EAGER/Collaborative Research: Switching Structures at the Intersection of Mechanics and Networks

EAGER/协作研究：力学和网络交叉点的切换结构

• 批准号: 2306824
• 负责人: Maurizio Porfiri
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: New York University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-06-01 至 2025-05-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2306824&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: EAGER; Collaborative; Research; Switching; Structures

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) will support research at the intersection of structural mechanics and network theory. Switching structures -- systems made of bars connected via pin-joints, where some of the bars can be dynamically switched ON and OFF -- will be introduced to engineer load-bearing structural systems that emulate the complex behavior of switching networks, where edges connecting the nodes evolve, adapt, switch, and blink. Switching networks are known to exhibit exotic dynamics; for example, at select switching frequencies, networks switching between unstable states can gain stability. This rich dynamic repertoire opens interesting opportunities in structural engineering. For example, can one create structural systems that, due to the presence of switching elements, can recover stability as they are about to collapse? Can one leverage the time-varying properties of switching structures for vibration attenuation? The answer to these questions requires the development of new fundamental knowledge about switching structures. The research will develop new knowledge by blending the disciplines of structural mechanics and network theory, and by identifying common modeling tools between them. In turn, this knowledge will allow to assess the potential applicability of switching structures in structural engineering and beyond. Just as structural mechanics can be transformed by network-theoretic advancements, network theory could immensely benefit from the creation of mechanical systems that can be used to validate network-theoretic conjectures. The educational activities are also at the intersection of networks and structures and leverage the contrasting identities of the institutions involved (public and private, suburban and urban, yet merely 50 miles away from each other) to help broaden participation of underrepresented groups in research and contribute to the formation of forward-thinking, interdisciplinary engineers. The primary objective of this project is to establish a network-theoretic framework to study switching structures. Such an objective will be achieved by formulating a mathematical backdrop of switching structures, which recognizes some of the attributes that make them unique among other network systems. This mathematical backdrop, together with finite-element simulations, will be used to chart the stability of switching structures, and their response to static loads. These theoretical endeavors will allow to unveil the origin of islands of stable behavior at intermediate time scales that have been recently observed in switching networks, but whose physical underpinnings are not yet fully understood, Finally, this project will provide significant steps towards exploring the feasibility of switching structures, by realizing tabletop-scale prototypes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这项早期概念探索性研究资助金 (EAGER) 将支持结构力学和网络理论交叉领域的研究。开关结构——由通过销接头连接的杆组成的系统，其中一些杆可以动态地打开和关闭——将被引入到工程承载结构系统中，该系统模拟开关网络的复杂行为，其中边缘连接节点不断进化、适应、切换和闪烁。众所周知，开关网络表现出奇异的动态特性。例如，在选定的开关频率下，在不稳定状态之间切换的网络可以获得稳定性。这种丰富的动态库为结构工程带来了有趣的机会。例如，是否可以创建一种结构系统，由于开关元件的存在，可以在即将崩溃时恢复稳定性？能否利用开关结构的时变特性来衰减振动？这些问题的答案需要发展有关开关结构的新基础知识。该研究将通过融合结构力学和网络理论学科并确定它们之间的通用建模工具来开发新知识。反过来，这些知识将有助于评估开关结构在结构工程及其他领域的潜在适用性。正如网络理论的进步可以改变结构力学一样，网络理论也可以从可用于验证网络理论猜想的机械系统的创建中受益匪浅。教育活动也处于网络和结构的交叉点，并利用所涉及机构的对比特征（公立和私立、郊区和城市，但彼此仅相距 50 英里）来帮助扩大代表性不足群体对研究的参与，并做出贡献培养具有前瞻性思维的跨学科工程师。该项目的主要目标是建立一个网络理论框架来研究交换结构。这一目标将通过制定交换结构的数学背景来实现，该背景认识到一些使它们在其他网络系统中独一无二的属性。这种数学背景与有限元模拟一起将用于绘制开关结构的稳定性及其对静态负载的响应。这些理论努力将有助于揭示最近在交换网络中观察到的中间时间尺度稳定行为岛的起源，但其物理基础尚未完全了解。最后，该项目将为探索可行性提供重要步骤通过实现桌面规模的原型来切换结构。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。