Ni-Ti actuators and genetically optimized compliant ribs for an adaptive wing

Mirone, Giuseppe Techno-Press 2009 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.5 No.6

Adaptive wings are capable of properly modifying their shape depending on the current aerodynamic conditions, in order to improve the overall performance of a flying vehicle. In this paper is presented the concept design of a small-scale compliant wing rib whose outline may be distorted in order to switch from an aerodynamic profile to another. The distortion loads are induced by shape memory alloy actuators placed within the frame of a wing section whose elastic response is predicted by the matrix method with beam formulation. Genetic optimization is used to find a wing rib structure (corresponding to the first airfoil) able to properly deforms itself when loaded by the SMA-induced forces, becoming as close as possible to the desired target shape (second airfoil). An experimental validation of the design procedure is also carried out with reference to a simplified structure layout.

Design and demonstrators testing of adaptive airfoils and hingeless wings actuated by shape memory alloy wires

Mirone, Giuseppe Techno-Press 2007 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.3 No.1

Two aspects of the design of a small-scale smart wing are addressed in this work, related to the ability of the wing to modify its cross section assuming the shape of two different airfoils and to the possibility of deflecting the profiles near the trailing edge in order to obtain hingeless control surfaces. The actuation is provided by one-way shape memory alloy wires eventually coupled to springs, Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) being among the most promising materials for this kind of applications. The points to be actuated along the profiles and the displacements to be imposed are selecetd so that they satisfactorily approximate the change from an airfoil to the other and to result in an adequate deflection of the control surface; the actuators and their performances are designed so that an adequate wing stiffness is guaranteed, in order to prevent excessive deformations and undesired airfoil shape variations due to aerodynamic loads. The effect of the pressure distributions, calculated by way of the XFOIL software, and of the actuators loads, is estimated by FE analyses of the loaded wing. Two prototypes are then realised incorporating the variable airfoil and the hingeless aileron features respectively, and the verification of their shapes in both the actuated and non-actuated states, supported by image analysis techniques, confirms that interesting results are achievable with the proposed lay out and design considerations.

Ni-Ti actuators and genetically optimized compliant ribs for an adaptive wing

Giuseppe Mirone 국제구조공학회 2009 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.5 No.6

Adaptive wings are capable of properly modifying their shape depending on the current aerodynamic conditions, in order to improve the overall performance of a flying vehicle. In this paper is presented the concept design of a small-scale compliant wing rib whose outline may be distorted in order to switch from an aerodynamic profile to another. The distortion loads are induced by shape memory alloy actuators placed within the frame of a wing section whose elastic response is predicted by the matrix method with beam formulation. Genetic optimization is used to find a wing rib structure (corresponding to the first airfoil) able to properly deforms itself when loaded by the SMA-induced forces, becoming as close as possible to the desired target shape (second airfoil). An experimental validation of the design procedure is also carried out with reference to a simplified structure layout.

Design and demonstrators testing of adaptive airfoils and hingeless wings actuated by shape memory alloy wires

Giuseppe Mirone 국제구조공학회 2007 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.3 No.1

Two aspects of the design of a small-scale smart wing are addressed in this work, related to the ability of the wing to modify its cross section assuming the shape of two different airfoils and to the possibility of deflecting the profiles near the trailing edge in order to obtain hingeless control surfaces. The actuation is provided by one-way shape memory alloy wires eventually coupled to springs, Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) being among the most promising materials for this kind of applications. The points to be actuated along the profiles and the displacements to be imposed are selecetd so that they satisfactorily approximate the change from an airfoil to the other and to result in an adequate deflection of the control surface; the actuators and their performances are designed so that an adequate wing stiffness is guaranteed, in order to prevent excessive deformations and undesired airfoil shape variations due to aerodynamic loads. The effect of the pressure distributions, calculated by way of the XFOIL software, and of the actuators loads, is estimated by FE analyses of the loaded wing. Two prototypes are then realised incorporating the variable airfoil and the hingeless aileron features respectively, and the verification of their shapes in both the actuated and non-actuated states, supported by image analysis techniques, confirms that interesting results are achievable with the proposed lay out and design considerations.

MULTI-BODY ELASTIC SIMULATION OF A GO-KART: CORRELATION BETWEEN FRAME STIFFNESS AND DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE

G. MIRONE 한국자동차공학회 2010 International journal of automotive technology Vol.11 No.4

The elastic response of a vehicle to an applied force determines the dynamic performance, comfort, and support of the vehicle, where the elastic response depends primarily on the stiffness of the frame/chassis. Significant variations in the dynamic response of a vehicle are typically achieved with suitable shock absorbing systems, which contribute significantly to whole body flexibility. The defining feature of a go-kart is the lack of devices capable of absorbing shock and dampening vibration. The tires and body of a go-kart, which consist of a frame of welded beams, must also function as a shock absorption system. The objective of this study was to reproduce the elastic behavior of a commercially available Italian go-kart by modeling the frame in a multibody ADAMS environment and to determine the effect of elastic features on the dynamic performance of the vehicle. Frame stiffness was assessed by applying a static torsion moment, while the circular trajectory of the go-kart was evaluated at different speeds and steering wheel angles. The proposed multibody, flexible model was validated by comparing the static and dynamic response of the go-kart in simulated and experimental analyses. The results of numerical simulations demonstrated that this method may be extended to the design of customized go-kart frames and to the tuning of go-karts for specific racing conditions.

