Characterization of variable stiffness joints for adaptive structures

Qinyu Wang, Arjan Habraken, Patrick Teuffel, Gennaro Senatore, Kaspar Jansen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

Abstract

This paper presents a new strategy to control the structure dynamic response via a shift of the natural frequencies obtained through using variable stiffness joints. The joints are made of shape memory polymers and are fabricated through 3D printing. Stiffness variation is activated through resistive heating which causes a phase change from a glassy to a rubbery state in order to switch the joint between a ‘locked’ (e.g. a moment connection) and a ‘released’ (e.g. pin) state. This work comprises an experimental and a numerical part: 1) dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) has been carried out to characterize the viscoelastic behavior of a 3D printed SMP specimen; 2) the dynamic response of a 2-floor planar frame equipped with four variable stiffness SMP joints is simulated through transient analysis. Numerical results show that through joint stiffness control, the fundamental frequency shifts up to 19% causing a drastic reduction of the dynamic response under resonance loading. A comparison between variable stiffness joints with viscoelastic and only-elastic behavior shows that viscoelasticity increases mechanical damping up to 4.7 times during the transition phase.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Engineering Materials, Structures and Systems
Subtitle of host publicationInnovations, Mechanics and Applications - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 2019
EditorsAlphose Zingoni
PublisherCRC Press / Balkema - Taylor & Francis Group
Pages1045-1050
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781138386969
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Event7th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 2019 - Cape Town, South Africa
Duration: 2 Sept 20194 Sept 2019

Publication series

NameAdvances in Engineering Materials, Structures and Systems: Innovations, Mechanics and Applications - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 2019

Conference

Conference7th International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation, 2019
Country/TerritorySouth Africa
CityCape Town
Period2/09/194/09/19

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