Letian Gan , Dongrui Ruan , Haijun Wang , Zhe Wang , Yanzhao Shi , Yiming Hu , Peng Zhou , Fanghao Zhou , Zheng Jia , Tiefeng Li
{"title":"Design and optimization of pressure-tolerant flexible systems under extreme hydrostatic pressure","authors":"Letian Gan , Dongrui Ruan , Haijun Wang , Zhe Wang , Yanzhao Shi , Yiming Hu , Peng Zhou , Fanghao Zhou , Zheng Jia , Tiefeng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soft robots have been increasingly developed and deployed for deep-sea applications in recent years. Unlike traditional underwater robots that rely on bulky pressure vessels for protection, some soft robots can be directly exposed to hydrostatic pressure utilizing a polymer-encapsulation approach. This approach optimizes the structure of electronic components in soft robots to eliminate high-pressure interfaces, yet clear design guidelines remain absent due to its complexity. This paper introduces a design methodology for pressure-tolerant electronics; that leverages the Eshelby inclusion theory and finite element analysis. A parameter <em>κ</em> called the geometric coherence index for numerical optimization is proposed to evaluate the arrangement of PCB components. Calculations and simulations have demonstrated that the optimized circuit board components exhibit a reduction of up to 45.5 % in both maximum and average shear stress under high hydrostatic pressure. A circuit board prototype has been manufactured and then tested at a depth of 10,900 m in the Mariana Trench. Field tests have confirmed the effectiveness of this method, demonstrating its potential for improving deep-sea exploration technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102339"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143854978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multi-scale investigation of orientation-dependent mechanical properties and fracture propagation in cortical bone using digital volume correlation and atomic force microscopy","authors":"Hutomo Tanoto , Hanwen Fan , Anoushka Prabhu , Fernanda Espinoza , Yuxiao Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102338","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102338","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the orientation-dependent mechanical properties and fracture propagation behavior in bovine cortical bone, focusing on the role of lamellar plane orientation and its internal hierarchical structures—both of which are critical to bone mechanical strength and fracture resistance. By combining mechanical testing, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), digital volume correlation (DVC), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), we examined region- and orentation-dependent mechanical properties of cortical bone, as well as the crack propagation influenced by underlying microstructures. At sub-millimeter scale, three-dimensional (3D) displacement and strain captured through <em>in situ</em> three-point bending and DVC provided detailed insights into internal deformation patterns during crack propagation. Distinct crack propagation behaviors were observed in bone samples with lamellar planes oriented parallel and perpendicular to the loading plane. AFM nanomechanical mapping was performed on cracked cross-sections, revealing the heterogeneous mechanical properties within the hierarchical lamellar structure. These micrometer-scale measurements, obtained from orthogonal cracked cross-sections, help explain the different crack propagation mechanisms observed during the bending experiments. Our findings demonstrate that the orientation of lamellar plane— the fundamental structural component of both plexiform and osteonal bone—relative to the loading plane plays a critical role in determining crack paths and local strain distribution. The integrated application of DVC and AFM provides a multiscale perspective on fracture resistance in cortical bone. These insights have important implications for the design of biomimetic materials in bone implants and for improving clinical assessments of fracture risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102338"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143859244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kyle R. Callahan , Katherine M. Evans , William F. Heard , Santanu Kundu , Edwin P. Chan
{"title":"Bridging the impact response of polymers from the nanoscale to the macroscale","authors":"Kyle R. Callahan , Katherine M. Evans , William F. Heard , Santanu Kundu , Edwin P. Chan","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102331","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102331","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Impact from a fast-moving object is a common event, but it can vary greatly in terms of scale, speed, and energy depending on the specific case. Recently, it has been suggested that scaling analysis can be used to relate the impact performance of materials at the nano- and microscale to their behavior at the macroscale, which is relevant for most applications. In this study, we explore the broad applicability of this approach by conducting micro- and macroprojectile impact tests on polymethyl methacrylate and polycarbonate films. By applying Buckingham <span><math><mi>Π</mi></math></span> dimensional analysis to all the impact test results, we demonstrate that the minimum perforation velocity is directly related to the geometric and material properties of each system across a broad range of size and energy scales. Interestingly, we find that the failure stress of the polymer, a critical material property that defines perforation resistance, can be empirically determined based on the deformation of the specific impact test.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102331"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143870481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nidhin George Mathews , Matti Lindroos , Johann Michler , Gaurav Mohanty
