Articles tagged with Structural Design
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have created a customizable, fabric-like power source that can be recharged many times and has the ability to store an electrical charge four times higher than most existing stretchable supercapacitors. The editable supercapacitor is made of strengthened manganese dioxide nanowire composit...
The KAUST team has developed a methodology for acquiring atomic-resolution images of beam-sensitive materials, such as metal organic frameworks, using transmission electron microscopy. This enables the precise alignment and determination of defocus values, reducing the procedure to a near-routine process.
Scientists at Sun Yat-Sen University present advances in controlling the flexibility of MOFs for improved performance. They summarize strategies for designing/synthesizing flexible MOFs with specified structural response and dynamic behavior towards external stimuli.
Researchers from UBC's Okanagan campus found that female grizzly bears with cubs prefer using wildlife overpasses to cross the highway, highlighting the importance of designing structures that prioritize bear safety. The study also suggests that a diverse range of crossing design types can help mitigate road-bear conflicts.
Scientists from HKU created a novel liquid-repellent surface inspired by springtail cuticles, offering enhanced mechanical stability and low production costs. The breakthrough technology can be applied to various fields, including energy, buildings, and water vehicles.
A US Department of Energy laboratory has developed a one-step 3D printing method for creating catalysts, which could lead to more efficient chemical reactions and improved industrial processes. The new technique uses inexpensive commercial printers to create structures with built-in catalytic properties.
Researchers at Georgia Tech developed a new software called MERLIN to simulate origami behavior, allowing for faster design process and better understanding of structural performance. The software predicts how structures will bend, twist, and snap under compression forces.
Researchers computationally designed a new, metastable, and lightweight form of aluminum with a density of 0.61 gram per cubic centimeter, making it lighter than water. This discovery opens up potential applications in spaceflight, medicine, wiring, and more fuel-efficient automotive parts.
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.
A new tool allows users to design collapsible telescoping structures from any 3D shape, enabling compact mechanisms and deployable structures. The research, led by Carnegie Mellon Professors Stelian Coros and Keenan Crane, successfully prototyped flexible robot arms and tent-like structures.
Researchers at Penn State aim to protect critical structures from earthquakes and explosions using a new metamaterial. The team will use numerical and experimental studies to evaluate the effectiveness of their proposed material in filtering and dissipating surface waves.
Researchers at UBC Okanagan campus found that safety codes can result in overly reinforced bridges, wasting materials and increasing construction expenses. The study suggests a new approach to seismic design, prioritizing self-centering capability and reducing the need for costly demolitions.
A new, fully-automated rainout shelter has been developed to enable precise testing of crop varieties for their tolerances to water stress. The shelters use a portable solar power system and customizable features like rain sensors and surveillance cameras.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new sensor material that can detect biological signals, including heartbeats and brainwaves, with enhanced sensitivity. The material uses an ambipolar design, allowing for the transport of both electrons and holes, which enables improved signal detection in water-based environments.
Researchers at MIT and SUTD used light to print 3D structures that can remember their original shapes after being stretched, twisted, and bent. The structures can be printed with micron-scale features and have potential applications in biomedical devices, soft robotics, and solar panel tracking.
Researchers designed and built large protein icosahedra with potential applications in targeted drug delivery and vaccine development. The structures were created using computational and biochemical approaches, allowing for the design of complex structures from scratch.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine develop a method called SEWING that stitches together pieces of existing proteins to create novel proteins with diverse structural features. This approach enables designing proteins with specific functions, such as catalysts, biosensors, and therapeutics.
Researchers discovered a twisted, helical shape can reduce drag by 18-23% compared to round cylinders. This design could improve stability for various structures, including antennae and skyscrapers.
Researchers have designed heterocycle-based luminogens with aggregation-induced emission characteristics, offering improved electron transport and tunable energy gaps. These materials exhibit superior performance in optoelectronic devices, chemo- and bio-sensors, and bioimaging applications.
Researchers developed a model to study adjustable adhesion power in rough, elastic surfaces. The study focused on the transition from weak to strong adhesion, revealing its importance in establishing contact.
Researchers created a new system called 'Fab Forms' that automatically generates visual models for users to modify. The system uses a wide range of values to calculate geometries and store results, allowing users to test designs in real time.
