The main results of the DYN-SEAM project are new mathematical models with advanced theoretical methods and computational codes that effectively predicted the effects of some key factors on the dynamic behaviours of SEAMs and their structures. Specifically, we:
• Developed the Spectral Element Method to study tuneable topological PC plates for transverse waves. We presented the voltage-controlled topological transition process and topological phase diagram, showing the axial force and electric voltage are effective methods to actively control topological interface states in the SEA PC plate waveguide operating at a low frequency.
• Established the State-Space Method (SSM) in Cartesian coordinates combined with the Hankel transform technique to study linearized axisymmetric vibrations of multi-layered SEA circular plates interacting with fluids. We illustrated electrostatically tuneable vibration frequency and mode shapes, revealing various interesting phenomena, such as the intricate competition mechanism between biasing fields and fluid-induced added mass effect, and the material inhomogeneity effect.
• Developed the SSM in cylindrical coordinates to study voltage-controlled non-axisymmetric vibrations in SEA tubes. We demonstrated the effects of biasing fields and material constitutive models on the vibration characteristics. Our established solution system based on the SSM is universal for soft smart materials with different multi-field couplings.
• Reviewed the latest advances in the study of linearized and nonlinear vibration and wave behaviours of SEA structures under biasing fields, which provided a timely and informative guide for future studies on the dynamic topics of SEA structures.
Furthermore, we also implemented:
• The bifurcation equations based on Stroh formulations into Mathematica codes to present bifurcation diagrams to predict the onset of wrinkles in an SEA film bonded to a hyperelastic substrate.
• Unified formulations of full geometrically nonlinear plate/shell theories into customized refined FE codes in Fortran to simulate the large-deflection, post-buckling, and snap-through nonlinear responses for composite shells as well as anisotropic flat panels.
I completed 5 scientific journal papers: two published in the Int J Mech Sci (including one review paper), one accepted in Int J Solids Struct, one accepted in Int J Non-Linear Mech, and one currently under review in J Non-Newton Fluid Mech. All are high impact factor journals in Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics communities. Besides, I am completing another 3 articles related to the project, intended to the best Mechanics, Engineering and Physics journals. I set up a profile on ResearchGate, arXiv and Google Scholar, and also created my personal website to deposit and promote our scientific outputs.
Cooperating with other experts, I jointly organised online meetings: (1) a mini-symposium entitled “Computational Acoustics and Elastodynamics in Solids/Materials and Structures” at ICCM2020-2021; (2) a Topic Session entitled “Nonlinear Problems in Aerospace Structures” at IMECE2022.
I disseminated and communicated our results at several international conferences and workshops:
• 22/02/2021: Tuneable dynamic characteristics of soft electro-active materials. Virtual Conference of AIDAA Educational Series and Academy (Invited talk), Rome, Italy;
• 29/07/2021: Analysis of dynamic behaviours of smart materials and structures. 2021 Aerospace and Mechanics Young Scholars Forum, Hangzhou, China;
• 04/07/2022 – 08/07/2022: Tuneable topological Interface states in soft (dielectric) phononic crystals. 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference (In-person invited talk), Galway, Ireland.