{"title":"Deformation and adiabatic heating of single crystalline and nanocrystalline Ni micropillars at high strain rates","authors":"Nidhin George Mathews , Matti Lindroos , Johann Michler , Gaurav Mohanty","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The deformation behavior of single crystal and nanocrystalline nickel were studied using <em>in situ</em> micropillar compression experiments from quasi-static to high strain rates up to 10<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>. Deformation occurred by dislocation slip activity in single crystal nickel whereas extensive grain boundary sliding was observed in nanocrystalline nickel with a shift towards more inhomogeneous, localized deformation above 1 s<sup>−1</sup>. The strain rate sensitivity exponent was found to change at higher strain rates for both single crystal and nanocrystalline nickel, while the overall strain rate sensitivity was observed to be of the same value for both. With increasing high strain rate micropillar compression tests being reported, the issue of adiabatic heating in micropillars becomes important. We report crystal plasticity based finite element modeling to estimate the adiabatic heating, spatially resolved within the micropillar, at the highest tested strain rates. The simulations predicted a significant temperature rise of up to 200 K in nanocrystalline nickel at the grain boundaries, and 20 K in single crystalline nickel due to strain localization. Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction analysis of nanocrystalline nickel micropillar post compression at 10<sup>3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> did not show any grain growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102336"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143870479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhihui Qu , Yimou Fu , Qiuping Yang , Jingyu Wang , Liqun Tang , Shaoxing Qu
{"title":"A method for identifying the damage thresholds of porcine brain under low- and medium-strain rates","authors":"Zhihui Qu , Yimou Fu , Qiuping Yang , Jingyu Wang , Liqun Tang , Shaoxing Qu","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102335","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102335","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predicting the damage thresholds of brain tissue is crucial for preventing permanent pathological changes and developing therapeutic interventions. This study presents a method for determining the damage thresholds of porcine brain tissue using experimental data and theoretical modeling. By conducting loading and unloading experiments on porcine brain samples, the mechanical responses under varying strain rates and maximum compressive strains are analyzed. A constitutive model incorporating viscoelastic behavior, the Mullins effect, and residual deformation is proposed, effectively characterizing the mechanical properties of the brain tissue. By calculating the ratio of damage-induced dissipated energy and viscoelastic dissipated energy, the extent of damage under different maximum compression strain is quantified. The method’s reliability is validated through examining changes in modulus between the stress–strain curves obtained from the first and second loadings. At a strain rate of 0.3<span><math><msup><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>, the mild damage strain threshold is estimated to be 0.2 – 0.3, while the moderate-to-severe damage threshold falls within 0.3 – 0.4, aligning closely with values reported in the literature. Additionally, the damage strain thresholds at 200<span><math><msup><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></math></span> are consistent with those at 0.3<span><math><msup><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>. The corresponding stress threshold at 200<span><math><msup><mrow><mi>s</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></msup></math></span>ranges from 5.9 to 11.4 kPa for mild damage and from 11.4 to 22.8 kPa for moderate-to-severe damage. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to brain damage prediction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102335"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143843920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Switchable acoustic notch filter using a 3D-printed Helmholtz resonator array with bistable structures","authors":"Masahiro Fukuta , Gakuto Kagawa , Hidetoshi Takahashi","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acoustic noise is a significant environmental issue that affects quality of life, including in workplaces. Therefore, the ability to selectively block specific sound frequencies is desired to maintain clear vocal communication. Electrically driven active noise control (ANC) is a common solution. However, its effectiveness is limited to frequencies above 1 kHz. On the other hand, passive noise control (PNC) has gained attention as an alternative solution due to its non-reliance on electricity. Among these, Helmholtz resonators (HRs) have recently attracted interest due to their ability to reduce acoustic noise at their resonant frequencies. Traditional HRs are generally limited to attenuating single frequencies, which restricts their ability to attenuate multiple frequencies using a single device. Herein, we propose an HR featuring a bistable structure that enables switching between two distinct attenuation frequencies. A bistable structure with two stable states allows for switchable configurations that enable volume changes. By integrating this bistable mechanism into an HR chamber, the resonant frequency can be altered by changing the chamber volume. Consequently, the proposed HR can attenuate two different frequencies between the concave and convex states. The proposed system was fabricated using a 3D printer with silicone material, and its bistable properties were evaluated. The measured resonant frequencies were 6.6 kHz in the concave state and 4.1 kHz in the convex state, resulting in dual-frequency noise reduction. In principle, the proposed HR design can be extended to a multi-stable mechanism that enables the attenuation of multiple frequencies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102333"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143834756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Minchae Kang , Yeji Han , Gino Domel , Min-Woo Han , David R. Clarke
