Selected Topics In Structronics & Mechatronic Systems

The scientific community has witnessed a technological revolution in products and processes, from consumer goods to factory automation systems. This revolution is based on the integration, right from the design phase, of the best that technology can offer in electronics, control systems, computers, structures and mechanics. The terms that have emerged, for the synergetic approach to design, and integration of sensors, actuators, computers, structures and mechanics, are "structronics" and "mechatronics". Structronics can be viewed as an integration of mechatronic systems into structures, which emphasizes a synergistic integration beginning at fertilization. Similar to mechatronics (established in the 1980s), structronics is recognized as one of the essential technologies in the 21st century. This comprehensive reference gives an overview of the state of structronics and mechatronics in both structural/mechanical and material systems. Consisting of nine self-contained chapters, it presents developments and covers emerging topics in the field. The key features include: treatment of the nonholonomic variables in robotics; attenuation of fluid flow pulsation in hydraulic systems; presentation of mathematical modelling and experiments on complex nonlinear dynamics of washing machines; a survey of research findings in hydraulic gap control of rolling mills; detailed description of mathematical modelling and nonlinear control of a temper controlling mill; applications of high frequency dynamics in engineering structures development of novel computational methods to include plasticity and damage in flexible multibody systems; new trends in optimal design of engineering structures; a review of ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) as sensors, actuators and artificial muscles.