Advances in Mechanics of Rigid and Flexible Systems: Mathematical Models, Numerical Modelling, Experiments, Symmetry and Applications

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Engineering and Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1344

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Enterprise Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy
Interests: nonlinear mechanics; finite element modelling; flexible multibody; experimental mechanics

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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, University of Rome Tre, 00154 Rome, Italy
Interests: mechanical vibrations; mechanics of plates and shells; smart materials; rotor dynamics; turbomachinery
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mechanics is the oldest branch of applied science, yet it continues to experience rapid and ongoing development across various fields, such as in the mechanical, aeronautical, naval, and aerospace engineering fields, as well as in the medical sector. The industrial impact of basic research is vast, and less and less time is required for new ideas and theories to be applied in industry. The important advancements in computational methods, driven by the increasing power of modern computers, combined with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies—particularly additive manufacturing—have made it possible to design and produce complex mechanical systems that were unthinkable just a few years ago. Nonetheless, the fundamental importance of an analytical model remains unquestionable. Even when simplified, such models provide the essential foundation for design, which can then be refined and validated through numerical simulations and experimental testing.

This Special Issue on " Advances in Mechanics of Rigid and Flexible Systems: Mathematical Models, Numerical Modelling, Experiments, Symmetry and Applications " aims to showcase the latest developments in mechanics, within both fundamental research and the industrial sector. It focuses on the essential triad of modern research, namely analytical modeling, numerical validation (such as finite element or multibody analyses), and experimentation.

A noteworthy feature of this issue is the exploration of symmetry as a fundamental concept in both mathematical and numerical modeling. This focus provides a platform for contributions that delve into the intricate balance and contrasts between symmetry and asymmetry, spanning a broad spectrum of mechanical topics, including but not limited to:

  • Nonlinear mathematical models
  • Finite element modeling
  • The dynamics of rigid and flexible multibody systems
  • A kinematic analysis and synthesis of compliant mechanisms
  • The vibrations of beams, plates and shells
  • Experimental mechanics

The goal of this Special Issue is to serve as a comprehensive collection of original research on the mechanics of rigid and deformable systems, providing the scientific community and readers with the latest insights and advancements.

Papers may focus on theory, experimentation, algorithm development, numerical simulations, or practical applications, provided the work is original and advances the field. Papers centered on experimentation, simulations, or applications must do more than simply present results; they should offer insights into the underlying theoretical basis or propose a clear connection to theoretical interpretation.

Dr. Christian Iandiorio
Dr. Fabio Botta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mechanics
  • mechanisms
  • flexible structures
  • finite element modelling
  • multibody dynamics
  • experimental mechanics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 6635 KiB  
Article
Slope Calculation Analysis Based on Arbitrary Polygonal Hybrid Stress Elements Considering Gravity
by Chang Liu, Jingjie Tian, Changhao Hu, Fan Xia, Runjie Wang, Xuyang Wei and Ying Xu
Symmetry 2025, 17(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17020265 - 10 Feb 2025
Viewed by 400
Abstract
This article proposes an arbitrary polygonal hybrid stress element considering gravity. It derives an arbitrary polygonal hybrid stress element considering gravity alone for slope stability related engineering analysis. In the stability analysis of slopes, slope disasters caused by gravity erosion have recently become [...] Read more.
This article proposes an arbitrary polygonal hybrid stress element considering gravity. It derives an arbitrary polygonal hybrid stress element considering gravity alone for slope stability related engineering analysis. In the stability analysis of slopes, slope disasters caused by gravity erosion have recently become an urgent problem to be solved through engineering. The traditional finite element analysis of slope stability faces problems such as a large number of divided elements and slow calculation efficiency. By introducing high-order stress fields through stress hybridization elements, accurate results can be simulated using a small number of elements. When dividing the mesh, most of the cell shapes are asymmetric, and the shape of the cell can be any polygon, which can simulate the geometric shape of complex slopes well and more accurately calculate the stress distribution in different parts, thus accurately simulating the stability situation in engineering. By comparing with the corresponding commercial software MARC 2020, the effectiveness and efficiency of the element were verified. It has been proven that any polygonal hybrid stress element has the advantage of flexible mesh division, which can obtain high-order stress fields and stress concentration phenomena with fewer elements. Applying this element to practical problems of slopes in engineering has also achieved good calculation results. Full article
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17 pages, 4976 KiB  
Article
Second-Order Kinematic Invariants for the Design of Compliant Auxetic Symmetrical Structures
by Marco Cirelli, Matteo Autiero, Luca D’Angelo and Pier Paolo Valentini
Symmetry 2025, 17(1), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17010134 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 590
Abstract
Auxetic structures have great potential in modern engineering, and their design represents an emerging field in industrial applications. The accurate synthesis of the elements of such structures requires multidisciplinary approaches that combine kinematics and structural mechanics. Design methodologies are often based on complex [...] Read more.
Auxetic structures have great potential in modern engineering, and their design represents an emerging field in industrial applications. The accurate synthesis of the elements of such structures requires multidisciplinary approaches that combine kinematics and structural mechanics. Design methodologies are often based on complex time-consuming numerical methods and with considerable computational burden for exploring a large set of alternatives. The aim of the present work is to propose a novel method for designing symmetrical auxetic structures based on the use of pseudo-rigid mechanisms that can reproduce their nonlinear elasto-kinematic behavior with a limited set of parameters. For the definition of these pseudo-rigid mechanisms, the theory of kinematic invariants is proposed. It allows for the deduction of surrogate rigid-link mechanisms with a simpler structure but remarkable accuracy. This approach is an emerging method employed in the generic synthesis and analysis of compliant mechanisms, and, in this study, it is extended for the first time to support the design of auxetic structures. This paper describes the analytical process to deduce the design equations and discusses the example of an application to a symmetrical re-entrant structure, comparing the results with those of a numerical flexible multibody model, a finite element model, and with experimental tests. All the comparisons demonstrate the considerable potential of the proposed methodology, which can also be adapted to other types of auxetic structures. Full article
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