Abstract

Two talks from PhD students in the Structures Group.

Talk 1: Charles Gai Title: Elastic Mechanism – Exploring the Effects of Elastic Deformation on Kinematic Motion in Mechanism

Abstract: Mechanisms are integral components of many systems, ranging from simple machines to complex biological structures. Traditionally, the study of mechanisms has focused on rigid links and its associated kinematic motion prediction. However, many physical models and soft structures exhibit feasible kinematic motion outside the predicted motion, due to elastic deformation. Here, our study focuses on the effects of elastic deformation on the kinematic motion of single degree of freedom systems. We formulate a method to examine these elastic deformation paths and how we can use them to move from one compatibility path (i.e. Freely-moving kinematic motion) to another. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how elastic deformation of linkage bars can be leveraged for novel and more flexible mechanisms.

Talk 2: Jamie Clarkson Title: Squashing a doughnut – analysis of tape ring flattening

Abstract: Tape rings are a novel variation of tape springs, with the geometry of a toroidal cap (the same form as the icing on top of a doughnut). They have a non-zero Gaussian curvature that varies across the section, resulting in behaviour subtly different to that of straight tape springs. Axisymmetric flattening of a tape ring is amenable to analytical solutions which may provide insight into more general bending, as well as displaying interesting behaviour of its own. Two behaviours arising from the change in Gaussian curvature under flattening are investigated here.

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