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Journal articleBonkile M, Jiang Y, Kirkaldy N, et al., 2024,
Is silicon worth it? Modelling degradation in composite silicon–graphite lithium-ion battery electrodes
, Journal of Power Sources, Vol: 606, ISSN: 0378-7753The addition of silicon into graphite lithium-ion battery anodes has the potential to increase cell energy density. However, understanding the complex degradation behaviour in these composite systems remains a research challenge. Here, we developed a coupled electrochemical–mechanical model of a composite silicon/graphite electrode, including stress-driven crack formation and solid electrolyte interphase layer growth for each material, validated with experimental degradation data from an LG M50T cell. The model reveals self-limiting loss of silicon due to decreasing stress in the silicon as the silicon activity shifts to a lower state-of-charge. Higher C-rates can lead to lower degradation due to lower phase utilisation as voltage cut-offs are reached earlier. Increasing silicon content can reduce the stress in the silicon by distributing reaction current density over more material. Using this model, we explored whether the extra capacity from silicon is generally ‘worth’ the faster degradation compared to graphite-only electrodes. The model shows if you use the silicon, you lose it, as the higher initial capacity is rapidly lost with regular high depth-of-discharge events. However, silicon does have value if it enables full graphite utilisation without range anxiety; if high depth-of-discharge events are minimised then graphite’s superior longevity can be utilised while exploiting silicon’s high specific capacity. The model is integrated into PyBaMM (an open-source physics-based modelling platform); providing the research community and industry with the capability to reproduce our results and further explore the dynamic lifetime behaviour of composite electrodes.
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Journal articleDudkina E, Bin M, Breen J, et al., 2024,
A comparison of centrality measures and their role in controlling the spread in epidemic networks
, International Journal of Control, Vol: 97, Pages: 1325-1340, ISSN: 0020-7179The ranking of nodes in a network according to their centrality or ``importance'' is a classic problem that has attracted the interest of different scientific communities in the last decades. The COVID-19 pandemic has recently rejuvenated the interest in this problem, as the ranking may be used to decide who should be tested, or vaccinated, first, in a population of asymptomatic individuals. In this paper, we review classic methods for node ranking and compare their performance in a benchmark network that considers the community-based structure of society. The outcome of the ranking procedure is then used to decide which individuals should be tested, and possibly quarantined, first. Finally, we also review the extension of these ranking methods to weighted graphs and explore the importance of weights in a contact network by providing a toy model and comparing node rankings for this case in the context of disease spread.
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Journal articleGodden T, Mulvey B, Redgrave E, et al., 2024,
PaTS-wheel: a passively-transformable single-part wheel for mobile robot navigation on unstructured terrain
, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, Vol: 9, Pages: 5512-5519, ISSN: 2377-3766Most mobile robots use wheels that perform well on even and structured ground, like in factories and warehouses. However, they face challenges traversing unstructured terrain such as stepped obstacles. This letter presents the design and testing of the PaTS-Wheel: a Passively-Transformable Single-part Wheel that can transform to render hooks when presented with obstacles. The passive rendering of this useful morphological feature is guided purely by the geometry of the obstacle. The energy consumption and vibrational profile of the PaTS-Wheel on flat ground is comparable to a standard wheel of the same size. In addition, our novel wheel design was tested traversing different terrains with stepped obstacles of incremental heights. The PaTS-Wheel achieved 100% success rate at traversing stepped obstacles with heights ≈70% its diameter, higher than the results obtained for an equivalent wheel ( ≈25% its diameter) and an equivalent wheg ( ≈61% its diameter). This achieves the design objectives of combining the energy efficiency and ride smoothness of wheels with the obstacle traversal capabilities of legged robots, all without requiring any sensors, actuators, or controllers.