A team of researchers at UMass Amherst has developed a way to use curved creases to give thin curved shells a fast, programmable snapping motion. This technique avoids the need for complicated materials and fabrication methods, enabling rapid shape changes in structures.
The researchers at Aalto University have demonstrated the first realization of absorbers that do not reflect light over a wide range of frequencies. These absorbers are able to absorb and sense light of desired frequency spectra while being invisible and undetectable at other frequencies.
Researchers at NC State University have developed a new method to create transparent, stretchable conductors. The 'nano-accordion' design stretches brittle materials by geometry, inspired by everyday springs. This innovation has potential applications in flexible electronics, displays, and wearable sensors.
Scientists create 3D-printed synthetic spider webs using multiscale modeling and mechanical analysis, offering insight into how spiders optimize their own webs. The study reveals a significant relationship between web structure, loading points, and failure mechanisms.
MGN1703 is a single-stranded oligonucleotide-based drug that activates the human immune system without causing harmful side effects. It works by binding to toll-like receptor 9, triggering a cascade of signaling pathways that enable recognition and destruction of foreign cells.
Scientists at China University of Petroleum and Liaoning University of Technology studied mosquito legs to understand their unique adaptation to float on water. They found that the tarsus's buoyant horizontal contact with the surface generates an upward force twenty times the insect's body weight.
Case Western Reserve University researcher Michael Pollino developed a computer model that suggests optimal sizes for 'rocking steel-braced frames' to dissipate seismic energy. These designs could provide better earthquake resilience and repairability, potentially reducing costs.
Researchers developed a simple new fabrication technique that mimics the action of a children's pop-up book to create beautiful and complex 3-D micro- and nanostructures. The technique trumps 3-D printing with advantages in speed, cost, and material integration.
Researchers design novel cathode for rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries featuring graphene-wrapped sulfur electrode. The design improves cycling stability and efficiency by confining active materials within a porous structure.
Dr. James Davis is being honored by the geoscience community for his work in advancing earthquake hazards preparedness and mitigation in the US. He has helped shape how geoscientists communicate with the public about seismic environments, and has been instrumental in implementing the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act in California.
Engineers used tweets from the 2013 Colorado floods to study infrastructure damage, providing insights into damage distribution, geographic scope, and time progression. This study demonstrates the potential of social media for reconnaissance by non-emergency professionals after disasters.
Researchers develop composite material with improved impact resistance and toughness inspired by mantis shrimp's club, which accelerates underwater faster than a 22-caliber bullet. The new design structure shows less external damage and increased residual strength after impact compared to standard aerospace materials.
Structures, a new online peer-reviewed journal, aims to bridge the knowledge translation gap between academia and industry. The journal will publish research articles on structural engineering, materials, and related areas, with a focus on applicability to current practice.
In a study of the I Love Bees game, researchers discovered that players formed teams and adopted a military-like leadership hierarchy, suggesting that game designers should not over-design leadership structures. The findings highlight the power of games to inspire collaboration and teamwork.
Hydrogen can cause metals to become brittle and fail. Researchers have developed a model that predicts when and where embrittlement will occur, enabling the design of new, resistant materials.
Researchers will develop methods to design origami structures that actively fold and unfold in response to multiple fields, guided by predictive multi-scale modeling and multi-physics simulations. The four-year project will also integrate summer student exchange programs and capstone design projects for K-12 students.
Vega is a general-purpose modeling software that allows users to simulate and move complex objects in real-time. With over 50,000 lines of software code, it offers a wide range of materials and deformable simulation methods, making it a powerful tool for animation, game artists, and engineers.
Jason Lewis's P.o.E.M.M. project develops ten new digital poetry apps that combine poet-created content with interactive elements, including user-generated and Twitter-based poetry. The project has received recognition from the Electronic Literature Organization, and its apps are available for download through iTunes.
A research team led by UCLA professor John Wallace is receiving a $1 million grant to examine the construction issues with modern buildings' structural walls after recent earthquakes in Japan, New Zealand, and Chile. The team will investigate design and performance limits for structural walls to improve building codes and resilience.
A shift in attention can make all the difference in reaching goals, according to a new study. Consumers often start towards a goal but struggle to finish it. Focusing on small areas of progress instead of large ones increases motivation and adherence to goals.
