Comparing In-Plane Equivalent Shear Stiffness of Timber Diaphragms Retrofitted with Light and Reversible Wood-Based Techniques

In-plane behavior of timber diaphragms is usually characterized by means of an equivalent shear stiffness. However, this value depends on how the stiffness of the floors is evaluated from the experimental tests. Although an increasing number of research studies have provided a deeper insight into the seismic characterization of as-built and...

Topology optimization of the compliant underactuated finger with the focus on out-of-plane stiffness

For large-displacement mechanisms, such as underactuated fingers, the out-of-plane stiffness can pose problems, especially as it tends to vary over the in-plane range of motion. In this paper a method is presented to design compliant underactuated fingers using topology optimization with a focus on obtaining a desired out-of-plane stiffness...