C Orlando

Nonlocal model for a magneto-electro-elastic nanoplate

A mathematical model based on nonlocal third-order shear deformation plate theory has been developed to evaluate the mechanical and electromagnetic behavior of magneto-electro-elastic nanoplates. Two types of magneto-electro-elastic composites have been considered, all of them combination of Barium Titanate sheets, that represents the piezoelectric phase, and Cobalt Ferrite, that is the piezomagnetic component. Setting magneto-electric boundary conditions on each laminate, it has been possible to extrapolate and to analyze free vibrations frequencies for all considered plates, allowing to do objective assessments on what factors influence laminate modes and, especially, how these vary in the passage from normal to nanometric dimensions.

Mathematical methods for rotorcraft DC engine-propeller characterization

A procedure to characterize the motor-propeller system for multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles is presented in this work. The short time Fourier transform is used to process data acquired experimentally allowing to compute the parameters that characterize the proposed non-linear model of the engine-propeller. An experimental setup is presented to validate the proposed approach.

BEM Analysis of a Piezoelectric Structural Health Monitoring System for Delamination Detection

In the present work a piezoelectric based structural health monitoring (SHM) system is analyzed with the aim of assessing the ability of the piezoelectric patch to detect both edge and embedded delaminations proper of flange-skin composite laminated structures. The boundary element model is developed for piezoelectric solids and is implemented by taking advantage of the multidomain technique to model laminated and cracked configurations. A non-linear spring model interface is then implemented in conjunction with an iterative procedure allowing for the simulation of the finite stiffness of the bonding layers as well as of the non-penetration condition of the delamination surfaces. The dynamic behavior of the damaged structures and of the bonded piezoelectric patch is modeled by means of the dual reciprocity approach. To fully characterize the structure response the fracture mechanics behavior is studied in terms of energy release rate G and mode-mix phase angle Y. Finally, a damage index based on the electrical current output of the SHM system is introduced as an effective identification parameter of the flange-skin delamination occurrence.