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Prof. Dr. Nicola P. Belfiore
Depart. Engineering, Roma Tre University

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Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Design
0 Dynamic
0 Kinematics
0 Mechanism
0 MEMS

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MEMS
Design
Mechanism
Simulation
Dynamic
NEMS
Kinematics
Vibration
Robotics
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Friction and wear

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Short Biography

Nicola P. Belfiore, Full Professor, IEEE Member, teaches Applied Mechanics and Functional design at the University of Roma Tre, Italy. After achievement of his Ph.D. degree, completed at “Sapienza” in cooperation with the University of Maryland, College Park, he won three international awards. Since 2008, he has also been an Honorary Professor of Obuda University, Hungary. Author of three textbooks, two patents, and about one hundred scientific papers, he has been the coordinator of several scientific projects, both national and European. In 2013, he was the director of the 2nd Level Vocational Master in Energy Conversion Efficiency and Renewable Energy. His current interests are Dynamics, Functional Design, MEMS, Robotics, Tribology, and Kinematics. In October 2017, he moved from Sapienza to Roma Tre University.

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Journal article
Published: 27 February 2021 in Applied Sciences
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The purpose of the present paper is the identification of optimal trajectories of quadruped robots through genetic algorithms. The method is based on the identification of the optimal time history of forces and torques exchanged between the ground and the body, without any constraints on leg kinematics. The solutions show how it is possible to obtain similar trajectories to those of a horse’s walk but obtaining better performance in terms of energy cost. Finally, a map of the optimal gaits found according to the different speeds is presented, identifying the transition threshold between the walk and the trot as a function of the total energy spent.

ACS Style

Gianluca Pepe; Maicol Laurenza; Nicola Belfiore; Antonio Carcaterra. Quadrupedal Robots’ Gaits Identification via Contact Forces Optimization. Applied Sciences 2021, 11, 2102 .

AMA Style

Gianluca Pepe, Maicol Laurenza, Nicola Belfiore, Antonio Carcaterra. Quadrupedal Robots’ Gaits Identification via Contact Forces Optimization. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11 (5):2102.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gianluca Pepe; Maicol Laurenza; Nicola Belfiore; Antonio Carcaterra. 2021. "Quadrupedal Robots’ Gaits Identification via Contact Forces Optimization." Applied Sciences 11, no. 5: 2102.

Journal article
Published: 03 February 2021 in Buildings
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The effectiveness of Double Concave Curved Surface Sliders (DCCSS), which initially spread under the name of Double Friction Pendulum (DFP) isolators, was already widely proven by numerous experimental campaigns carried out worldwide. However, many aspects concerning their dynamical behavior still need to be clarified and some details still require improvement and optimization. In particular, due to the boundary geometrical conditions, sliding along the coupled surfaces may not be compliant, where this adjective is adopted to indicate an even distribution of stresses and sliding contact. On the contrary, during an earthquake, the fulfillment of geometrical compatibility between the constitutive bodies naturally gives rise to a very peculiar dynamic behavior, composed of continuous alternation of sticking and slipping phases. Such behavior yields a temporary and cyclic change of topology. Since the constitutive elements can be modelled as rigid bodies, both approaches, namely Compliant Sliding and Stick-Slip, can be numerically modelled by means of techniques typically adopted for multi-body mechanical systems. With the objective of contributing to the understanding and further improvement of this technology, a topology-changing multi-body mechanical model was developed to simulate the DCCSS. In the present work, attention is focused on details regarding geometrical compatibility and kinematics, while the complete dynamics is presented in another work. In particular, for the sake of comparison, the kinematic equations are presented and applied not only for the proposed Stick-Slip approach, but also for the currently accepted Compliant Sliding approach. The main findings are presented and discussed.

ACS Style

Vincenzo Bianco; Giorgio Monti; Nicola Belfiore. Advanced Multi-Body Modelling of DCCSS Isolators: Geometrical Compatibility and Kinematics. Buildings 2021, 11, 50 .