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Journal articleTu Y, Wu B, Ai W, et al., 2024,
Influence of concentration-dependent material properties on the fracture and debonding of electrode particles with core–shell structure
, Journal of Power Sources, Vol: 603, ISSN: 0378-7753Core–shell electrode particle designs offer a route to improved lithium-ion battery performance. However, they are susceptible to mechanical damage such as fracture and debonding, which can significantly reduce their lifetime. Using a coupled finite element model, we explore the impacts of diffusion-induced stresses on the failure mechanisms of an exemplar system with an NMC811 core and an NMC111 shell. In particular, we systematically compare the implications of assuming constant material properties against using Li concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient and partial molar volume. With constant material properties, our results show that smaller cores with thinner shells avoid debonding and fracture regimes. When factoring in a concentration-dependent partial molar volume, the maximum values of tensile hoop stress in the shell are found to be significantly lower than those predicted with constant properties, reducing the likelihood of fracture. Furthermore, with a concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient, significant barriers to full electrode utilisation are observed due to reduced lithium mobility at high states of lithiation. This provides a possible explanation for the reduced accessible capacity observed in experiments. Shell thickness is found to be the dominant factor in precluding structural integrity once the concentration dependency is accounted for. These findings shed new light on the performance and effective design of core–shell electrode particles.
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Journal articleCook D, Peters D, Moradbakhti L, et al., 2024,
A text-based conversational agent for asthma support: mixed-methods feasibility study
, Digital Health, ISSN: 2055-2076 -
Conference paperRobson N, McPherson A, Bryan-Kinns N, 2024,
Thinking with sound: exploring the experience of listening to an ultrasonic art installation
, CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Publisher: ACMEntanglement theories are well established in HCI discourse. These involve a commitment to view human experience in encounters with technology as relational and contingent, and research apparatuses as co-producers rather than passive observers of phenomena. In this paper, we argue that sound is the sensory modality best suited to the investigation of entanglements. Materialist theoriesof sound and listening guide both the design of a novel interactive sound installation and the methodological approach of a participant study exploring the experience of listening. We present a diffractive analysis whereby micro-phenomenological interview data is read with sonic theories, generating accounts that might otherwise remain mute: the temporal fluctuation and physical feeling ofproximity in listener entanglements with sound, somatic intention setting, and plural interpretations of interactivity. Finally, we offer a series of provocations for HCI to embrace qualities of the sonic and consider epistemological positions grounded in other sense modalities.
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Conference paperSadek M, Constantinides M, Quercia D, et al., 2024,
Guidelines for integrating value sensitive design in responsible AI toolkits
, CHI 2024, Publisher: ACMValue Sensitive Design (VSD) is a framework for integrating human values throughout the technology design process. In parallel, Responsible AI (RAI) advocates for the development of systems aligning with ethical values, such as fairness and transparency. In this study, we posit that a VSD approach is not only compatible, but also advantageous to the development of RAI toolkits. To empirically assess this hypothesis, we conducted four workshops involving 17 early-career AI researchers. Our aim was to establish links between VSD and RAI values while examining how existingtoolkits incorporate VSD principles in their design. Our findings show that collaborative and educational design features within these toolkits, including illustrative examples and open-ended cues, facilitate an understanding of human and ethical values, and empower researchers to incorporate values into AI systems. Drawing on these insights, we formulated six design guidelines for integrating VSD values into the development of RAI toolkits.
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Conference paperMorrison L, McPherson A, 2024,
Entangling entanglement: a diffractive dialogue on HCI and musical interactions
, CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Publisher: ACMIf, as several recent papers claim, we have entered a new wave of “Entanglement HCI,” then we are still at a liminal stage prior to consensus around which sources underpin this paradigm shift or how they might inform actionable approaches to design practice. Now is the time to interpret technosocial mediation from a range of disciplinary perspectives, rather than settling on a narrow canon of literature. To this end, our paper enacts a diffractive dialogue between researchers from different disciplines, focusing on digital musical instruments to examine how technical knowledge from design and engineering can be read against the grain of critical theories from music, media, and cultural studies. Drawing on two object lessons—keyboards and step sequencers, plus their remediations inrecent musical interaction research—we highlight interdependencies of theory, design, and practice, and we show how the idea of entanglement is itself entangled in a cross-disciplinary web.
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Journal articleChakrabarti BK, Bree G, Dao A, et al., 2024,
Lightweight Carbon-Metal-Based Fabric Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.
, ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, Vol: 16, Pages: 21885-21894Lithium-ion battery electrodes are typically manufactured via slurry casting, which involves mixing active material particles, conductive carbon, and a polymeric binder in a solvent, followed by casting and drying the coating on current collectors (Al or Cu). These electrodes are functional but still limited in terms of pore network percolation, electronic connectivity, and mechanical stability, leading to poor electron/ion conductivities and mechanical integrity upon cycling, which result in battery degradation. To address this, we fabricate trichome-like carbon-iron fabrics via a combination of electrospinning and pyrolysis. Compared with slurry cast Fe2O3 and graphite-based electrodes, the carbon-iron fabric (CMF) electrode provides enhanced high-rate capacity (10C and above) and stability, for both half cell and full cell testing (the latter with a standard lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) cathode). Further, the CMFs are free-standing and lightweight; therefore, future investigation may include scaling this as an anode material for pouch cells and 18,650 cylindrical batteries.
