We present an experimentally-based failure criterion for symmetric two-ply plain-weave laminates of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic. The criterion is formulated in terms of six force and moment stress resultants and consists of a set of three inequalities, related to in-plane, bending, and combined in-plane and bending types of failure. All failure parameters in the criterion are measured direc...

Electro active polymers (EAPs) exhibit large electrically induced strains (bending or stretching) with electrical stimuli. EAPs are utilized as actuators in micro gripper and micromanipulator in micro robotics activities. Remote center compliance (RCC) based micro gripper is developed to facilitate insertion of peg-in-hole (PIH) for micro assembly operations. An effect of RCC compliance during ...

The paper presents detailed micromechanical finite element simulations of composite materials with soft materials undergoing large macroscopic bending deformation. The simulations allow the study of fibre microbuckling under bending, including the kinematics of the fibres, as well as the strains in the matrix. These simulations lead to a simple analytical model that allows a quite accurate esti...