1,721,287 research outputs found

    An Efficient Reduced-Order Model to Investigate the Behavior of an Imperfect Microbeam Under Axial Load and Electric Excitation

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    In this study an efficient reduced-order model for a MEMS device is developed and investigations of the nonlinear static and the dynamic behavior are performed. The device is constituted of an imperfect microbeam under an axial load and an electric excitation. The imperfections, typically due to microfabrication processes, are simulated assuming a shallow arched initial shape. The axial load is deliberately added with an elevated value. The structure has a bistable static configuration of double potential well with possibility of escape. We derive a single-mode reduced-order model via the Ritz technique and the Padé approximation. This model, while simple, is able to combine both a sufficient accuracy, which enables to detect the main qualitative features of the device response up to elevated values of electrodynamic excitation, and a remarkable computational efficiency, which is essential for systematic global nonlinear dynamic simulations. We illustrate the nonlinear phenomena arising in the device, such as the coexistence of various competing in-well and cross-well attractors, which leads to a considerable versatility of behavior. We discuss their physical meaning and their practical relevance for the engineering design of the microstructure, since this is an uncommon and very attractive aspect in applications

    Global investigation of the nonlinear dynamics of carbon nanotubes

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    Understanding the complex nonlinear dynamics of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is essential to enable utilization of these structures in devices and practical applications. We present in this work an investigation of the global nonlinear dynamics of a slacked CNT when actuated by large electrostatic and electrodynamic excitations. The coexistence of several attractors is observed. The CNT is modeled as an Euler–Bernoulli beam. A reduced-order model based on the Galerkin method is developed and utilized to simulate the static and dynamic responses. Critical computational challenges are posed due to the complicated form of the electrostatic force, which describes the interaction between the upper electrode, consisting of the cylindrically shaped CNT, and the lower electrode. Toward this, we approximate the electrostatic force using the Padé expansion. We explore the dynamics near the primary and superharmonic resonances. The nanostructure exhibits several attractors with different characteristics. To achieve deep insight and describe the complexity and richness of the behavior, we analyze the nonlinear response from an attractor-basins point of view. The competition of attractors is highlighted. Compactness and/or fractality of their basins are discussed. Both the effects of varying the excitation frequency and amplitude are examined up to the dynamic pull-in instability

    An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of Dynamic Pull-In in MEMS Resonators Actuated Electrostatically

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    We present experimental and theoretical investigations of dynamic pull-in of electrostatically actuated resonators. Several experimental data are presented, showing regimes of ac forcing amplitude versus ac frequency, where a resonator is forced to pull in if operated within these regimes. Results are shown for primary and secondary resonance excitations. The influences of the initial conditions of the system, the ac excitation amplitude, the ac frequency, the excitation type, and the sweeping type are investigated. A shooting technique to find periodic motions and a basin-of-attraction analysis are used to predict the limits of the pull-in bands. When compared with the experimental data, the results have shown that the pull-in limits coincide with 30%-40% erosion lines of the safe basin in the case of primary resonance and 5%-15% erosion lines of the safe basin in the case of subharmonic resonance. Bifurcation diagrams have been constructed, which designers can use to establish factors of safety to reliably operate microelectromechanical-systems resonators away from pull-in bands and the danger of pull-in, depending on the expected disturbances and noise in the systems

    AN IMPERFECT MICROBEAM UNDER AN AXIAL LOAD AND ELECTRIC EXCITATION: NONLINEAR PHENOMENA AND DYNAMICAL INTEGRITY

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    This work deals with the nonlinear dynamics of a microelectromechanical system constituted by an imperfect microbeam under an axial load and an electric excitation. The device is characterized by a bistable static configuration. We analyze the single-mode dynamics and describe the overall scenario of the response, up to the inevitable escape, when both the frequency and the electrodynamic voltage are considered as driving parameters. We observe the presence of several competing attractors leading to a considerable versatility of behavior, which may have many feasible applications. Extensive numerical simulations are performed. The frequency-dynamic voltage behavior chart is obtained, which detects the theoretical boundaries of appearance and disappearance of the main attractors. Taking into account the erosion of the double well, we investigate the final response when each attractor vanishes. All these results represent the limit when disturbances are absent, which never occurs in practice. To extend them to the practical case where disturbances exist, we develop a dynamical integrity analysis. This is performed via curves of constant percentage of local integrity measure, which give quantitative information about the changes in the structural safety. For each attractor, we examine both the practical disappearance, by analyzing the robustness of its basin along the range of existence, and the practical final response, by detecting where safe jump to another attractor may be ensured and where instead dynamic pull-in may arise. These curves may be used to establish safety factors in order to operate the device according to the desired outcome, depending on the expected disturbances

    Dynamical Integrity for Interpreting Experimental Data and Ensuring Safety in Electrostatic MEMS

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    A dynamical integrity analysis is performed for an electrostatic micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device. The analysis starts from the experimental data of dynamic pull-in due to a frequency-sweeping process in a capacitive accelerometer. The loss of dynamical integrity is investigated by curves of constant percentage of integrity factor. We found that these curves follow exactly the experimental data and succeed in interpreting the existence of disturbances. On the other hand, instead, the theoretical curves of disappearance of the attractors represent the limit when disturbances are absent, which never occurs in practice. Also, the obtained behavior chart can serve as a design guideline in order to ensure safety of the device

    Theoretical Prediction of Experimental Jump and Pull-In Dynamics in a MEMS Sensor

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    The present research study deals with an electrically actuated MEMS device. An experimental investigation is performed, via frequency sweeps in a neighbourhood of the first natural frequency. Resonant behavior is explored, with special attention devoted to jump and pull-in dynamics. A theoretical single degree-of-freedom spring-mass model is derived. Classical numerical simulations are observed to properly predict the main nonlinear features. Nevertheless, some discrepancies arise, which are particularly visible in the resonant branch. They mainly concern the practical range of existence of each attractor and the final outcome after its disappearance. These differences are likely due to disturbances, which are unavoidable in practice, but have not been included in the model. To take disturbances into account, in addition to the classical local investigations, we consider the global dynamics and explore the robustness of the obtained results by performing a dynamical integrity analysis. Our aim is that of developing an applicable confident estimate of the system response. Integrity profiles and integrity charts are built to detect the parameter range where reliability is practically strong and where it becomes weak. Integrity curves exactly follow the experimental data. They inform about the practical range of actuality. We discuss the combined use of integrity charts in the engineering design. Although we refer to a particular case-study, the approach is very general

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Variations on the Author

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    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship

    Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis

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    We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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