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Journal articlePuglia M, Parker L, Clube RKM, et al., 2024,
The circular policy canvas: Mapping the European Union's policies for a sustainable fashion textiles industry
, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Vol: 204, ISSN: 0921-3449Policy plays a major role in enabling and accelerating the shift to a Circular Economy (CE). Transitioning to a CE in the Fashion Textiles Industry (FTI) requires a holistic policy approach through comprehensive and coherent policy interventions across the resource life cycle. This paper introduces the novel Circular Policy Canvas tool to systematically and visually map CE policies across six dimensions (policy environment, resource life cycle, CE loop, CE strategy, system element and circular business model). This is applied to thirty FTI policies in the EU policy landscape. The canvas enables policymakers and researchers to assess policies to identify gaps and priorities for CE policy development. The findings determine the recency of the EU policy agenda for a circular FTI meaning that there are gaps in terms of coverage and coherence. In particular, the study identifies a lack of attention to displacing the linear economy, a concentration of policies in the head and tail of the resource life cycle with gaps in the core, a dominance of policies in the outer over the inner loop and inadequate coverage of policies focused on actors, infrastructure and resources.
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Journal articleDing Z, Attar HR, Wang H, et al., 2024,
Integrating convolutional neural network and constitutive model for rapid prediction of stress-strain curves in fibre reinforced polymers: a generalisable approach
, Materials and Design, Vol: 241, ISSN: 0264-1275Despite recent advancements in using machine learning (ML) techniques to establish the microstructure-property linkage for composites’ representative volume elements (RVEs), challenges persist in effectively characterising the effect of microstructural randomness on material properties. This complexity arises from the difficulty of expressing randomness as definitive variables and its intertwined relations with other factors, such as material constituents. Such complexities result in limitations in generalising ML models across different material constituents. Conventional solutions to these challenges usually necessitate large datasets, which require considerable computational resources, for an accurate and generalisable ML models to be trained. This paper presents an innovative approach to tackling these challenges by integrating a high-accuracy convolutional neural network (CNN) with a novel microstructure-factored constitutive model (MCM). The MCM, rooted from classic empirical constitutive modelling, effectively segregates the microstructural and constituting material effects, extending the generalisability and thus significantly enhancing the efficacy of the CNN. This new approach enabled a CNN trained on the transverse stress-strain curves of one set of material constituents (CF/PEEK at 270 °C) to be generalised for the rapid prediction of various sets of material constituents at different temperatures, unseen by the CNN during training, with an average mean absolute percentage error around 3 %.
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Journal articleRuan H, Kirkaldy N, Offer G, et al., 2024,
Diagnosing health in composite battery electrodes with explainable deep learning and partial charging data
, Energy and AI, Vol: 16, ISSN: 2666-5468Lithium-ion batteries with composite anodes of graphite and silicon are increasingly being used. However, their degradation pathways are complicated due to the blended nature of the electrodes, with graphite and silicon degrading at different rates. Here, we develop a deep learning health diagnostic framework to rapidly quantify and separate the different degradation rates of graphite and silicon in composite anodes using partial charging data. The convolutional neural network (CNN), trained with synthetic data, uses experimental partial charging data to diagnose electrode-level health of tested batteries, with errors of less than 3.1% (corresponding to the loss of active material reaching ∼75%). Sensitivity analysis of the capacity-voltage curve under different degradation modes is performed to provide a physically informed voltage window for diagnostics with partial charging data. By using the gradient-weighted class activation mapping approach, we provide explainable insights into how these CNNs work; highlighting regions of the voltage-curve to which they are most sensitive. Robustness is validated by introducing noise to the data, with no significant negative impact on the diagnostic accuracy for noise levels below 10 mV, thus highlighting the potential for deep learning approaches in the diagnostics of lithium-ion battery performance under real-world conditions. The framework presented here can be generalised to other cell formats and chemistries, providing robust and explainable battery diagnostics for both conventional single material electrodes, but also the more challenging composite electrodes.
