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        <title>Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/mechanical-engineering</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-04-05T07:30:36.456+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1774757</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1774757</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Intelligent composite 3D printing: the role of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and in-situ monitoring in next-generation additive manufacturing]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Asad A. Zaidi</author><author>Muhammad Asif</author><author>Abdulrahman Aljabri</author><author>Sohaib Z. Khan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This narrative review synthesizes recent advances at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and composite additive manufacturing (AM) by qualitatively analyzing peer-reviewed journal articles, authoritative review papers, and selected conference literature across materials science, manufacturing, and data-driven engineering. A narrative approach is appropriate for this rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary domain, where heterogeneous platforms, data modalities, and modeling strategies limit strict systematic comparison; therefore, the literature is thematically organized along the composite AM lifecycle to highlight trends, capabilities, and research gaps. Composite 3D printing, embedding fibers or functional fillers within printed matrices, enables lightweight, customizable, high-performance components but remains constrained by anisotropic properties, process instability, and inconsistent quality. The review examines how AI/ML supports (i) feedstock and composite material design, including data-informed formulation screening and property prediction; (ii) in-situ monitoring using vision, thermal, acoustic, and other sensing streams coupled with learning-based defect detection; (iii) adaptive and closed-loop process control, including reinforcement-learning and hybrid controller architectures; and (iv) digital twin frameworks augmented by data analytics and physics-informed models for predictive quality assurance and part performance forecasting. Application-oriented case studies in aerospace, biomedical engineering, automotive/consumer products, and construction are discussed to demonstrate practical impact and industrial relevance. Finally, key limitations, data scarcity and labeling burden, model generalizability across machines/materials, interpretability and trust, and system integration and standardization, are critically assessed, and future directions toward autonomous, sustainable, and secure intelligent composite manufacturing are outlined.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2025.1681872</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2025.1681872</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Experimental study on the road performance of reduced density fly ash–clayey sand subgrade mixtures from the Yellow River floodplain]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Xiuru Jia</author><author>Qiaoling Ji</author><author>Yu Cheng</author><author>Meixue Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To address challenges in subgrade construction using Yellow River floodplain soils, this study developed a reduced density filler by mixing aged fly ash with locally sourced clayey sand. The research aimed to establish a robust framework for bridging the gap between pavement design specifications (resilient modulus, E0) and construction quality control (compaction degree, K), enabling performance-based quality assurance. Laboratory experiments evaluated compaction characteristics, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and Laboratory Static Resilient Modulus (E0lab) of the mixtures. Results showed optimal performance at 30%–36% fly ash content, achieving maximum CBR of 23.6% and E0lab of 54.56 MPa. A novel global regression model was established, directly linking CBR to both K and fly ash content (FA%), offering a powerful tool for construction quality assurance. Furthermore, a practical pathway was developed to convert E0lab to field design E0 (via CBR and existing correlations), facilitating the translation of laboratory findings into engineering design. This research culminates in a unified framework for construction quality control, providing recommended K and FA% acceptance windows to guarantee target E0 and CBR values. The developed mixtures are highly suitable for Class II (lower layers) and Class III/IV (top layers) highway subgrades. This study offers robust technical support for sustainable fly ash utilization and performance-driven subgrade construction.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1713674</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1713674</link>
        <title><![CDATA[An enhanced subset simulation algorithm integrating importance sampling for structural reliability analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chunlong Xu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionConducting reliability analyses for engineering problems with small failure probabilities and expensive computational models is challenging. Subset simulation (SS) is an excellent method that has been applied in many fields. However, SS still has several limitations that need to be addressed, such as correlated samples, a large coefficient of variation (COV), the risk of deviating from dominant failure regions, and inaccuracies in problems with multiple failure regions.MethodsIn this paper, a subset simulation algorithm integrating importance sampling is developed to address the aforementioned limitations, focusing on complex reliability problems characterized by low-to-moderate dimensionality and small failure probabilities. First, a seed placement strategy on intermediate limit-state curves is developed to reduce the COV and generate independent samples within each subset. Second, interval estimation combined with clustering algorithms is applied to precisely identify seeds. This strategy is designed to handle problems featuring multiple failure regions while mitigating the risk of divergence from dominant failure regions.ResultsThe performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through seven case studies from the literature, including problems with multiple failure regions, nonlinear problems, system reliability problems, SS counterexamples, and structural reliability problems.DiscussionThe results show that the proposed method provides more accurate and robust failure probability estimates than the other tested methods.