Laboratory measurements of the performance of the Anaconda are presented, a wave energy converter comprising a submerged water-filled distensible tube aligned with the incident waves. Experiments were carried out at a scale of around 1:25 with a 250 mm diameter and 7 m long tube, constructed of rubber and fabric, terminating in a linear power take-off of adjustable impedance. The paper presents some basic theory that leads to predictions of distensibility and bulge wave speed in a pressurized compound rubber and fabric tube, including the effects of inelastic sectors in the circumference, longitudinal tension and the surrounding fluid. Results are shown to agree closely with measurements in still water. The theory is developed further to provide a model for the propagation of bulges and power conversion in the Anaconda. In the presence of external water waves, the theory identifies three distinct internal wave components and provides theoretical estimates of power capture. For the first time, these and other predictions of the behaviour of the Anaconda, a device unlike almost all other marine systems, are shown to be in remarkably close agreement with measurements.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2011.0256 | DOI Listing |
Polymers (Basel)
January 2025
School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280, Daehak-ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea.
Carbon nanomaterials, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are widely used as reinforcing fillers in rubber composites for advanced mechanical and electrical applications. However, the influence of rubber functionality and its interactions with CNTs remains underexplored. This study investigates electroactive elastomeric composites fabricated with CNTs in two common diene rubbers: natural rubber (NR) and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), each with distinct functionalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioengineering (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.
The advancement of medical 3D printing technology includes several enhancements, such as decreasing the length of surgical procedures and minimizing anesthesia exposure, improving preoperative planning, creating personalized replicas of tissues and bones specific to individual patients, bioprinting, and providing alternatives to human organ transplants. The range of materials accessible for 3D printing within the healthcare industry is significantly narrower when compared with conventional manufacturing techniques. Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is characterized by its remarkable stability, outstanding biocompatibility, and significant flexibility, thus presenting substantial opportunities for manufacturers of medical devices who are engaged in 3D printing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Work Expo Health
January 2025
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Objectives: Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a carcinogen that has been causally linked to kidney cancer and possibly other cancer sites including the liver and lymphatic system. Its use in China has increased since the early 1990s due to the growing metal and electronic industries. We aimed to summarize the major sources of occupational exposure to TCE over time in China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Mol Model
January 2025
Department of Astronautic Science and Mechanics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150006, People's Republic of China.
Context: The influence of fullerene C60 on the mechanical and thermal properties of natural rubber was systematically investigated using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. The tensile results demonstrate that systems with longer NR chains exhibit reduced tensile strength. Moreover, the addition of C60 nanoparticles significantly enhanced the mechanical properties, with Young's modulus, yield strength, and tensile strength increasing by approximately 24.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethodsX
June 2025
Department of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Pune Campus, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Lavale, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
The increasing demand for soft robotic systems in agricultural, biomedical and other applications has driven the development of actuators that can mimic the flexibility and adaptability of human muscles. Several studies have explored the design and implementation of soft actuators for robotic applications, however, there is a need for soft actuators demonstrating delicate gripping capabilities but also excel in specific biomedical applications, such as therapeutic massaging. The objective of this work is to develop a multi-finger soft pneumatic actuator mimicking human fingers for Ayurvedic therapeutic massaging and gripping applications.
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