AMA Style

Vincenzo Bianco, Giorgio Monti, Nicola Belfiore. Advanced Multi-Body Modelling of DCCSS Isolators: Geometrical Compatibility and Kinematics. Buildings. 2021; 11 (2):50.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vincenzo Bianco; Giorgio Monti; Nicola Belfiore. 2021. "Advanced Multi-Body Modelling of DCCSS Isolators: Geometrical Compatibility and Kinematics." Buildings 11, no. 2: 50.

Journal article
Published: 08 December 2020 in Micromachines
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This paper presents the development of a multi-hinge, multi-DoF (Degrees of Freedom) nanogripper actuated by means of rotary comb drives and equipped with CSFH (Conjugate Surface Flexure Hinges), with the goal of performing complex in-plane movements at the nanoscale. The design approach, the simulation and a specifically conceived single-mask fabrication process are described in detail and the achieved results are illustrated by SEM images. The first prototype presents a total overall area of (550 × 550) μm2, an active clamping area of (2 × 4) μm2, 600 nm-wide circular curved beams as flexible hinges for its motion and an aspect ratio of about 2.5. These features allow the proposed system to grasp objects a few hundred nanometers in size.

ACS Style

Alessio Buzzin; Serena Cupo; Ennio Giovine; Giampiero De Cesare; Nicola Pio Belfiore. Compliant Nano-Pliers as a Biomedical Tool at the Nanoscale: Design, Simulation and Fabrication. Micromachines 2020, 11, 1087 .

AMA Style

Alessio Buzzin, Serena Cupo, Ennio Giovine, Giampiero De Cesare, Nicola Pio Belfiore. Compliant Nano-Pliers as a Biomedical Tool at the Nanoscale: Design, Simulation and Fabrication. Micromachines. 2020; 11 (12):1087.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alessio Buzzin; Serena Cupo; Ennio Giovine; Giampiero De Cesare; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2020. "Compliant Nano-Pliers as a Biomedical Tool at the Nanoscale: Design, Simulation and Fabrication." Micromachines 11, no. 12: 1087.

Editorial
Published: 07 June 2020 in Applied Sciences
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This Editorial presents a new Special Issue dedicated to some old and new interdisciplinary areas of cooperation between engineering and surgery. The first two sections offer some food for thought, in terms of a brief introductory and general review of the past, present, future and visionary perspectives of the synergy between engineering and surgery. The last section presents a very short and reasoned review of the contributions that have been included in the present Special Issue. Given the vastness of the topic that this Special Issue deals with, we hope that our effort may have offered a stimulus, albeit small, to the development of cooperation between engineering and surgery.

ACS Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore; Andrea Scorza; Pietro Ursi. Engineering-Aided Inventive Surgery. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 3957 .

AMA Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore, Andrea Scorza, Pietro Ursi. Engineering-Aided Inventive Surgery. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (11):3957.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore; Andrea Scorza; Pietro Ursi. 2020. "Engineering-Aided Inventive Surgery." Applied Sciences 10, no. 11: 3957.

Article
Published: 23 January 2020 in Multibody System Dynamics
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The isotropic compliance property is examined in the Special Euclidean Group SE(3) in the case of redundant manipulators. The redundancy problem is solved by means of the QR decomposition of the transposed Jacobian matrix, and the compliance property is achieved by means of active stiffness regulation. Thanks to the defined control matrices, the control system realizes the isotropy condition. The local optimization of the joint torques is discussed. In particular, the joint control torques work is minimized obtaining an analytic solution through a Lyapunov equation. The proposed approach is applied to a 7R and to a 9R serial manipulator, and verified by means of multibody dynamics simulations.

ACS Style

Matteo Verotti; Pierangelo Masarati; Marco Morandini; Nicola P. Belfiore. Active isotropic compliance in redundant manipulators. Multibody System Dynamics 2020, 49, 421 -445.

