A mathematical model is presented to examine the propagation of bending waves on a plant stem that are induced by vibratory excitation from an attached insect. This idealized model represents the insect body as a mass and the legs as a linear spring along with a general time-varying force that is assumed to act in parallel with the spring. The spring connects the mass to a stem modeled as a bea...

In this dissertation, simple models of legged locomotion are developed mainly following the hypothesis that rather than reflecting two distinct phenomena, the fundamental gait patterns of walking and running can be described within a single conceptual framework that is based on compliant limb behavior. In Chapter 1, the most prominent mechanical paradigms of walking and running, namely the stif...

The examination of variation of elastic modules in single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is the aim of this paper. Full nonlinear spring-like elements are employed to simulate specific atomic structures in the commercial code ABAQUS. Carbon atoms are attached to each node as a mass point using atomic mass of carbon atoms. The influence of dimensions such as variation of length, diameter, aspect...

A semi-analytical method is used to illustrate the behavior of a multimodal nonlinear electromechanical system which is under base-excitation. System is considered as piezo-ceramic patches attached to a cantilever beam coupled to a resistive load. The cantilever beam is modeled as a nonlinear Timoshenko beam using Assumed Mode method and equations of motion are derived through Lagrange's equati...

Emerging microelectromechanical system (MEMS)-based sensors become much more applicable for on-body measurement purposes lately. Especially, the development of a finger tip-sized tri-axial force sensor gives the opportunity to measure interaction forces between the human hand and environmental objects. We have developed a new prototype device that allows simultaneous 3D force and movement measu...

In this paper, we investigate power flow in compliant mechanisms that are employed in dynamic applications. More specifically, we identify various elements of the energy storage and transfer between the input, external load, and strain energy stored within the compliant transmission. The goal is to design compliant mechanisms for dynamic applications by exploiting the inherent energy storage ca...

We discuss the classical motion of a spring of arbitrary mass coupled to two arbitrary massive blocks attached at its ends. A general approach to the problem is presented and some general results are obtained. Examples for which a simple elastic function can be inferred are discussed and the normal modes and normal frequencies obtained. An approximation procedure to the evaluation of the normel...

We discuss the classical motion of a spring of arbitrary mass coupled to two arbitrary massive blocks attached at its ends. A general approach to the problem is presented and some general results are obtained. Examples for which a simple elastic function can be inferred are discussed and the normal modes and normal frequencies obtained. An approximation procedure to the evaluation of the normel...