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1800659</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1800659</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Finite-element guided drilled-hole placement and fillet geometry effects on the structural and dynamic performance of spur gears]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-31T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ali Malik Saadoon</author><author>Nassear R. Hmoad</author><author>Suhair G. Hussein</author><author>Mohammad Qasim Abdullah</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In this research, a detailed finite-element (FE) analysis of the combined influence of the drilled-hole position, the shape of the hole, and the fillet design on the structural and dynamic performance of spur gears is investigated. ANSYS R16.2 was used to create a three-dimensional numerical model that can be used to assess the bending stress distribution and vibration response under realistic loading conditions. A trochoidal fillet and four circular fillet radii (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mm) were studied to determine their effect on the stress concentration behavior. FE-guided hole-suggestion process was introduced which is an automated process in which low-stress zones to be cut away are identified so as to allow systematic recommendation of optimal locations, orientations and size of holes without any empirical relation. It was found that root stress decreased dramatically as fillet radius was increased, and 2 mm fillet had the minimum bending stress of all circular arrangements. The baseline configuration (Rf = 0.5 mm, without holes) exhibited a maximum bending stress of 69.45 MPa, whereas increasing the fillet radius to 2.0 mm resulted in a stress reduction of approximately 35%. The trochoidal fillet provided less stress gradients and a larger zone of low stress surrounding the tooth root. The holes proposed by FE were further incorporated, which increased structural performance. Hole size out of the chosen geometric parameters was statistically most impactful on bending stress and dynamic response, which ANOVA proved to be accurate (p < 0.001). The holes in the top the most desirable performance were medium-size (≈2.0–2.4 mm) drilled horizontally, which minimized bending stress by about 46%–50% relative to the baseline gear and ensured very low peak dynamic displacement (∼3.4 × 10−5 m at approximately 73 Hz). Structural integrity is well enhanced by optimizing fillet radius and drilled holes sizes, directions, and locations regarding the strength and dynamic stability. The proposed methodology offers a reliable and scientifically grounded framework for gear modification with strong potential for integration into advanced gear design and light weighting applications.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1780107</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1780107</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Design and testing of an intelligent anti-runaway rail-shoe control system]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jun Shi</author><author>Zongfang Zhang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Conventional anti-runaway rail shoes (wheel chocks) used for rail vehicles are difficult to monitor in real time, labor-intensive to operate, and prone to operational errors such as incorrect placement/removal and missed placement/removal. To address these limitations, this paper presents an intelligent anti-runaway rail-shoe control system. A visual monitoring platform is installed in the locomotive cab and in the control rooms of marshalling yards and section stations, providing real-time status indication for rail-shoe management. Compared with traditional rail shoes, the proposed system wirelessly transmits key state information—such as on-rail status, wheel-contact (loaded) status, and lock status—to the monitoring platform. In addition, an active light-emitting alarm helps operators quickly locate installed shoes, thereby reducing the likelihood of missed placement/removal. Functional tests were conducted with reference to railway rail-shoe management requirements and representative field operating scenarios. The results demonstrate that the proposed system meets the requirements for on-site railway anti-runaway operations.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1775579</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1775579</link>
        <title><![CDATA[VSG control of photovoltaic energy storage grid-connected system based on improved SMA]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ping Wu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionVirtual synchronous generator (VSG) control techniques face limited adaptability in modern grid-connected systems. This study aims to enhance the adaptability and performance of VSG control by developing an optimized photovoltaic-storage grid-connected system.MethodsA proportional-derivative controller was incorporated into the photovoltaic-storage grid-connected system. An improved slime mould algorithm (SMA) was introduced to optimize the inertia and damping coefficients of the VSG. The proposed method was evaluated through experimental testing, simulation analysis, and dynamic response assessment under varying illumination conditions.ResultsThe experimental results demonstrated that the accuracy of the proposed improved SMA reached 97.87%, with a recall of 98.58%, both superior to the comparison algorithms. Simulation analysis indicated that the improved SMA effectively suppressed power overshoot to only 1.48 kW, lower than the comparison algorithms. Furthermore, the dynamic response testing showed that the goodness-of-fit coefficient for finding optimal parameters under different illumination conditions was 0.983, significantly higher than the comparison algorithm.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that the improved SMA is effective for optimizing VSG control parameters and possesses practical value for enhancing the stability and adaptability of photovoltaic-storage grid-connected systems.