Analysis and design of a large-range bistable linear guide with high support stiffness and low parasitic motion

The exploration of compliant mechanisms, especially those providing linear motion, has become a central focus in recent engineering research. These mechanisms, characterized by their monolithic bodies and reduced component interactions, present an attractive alternative to traditional rigid mechanisms, having reduced friction, decreased energy...

Metastructures in a sensor-actuator configuration: the practical issues in bandgap generation

Undesired vibrations are one of the most significant sources of error in any type of mechatronic system or component. The emerging field of elastic (locally resonant) metamaterials offers a viable solution to successfully suppress these by generating bandgaps in both resonant and non-resonant regions. In this thesis, metamaterials in a sensor...

Variable thickness and initially curved flexures for improved flexure mechanisms: Variable thickness and initially curved flexures for increased support stiffness and minimal stress

Flexure mechanisms are widely utilized in precision mechanisms, but their practical use is limited by three major factors, namely restricted range of motion, parasitic motion, and significant reduction in support stiffness when deflected. To address this limitation, in this research the potential of variable thickness flexures in minimizing the...

Deploy: Lightweight Design + Flyovers

In a time of increasing awareness for the environment and rising energy prices, an efficiency in our material use is of paramount importance. This research is built on the notion that the design of light structures has a positive effect on the energy use of the built environment. The tent has been chosen to examine this approach of lightness in...

Designing a decoupled spherical parallel mechanism based on curved flexures: The development of a remote center of motion mechanism based on curved flexures and introducing a novel quantitative assessment method for rotary axis drift

Compliant mechanisms and decoupled parallel mechanisms are topics of high interest. The combination has been manifested for lower-mobility mechanisms, yet not attempted for higher degrees of freedom. The scarcity is countered by designing a decoupled compliant spherical parallel mechanism (DCSPM), having three independent rotational degrees of...

Compensating parasitic motions and cross-couplings in compliant mechanisms: The development of a new compensation strategy to diminish unwanted motions

There is a constant drive to make the next generation machines in the semiconductor industry more precise and faster. For this machines with a high repeatability, good dynamics and long lifetime are needed. Compliant mechanisms are suitable candidates to be used in this kind of machines because they can be manufactured monolithically, don’t wear...

From The Ruin To The Re-Birth: Design of a Functional Parasite for the city of L'Aquila

The Project constitutes of the design of a parasite building inside the former church of Santa Maria Paganica in L’Aquila (IT).<br/><br/>After the earthquake of the 6th of April 2009 the city of L’Aquila is experiencing difficulties to proceed with the works of reconstruction and after almost eight years from that event the majority of the city...

Parasite Shell Garage: Proposal for new type of public makerspace in reuse of parking garage

When talking about craftsmanship in contemporary world, I care more about the social value and dissemination of craftsmanship. For me, crafts should not only be appreciated as delicate objects, but as making process and technique. Personally observation and participation add an extra value of raftsmanship. This project proposes a possibility...

Investigation of the inductor’s parasitic capacitance in the high frequency switching of the high voltage cascode GaN HEMT

The concept of the More Electric Aircraft, where the majority of the aircraft’s secondary needs will be supplied by electrical power, is under continuous research over a number of years in order to conform the recent demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly aircrafts. Advancements in power electronics have contributed towards the...

Mutualistic Architecture: Innovative approach towards a preservative densification

The starting point of this thesis is the analysis - both through research and through design – of the ongoing and inevitable process of urban densification, in order to explore possible ways to face it with efficiency and quality. The goal is to investigate an alternative way to deal with the densification process in complex scenarios, where the...

Dwelling a narrative experience: Embracing the diversity in the experience of dwelling

This is an infill/parasite housing project. The site is the corner in a typical urban block of the city of Berlin. The urban position of the project was based on the idea that "A city must be read as a carpet of fragments, as a continuum sequence of SPATIAL and PROGRAMMATIC PATTERNS." My design proposal is for a new fragment of the patchwork...