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Journal articleWillis S, Waheed U, Coward T, et al., 2024,
An automated design pipeline for transparent facial orthoses: A clinical study.
, J Prosthet Dent, Vol: 131, Pages: 970-979STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Transparent facial orthoses (TFOs) are commonly used for the treatment of craniomaxillofacial trauma and burns to prevent hypertrophic and keloid scarring. A TFO is typically customized to the patient's facial contours and relies on a precise fit to ensure good rehabilitative performance. A smart method of TFO design and manufacture is needed which does not require an experienced prosthetist, allowing for rapidly produced, well-fitting TFOs. Whether the rapid application reduces the final level of patient scarring is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to determine whether a scalable, automated design-through-manufacture pipeline for patient specific TFO fabrication would be successful. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The automated pipeline received a 3-dimensional (3D) facial scan captured from a depth sensitive mobile phone camera. The scan was cleaned, aligned, and fit to a template mesh, with a known connectivity. The resultant fitted scan was passed into an automated design pipeline, outputting a 3D printable model of a custom TFO. The TFOs were fabricated with 3D printing and were both physically and digitally evaluated to test the fidelity of a digital fit testing system. RESULTS: A total of 10 individuals were scanned with 5 different scanning technologies (STs). All scans were passed through an automated fitting pipeline and categorized into 2 groups. Each ST was digitally fitted to a ground truth scan. In this manner, a Euclidean distance map was built to the actual facial geometry for each scan. Heatmaps of 3D Euclidean distances were made for all participant faces. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to automatically design and manufacture a custom fitted TFO using commercially available 3D scanning and 3D printing technology was successfully demonstrated. After considering equipment size and operational personnel requirements, vat polymerization (VP) technology was found to be the most promising route to TFO manufacture.
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Journal articleBallou N, Denisova A, Ryan R, et al., 2024,
The Basic Needs in Games Scale (BANGS): A new tool for investigating positive and negative video game experiences
, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Pages: 103289-103289, ISSN: 1071-5819 -
Journal articleSadan MK, Kim T, Haridas AK, et al., 2024,
Overcoming copper-induced conversion reactions in nickel disulphide anodes for sodium-ion batteries.
, Nanoscale Adv, Vol: 6, Pages: 2508-2515Employing copper (Cu) as an anode current collector for metal sulphides is perceived as a general strategy to achieve stable cycle performance in sodium-ion batteries, despite the compatibility of the aluminium current collector with sodium at low voltages. The capacity retention is attributed to the formation of copper sulphide with the slow corrosion of the current collector during cycling which is not ideal. Conventional reports on metal sulphides demonstrate excellent electrochemical performances using excessive carbon coatings/additives, reducing the overall energy density of the cells and making it difficult to understand the underlying side reaction with Cu. In this report, the negative influence of the Cu current collector is demonstrated with in-house synthesised, scalable NiS2 nanoparticles without any carbon coating as opposed to previous works on NiS2 anodes. Ex situ TEM and XPS experiments revealed the formation of Cu2S, further to which various current collectors were employed for NiS2 anode to rule out the parasitic reaction and to understand the true performance of the material. Overall, this study proposes the utilisation of carbon-coated aluminium foil (C/Al) as a suitable current collector for high active material content NiS2 anodes and metal sulphides in general with minimal carbon contents as it remains completely inert during the cycling process. Using a C/Al current collector, the NiS2 anode exhibits stable cycling performance for 5000 cycles at 50 A g-1, maintaining a capacity of 238 mA h g-1 with a capacity decay rate of 8.47 × 10-3% per cycle.