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1687945</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1687945</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Design, testing, and dimensional optimization of a biomimetic microspine gripper based on feline paw structure]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Qingpeng Wen</author><author>Yuepeng Zhang</author><author>Xianfeng Wu</author><author>Xuansheng Wang</author><author>Linzhong Xia</author><author>Changwei Lv</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundMicrospine grippers are critical for wall-climbing robots and drones to attach to rough surfaces in complex environments. Existing designs focus on structural practicality but overlook rational dimensional optimization and accurate modeling of adhesion force. One-degree-of-freedom (1-DOF) grippers also exhibit poor collision resistance and low grasping stability on variable-roughness surfaces.MethodsTo address these shortcomings, a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) biomimetic microspine gripper inspired by the retractable claw structure of feline paws is proposed. A microspine stiffness model based on Castigliano’s Second Theorem, combined with a rough surface model and a gripper statics model, is established to quantify adhesion force. The performance atlas method combined with dimensionless parameter processing is adopted for dimensional optimization, where the top 25% of adhesion force data in each subplot is defined as the high-performance region to identify the optimal parameter combination.ResultsExperimental validation shows the stiffness model has a corrected relative error of only 4.5%. The optimized gripper achieves stable adhesion of 30 N and 22.7 N on rough asphalt and smooth stone surfaces, respectively, with a 95% grasping success rate on variable-roughness surfaces. Compared with our self-developed 1-DOF gripper, the proposed design effectively reduces collision-induced microspine damage and significantly improves grasping stability and environmental adaptability.ConclusionThis work provides a theoretical and optimization framework for microspine gripper design, and the biomimetic design strategy offers new insights for the development of high-performance robotic attachment components.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1778543</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1778543</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Numerical investigation of pressure-equalizing groove configuration effects on gas bearing performance]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yang Su</author><author>Fangjian Wan</author><author>Lifang Wang</author><author>Hang Xiu</author><author>Qi Qin</author>
        <description><![CDATA[High-speed rotating machinery has extremely high requirements for the performance and reliability of aerostatic bearings, and the design of pressure-equalizing groove structure is a key factor determining the performance of aerostatic bearings under high-speed conditions. At present, research on the influence of pressure-equalizing groove structure on the performance of high-speed aerostatic bearings is still relatively limited. In this study, aerostatic thrust gas bearings with three pressure-equalizing groove structures (rectangular, fan-shaped and drop-shaped) were designed, and their performance characteristics were comprehensively analyzed by numerical simulation method. A CFD model of the bearing was established based on the Navier-Stokes equations and the model accuracy was verified. The performance of bearings with each structure under different working conditions of air film thickness, supply pressure and rotational speed was explored. The study found that the shape of pressure-equalizing groove has a significant impact on the load-carrying capacity, pressure distribution, stiffness and stability of the bearing. Under high-speed conditions, vortices in the groove critically affect the pressure distribution in the high-pressure zone of the bearing, which in turn determines the load-carrying capacity. Fan-shaped and drop-shaped grooves can effectively suppress vortices due to their divergent structures, and their load-carrying capacity and stiffness during high-speed operation are superior to those of rectangular grooves, while rectangular and fan-shaped grooves have smaller pressure fluctuations and exhibit better stability. There is a clear correlation mechanism between the divergent characteristics of different pressure-equalizing grooves and vortex suppression. Fan-shaped and drop-shaped grooves can promote the expansion of the high-pressure area of the air film and enhance the hydrodynamic effect, while the complete vortex in the rectangular groove limits the development of the high-pressure area. The research results provide theoretical support for the design and optimization of aerostatic bearings, and contribute to the research and development of high-performance bearings adapted to high-speed rotating machinery.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1769645</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1769645</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Energy management strategies for new energy HEVs based on reinforcement learning]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Wei Song</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionIn order to solve the problems of low accuracy and multi-objective optimization imbalance in traditional hybrid electric vehicle energy management strategies under dynamic conditions.MethodsA study was conducted to design an improved reinforcement learning energy management strategy based on dual delay deep deterministic strategy gradient (TD3), aiming to improve fuel economy, extend battery life, and enhance strategy robustness. Firstly, a multi energy system dynamics model was constructed, which includes an engine, power battery, and electric motor. Secondly, in order to solve the problems of slow convergence and easy getting stuck in local optima in traditional reinforcement learning for multi-objective optimization, adaptive reward functions and priority experience replay mechanisms are introduced.ResultsThe results indicate that the initial value of the state of charge for all three strategies is 0.5, and the research strategy maintains it at 0.5.DiscussionITD3 can more accurately control the state of charge, making it close to the initial value and reducing excessive energy consumption; Overall, compared with traditional strategies, this research strategy exhibits better battery state of charge retention ability under two typical operating conditions. This strategy can achieve precise energy management, effectively reduce costs, improve energy utilization efficiency, support environmental sustainability, and provide better solutions for energy management of new energy hybrid vehicles.