New formulas and methods have been developed to analyze across-wind loads and effects on super-tall buildings. These achievements have been adopted in national and local load codes and applied to the structural design of many actual super-tall buildings.
Researchers from NC State University have designed a sensor that can measure strain in structural materials and heal itself when broken. The sensor, which uses infrared light to detect changes in length, contains a UV-curable resin that hardens upon damage, allowing it to repair automatically.
Plant-based researchers are developing adaptive structures inspired by Mimosa's ability to twist, bend, stiffen, and heal. Artificial cells mimic the mechanisms behind plants' nastic motions, leading to innovative technologies like shape-changing robots and morphing wings for airplanes.
Researchers create four new systems: hybrid yielding, standard augmented, advanced augmented, and collapse prevention, to control damage and provide life-safety for any size of earthquake. These systems use visco-elastic dampers and metallic yielding devices to minimize residual deformations.
The study aims to fill knowledge gaps in cold-formed steel's performance during earthquakes, providing structural engineers with better tools to predict and mitigate damage. The researchers will test two-story buildings and develop computer models to analyze how various building components respond to seismic forces.
A new parametrical mapping method is proposed to shape optimize curved slots on 3D surfaces, reducing stress concentration and improving structural performance. The approach successfully applies to the squirrel-cage elastic support design, achieving valid designs with reduced fatigue risk.
The Goddard team designed a one-of-a-kind structure made of never-before-manufactured composite material that withstood extreme cold temperatures. The structure survived temperatures as low as 27 Kelvin (-411 degrees Fahrenheit), exceeding design requirements.
The ISIM structure passed extreme cryogenic temperature tests without cracking, with thermal contraction and distortion measured to be within the design requirement. The unique composite laminate and bonding technique used in its construction were successfully tested, ensuring the telescope's instruments remain in precise locations.
Researchers at Iowa State University have designed a new type of transmission pole that can resist extreme loads and prevent cascading failures. The hinged poles, which are cheaper and easier to install than traditional structures, can be repaired rather than replaced, providing better and more reliable power service.
The Collaborative Center on Multidisciplinary Sciences (CCMS) will investigate futuristic aircraft designs such as SensorCraft, flapping micro-air vehicles, and supersonic long-range strike aircraft. Initial funding of $2.25 million for five years will support the center's efforts.
A study published in PNAS found that the facial structure of an ancient human relative was adapted for cracking open hard nuts and seeds. The team used finite element analysis and comparative methods to challenge the long-standing hypothesis about Australopithecus africanus' diet.
A University of Oregon expert argues that buildings are not just structures but places shaped by human interaction with the natural and built environment. The expert's approach to architecture, known as situated regionalism, prioritizes current needs and environmental responses over historical references.
A new design for slope marine docks aims to minimize damage from strong waves, enabling them to withstand increased swells without breaking. This innovative solution, developed by Spanish engineers, has the potential to significantly reduce costs associated with construction, maintenance, and upkeep of maritime structures.
Experts are gathering at Michigan State University to identify the nation's research and training needs in fire and structural safety. The university is unveiling a new structural fire testing facility, which will enable researchers to test beams, columns, and slabs under extreme heat conditions.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool designed a unique crystal structure to capture atomic movement, which may impact future pharmaceutical designs. The study aims to improve chemical reaction control, enabling more environmentally friendly production methods.
Researchers develop two mathematical tools to analyze and optimize tensegrity systems in various applications. The optimization algorithm helps maximize strength while minimizing weight, leading to potential breakthroughs in bridge, building, and aircraft design.
A mechanical engineer at Purdue University and a civil engineer at Tel Aviv University have created new theorems that improve structure and machine design by combining kinematics and statics. This knowledge enables engineers to create safer structures and machines with better stability, potentially at lower cost.
The Millennium Bridge's wobble was caused by a sudden synchronization of pedestrians' footsteps, which became unstable as more people joined in. Researchers found that only around 160 people were needed to trigger this phenomenon, which could be used to inform future bridge designs.
Researchers developed an artificial shark skin made of elastic silicone, reducing contact surface for barnacles to attach. This technology enables ships to 'self-clean' and reduces fouling by 67%, providing an alternative anti-fouling strategy crucial for the naval industry.