Experimental and FEM Modal Analysis of a Deployable-Retractable Wing

The aim of this paper is to conduct experimental modal analysis and numerical simulation to verify the structural characteristics of a deployable-retractable wing for aircraft and spacecraft. A modal impact test was conducted in order to determine the free vibration characteristics. Natural frequencies and vibration mode shapes were obtained via measurement in LMS Test. Lab. The frequency response functions were identified and computed by force and acceleration signals, and then mode shapes of this morphing wing structure were subsequently identified by PolyMAX modal parameter estimation method. FEM modal analysis was also implemented and its numerical results convincingly presented the mode shape and natural frequency characteristics were in good agreement with those obtained from experimental modal analysis. Experimental study in this paper focuses on the transverse response of morphing wing as its moveable part is deploying or retreating. Vibration response to different rotation speeds have been collected, managed and analyzed through the use of comparison methodology with each other. Evident phenomena have been discovered including the resonance on which most analysis is focused because of its potential use to generate large amplitude vibration of specific frequency or to avoid such resonant frequencies from a wide spectrum of response. Manufactured deployable-retractable wings are studied in stage of experimental modal analysis, in which some nonlinear vibration resulted should be particularly noted because such wing structure displays a low resonant frequency which is always optimal to be avoided for structural safety and stability.

Dynamic behaviour of axially moving nanobeams based on nonlocal elasticity approach

In this article, transverse free vibrations of axially moving nanobeams subjected to axial tension are studied based on nonlocal stress elasticity theory. A new higher-order differential equation of motion is derived from the variational principle with corresponding higher-order, non-classical boundary conditions. Two supporting conditions are investigated, i.e. simple supports and clamped supports. Effects of nonlocal nanoscale, dimensionless axial velocity, density and axial tension on natural frequencies are presented and discussed through numerical examples. It is found that these factors have great influence on the dynamic behaviour of an axially moving nanobeam. In particular, the nonlocal effect tends to induce higher vibration frequencies as compared to the results obtained from classical vibration theory. Analytical solutions for critical velocity of these nanobeams when the frequency vanishes are also derived and the influences of nonlocal nanoscale and axial tension on the critical velocity are discussed.

Energetics and conserved quantity of an axially moving string undergoing three-dimensional nonlinear vibration

Nonlinear three-dimensional vibration of axially moving strings is investigated in the view of energetics. The governing equation is derived from the Eulerian equation of motion of a continuum for axially accelerating strings. The time-rate of the total mechanical energy associated with the vibration is calculated for the string with its ends moving in a prescribed way. For a string moving in a constant axial speed and constrained by two fixed ends, a conserved quantity is proved to remain unchanged during three-dimensional vibration, while the string energy is not conserved. An approximate conserved quantity is derived from the conserved quantity in the neighborhood of the straight equilibrium configuration. The approximate conserved quantity is applied to verify the Lyapunov stability of the straight equilibrium configuration. Numerical simulations are performed for a rubber string and a steel string. The results demonstrate the variation of the total mechanical energy and the invariance of the conserved quantity.

On the truth of nanoscale for nanobeams based on nonlocal elastic stress field theory:equilibrium,governing equation and static deflection

This paper has successfully addressed three critical but overlooked issues in nonlocal elastic stress field theory for nanobeams： （i） why does the presence of increasing nonlocal effects induce reduced nanostructural stiffness in many, but not consistently for all, cases of study, i.e., increasing static deflection, decreasing natural frequency and decreasing buckling load, although physical intuition according to the nonlocal elasticity field theory first established by Eringen tells otherwise？ （ii） the intriguing conclusion that nanoscale effects are missing in the solutions in many exemplary cases of study, e.g., bending deflection of a cantilever nanobeam with a point load at its tip; and （iii） the non-existence of additional higher-order boundary conditions for a higher-order governing differential equation. Applying the nonlocal elasticity field theory in nanomechanics and an exact variational principal approach, we derive the new equilibrium conditions, do- main governing differential equation and boundary conditions for bending of nanobeams. These equations and conditions involve essential higher-order differential terms which are opposite in sign with respect to the previously studies in the statics and dynamics of nonlocal nano-structures. The difference in higher-order terms results in reverse trends of nanoscale effects with respect to the conclusion of this paper. Effectively, this paper reports new equilibrium conditions, governing differential equation and boundary condi- tions and the true basic static responses for bending of nanobeams. It is also concluded that the widely accepted equilibrium conditions of nonlocal nanostructures are in fact not in equilibrium, but they can be made perfect should the nonlocal bending moment be replaced by an effective nonlocal bending moment. These conclusions are substantiated, in a general sense, by other approaches in nanostructural models such as strain gradient theory, modified couple stress models and experiments.

Asymptotic analysis of a vibrating cantilever with a nonlinear boundary

Nonlinear vibration of a cantilever in a contact atomic force microscope is analyzed via an asymptotic approach. The asymptotic solution is sought for a beam equation with a nonlinear boundary condition. The steady-state responses are determined in primary resonance and subharmonic resonance. The relations between the response amplitudes and the excitation frequencies and amplitudes are derived from the solvability condition. Multivaluedness occurs in the relations as a consequence of the nonlinearity. The stability of steady-state responses is analyzed by use of the Lyapunov linearized stability theory. The stability analysis predicts the jumping phenomenon for certain parameters. The curves of the response amplitudes changing with the excitation frequencies are numerically compared with those obtained via the method of multiple scales. The calculation results demonstrate that the two methods predict the same varying tendencies while there are small quantitative differences.

Nonlinear vibrations of nano-beams accounting for nonlocal effect using a multiple scale method

The nonlinear free transverse vibrations of a nano-beam on simple supports are investigated based on nonlocal elasticity theory. The governing equation is proposed by considering geometric nonlinearity due to finite stretching of the beam. The method of multiple scales is applied to the governing equa- tion to evaluate the nonlinear natural frequencies. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the analytical results and highlight the contributions of the nonlinear term and nonlocal effect.

Free vibration of pre-tensioned nanobeams based on nonlocal stress theory

The transverse free vibration of nanobeams subjected to an initial axial tension based on nonlocal stress theory is presented. It considers the effects of nonlocal stress field on the natural frequencies and vibration modes. The effects of a small scale parameter at molecular level unavailable in classical macro-beams are investigated for three different types of boundary conditions:simple supports,clamped supports and elastically-constrained supports. Analytical solutions for transverse deforma-tion and vibration modes are derived. Through numerical examples,effects of the dimensionless nanoscale parameter and pre-tension on natural frequencies are presented and discussed.

3D thermoelasticity solutions for functionally graded thick plates

Thermal-mechanical behavior of functionally graded thick plates, with one pair of opposite edges simply supported, is investigated based on 3D thermoelasticity. As for the arbitrary boundary conditions, a semi-analytical solution is presented via a hybrid approach combining the state space method and the technique of differential quadrature. The temperature field in the plate is determined according to the steady-state 3D thermal conduction. The Mori-Tanaka method with a power-law volume fraction profile is used to predict the effective material properties including the bulk and shear moduli, while the effective coefficient of thermal expansion and the thermal conductivity are estimated using other micromechanics-based models. To facilitate the im-plementation of state space analysis through the thickness direction, the approximate laminate model is employed to reduce the inhomogeneous plate into a homogeneous laminate that delivers a state equation with constant coefficients. The present solutions are validated by comparisons with the exact ones for both thin and thick plates. Effects of gradient indices, volume fraction of ceramics, and boundary conditions on the thermomechanical behavior of functionally graded plates are discussed.