Modeling and Dynamics Analysis of a Dual-Mass Flywheel with the Conformal Contact Action of Friction Damping Ring and Pressure Plate

To study the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the dual-mass flywheel (DMF) under the conformal contact action between the friction damping ring and primary flywheel pressure plate, the contact action model is established and analyzed based on Winkler model. Through analysis and calculation, the contact deformation, contact pressure at different contact positions, and equivalent torsional contact stiffness are obtained. The nonlinear dynamic analysis model of three-degree-of-freedom (3DOF) which takes the conformal contact into account and two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) without considering conformal contact is established. The approximate analytical solution of the nonlinear frequency characteristics of the system at steady state is derived. By comparing with the results obtained from numerical method, the theoretical analysis process is proved to be valid. And it is found that the overall amplitude and angular displacement transmissibility of the 3DOF model are smaller than the 2DOF model, especially at resonance frequency. The effects of the friction damping ring moment inertia, stiffness of DMF, and axial friction torque on the frequency characteristics of system and angular displacement transmissibility are analyzed. The forced vibration response analysis of the 3DOF model is conducted, through which the torsional angle variations of the primary flywheel, friction damping ring, and secondary flywheel with time are obtained. The results show that the amplitude of the secondary flywheel is much smaller than that of the primary flywheel, indicating that the DMF has prominent damping performance.

Design Rule for Constructing Buckling-Free Polymeric Stencil with Microdot Apertures

A polymeric stencil with microdot apertures made by using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds with pillar patterns has many advantages, including conformal contact, easy processability, flexibility, and low cost compared to conventional silicon-based membranes. However, due to the inherent deformability of PDMS materials in response to external pressure, it is challenging to construct structurally stable stencils with high structural fidelity. Here, we propose a design rule on the buckling pressure for constructing polymeric stencils without process failure. To investigate the critical buckling pressure (Pcr), stencils are fabricated by using different PDMS molds with aspect ratio variations (AR: 1.6, 2.0, 4.0, and 5.3). By observing the buckled morphology of apertures, the structures can be classified into two groups: low (AR 1.6 and 2.0) and high (AR 4.0 and 5.3) AR groups, and Pcr decreases as AR increases in each group. To investigate the results theoretically, the analysis based on Euler’s buckling theory and slenderness ratio is conducted, indicating that the theory is only valid for the high-AR group herein. Besides, considering the correction factor, Pcr agrees well with the experimental results.

Theoretical Modeling of Conformal Criterion for Flexible Electronics Attached onto Complex Surface

Transferring completed electronic devices onto curvilinear surfaces is popular for fabricating three-dimensional curvilinear electronics with high performance, while the problem of conformality between the unstretchable devices and the surfaces needs to be considered. Prior conformability design based on conformal mechanics model is a feasible way to reduce the non-conformal contact. Former studies mainly focused on stretchable film electronics conforming onto soft bio-tissue with a sinusoidal form microscopic morphology or unstretchable film conforming onto rigid sphere substrate, which limits its applicability in the aspect of shape and modulus of the substrate. Here, a conformal mechanics model with general geometric shape and material is introduced by choosing a bicurvature surface as the target surface, and the conformal contact behavior of film electronics is analyzed. All eight fundamental local surface features is obtained by adjusting two principal curvatures of the bicurvature surface, and the conformal performance is simulated. A dimensionless conformal criterion is given by minimizing the total energy as a function of seven dimensionless parameters, including four in geometric and three in material. The model and analysis results are verified by the finite element analysis, and it can provide a guidance for prior conformability design of the curvilinear electronic devices during the planar manufacturing process.

Skin-like Transparent Polymer-Hydrogel Hybrid Pressure Sensor with Pyramid Microstructures

Soft biomimetic electronic devices primarily comprise an electronic skin (e-skin) capable of implementing various wearable/implantable applications such as soft human–machine interfaces, epidermal healthcare systems, and neuroprosthetics owing to its high mechanical flexibility, tissue conformability, and multifunctionality. The conformal contact of the e-skin with living tissues enables more precise analyses of physiological signals, even in the long term, as compared to rigid electronic devices. In this regard, e-skin can be considered as a promising formfactor for developing highly sensitive and transparent pressure sensors. Specifically, to minimize the modulus mismatch at the biotic–abiotic interface, transparent-conductive hydrogels have been used as electrodes with exceptional pressing durability. However, critical issues such as dehydration and low compatibility with elastomers remain a challenge. In this paper, we propose a skin-like transparent polymer-hydrogel hybrid pressure sensor (HPS) with microstructures based on the polyacrylamide/sodium-alginate hydrogel and p-PVDF-HFP-DBP polymer. The encapsulated HPS achieves conformal contact with skin due to its intrinsically stretchable, highly transparent, widely sensitive, and anti-dehydrative properties. We believe that the HPS is a promising candidate for a robust transparent epidermal stretchable-skin device.

Development and Implementation of a Rotating Nanoimprint Lithography Tool for Orthogonal Imprinting on Edges of Curved Surfaces

Uniform molding and demolding of structures on highly curved surfaces through conformal contact is a crucial yet often-overlooked aspect of nanoimprint lithography (NIL). This study describes the development of a NIL tool and its integration into a nanopositioning and nanomeasuring machine to achieve high-precision orthogonal molding and demolding for soft ultraviolet-assisted NIL (soft UV-NIL). The process was implemented primarily on the edges of highly curved plano-convex substrates to demonstrate structure uniformity on the edges. High-resolution nanostructures of sub-200-nm lateral dimension and microstructures in the range of tens of microns were imprinted. However, the nanostructures on the edges of the large, curved substrates were difficult to characterize precisely. Therefore, microstructures were used to measure the structure fidelity and were characterized using profilometry, white light interferometry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Regardless of the restricted imaging capabilities at high inclinations for high-resolution nanostructures, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging of the structures on top of the lens substrate and at an inclination of 45° was performed. The micro and nanostructures were successfully imprinted on the edges of the plano-convex lens at angles of 45°, 60°,and 90° from the center of rotation of the rotating NIL tool. The method enables precise imprinting at high inclinations, thereby presenting a different approach to soft UV-NIL on curved surfaces.

Mass wear application of cooperated elements for evaluation of friction pair components condition

In this study, the influence of the geometrical surface structure shape on wear process of friction pairs elements with conformal contact was analyzed. Characteristics of the machine elements surface layer were described with special distinction of importance of the surface structure directivity and isotropy in terms of the surface layer transformation. This work presents the results of experimental tests in which the following input factors were used: specimen and counter-specimen ridge angle of intersection (0°; 30°; 45°; 60°; 90°) and specimen and counter-specimen clamp (1.0; 1.5; 2.0 MPa). The changes of the surface layer were recorded as a function of a specimen mass changes. Based on the conducted research, it was found that the ridge angle of intersection on the specimen and counter-specimen has a significant impact on the wear process intensity. The changes were uttermost for 0° angle and slightest for 9°. It was also found that the observed changes have a larger gradient for higher specimen load values. Thus, the significance of the geometrical surface structure directivity influence on the friction pair elements wear process intensity was confirmed.