Papers by Keyword: Bionic Design

Abstract: Due to the additive manufacturing process concept - layered synthesis of products, it becomes necessary to apply new approaches to the design of parts. One of the main tools that need to operate is numerical simulation, capable, with a skilful approach, to give an engineer an integrated procedure to the development of new products. Numerical modeling, in addition to carrying out strength calculations, includes topology optimization and the creation of lattice structures, through which it is possible to create lightweight products. New design meets requirements of strength characteristics. The use of this tool leads to a reduction in the amount of initial material and as a result - cost saving. In this paper, using the bracket as an example, was used the topology optimization method with subsequent redesign. The paper presents the results of calculations of the stress-strain state of the initial and final structures, allowing estimating the possible reduction in the mass of the product and the amount of consumable material in the manufacture of additive technologies.

Abstract: The design of modern footwear seems to have an excessive protective effect on the function of the foot. The purpose of this study was to examine how bionic shoes designed would influence the biomechanical index of gait patterns. There were 10 male subjects underwent gait analysis. Normal sports shoes (NS) with flat-soles were selected as control shoes. The experimental shoes comprising of two elasticity levels were defined as soft-sole bionic shoes (SS) and hard-sole bionic shoes (HS). We examined ground reaction forces, plantar pressures and angles of the ankle, knee and hip during walking and jogging conditions. In comparison with standard shoes, wearing bionic shoes reduced the range of motion in some joints during movement and changed the peak angle in the sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes. Moreover, the vertical average loading rates were significantly larger than that of the standard shoes during jogging. The experimental groups showed larger PP or PTI in the foot regions examined except in the lateral forefoot. Also, increases the in the contact area of the midfoot with decreases in the contact area in heel were also observed. In some regions of the foot, the hard sole of the bionic shoes had a lower pressure than that of the soft sole. These findings indicate that the design of the bionic sole in this study can be used to increase toe scratching ability, increase neuromuscular strength and enhance stability and proprioceptive ability. However, the higher plantar pressures in some regions may increase the risk of overuse injuries. The findings from the study indicate preference for the hard bionic shoes during exercise compared to the soft sole.

Abstract: The failure of brake performance, which is caused by thermal recession under the emergency brake, results in traffic accident frequently. Based on excellent wear-resisting properties of locust’s non-smooth surface structure, bionic brake disc with special surface micro-structure was designed. According to the thermal analysis theory, transient temperature field analysis of the bionic brake disc during the braking process under different initial velocity was analyzed. The results showed that bionic brake disc has excellent heat dissipation ability, which is beneficial to improve the brake performance. The non-smooth surface can store air and dissipate heat, thus reducing the thermal fatigue and thermal wear caused by temperature rise. This research provides a theoretical basis for designing bionic brake discs with excellent heat dissipation performance.

Abstract: In the millions of years plants continue to develop and evolve for the competition of survice, the macroscopic and microscopic structure and morphology of plants may seem simple, but its specific functions, is man-made design unmatched. By observing the distribution of plant leaves, bionic design of the picks on cutting head based on phyllotaxis theory and establish its 3D model ,which fills its gap in the field of bionic design.

Abstract: The uneven friction of brake disk leads to the brake failure, which frequently results in serious traffic accidents. Based on the excellent wear-resisting properties of locust’s non-smooth surface structure, bionic brake disc with special surface micro-structure was designed. Utilizing ANSYS Workbench, the braking time and the stress distribution of both the bionic model and the smooth model during the whole process of brake under different initial velocity were analyzed. Compared to the smooth model, results showed that the braking time and contact stress decrease in a certain extent, indicating brake disc with special surface micro-structure exhibits relatively excellent braking performance and wear resistance. The results provided theories for exploring an optimization the method used to design brake discs with excellent braking performance and wear resistance.

Abstract: This paper takes healthy teeth as research objects, and carries on data fitting to the enamel-dentinal joint surface based on least squares method and optimizes it. According to the result of data fitting, a series of joint surface shapes are designed and mathematical models of bionic design surfaces are given out. ABAQUS software is used to simulate and analyze the bonding strength of coating and substrate for different joint surfaces based on the transverse substrate stretched test, and the best shape parameters are obtained under a certain coating thickness. At last, the above data with the results of different plane joint surface are compared. The results show that the new bionic designed joint surface based on the enamel-dentinal joint surface of teeth can optimize coating stress distribution and improve coating tool’s bonding strength.