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Book chapterZagal JP, Deterding S, 2024,
Definitions of “Role-Playing Games”
, The Routledge Handbook of Role-Playing Game Studies, Publisher: Routledge, Pages: 21-55 -
Book chapterDeterding S, Zagal JP, 2024,
The Many Faces of Role-Playing Game Studies
, The Routledge Handbook of Role-Playing Game Studies, Publisher: Routledge, Pages: 1-17 -
Book chapterWilliams JP, Kirschner D, Deterding S, 2024,
Sociology and Role-Playing Games
, The Routledge Handbook of Role-Playing Game Studies, Publisher: Routledge, Pages: 243-260 -
Book chapterHoover S, Simkins DW, Deterding S, et al., 2024,
Theater and Performance Studies and Role-Playing Games
, The Routledge Handbook of Role-Playing Game Studies, Publisher: Routledge, Pages: 227-242 -
BookZagal JP, Deterding S, 2024,
The Routledge Handbook of Role-Playing Game Studies
, Publisher: Routledge -
Journal articleJakobsson Støre S, Van Zalk N, Granander Schwartz W, et al., 2024,
The relationship between social anxiety disorder and ADHD in adolescents and adults: a systematic review
, Journal of Attention Disorders, ISSN: 1087-0547Objective:This review aimed to systematically gather empirical data on the link between social anxiety disorder and ADHD in both clinical and non-clinical populations among adolescents and adults.Method:Literature searches were conducted in PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, resulting in 1,739 articles. After screening, 41 articles were included. Results were summarized using a narrative approach.Results:The prevalence of ADHD in adolescents and adults with SAD ranged from 1.1% to 72.3%, while the prevalence of SAD in those with ADHD ranged from 0.04% to 49.5%. Studies indicate that individuals with both SAD and ADHD exhibit greater impairments. All studies were judged to be of weak quality, except for two studies which were rated moderate quality.Discussion:Individuals with SAD should be screened for ADHD and vice versa, to identify this common comorbidity earlier. Further research is needed to better understand the prevalence of comorbid ADHD and SAD in adolescents.
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Journal articleKirby P, Lai H, Horrocks S, et al., 2024,
Patient and public involvement in technology-related dementia research: a scoping review
, JMIR Aging, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2561-7605Background:Technology-related research for people with dementia and their carers often aims to enable people to remain living at home for longer and to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. To develop research that is person-centred, effective and ethical, patient and public involvement (PPI) is necessary, though may be perceived as more difficult with this cohort. With recent and rapid expansions in health and care related technology, this review explores how, and with what impact, collaborations between researchers and stakeholders such as people with dementia have taken place.Objective:To describe approaches to PPI used to date in technology-related dementia research, along with the barriers and facilitators and impact of PPI in this area.Methods:A scoping review of literature relating to dementia, technology and patient and public involvement was conducted using Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL. Papers were screened for inclusion by two authors. Data was then extracted using a pre-designed data extraction table by the same two authors; a third author supported resolution of any conflicts at each stage. Barriers and facilitators of undertaking PPI were then examined and themed.Results:Thirty-one papers were included for analysis. The majority (21/31) did not make clear distinctions between activities undertaken as PPI and activities undertaken by research participants, and as such their involvement did not fit easily into the NIHR definition of PPI. Most of this mixed involvement focused on the reviewing or evaluating of technology prototypes. A range of approaches was described, most typically using focus groups or co-design workshops. Nine studies described involvement at multiple stages through the research cycle, sometimes with evidence of sharing of decision-making power. Some studies commented on barriers or facilitators to effective PPI. Challenges identified were often around issues of working with people with significant cognitive impairments, and
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Journal articlePan X, Yan M, Liu Q, et al., 2024,
Electric-field-assisted proton coupling enhanced oxygen evolution reaction.
, Nat Commun, Vol: 15The discovery of Mn-Ca complex in photosystem II stimulates research of manganese-based catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, conventional chemical strategies face challenges in regulating the four electron-proton processes of OER. Herein, we investigate alpha-manganese dioxide (α-MnO2) with typical MnIV-O-MnIII-HxO motifs as a model for adjusting proton coupling. We reveal that pre-equilibrium proton-coupled redox transition provides an adjustable energy profile for OER, paving the way for in-situ enhancing proton coupling through a new "reagent"- external electric field. Based on the α-MnO2 single-nanowire device, gate voltage induces a 4-fold increase in OER current density at 1.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Moreover, the proof-of-principle external electric field-assisted flow cell for water splitting demonstrates a 34% increase in current density and a 44.7 mW/cm² increase in net output power. These findings indicate an in-depth understanding of the role of proton-incorporated redox transition and develop practical approach for high-efficiency electrocatalysis.