AMA Style

Matteo Verotti, Pierangelo Masarati, Marco Morandini, Nicola P. Belfiore. Active isotropic compliance in redundant manipulators. Multibody System Dynamics. 2020; 49 (4):421-445.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matteo Verotti; Pierangelo Masarati; Marco Morandini; Nicola P. Belfiore. 2020. "Active isotropic compliance in redundant manipulators." Multibody System Dynamics 49, no. 4: 421-445.

Journal article
Published: 12 December 2019 in NED University Journal of Research
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The use of friction pendulum devices has recently attracted the attention of both academic and professional engineers for the protection of structures in seismic areas. Although the effectiveness of these has been shown by the experimental testing carried out worldwide, many aspects still need to be investigated for further improvement and optimisation. A thermo-mechanical model of a double friction pendulum device (based on the most recent modelling techniques adopted in multibody dynamics) is presented in this paper. The proposed model is based on the observation that sliding may not take place as ideally as is indicated in the literature. On the contrary, the fulfilment of geometrical compatibility between the constitutive bodies (during an earthquake) suggests a very peculiar dynamic behaviour composed of a continuous alternation of sticking and slipping phases. The thermo-mechanical model of a double friction pendulum device (based on the most recent modelling techniques adopted in multibody dynamics) is presented. The process of fine-tuning of the selected modelling strategy (available to date) is also described.

ACS Style

Vincenzo Bianco; Giorgio Monti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. FINE-TUNING OF MODELLING STRATEGY TO SIMULATE THERMO-MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF DOUBLE FRICTION PENDULUM SEISMIC ISOLATORS UST ESTIMATOR. NED University Journal of Research 2019, 3, 165 -172.

AMA Style

Vincenzo Bianco, Giorgio Monti, Nicola Pio Belfiore. FINE-TUNING OF MODELLING STRATEGY TO SIMULATE THERMO-MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF DOUBLE FRICTION PENDULUM SEISMIC ISOLATORS UST ESTIMATOR. NED University Journal of Research. 2019; 3 (Special on):165-172.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vincenzo Bianco; Giorgio Monti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2019. "FINE-TUNING OF MODELLING STRATEGY TO SIMULATE THERMO-MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF DOUBLE FRICTION PENDULUM SEISMIC ISOLATORS UST ESTIMATOR." NED University Journal of Research 3, no. Special on: 165-172.

Concept paper
Published: 21 September 2019 in Applied Sciences
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This paper presents a new tendon-driven platform with spatial mobility. The system can be obtained as a monolithic structure, and its motion is based on the concept of selective compliance. The latter contributes also to optimizing the use of the material by avoiding parasitic deformations. The presented platform makes use of lumped compliance with three different kinds of elastic joints. An analysis of the platform mobility based on finite element analysis is provided together with an assembly mode analysis of the equivalent pseudo-rigid body mechanism. Surgical operations in laparoscopic environments are the natural fields of applications for this device.

ACS Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore. A New Concept Compliant Platform with Spatial Mobility and Remote Actuation. Applied Sciences 2019, 9, 3966 .

AMA Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore. A New Concept Compliant Platform with Spatial Mobility and Remote Actuation. Applied Sciences. 2019; 9 (19):3966.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2019. "A New Concept Compliant Platform with Spatial Mobility and Remote Actuation." Applied Sciences 9, no. 19: 3966.

Journal article
Published: 30 June 2019 in Micromachines
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The micromanipulation of micro objects is nowadays the focus of several investigations, specially in biomedical applications. Therefore, some manipulation tasks are required to be in aqueous environment and become more challenging because they depend upon observation and actuation methods that are compatible with MEMS Technology based micromanipulators. This paper describes how three grasping-releasing based tasks have been successfully applied to agarose micro beads whose average size is about 60 μ m: (i) the extraction of a single micro bead from a water drop; (ii) the insertion of a single micro bead into the drop; (iii) the grasping of a single micro bead inside the drop. The success of the performed tasks rely on the use of a microgripper previously designed, fabricated, and tested.

ACS Style

Federica Vurchio; Pietro Ursi; Alessio Buzzin; Andrea Veroli; Andrea Scorza; Matteo Verotti; Salvatore Andrea Sciuto; Nicola Pio Pio Belfiore. Grasping and Releasing Agarose micro Beads in Water Drops. Micromachines 2019, 10, 436 .