Chlamydia trachomatis versus common uropathogens as a cause of chronic bacterial prostatitis: Is there any difference? Results of a prospective parallel-cohort study

Tommaso Cai,Francesca Pisano,Gabriella Nesi,Vittorio Magri,Paolo Verze,Gianpaolo Perletti,Paolo Gontero,Vincenzo Mirone,Riccardo Bartoletti 대한비뇨의학회 2017 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.58 No.6

Purpose: The role of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is well known. What is unclear is whether there are any differences in the course or clinical outcome of the disease when the cause is CT or other uropathogens. Materials and Methods: A series of 311 patients affected by CBP due to CT (cohort A) was compared with a group of 524 patients affected by CBP caused by common uropathogen bacteria (cohort B). All participants completed the following questionnaires: National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, International Prostate Symptom Score, International Index of Erectile Function-15 erectile function domain (IIEF-15-EFD), Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. All patients were followed with clinical and microbiological evaluations. Results: After a mean follow-up time of 42.3 months, the number of symptomatic episodes was significantly higher in patients in cohort A than in cohort B (4.1±1.1 vs. 2.8±0.8, p<0.001), and the mean time to first symptomatic recurrence was shorter in cohort A than in cohort B (3.3±2.3 months vs. 5.7±1.9 months, p<0.001). Moreover, scores on the SF-36 tool were significantly lower in cohort A (96.5±1.0 vs. 99.7±1.9, p<0.001) at the first symptomatic recurrence. Cohort A also showed significantly lower scores on the IIEF-15-EFD and PEDT questionnaires at the end of the follow-up period (26.8±2.9 vs. 27.3±3.3, p=0.02 and 11.5±2.3 vs. 4.5±2.8, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Patients affected by CBP due to CT infection have a higher number of symptomatic recurrences with a more severe impact on quality of life.

Prostate calcifications: A case series supporting the microbial biofilm theory

Tommaso Cai,Francesco Tessarolo,Iole Caola,Federico Piccoli,Giandomenico Nollo,Patrizio Caciagli,Sandra Mazzoli,Alessandro Palmieri,Paolo Verze,Gianni Malossini,Vincenzo Mirone,Truls E. Bjerklund Joha 대한비뇨의학회 2018 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.59 No.3

Purpose: Prostate calcifications are a common finding during transrectal prostate ultrasound in both healthy subjects and patients, but their etiopathogenesis and clinical significance are not fully understood. We aimed to establish a new methodology for evaluating the role of microbial biofilms in the genesis of prostate calcifications. Materials and Methods: Ten consecutive patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy were enrolled in this study. All of the patients presented with prostate calcifications during transrectal ultrasound evaluation before surgery and underwent Meares-Stamey tests and clinical evaluation with the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index and the International Prostate Symptom Score. At the time of radical prostatectomy, the prostate specimen, after removal, was analyzed with ultrasonography under sterile conditions in the operating room. Core biopsy specimens were taken from the site of prostate calcification and subjected to ultrastructural and microbiological analysis. Results: The results of the Meares-Stamey test showed only 1 of 10 patients (10%) with positive cultures for Escherichia coli. Two of five patients (40%) had positive cultures from prostate biopsy specimens. Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus raffinosus, and Citrobacter freundii were isolated. Ultrastructural analysis of the prostate biopsy specimens showed prostate calcifications in 6 of 10 patients (60%), and a structured microbial biofilm in 1 patient who had positive cultures for E. faecalis and E. raffinosus. Conclusions: Although the findings are supported by a low number of patients, this study highlights the validity of the proposed methodology for investigating the role of bacterial biofilms in the genesis of prostate calcification.

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF STATE FAILURE

Miron Mushkat 연세대학교 동서문제연구원 2003 Global economic review Vol.32 No.1

State failure is more common than generally assumed and often has distinctly negative consequences that may manifest themselves in neighboring countries. For this reason, it has attracted considerable attention in academic and policy circles alike. The researchers exploring the phenomenon have followed a rather narrow path, however, and there is substantial scope to broaden the breadth of inquiry. While the analytical efforts over the past decade to come to grips with the phenomenon of state failure have borne fruit in terms of identifying the key independent variables, the understanding of the mechanism through which they exert their influence on the dependent variable has not been significantly enhanced. The assertion is particularly valid with respect to adverse and abrupt regime transitions. The purpose of this paper is to examine, in light of the author’s experience in grappling with state failure in the Chinese context, the potential for systematically expanding the research agenda in a conceptual/theoretical direction.

The Transfer of Property Rights from the Public to the Private Sector in Hong Kong: A Critical Assessment

( Miron Mushkat ),( Roda Mushkat ) 연세대학교 동서문제연구원 2006 Global economic review Vol.35 No.4

The Political Economy of Chinese "Federalism": New Analytical Directions

Miron Mushkat,Roda Mushkat 연세대학교 동서문제연구원 2009 Global economic review Vol.38 No.1

Decentralized politico-administrative structures may be dissected and assessed by employing a variety of conceptual tools. In the case of China, researchers have displayed a distinct preference for operating within a framework grounded in political sociology. Substantial insights have been generated in the process, but it may be argued, and empirically demonstrated, that a complementary approach, seeking inspiration from political economy, may shed additional light on the functioning of the Chinese quasi-federal system.