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Conference paperDavison M, Webb CJ, Ducceschi M, et al., 2024,
A Self-Sensing Haptic Actuator for Tactile Interaction with Physical Modelling Synthesis
, The International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical ExpressionThe use of transducers to excite physical modelling synthesisers with real-world audio signals is a well established practice within the digital musical instrument design community, yet it is normally presented as a unidirectional process – energy is transferred into the system from human to instrument. In this paper, a novel approach to tactile interaction with physical modelling synthesis is presented, through the use of a self-sensing vibrotactile transducer. This enables simultaneous collocated sensing and haptic actuation with a single moving coil transducer. A current drive amplifier is used for haptic actuation, using signals derived from the physical modelling synthesiser. The varying impedance of the transducer (due to changes in the mechanical damping) enables the sensing of force applied upon the device whilst also acting as a pickup to excite the physical model, all with simultaneous haptic actuation. A digital filter equivalent of the transducer’s impedance is used to prevent feedback in the system, allowing simultaneous excitation and haptic actuation without self-oscillation
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Journal articleKallitsis E, Lindsay JJ, Chordia M, et al., 2024,
Think global act local: The dependency of global lithium-ion battery emissions on production location and material sources
, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol: 449, ISSN: 0959-6526The pursuit of low-carbon transport has significantly increased demand for lithium-ion batteries. However, the rapid increase in battery manufacturing, without adequate consideration of the carbon emissions associated with their production and material demands, poses the threat of shifting the bulk of emissions upstream. In this article, a life cycle assessment (LCA) model is developed to account for the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of lithium-ion batteries across 26 Chinese provinces, 20 North American locations and 19 countries in Europe and Asia. Analysis of published LCA data reveals significant uncertainty associated with the carbon emissions of key battery materials; their overall contribution to the carbon footprint of a LIB varies by a factor of ca. 4 depending on production route and source. The links between production location and the gate-to-gate carbon footprint of battery manufacturing are explored, with predicted median values ranging between 0.1 and 69.5 kg CO2-eq kWh−1. Leading western-world battery manufacturing locations in the US and Europe, such as Kentucky and Poland are found to have comparable carbon emissions to Chinese rivals, even exceeding the carbon emissions of battery manufacturing in several Chinese provinces. Such resolution on material and energy contributions to the carbon footprint of LIBs is essential to inform policy- and decision-making to minimise the carbon emissions of the battery value chain. Given the current status quo, the global carbon footprint of the lithium-ion battery industry is projected to reach up to 1.0 Gt CO2-eq per year within the next decade. With material supply chain decarbonisation and energy savings in battery manufacturing, a lower estimate of 0.5 Gt CO2-eq per year is possible.
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Journal articleMohammed AA, Yao K, Ragaisyte I, et al., 2024,
Stable and homogeneous SPION-infused Photo-Resins for 3D-printing magnetic hydrogels
, Applied Materials Today, Vol: 373D printing of magnetic stimuli hydrogels has shown promise in low-resolution extrusion printing but integrating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) into water-based photo-resins has posed challenges. Rapid agglomeration and sedimentation of SPION in photo-resins require continuous mixing during printing, leading to uneven nanoparticle (NP) distribution and inconsistent magnetic actuation. Here, we optimise the use of citric acid (CA) and l-sodium ascorbate (LA) as capping agents on the SPION's surface, before trialling them with photo-resins. Ultimately, we present a two-step approach to overcome these limitations, enabling high-resolution SLA-based 3D printing of hydrogels. By employing CA in both SPION and photo-resin preparation, we achieve a highly stable mixture that requires no agitation during printing, resulting in magnetically responsive hydrogels. This methodology can be applied to various photo-resin formulations, ensuring uniform NP distribution and enabling the 3D printing of stimuli-responsive materials for applications in soft robotics, aquatic micro-swimmers, and soft actuators. The breakthrough in stable and homogenous SPION-infused photo-resins has broad implications for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine, offering novel biocompatible materials with resistance to stress and deformation. This approach can be extended to other NP with poor dispersion in hydrogels, paving the way for advanced functional materials in diverse applications.
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Journal articleRanjan A, Angelini F, Nanayakkara T, et al., 2024,
Design Guidelines for Bioinspired Adaptive Foot for Stable Interaction with the Environment
, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, Vol: 29, Pages: 843-855, ISSN: 1083-4435Robotic exploration in natural environments requires adaptable, resilient, and stable interactions with uncertain terrains. Most state-of-the-art legged robots utilize flat or ball feet that lack adaptability and are prone to slip due to point contact with the ground. In this article, we present guidelines to design an adaptive foot that can interact with the terrain to achieve a stable configuration. The foot is inspired by goat hoof anatomy that incorporates roll and yaw rotations in the Fetlock and Pastern joints, respectively. To ensure adaptability with stability in physical interaction and to prevent the foot from collapsing, we provide a lower bound on each joint's stiffness. In addition, we also render an upper bound to conform to the high force exchange during interactions with the ground consisting of certain roughness. Based on these guidelines, we design the hoof and experimentally validate the theoretical results with a loading test setup in lab settings. We use four different friction materials with various triangular, rectangular, and semicircular extrusions to simulate common ground features. We observe that hooved pads require more load for the system to be unstable. Any anatomically inspired foot can be designed based on the guidelines proved analytically and experimentally in this article.