AMA Style

Federica Vurchio, Pietro Ursi, Alessio Buzzin, Andrea Veroli, Andrea Scorza, Matteo Verotti, Salvatore Andrea Sciuto, Nicola Pio Pio Belfiore. Grasping and Releasing Agarose micro Beads in Water Drops. Micromachines. 2019; 10 (7):436.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Federica Vurchio; Pietro Ursi; Alessio Buzzin; Andrea Veroli; Andrea Scorza; Matteo Verotti; Salvatore Andrea Sciuto; Nicola Pio Pio Belfiore. 2019. "Grasping and Releasing Agarose micro Beads in Water Drops." Micromachines 10, no. 7: 436.

Journal article
Published: 05 June 2019 in Micromachines
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This paper deals with the manipulation of micro-objects operated by a new concept multi-hinge multi-DoF (degree of freedom) microsystem. The system is composed of a planar 3-DoF microstage and of a set of one-DoF microgrippers, and it is arranged is such a way as to allow any microgripper to crawl over the stage. As a result, the optimal configuration to grasp the micro-object can be reached. Classical algorithms of kinematic analysis have been used to study the rigid-body model of the mobile platform. Then, the rigid-body replacement method has been implemented to design the corresponding compliant mechanism, whose geometry can be transferred onto the etch mask. Deep-reactive ion etching (DRIE) is suggested to fabricate the whole system. The main contributions of this investigation consist of (i) the achievement of a relative motion between the supporting platform and the microgrippers, and of (ii) the design of a process flow for the simultaneous fabrication of the stage and the microgrippers, starting from a single silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. Functionality is validated via theoretical simulation and finite element analysis, whereas fabrication feasibility is granted by preliminary tests performed on some parts of the microsystem.

ACS Style

Matteo Verotti; Alvise Bagolini; Pierluigi Bellutti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. Design and Validation of a Single-SOI-Wafer 4-DOF Crawling Microgripper. Micromachines 2019, 10, 376 .

AMA Style

Matteo Verotti, Alvise Bagolini, Pierluigi Bellutti, Nicola Pio Belfiore. Design and Validation of a Single-SOI-Wafer 4-DOF Crawling Microgripper. Micromachines. 2019; 10 (6):376.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matteo Verotti; Alvise Bagolini; Pierluigi Bellutti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2019. "Design and Validation of a Single-SOI-Wafer 4-DOF Crawling Microgripper." Micromachines 10, no. 6: 376.

Journal article
Published: 02 June 2019 in Applied Sciences
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The opportunity to know the status of a soft tissue (ST) in situ can be very useful for microsurgery or early diagnosis. Since normal and diseased tissues have different mechanical characteristics, many systems have been developed to carry out such measurements locally. Among them, MEMS tweezers are very relevant for their efficiency and relative simplicity compared to the other systems. In this paper a novel piezoelectric MEMS tweezer for soft materials analysis and characterization is presented. A theoretical approach has developed in order to carry out the values of the stiffness, the equivalent Young’s modulus, and the viscous damping coefficients of the analyzed samples. The method has been validated by using both Finite Element Analysis and data from the literature.

ACS Style

Fabio Botta; Andrea Rossi; Nicola Pio Belfiore. A Feasibility Study of a Novel Piezo MEMS Tweezer for Soft Materials Characterization. Applied Sciences 2019, 9, 2277 .

AMA Style

Fabio Botta, Andrea Rossi, Nicola Pio Belfiore. A Feasibility Study of a Novel Piezo MEMS Tweezer for Soft Materials Characterization. Applied Sciences. 2019; 9 (11):2277.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fabio Botta; Andrea Rossi; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2019. "A Feasibility Study of a Novel Piezo MEMS Tweezer for Soft Materials Characterization." Applied Sciences 9, no. 11: 2277.

