CAREER: Elastic Averaging - Nature's Design Paradigm for High Performance Flexure Systems

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。这个教师早期职业发展（Career）项目的研究目标是开发一种受弹性平均启发的新的柔性系统设计方法，这在自然界中是可见的。柔性是一种无接缝的弹性结构，其运动来源于材料的顺应性，从而具有高精度、设计简单和较低的成本。传统的柔性系统综合优化设计方法基于精确约束原则，由于没有认识到分布式柔度的独特优势，不必要地限制了求解空间。这项研究将为弹性平均（一种受大自然启发的范式）创造数学和科学基础。有效地使用分布式遵从性来支持高度过度约束的结构，尽管存在局部缺陷，但这些结构本质上是健壮和高性能的。研究成果包括：1)通过结构非线性建模表征挠曲约束行为；2)量化关键性能属性，如机动性、误差运动、刚度变化和制造灵敏度；3)根据柔性系统设计规范生成约束图的综合程序；4)一个封闭形式的分析框架，可以预测柔性系统的性能和设计权衡，从而实现优化和灵敏度研究。如果成功，所提出的柔性机构设计方法将为几个应用的重大设计创新铺平道路，包括用于精密计量的多轴纳米定位系统，增强灵巧的微创手术工具，以及用于提高涡轮机械效率的柔性密封。从这项研究中得出的设计方法将通过工程师和研究人员的新专业教程以及柔性系统的在线参考图集传播。该提案还包括密歇根大学本科和研究生课程开发计划。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project is to develop a new flexure system design methodology inspired by elastic averaging, which is seen in nature. Flexures are jointless elastic structures that derive motion from material compliance, which results in high precision, design simplicity, and lower costs. The traditional design methodology for the synthesis and optimization of flexure systems is based on Exact Constraint principles, which unnecessarily restrict the solution space by not recognizing the unique advantages of distributed compliance. This research will create a mathematical and scientific foundation for Elastic Averaging, a paradigm inspired by nature?s effective use of distributed compliance in enabling highly over-constrained structures that are inherently robust and high-performing despite local defects. The research deliverables include: 1) Characterization of constraint behavior in flexures by modeling structural non-linearities; 2) Quantification of key performance attributes such as mobility, error motions, stiffness variation, and manufacturing sensitivity; 3) A synthesis procedure for generating constraint maps in response to a flexure system design specification; and 4) A closed-form analytical framework that allows the prediction of performance and design tradeoffs in flexure systems, thus enabling optimization and sensitivity studies. If successful, the proposed flexure mechanism design methodology will pave the path for significant design innovations in several applications including multi-axis nanopositioning systems used in precision metrology, enhanced-dexterity minimally invasive surgical tools, and compliant seals for improving turbomachinery efficiency. The design methodology resulting from this research will be disseminated by means of a new professional tutorial for engineers and researchers, and an online reference atlas of flexure systems. This proposal also includes plans for undergraduate and graduate curriculum development at the University of Michigan.