{"title":"Rolling of a cylinder induced by electro-adhesive forces","authors":"Minchae Kang , Yeji Han , Gino Domel , Min-Woo Han , David R. Clarke","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102324","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102324","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electro-adhesive forces are widely used in robotics, for applications such as gripping, climbing and creating motion. We show, by theoretical analysis and computational modeling, that an electro-adhesive torque can be generated by breaking the symmetry between the electric field and the geometry of the two surfaces. The existence of the torque is demonstrated by rolling a cylinder along a flat surface using a novel optical beam-induced electrode actuation to maintain the electric field asymmetry as well as pacing the rolling rate. Simulations indicate that the net torque varies with the ratio of the cylinder radius to the separation distance, in contrast to the normal component of the net electro-adhesive force which varies with the same ratio squared. It is expected that refined versions of the design will have an impact on robot design and actuator systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102324"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143843829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanical performance of reconfigurable origami structures fabricated by cutting and planar assembly","authors":"Changlong Shi, Qian Zhang, Jian Feng, Jianguo Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Origami structures with reconfigurable properties typically exhibit multifunctionality due to their diverse shape transformations. However, such structures often incorporate non-Euclidean vertices, rendering them non-developable and incapable of being flattened, and thus typically necessitate 3D printing for fabrication. In this study, a method of planar cutting and folding followed by assembly has been developed. The planar cut origami structure(PCOS), fabricated using this method, consists of non-Euclidean origami units that undergo transitions between mountain and valley folds during the folding process, granting the structure a high degree of reconfigurability. Through shape reconfiguration, the structure can achieve various self-locking and non-self-locking configurations. Compression tests in the Z-direction were conducted on multiple configurations, both self-locking and non-self-locking. The results demonstrate a significant difference in Z-direction compressive performance between the two types. When all units are self-locked, the peak stress reaches 139 kPa, representing an approximate 267 times increase compared to the non-self-locking configuration. Additionally, the mechanical performance is directly influenced by the number and distribution of self-locking units. By adjusting the self-locking units and their distribution, the peak stress of the model can be tuned to several gradient ranges, including 10<sup>0</sup> kPa, 10<sup>1</sup> kPa, 2 × 10<sup>1</sup> kPa, 3 × 10<sup>1</sup> kPa, and 10<sup>2</sup> kPa. This reconfiguration of mechanical properties, driven by geometric transformations, allows the planar cut origami structure to perform different functions depending on the environment, demonstrating significant potential for practical engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102332"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143843830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Elastocapillary deformation prevents interfacial water trapping in underwater contact","authors":"Qihan Liu , M. Ravi Shankar","doi":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eml.2025.102326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adhering substrates using elastomeric adhesives underwater is challenging due to interfacial water trapping, which hinders intimate contact and weakens adhesion. This issue arises primarily from elastohydrodynamic deformation, where the pressure required to drain interfacial water deforms the adhesive. Here we show that elastocapillary deformation caused by interfacial tension can counteract elastohydrodynamic deformation and prevent interfacial water trapping. This resolves a key contradiction in the design of underwater adhesives: soft adhesives promote conformal contact with the substrate but are prone to elastohydrodynamic deformation, while stiff adhesives resist elastohydrodynamic deformation but limit contact. Using finite element simulations that couple elastic, capillary, and hydrodynamic effects, we quantify the role of elastocapillary deformation in underwater adhesion. Our findings provide a design framework to achieve robust underwater adhesion without being limited by interfacial water trapping using microfibrillar structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56247,"journal":{"name":"Extreme Mechanics Letters","volume":"77 ","pages":"Article 102326"},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143829479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}