Proceedings article
Published: 01 June 2019 in 2019 IEEE 8th International Workshop on Advances in Sensors and Interfaces (IWASI)
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This paper presents a new NEMS-Technology based device, which transduces micro-metric linear displacements of a tip probe into capacity variations of a rotary comb-drive. The mechanical structure of this device is obtained through three basic steps. Firstly, the pseudo-rigid body equivalent mechanism (PRBM) is obtained by optimizing a straight-line path generator (D-gauge mechanism). Then, the PRBM is transformed into a compliant structure by replacing revolute joints with flexure hinges and by adding a differential comb-drive sensible to variation capacity. Finally, the geometry is transferred to the device by means of a process based on electron beam lithography.

ACS Style

Alessio Buzzin; Andrea Veroli; Giampiero De Cesare; Ennio Giovine; Matteo Verotti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. A new NEMS Based Linear-to-Rotary Displacement-Capacity Transducer. 2019 IEEE 8th International Workshop on Advances in Sensors and Interfaces (IWASI) 2019, 201 -204.

AMA Style

Alessio Buzzin, Andrea Veroli, Giampiero De Cesare, Ennio Giovine, Matteo Verotti, Nicola Pio Belfiore. A new NEMS Based Linear-to-Rotary Displacement-Capacity Transducer. 2019 IEEE 8th International Workshop on Advances in Sensors and Interfaces (IWASI). 2019; ():201-204.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alessio Buzzin; Andrea Veroli; Giampiero De Cesare; Ennio Giovine; Matteo Verotti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2019. "A new NEMS Based Linear-to-Rotary Displacement-Capacity Transducer." 2019 IEEE 8th International Workshop on Advances in Sensors and Interfaces (IWASI) , no. : 201-204.

Journal article
Published: 09 May 2019 in Applied Sciences
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Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)-Technology based micro mechanisms usually operate within a protected or encapsulated space and, before that, they are fabricated and analyzed within one Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) vacuum specimen chamber. However, a surgical scenario is much more aggressive and requires several higher abilities in the microsystem, such as the capability of operating within a liquid or wet environment, accuracy, reliability and sophisticated packaging. Unfortunately, testing and characterizing MEMS experimentally without fundamental support of a SEM is rather challenging. This paper shows that in spite of large difficulties due to well-known physical limits, the optical microscope is still able to play an important role in MEMS characterization at room conditions. This outcome is supported by the statistical analysis of two series of measurements, obtained by a light trinocular microscope and a profilometer, respectively.

ACS Style

Federica Vurchio; Pietro Ursi; Francesco Orsini; Andrea Scorza; Rocco Crescenzi; Salvatore A. Sciuto; Nicola P. Belfiore. Toward Operations in a Surgical Scenario: Characterization of a Microgripper via Light Microscopy Approach. Applied Sciences 2019, 9, 1901 .

AMA Style

Federica Vurchio, Pietro Ursi, Francesco Orsini, Andrea Scorza, Rocco Crescenzi, Salvatore A. Sciuto, Nicola P. Belfiore. Toward Operations in a Surgical Scenario: Characterization of a Microgripper via Light Microscopy Approach. Applied Sciences. 2019; 9 (9):1901.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Federica Vurchio; Pietro Ursi; Francesco Orsini; Andrea Scorza; Rocco Crescenzi; Salvatore A. Sciuto; Nicola P. Belfiore. 2019. "Toward Operations in a Surgical Scenario: Characterization of a Microgripper via Light Microscopy Approach." Applied Sciences 9, no. 9: 1901.

Journal article
Published: 21 April 2019 in Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
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In this paper, the viscoelastic characterization of biosamples is addressed considering a measuring technique relying on the use of a MEMS techonology-based microgripper. A proper mechanical model is developed for the coupled nonlinear dynamics of the microsystem, composed of the measuring tool and the specimen to be analyzed. The Maxwell liquid drop model and the generalized Maxwell-Wiechert model are considered for the sample, and the identification of the viscoelastic parameters is performed by implementing a genetic algorithm.

