Sharif Digital Repository

In this study, polypropylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites were prepared via in situ polymerization using a bi-supported Ziegler-Natta catalytic system. In this system, magnesium ethoxide and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are jointly used as catalyst supports. SEM images reveal the distribution and quite good dispersion of MWCNTs throughout the polypropylene (PP) matrix. The thermal properties of the samples were examined using DSC and TGA tests. The results show that the crystallization temperature of the nanocomposites significantly increases while the melting point is not markedly affected. In addition, the thermal stability is improved. The melt rheological properties of PP/MWCNT... 

The nonlinear free and forced bending vibration of sandwich plates with incompressible viscoelastic core is investigated under the effects of different source of nonlinearities. For the core constrained between stiffer layers, the transverse shear strains, as well as the rotations are assumed to be moderate. The linear and quadratic displacement fields are also adopted for the in-plane and out-of-plane displacements of the core, respectively. The assumption of moderate transverse strains requires a nonlinear constitutive equation which is obtained from a single-integral nonlinear viscoelastic model using the assumed order of magnitudes for linear strains and rotations. The 5th-order method... 

Surgical simulation systems facilitate safe and efficient training processes of surgical trainees by providing a virtual environment in which the surgical procedure can be repeated unlimitedly in a wide variety of situations. The present study attempted to develop a real time simulation system for the grasping procedure of large internal organs during laparoscopic surgery. A mass-spring-damper model was developed to simulate the nonlinear viscoelastic large deformations of the spleen tissue while interacting with a triple-jaw grasper. A novel collision detection algorithm was designed and implemented to determine the contact points between the tissue and the grasper jaws. Force or... 

Analytical frequency analysis of a nonlinear viscoelastic microcantilever is performed based on strain gradient theory. The Kelvin–Voigt scheme is utilized to model the viscoelasticity effect. Due to the microcantilever shortening effect via Euler–Bernoulli inextensibility condition, geometric, inertia, stiffness, and inherent damping nonlinearities are considered. The equation of motion is derived from Hamilton’s principle, and discretized using Galerkin method. The multiple timescale perturbation method is performed to solve the time response equation. Implying steady-state condition, the nonlinear relation between detuning parameter and amplitude of the vibration of a nonlinear... 

The relative vulnerability of spinal motion segments to different loading combinations remains unknown. The meta-analysis described here using the results of a validated L2-L3 nonlinear viscoelastic finite element model was designed to investigate the critical loading and its effect on the internal mechanics of the human lumbar spine. A Box-Behnken experimental design was used to design the magnitude of seven independent variables associated with loads, rotations and velocity of motion. Subsequently, an optimization method was used to find the primary and secondary variables that influence spine mechanical output related to facet forces, disc pressure, ligament forces, annulus matrix...