Analysis of Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composite Tubes Embedded in A Rigid Matrix with Finite Element Method
Open Access
Author:
Zhou, Chuangyu
Area of Honors:
Mechanical Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Christopher D. Rahn, Thesis Supervisor Zoubeida Ounaies, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
fluidic flexible matrix composite free strain finite element method Abaqus
Abstract:
Research on Fluidic Flexible Matrix Composite (F2MC) tubes has shown that they exhibit excellent actuation performance and stiffness change in non-structural applications. Structural applications, however, require the F2MC tube to be embedded in stiff media. In this research, the behavior of F2MC tube embedded in structural media is modeled using the Finite Element Method (FEM) and solved with the commercial code Abaqus. In particular, the free strain and blocked force performance of F2MC structures are examined. Analysis of the performances is based on various configurations of F2MC tubes embedded in structural media. According to the free strain simulation results, the actuation performance of the bi-layer F2MC structure is improved by nearly 40% by introducing an air gap. The blocked force performance, however, is insensitive to the changed design configuration.