ACS Style

M. Verotti; Paolo DI Giamberardino; Nicola Pio Belfiore; Oliviero Giannini. A genetic algorithm-based method for the mechanical characterization of biosamples using a MEMS microgripper: numerical simulations. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 2019, 96, 88 -95.

AMA Style

M. Verotti, Paolo DI Giamberardino, Nicola Pio Belfiore, Oliviero Giannini. A genetic algorithm-based method for the mechanical characterization of biosamples using a MEMS microgripper: numerical simulations. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. 2019; 96 ():88-95.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. Verotti; Paolo DI Giamberardino; Nicola Pio Belfiore; Oliviero Giannini. 2019. "A genetic algorithm-based method for the mechanical characterization of biosamples using a MEMS microgripper: numerical simulations." Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 96, no. : 88-95.

Journal article
Published: 17 December 2018 in Applied Sciences
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Although some recent developments in nanotechnology made the prospects of a direct mechanical manipulation of micro- or nano-objects quite realistic, there are still several concerns and difficulties that affect such an endeavor. This is probably due to the large base of knowledge that is necessary to approach the problem of handling a nano-object by means of a nano- or micro-device. Therefore, any progress in this field is possible only by means of an integrated and interdisciplinary approach, which takes into account different aspects of the phenomenon. During the actual pioneering phase, there is a certain convenience in handling nano-objects that: (a) have peculiar known characteristics; (b) are easily recognizable, and (c) are interesting to the scientific community. This paper presents the interdisciplinary activities that were necessary to set up an experiment where specifically synthesized SiO2 particles came in contact with the tips of specifically-designed and -fabricated nanomanipulators. SiO2 mesoporous nanoparticles (KCC-1), having a peculiar dendritic structure, have been selected as a suitable nano-object because of the possibility to easily modulate their morphology. The expected contact force has been also calculated by means of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) electro-mechanical simulations.

ACS Style

Igor Luisetto; Simonetta Tuti; Eleonora Marconi; Andrea Veroli; Alessio Buzzin; Giampiero De Cesare; Stefano Natali; Matteo Verotti; Ennio Giovine; Nicola Pio Belfiore. An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Nanomanipulation of SiO2 Nanoparticles: Design, Fabrication and Feasibility. Applied Sciences 2018, 8, 2645 .

AMA Style

Igor Luisetto, Simonetta Tuti, Eleonora Marconi, Andrea Veroli, Alessio Buzzin, Giampiero De Cesare, Stefano Natali, Matteo Verotti, Ennio Giovine, Nicola Pio Belfiore. An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Nanomanipulation of SiO2 Nanoparticles: Design, Fabrication and Feasibility. Applied Sciences. 2018; 8 (12):2645.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Igor Luisetto; Simonetta Tuti; Eleonora Marconi; Andrea Veroli; Alessio Buzzin; Giampiero De Cesare; Stefano Natali; Matteo Verotti; Ennio Giovine; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2018. "An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Nanomanipulation of SiO2 Nanoparticles: Design, Fabrication and Feasibility." Applied Sciences 8, no. 12: 2645.

Editorial
Published: 03 December 2018 in Actuators
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Manipulating micro objects has become an important task in several applications. Actuation is a crucial aspect of micromanipulation because there are physical restrictions which affect actuators’ performances at the micro or nano scale. One way of getting rid of these limitations is the use of an appropriate mechanical structure which enhances the elasticity of the material or provides mechanical advantage. This Special Issue of Actuators, which is dedicated to micromanipulation, offers a contribution to the development of some promising methods to actuate a microsystem for micromanipulation.

ACS Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore. Micromanipulation: A Challenge for Actuation. Actuators 2018, 7, 85 .

AMA Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore. Micromanipulation: A Challenge for Actuation. Actuators. 2018; 7 (4):85.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2018. "Micromanipulation: A Challenge for Actuation." Actuators 7, no. 4: 85.

