment in emergency situations.
A research team from Washington University has been awarded a $1.25 million grant to study the movement and mechanics of flagella in a green alga called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is nearly identical to human cilia. The goal is to understand how these tiny organelles propel movements and potentially develop new discoveries in mec...
Bacteria can form biofilms that break and float away, spreading infection. Researchers are studying the conditions under which these biofilms break down.
Researchers at Iowa State University have successfully treated inkjet-printed graphene with lasers, improving its electrical conductivity without damaging fragile printing surfaces. The breakthrough technology enables the creation of low-cost and disposable graphene-based electrochemical electrodes for various applications.
A team of University of Toronto scientists has discovered a way to convert gaseous carbon dioxide into energy-rich fuel in a carbon-neutral cycle. Silicon nanocrystals meet the criteria for a highly active and selective catalyst, making them an efficient material for harvesting sunlight and converting CO2 into fuel.
Researchers found that rats rely heavily on their whiskers to locate airflow sources, even when other sensory cues are available. The discovery could lead to the development of artificial flow sensors for robots.
Engineers from the University of Bristol have developed a new shape-changing metamaterial using Kirigami, a class of material engineered to produce unusual properties. The Kirigami metamaterial can seamlessly change shape, exhibits large variations in mechanical performance with small geometry changes.
Researchers at Iowa State University have created a quick-destructing battery that can power devices for up to 15 minutes before self-destruction. The battery's unique polymer casing breaks apart in water, dissolving or dissipating the components within 30 minutes.
Researchers at UCR developed a silicon-tin nanocomposite anode that triples charge capacity and extends battery life. The new material enables longer-lasting rechargeable batteries with improved performance and scalability.
Diane Wagner's study aims to strengthen damaged cartilage using photo-initiated crosslinking, targeting only injured areas without affecting healthy tissue. The goal is a new, non-invasive treatment for post-traumatic osteoarthritis, which affects over 5 million people in the US.
A research team led by Likun Zhu at Indiana University aims to overcome challenges with alloy-type anode materials that swell and fracture during charging and discharging. By adding selenium to these materials, they hope to develop commercially affordable high-performance anodes for better batteries.
The study uses data from cameras and smartpens to track students' actions while watching instructional videos. Researchers identified four archetypes of problem-solving methods, which could help coaches identify successful approaches and provide targeted support.
A researcher at the University of Texas at San Antonio has received a $441,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a predictive model for chronic conditions. The goal is to identify patients at risk and alert doctors early, preventing further ailments before diagnosis.
Shuchin Aeron, a Tufts University assistant professor, has received a five-year NSF CAREER award to develop new algebraic models and algorithms for multidimensional data science. His research aims to reinvigorate interest among researchers in using tools from linear and multilinear algebra.
A new concept in liquid battery design uses a passive, gravity-fed arrangement to eliminate the need for complex plumbing systems, reducing cost and increasing simplicity. The system can be adjusted by changing the angle of the device, allowing for faster or slower energy production.
The University of Washington team observed and analyzed collective interparticle vibrations in two-dimensional microscale granular crystals for the first time. This understanding allows for designing materials with unique properties, such as customizable impact energy absorption.
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.