Tianyu Chen¹, Yifan Wang^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.31, No.4, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.011272

Abstract Biological organisms often possess remarkable multifunctionality through intricate structures, such as the concurrent shape-morphing and stiffness-variation in octopus. Soft robots, which are inspired by natural creatures, usually require the integration of separate modules to achieve these various functions. As a result, the whole structure is cumbersome and the control system is complex, often involving multiple control loops to finish the required task. Here, inspired by the scaly creatures in nature such as pangolins and fish, we develop a robotic structure that can vary stiffness and change shape simultaneously in a highly-integrated compact body. The scale-inspired… More >

Chao Mei^1,2, Qifu Wang^1,*, Chen Yu¹, Zhaohui Xia¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.129, No.2, pp. 627-659, 2021, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2021.017704 - 08 October 2021

Abstract This paper presents an effective fiber angle optimization method for two and multi-layered variable stiffness composites. A gradient-based fiber angle optimization method is developed based on isogeometric analysis (IGA). Firstly, the element densities and fiber angles for two and multi-layered composites are synchronously optimized using an extended Bi-layered continuous fiber angle optimization method (XBi-CFAO). The densities and fiber angles in the base layer are attached to the control points. The structure response and sensitivity analysis are accomplished using the non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) based IGA. By the benefit of the B-spline space, this method is More >

Chao Mei, Qifu Wang^*, Chen Yu, Zhaohui Xia

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.124, No.1, pp. 179-202, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2020.09948 - 19 June 2020

Abstract This paper presents a topology optimization method for variable stiffness composite panels with varying fiber orientation and curvilinear fiber path. Non-uniform rational B-Splines (NURBS) based Isogeometric analysis (IGA) is utilized for the numerical computation of the general minimum compliance problem. The sensitivity analysis of the structure compliance function for the density and bi-layer orientation is conducted. The bi-layer fiber paths in the design domain are generated using streamline method and updated by divided pieces reselection method after the optimization process. Several common examples are tested to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The results show More >