Journal article
Published: 11 November 2018 in Actuators
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This paper presents both an experimental and a numerical study concerning the mechanical response of a silicon microgripper with bidirectional electrostatic actuation to externally applied excitations. The experimental set-up is composed of a probe station equipped with mobile probes that apply contact forces. This part of the investigation aims to test the device’s mechanical resistance, its mobility capability and possible internal contacts during the system deformation. The second part of the paper is dedicated to the study of the free undamped vibrations of the microsystem. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is carried out to evaluate the system vibration modes. The analysis of the modes are useful to predict possible mechanical interference among floating and anchored fingers of the actuating comb drives.

ACS Style

Fabio Botta; Matteo Verotti; Alvise Bagolini; Pierluigi Bellutti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. Mechanical Response of Four-Bar Linkage Microgrippers with Bidirectional Electrostatic Actuation. Actuators 2018, 7, 78 .

AMA Style

Fabio Botta, Matteo Verotti, Alvise Bagolini, Pierluigi Bellutti, Nicola Pio Belfiore. Mechanical Response of Four-Bar Linkage Microgrippers with Bidirectional Electrostatic Actuation. Actuators. 2018; 7 (4):78.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Fabio Botta; Matteo Verotti; Alvise Bagolini; Pierluigi Bellutti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2018. "Mechanical Response of Four-Bar Linkage Microgrippers with Bidirectional Electrostatic Actuation." Actuators 7, no. 4: 78.

Journal article
Published: 11 October 2018 in Actuators
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The evolution of microelectronic technologies is giving constant impulse to advanced micro-scaled systems which perform complex operations. In fact, the actual micro and nano Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS/NEMS) easily integrate information-gathering and decision-making electronics together with all sorts of sensors and actuators. Mechanical manipulation can be obtained through microactuators, taking advantage of magnetostrictive, thermal, piezoelectric or electrostatic forces. Electrostatic actuation, more precisely the comb-drive approach, is often employed due to its high versatility and low power consumption. Moreover, the device design and fabrication process flow can be simplified by compliant mechanisms, avoiding complex elements and unorthodox materials. A nano-scaled rotary comb drive is herein introduced and obtained using NEMS technology, with an innovative design which takes advantages of the compliant mechanism characteristics. A theoretical and numerical study is also introduced to inspect the electro-mechanical behavior of the device and to describe a new technological procedure for its fabrication.

ACS Style

Andrea Veroli; Alessio Buzzin; Fabrizio Frezza; Giampiero De Cesare; Muhammad Hamidullah; Ennio Giovine; Matteo Verotti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. An Approach to the Extreme Miniaturization of Rotary Comb Drives. Actuators 2018, 7, 70 .

AMA Style

Andrea Veroli, Alessio Buzzin, Fabrizio Frezza, Giampiero De Cesare, Muhammad Hamidullah, Ennio Giovine, Matteo Verotti, Nicola Pio Belfiore. An Approach to the Extreme Miniaturization of Rotary Comb Drives. Actuators. 2018; 7 (4):70.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andrea Veroli; Alessio Buzzin; Fabrizio Frezza; Giampiero De Cesare; Muhammad Hamidullah; Ennio Giovine; Matteo Verotti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2018. "An Approach to the Extreme Miniaturization of Rotary Comb Drives." Actuators 7, no. 4: 70.

Journal article
Published: 05 September 2018 in Actuators
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In the last decades, microelectromechanical systems have been increasing their number of degrees of freedom and their structural complexity. Hence, most recently designed MEMSs have required higher mobility than in the past and higher structural strength and stability. In some applications, device thickness increased up to the order of tens (or hundred) of microns, which nowadays can be easily obtained by means of DRIE Bosch process. Unfortunately, scalloping introduces stress concentration regions in some parts of the structure. Stress concentration is a dangerous source of strength loss for the whole structure and for comb-drives actuators which may suffer from side pull-in. This paper presents an analytical approach to characterize stress concentrations in DRIE micro-machined MEMS. The method is based on the linear elasticity equations, the de Saint-Venant Principle, and the boundary value problem for the case of a torsional state of the beam. The results obtained by means of this theoretical method are then compared with those obtained by using two other methods: one based on finite difference discretization of the equations, and one based on finite element analysis (FEA). Finally, the new theoretical approach yields results which are in accordance with the known value of the stress concentration factor for asymptotically null radius notches.

