Assessing the ability of filtering unwanted sound pressure peaks via a Meta Cushion during pile driving of a monopile: An analysis using small-scale testing: Saving lives of marine life during off-shore wind turbines installation

One of the biggest challenges of the century is the fight against global warming. In all sectors people are doing their best to reduce their carbon footprints and their impact on the environment. In the energy sector this is done by making use of renewable energy sources (RES), such as wind turbines, instead of fossil fuels. This transition to...

A magnetic actuated deployable suction gripper for complex shaped surface attachment: An explorative design study

Suction grippers have the advantage to handle many different types and sizes of items, without being restricted by the dimensions of clamps to enclose an object and to handle objects more delicately. <br/>However, the challenge of attaching these grippers to irregularly-shaped and rough surfaces remains a persistent issue. Despite advancements...

Lateral torsional buckling in translational and rotational compliant joints to obtain zero-stiffness behaviour

Compliant mechanisms are a popular alternative to conventional mechanisms because of their advantages on mass reduction, friction, backlash and lubrication. However, the major drawback in the use of compliant mechanisms is the stiffness is the desired direction of motion. The advantages of conventional and compliant mechanisms can be combined if...

Predicting the cutting rate of a dimamond wire: Application to wreck removal

The process of salvaging wrecks can be costly and time-consuming, making it crucial for salvagers to select the appropriate technique(s) and accurately estimate the total costs to minimize expenses and optimize efficiency. Salvagers typically use their expertise, experience, and data from previous projects to make these estimates. Diamond wire...

Rotational forming of thin SS316L sheets

Bipolar half plates (BPPs) are important parts of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells. Metallic BPPs are generally produced by stamping or hydro forming. However, these processes are not continuous and relatively slow compared to rotary forming. Rotary forming is a continuous process and could potentially be a faster BPP...

Raybot: Design and control of an underwater quay wall inspection vehicle

Quay walls are important structures that keep the water in harbours and canals within their bounds, and accommodate large infrastructure like roads or ship-handling structures on top of them. Due to their importance it is critical that they do not fail or collapse. Inspections are done to prevent this, as a better knowledge of the state of quay...

The design of a friction-based tissue transportation mechanism for Minimally Invasive Surgery

The surgical procedure of tissue extraction from the human body for precautionary or curative measures is common in many medical fields. Currently, aspiration catheters are the golden standard, enabling removal by means of a suction force. By Sakes et al., an alternative mechanism is proposed, transporting tissue based on friction, inspired by...

The development of an oscillating steerable bone drill

An improvement for pedicle screws would be if the screws can directly transfer their forces to the strong cortical bone of the vertebra, rather than through the softer cancellous bone. This approach requires the creation of a curved trajectory through cancellous bone. The goal of this project is to adapt the flexible oscillating drill design of...

Improving the cleaning process of bulk carrier holds

Bulk carriers load and unload large quantities of iron ore and coal at bulk terminals. The loading and unloading process on the EMO terminal is largely automated, but for the last 5% an excavator is used to remove material stuck on stairs and walls in the hold. This process takes many manhours, can be dangerous, and can cause damage. The...

An interface-enriched finite element method for immersed contact under large deformation kinematics

Historically, contact analysis has been an important design tool for various applications such as vehicle crash analysis or manufacturing. It is also becoming increasingly more relevant in newer fields such compliant mechanism or metamaterial design. Even though contact has been a topic of discussion for decades, there are still challenges that...

Turning nuisance into nutrition: Performance based parametric design of an automated warehouse in an insect rearing system

This thesis project features a design method of an automated warehouse in an insect rearing system, where pallets are transported from storage to a feeding machine and back into storage. From seven material handling equipment concepts, the most promising concepts are selected through a combined expert panel evaluation of 7 criteria and a basic...

A suction based tissue gripper for Minimal Invasive Surgery: An explorative design study

Gripping slippery, compliant, and irregular tissues during MIS is often challenging using a conventional gripper. A force grip has to compensate for the low friction coefficient between the gripper’s jaws and tissue surface. This study focuses on the development of a suction gripper as an alternative for the well-known tissue gripper. Suction...

Alternative Energy Carriers in Naval Vessels: Design Options and Implications for RNLN Large Surface Vessels

Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have been at the forefront of both public and academic debate for some years. Although the shipping industry has managed to remain relatively free of climate regulation this is changing with the IMO goals for 2050. The military sector has also escaped scrutiny on sustainability issues. But this is also...

MRI-Ready Actuation System for a Self-Propelling Needle: A Design and Experimental Approach

Standard treatment methods for prostate cancer often result in side-effects because of damage to the surrounding tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided focal laser ablation to treat prostate cancer reduces the risk of adverse effects by preserving noncancerous tissue. Prostate cancer diagnosis and focal laser ablation treatment both...

Impact of Safe Return to Port regulatory framework on cruise ship concept design: A software tool to mitigate design risks in early stages of the process

The expansion of the cruise market in the last decades and the significant increase in the size of cruise ships, led to a revision of the safety standards for passenger vessels which resulted in the introduction of the so-called "Safe Return to Port" regulatory framework (SRtP). These regulations strongly impacted every aspect of the life of...