Slender compliant mechanism with a low axial-bending stiffness ratio for use in an exoskeleton

This project presents a compliant slender mechanism with a low axial-bending stiffness ratio. This can be used in passive exoskeletons. Passive exoskeletons can assist people with their work by preventing injuries. Currently exoskeletons uses sliders to account for the extension of the spine when bending, but this could be uncomfortable. The...

A Variable Bending Stiffness Instrument: The AlKingScope: A Proof of Concept Prototype

When treating a Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) via Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), a guidewire first needs to be passed through or around the occlusion, a task requiring considerable skill and clinician experience. Proper backup support for the guidewire being used by the clinician is a prerequisite to prevent buckling or uncontrolled...

Design aspects of pipe belt conveyors

This dissertation investigates how to design a pipe belt conveyor system in a more effective way, considering two aspects: to ensure conveyor belt has sufficient bending stiffness to form an enclosed pipe shape without a contact loss with the idler rolls; and to reduce energy consumption of the system from the indentation rolling resistance. <br...

Electrothermal actuators for SiO₂ photonic MEMS

This paper describes the design, fabrication and characterization of electrothermal bimorph actuators consisting of polysilicon on top of thick (&gt;10 μm ) silicon dioxide beams. This material platform enables the integration of actuators with photonic waveguides, producing mechanically-flexible photonic waveguide structures that are...

Realistic bending stiffness of diaphragm walls for structural analysis: A comparison with the uncracked and totally cracked stiffness for the case of The Waalbrug Nijmegen

For a safe structure design standards mainly emphasize on calculations based on the uncracked and fully cracked stiffness of concrete structures. In the common design practice an uncracked stiffness (EI0) is applied for the SLS and a fully cracked stiffness (EI?) for the ULS, where the reduced stiffness EI? ? 1/3EI0. However, in reality it is...

Fabrication and characterization of suspended beam structures for SiO2 photonic MEMS

This paper proposes a microfabrication process for the reliable release of SiO2 beam structures. These structures are intended to be utilized in SiO2 photonic MEMS. A major fabrication challenge is the release of thick (>10 ?m) SiO2 structures with high yield. A single mask process is developed based on temporary reinforcement of the SiO2...

Pipe conveyor test rigs: design, application and test results-Part B

A new approach to determine pipe conveyor belt ability to form a stable pipe shape based on its troughability performance

The behaviour of trough stiffener to crossbeam connections in orthotropic steel bridge decks

This article describes the behaviour and stress analysis of the crossbeams in orthotropic steel decks with continuous trapezoidal closed stiffeners. The trough stiffener to crossbeam connections, with or without cope holes, influence the behaviour of the crossbeam. The effects can be transferred to effective properties of a beam without cut outs...