Abstract: The paper proposes an ideal approach of shape design by using shape evaluation methods accurately. The paper proposes and tests the comprehensive fuzzy evaluation method using a case of two clips based on genetic algorithm and quantitative methods. By using this evaluation method, the shape details of a product could be improved gradually.

Abstract: The paper argues the possibility of utilising artificial muscles actuated with compressed air in the construction of industrial gripper systems. Their utilisation as motors comes as a response to the increasingly sophisticated requirements these have to satisfy, related to the developed force, structural rigidity, compliance and dexterity. The paper presents a variant of symmetrical gripper system with two mobile jaws actuated by a pneumatic muscle. The main requirements for this gripper are defined, the structure of the mechanism is presented and the transmission functions of forces and velocities are determined. Eventually the paper discusses the construction of the system and its functional limitations.

Abstract: A novel design method for stiffener layout of plate and shell structures is proposed in this paper. The method is inspired by the morphogenesis mechanism of dicotyledonous venation which is featured by hierarchy and functional adaptivity. It is expected that a optimal stiffener layout can be gradually achieved if the stiffeners extend by obeying a similar growth rule as the venation. Starting from the so called “seeds”, the stiffeners grow and branch off towards the direction that optimizes the structural performance. And the stiffeners with the minimum effectiveness to the structural performance are degenerated simultaneously. During the design process, the relative density of each element is treated as the design variable. The growth and degeneration of the stiffeners are determined by the nodal and elemental sensitivity numbers respectively. The design algorithm is programmed in Python and integrated with Abaqus software which is used as the FEA preprocessor and solver. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it is applied to design the stiffener layouts of some typical structures with the objective of maximizing the overall stiffness with a volume constraint.

Abstract: Subsoiling, as an important mode of conservation tillage, can break plowpan and increase permeability and water retention ability of soil which increase the crop yield. Subsoiler, as a key component of subsoiling, significantly effects on the tillage resistance. Reduction of working resistance of subsoiler can decrease output power of tractor and then further reduce the cost of subsoiling operation. The existing subsoilers have problem of overlarge subsoiling resistance. The conventional methods to resolve such problem include optimal design of the structural parameters of subsoiler and application of oscillation subsoiling device, but those methods not only make the structure of subsoiler more complex, but also increase the cost of agricultural production. Based on biomimetics principles, the upper surface outline of the claw of the house mouse (mus musculus), which has exponential function curve feature, was applied to the structural design of cutting soil edge of subsoiler shaft. Accordingly, the bionic subsoiler which has exponential function curve feature was designed and manufactured. The comparative experiments were conducted using the two types of subsoilers which have exponential function curve shape and parabola type in tillage depth at 300mm and 350mm with the forward velocitys of 0.5m/s and 1.0m/s in the indoor soil bin. The horizontal tillage resistances of the two types of subsoilers were measured using remote-measuring system of agricultural machinery dynamic parameters under different experimental conditions. The results showed that the horizontal tillage resistances increased with the increase of tillage depth and forward velocity. The horizontal tillage resistances of bionic anti-drag subsoiler (BAS) were obviously less than those of parabola type subsoiler (PTS) under same experimental conditions and the reduction was in the range of 8.5-38.2%. It indicated that the cutting soil edge of shaft with exponential function curve structure has remarkable anti-drag property. The simulations of tillage processes of the two types of subsoilers were conducted using discrete element method (DEM), the stress fields and velocity fields were obtained under different simulation conditions. The results showed that the directions of stress fields and velocity fields of the two types of subsoilers have forward and upward variation trend, but the directionality of contact stress of PTS was nonuniform compared with BAS, and such results lead to an increase in soil disturbance. The intensities of stress field and velocity field of BAS were obviously less than those of PTS under same experimental conditions, The results of simulation were consistent with the results of tillage experiments, indicating that the bionic subsoiler with exponential function curve feature has significant anti-drag property. The exponential function curve can be applied to the structural design of cutting soil edge of subsoiler aiming to reduce tillage resistance.