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Journal articleWang H, Ding Z, Chen X, et al., 2024,
Experimental characterisation and constitutive modelling of the intra-ply tensile and shear properties of unidirectional fibre reinforced thermoplastics (UD FRTPs) under solid-state stamp forming conditions
, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, Vol: 179, ISSN: 1359-835XTo enable the success of solid-state stamp forming of unidirectional fibre reinforced thermoplastics (UD FRTPs), it is essential to accurately characterise and model the material deformation under desired conditions. This paper comprehensively investigates the intra-ply tensile and shear properties of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced polyamide 6 (UD CF/PA6), which is a type of commonly used UD FRTP. To accomplish this, tensile and V-Notched Rail (VNR) shear tests are conducted for characterising the intra-ply transverse tensile and longitudinal shear properties, respectively. The temperature effects (180 – 220 ℃, at 0.01 /s for the transverse tensile deformation and at 0.04 /s for longitudinal shear deformation) and strain-rate effects (0.001 – 0.25 /s for transverse tensile deformation and 0.004 – 0.4 /s for the longitudinal shear deformation, both are at 200 ℃) are studied. It is found that temperature has significant effects on the intra-ply deformation properties, while the strain-rate effects are marginal. This paper also proposes a new physically based constitutive model considering all the deformable constituents, i.e., the polymer constituent reinforced by fibres (PrF) and the polymer-fibre interface (P-F). This model not only shows good prediction of the thermomechanical properties of UD CF/PA6 under intra-ply deformations, but also gives insights into the deformation mechanisms. The new physically based constitutive model is successfully embedded into Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software and validated through accurate prediction of intra-ply deformation of a CF/PA6 specimen under bias-extension. The methodologies and model developed here offer an effective tool for predicting the intra-ply deformation behaviours and guiding the solid-state stamp forming process of UD FRTPs.
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Journal articleYu X, Singh G, Kaur A, et al., 2024,
An assessment of Sikh turban's head protection in bicycle incident scenarios
, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol: 52, Pages: 946-957, ISSN: 0090-6964Due to religious tenets, Sikh population wear turbans and are exempted from wearing helmets in several countries. However, the extent of protection provided by turbans against head injuries during head impacts remains untested. One aim of this study was to provide the first-series data of turbans' protective performance under impact conditions that are representative of real-world bicycle incidents and compare it with the performance of bicycle helmets. Another aim was to suggest potential ways for improving turban's protective performance. We tested five different turbans, distinguished by two wrapping styles and two fabric materials with a size variation in one of the styles. A Hybrid III headform fitted with the turban was dropped onto a 45 degrees anvil at 6.3 m/s and head accelerations were measured. We found large difference in the performance of different turbans, with up to 59% difference in peak translational acceleration, 85% in peak rotational acceleration, and 45% in peak rotational velocity between the best and worst performing turbans. For the same turban, impact on the left and right sides of the head produced very different head kinematics, showing the effects of turban layering. Compared to unprotected head impacts, turbans considerably reduce head injury metrics. However, turbans produced higher values of peak linear and rotational accelerations in front and left impacts than bicycle helmets, except from one turban which produced lower peak head kinematics values in left impacts. In addition, turbans produced peak rotational velocities comparable with bicycle helmets, except from one turban which produced higher values. The impact locations tested here were covered with thick layers of turbans and they were impacted against flat anvils. Turbans may not provide much protection if impacts occur at regions covered with limited amount of fabric or if the impact is against non-flat anvils, which remain untested. Our analysis shows that turbans can
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Journal articleBallou N, Sewall CJR, Ratcliffe J, et al., 2024,
Supplemental Material for Registered report evidence suggests no relationship between objectively tracked video game playtime and well-being over 3 months.
, Technology, Mind, and Behavior, Vol: 5
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