ACS Style

Silvia Bertini; Matteo Verotti; Alvise Bagolini; Pierliugi Bellutti; Giuseppe Ruta; Nicola Pio Belfiore. Scalloping and Stress Concentration in DRIE-Manufactured Comb-Drives. Actuators 2018, 7, 57 .

AMA Style

Silvia Bertini, Matteo Verotti, Alvise Bagolini, Pierliugi Bellutti, Giuseppe Ruta, Nicola Pio Belfiore. Scalloping and Stress Concentration in DRIE-Manufactured Comb-Drives. Actuators. 2018; 7 (3):57.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silvia Bertini; Matteo Verotti; Alvise Bagolini; Pierliugi Bellutti; Giuseppe Ruta; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2018. "Scalloping and Stress Concentration in DRIE-Manufactured Comb-Drives." Actuators 7, no. 3: 57.

Journal article
Published: 25 April 2018 in Journal of Mechanical Design
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In this paper, a microsystem with prescribed functional capabilities is designed and simulated. In particular, the development of a straight line path generator micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) device is presented. A new procedure is suggested for avoiding branch or circuit problems in the kinematic synthesis problem. Then, Ball's point detection is used to validate the obtained pseudo-rigid body model (PRBM). A compliant MEMS device is obtained from the PRBM through the rigid-body replacement method by making use of conjugate surfaces flexure hinges (CSFHs). Finally, the functional capability of the device is investigated by means of finite element analysis (FEA) simulations and experimental testing at the macroscale.

ACS Style

Paolo Sanò; Matteo Verotti; Paolo Bosetti; Nicola P. Belfiore. Kinematic Synthesis of a D-Drive MEMS Device With Rigid-Body Replacement Method. Journal of Mechanical Design 2018, 140, 075001 .

AMA Style

Paolo Sanò, Matteo Verotti, Paolo Bosetti, Nicola P. Belfiore. Kinematic Synthesis of a D-Drive MEMS Device With Rigid-Body Replacement Method. Journal of Mechanical Design. 2018; 140 (7):075001.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Paolo Sanò; Matteo Verotti; Paolo Bosetti; Nicola P. Belfiore. 2018. "Kinematic Synthesis of a D-Drive MEMS Device With Rigid-Body Replacement Method." Journal of Mechanical Design 140, no. 7: 075001.

Conference paper
Published: 17 April 2018 in Proceedings of EECE 2020
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Even though different versions of the Friction Pendulum Devices (FPD) can be found on the market and their effectiveness has been extensively proven by means of numerous experimental campaigns carried out worldwide, many aspects concerning their mechanical behaviour still need to be clarified. These aspects concern, among others: (1) the sequence of sliding on the several concave surfaces, (2) the influence of temperature on the frictional properties of the coupling surfaces, (3) the possibility of the stick-slip phenomenon, (4) the possibility of impact-induced failure of some components, (5) the geometric compatibility, and so on. These aspects are less clear the larger the number of concave surfaces of which the device is composed. This paper presents a new way of modelling the mechanical behaviour of the FPDs, by fulfilling: (1) geometric compatibility, (2) kinematical compatibility, (3) dynamical equilibrium, and (4) thermo-mechanical coupling.

ACS Style

V. Bianco; Giorgio Monti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. Mechanical Modelling of Friction Pendulum Isolation Devices. Proceedings of EECE 2020 2018, 133 -146.

AMA Style

V. Bianco, Giorgio Monti, Nicola Pio Belfiore. Mechanical Modelling of Friction Pendulum Isolation Devices. Proceedings of EECE 2020. 2018; ():133-146.

Chicago/Turabian Style

V. Bianco; Giorgio Monti; Nicola Pio Belfiore. 2018. "Mechanical Modelling of Friction Pendulum Isolation Devices." Proceedings of EECE 2020 , no. : 133-146.