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1734270</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1734270</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Study on the impact of injection timing advance on the performance and emissions of a diesel engine fueled with a gasoline–diesel blend]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Luisa Fernanda Mónico Muñoz</author><author>Oscar Hernando Venegas Pereira</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Environmental concerns have increasingly driven industries worldwide, particularly the automotive sector, to address the challenges posed by pollutant emissions from internal combustion engines. Diesel engines, for instance, offer higher thermal efficiency than gasoline engines but remain major contributors to atmospheric pollution. Their emission characteristics are also strongly influenced by fuel properties. One promising approach to mitigating these emissions is the use of gasoline–diesel fuel blends. Due to their higher volatility and improved vaporization behavior, these blends promote more homogeneous air–fuel mixture formation, making them suitable for compression ignition engines. In addition, modifying key combustion parameters, most notably injection timing, has proven effective in influencing both emissions and combustion dynamics. Alongside injection pressure and intake oxygen concentration, injection timing plays a critical role in determining pollutant formation and the acoustic characteristics of the combustion process. This study examines the impact of a gasoline–diesel blend (G10) on the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine, with particular emphasis on the effects of varying injection timing. The aim is to experimentally evaluate how combining this blend with injection timing adjustments influences engine efficiency and emission output. The experimental results show that advancing injection timing improves torque, power output, and thermal efficiency while maintaining relatively low fuel consumption. Conversely, retarding injection timing is more effective in reducing pollutant emissions. The most effective strategy is delaying injection at 80% load and 3,500 rpm, which results in reductions of smoke density, NOX, and CO2 by 77.34%, 34.45%, and 11.34%, respectively. Performance also improves, with torque increasing by 26.25%, power by 14.52%, and specific fuel consumption decreasing by 9.76%. Although a trade-off exists between optimizing performance and minimizing emissions, the findings indicate that strategic calibration of injection parameters can achieve a balanced compromise between both goals. In conclusion, adjusting injection timing emerges as a viable technique for reducing pollutant emissions without significantly compromising—and potentially even enhancing—engine performance.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1775256</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1775256</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Design and finite element analysis of new energy bus body frame]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yingshuai Liu</author><author>Xueming Gao</author><author>Wenzhe Li</author><author>Jianwei Tan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[As the core load-bearing component of battery-integrated low-floor buses, the body frame faces critical challenges in structural analysis due to the conflict between computational accuracy and efficiency during preliminary design iterations. Existing finite element approaches for bus frames typically employ full-scale models with 300,000+ nodes, resulting in prohibitive computational costs (25–30 min per solve) that hinder rapid design symmetry-based simplification. Furthermore, separate treatment of static strength verification and modal analysis lacks unified validation against experimental data, raising concerns about model reliability for dynamic performance prediction. This study establishes an integrated finite element analysis framework that couples four critical load cases (bending, cornering, emergency braking, and extreme torsion) with dynamic performance evaluation within a unified computational model. A key methodological innovation is the systematic exploitation of structural symmetry, which reduces the computational scale from 310,000 nodes to 75,000 nodes while maintaining accuracy within 0.5% for stress predictions and 0.3% for natural frequencies—achieving a 58% reduction in GPU solution time (from 28 to 11 min). Experimental validation via hammer impact testing confirms the numerical model’s reliability, demonstrating an average frequency error of 3.2% and Modal Assurance Criterion values exceeding 0.85. Results demonstrate that the Q345 steel frame exhibits maximum equivalent stress of 134.11 MPa (38.9% of yield strength) under extreme torsion, with deformation metrics (bending deflection ratio 1/2,720, torsional angle 0.60°) satisfying urban bus design targets. Modal analysis reveals first-order vertical bending at 5.952 Hz and first-order torsion at 7.216 Hz, providing 3.65 Hz separation from maximum road excitation (2.3 Hz at 60 km/h) and eliminating resonance risks across the operational frequency range of 5.952–18.964 Hz. This validated methodology provides a reproducible workflow for rapid body-in-white development, bridging the gap between computational efficiency and experimental fidelity in new energy bus structural design.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1778120</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1778120</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Integrated energy optimization for metal waste cleaning-24 robot in local manufacturing based on multi-objective approach]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-23T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Andi Amijoyo Mochtar</author><author>La Ode Muhammad Ali</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Modern manufacturing industries face increasing pressure to enhance operational efficiency while reducing energy costs and environmental impact. This research develops a metal waste cleaning robot with integrated multi-objective energy optimization for local manufacturing applications. The robot integrates 28 main components including dual motor systems (80 W drive motor, 60 W arm motor), HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, ESP32 microcontroller, and hierarchical thermal protection. Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) simultaneously optimizes energy consumption, coverage completeness, and operational time. The multi-objective optimization framework achieves significant energy reductions through three independent mechanisms: trajectory planning optimization reduces total energy consumption by 30% (from 235.7 Wh to 165 Wh per cycle), adaptive control systems reduce motor power consumption by 50% (from 280 W to 140 W) through dynamic voltage adjustment based on environmental complexity, and strategic base station placement reduces travel distance by 20% (from 150 m to 120 m per cycle), resulting in corresponding energy savings. ANSYS validation confirms structural stability with maximum equivalent elastic strain of 7.6839 × 10−5 m/m and maximum equivalent deformation of 6.710 × 10−5 m (67.10 μm) under operational loading, demonstrating that the structure operates well within the elastic limit with safety factor >5. The robot demonstrates total power consumption of 165 W with 75.4% cleaning efficiency, reducing operational time from 35 min (manual methods) to 8.4 min across four material types (aluminum, copper, steel, glass). Performance testing shows 76.7% efficiency for chip cleaning (7 min) and 87.5% efficiency for metal dust cleaning (5 min). The hierarchical thermal protection system ensures operational safety with motor temperature sensors providing 35% protection effectiveness. This integrated optimization framework provides validated solutions for local manufacturing industries with limited technology accessibility, contributing to sustainable energy-efficient industrial robot for metal waste management in developing countries.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1731461</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1731461</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Disturbance observer-based HEV dynamic coordination control strategy from EV mode to engine-driving mode]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yao Fang</author><author>Chunlan Yang</author><author>Yanchun Wang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[To mitigate torque fluctuations arising from clutch engagement and multi-power-source coupling during the mode transition from electric vehicle (EV) mode to engine-driving mode in a single-axle parallel hybrid electric vehicle (SPHEV), this paper proposes a disturbance observer-based dynamic coordination control strategy (DOBDCCS). Its novelty lies in treating engine and clutch output torques as stage-specific system load disturbances, designing observers addressing parameter perturbations and model uncertainties. Specifically, the transition process is divided into four stages: engine start-up stage, engine acceleration stage, speed synchronization stage, and torque coordination stage. For each stage, dynamic models of the hybrid powertrain are established, incorporating considerations of parameter perturbations and model uncertainties. Dedicated disturbance observers are designed to treat engine and clutch output torques as system load disturbances. These observers accurately estimate both parameter perturbations and load disturbances and provide first-order filtering to suppress high-frequency torque fluctuations. A motor torque compensation strategy based on feedback compensation is further developed to ensure smooth power coupling leveraging the motor’s fast torque response. A simulation model built in Matlab is used to validate the effectiveness of DOBDCCS under preset driving cycle, a preset driving cycle with parameter perturbations, and standard driving cycles (UDDS and WLTC). Statistical results demonstrate that the proposed DOBDCCS significantly improves ride comfort by keeping the maximum vehicle jerk consistently below 8 m/s3, which is well below China’s recommended threshold, and achieving notably lower jerk values.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1774457</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1774457</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Inverse modeling and design of additively manufactured hybrid acoustic metamaterials for low-frequency absorption]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ammar Alsheghri</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionEnvironmental noise is a growing problem with a negative impact on individuals, particularly at low frequencies. 3D printed acoustic metamaterials have emerged as possible load-bearing solutions for noise management. Several designs have been investigated in the literature to construct 3D lattices for optimized sound absorption including gyroid and honeycomb. Nevertheless, there exists a need for a framework to propose the best metamaterial design for application-focused target frequencies, in particular at low frequencies.MethodsIn this work, an inverse design framework is presented to propose an optimal hybrid metamaterial for sound absorption at low frequencies. To enhance broadband low-frequency absorption, the design space was extended to include a gyroid porous layer stacked in series with a honeycomb layer and an elastic wall. The inverse optimization then adjusts the porosities and effective thicknesses of gyroid and honeycomb layers to match a prescribed target absorption spectrum, while respecting additive manufacturing constraints.ResultsThe results of the proposed optimal hybrid design show that it achieves near unity sound absorption across the 250 – 2000Hz frequency range, with absorption coefficients exceeding 0.93 at all target frequencies. The resulting Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) reaches 0.95, demonstrating excellent broadband acoustic performance within practical thickness and manufacturing constraints.DiscussionThe proposed framework integrates inverse design with manufacturing-aware optimization to enable the development of high-performance, tunable acoustic metamaterials.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1770664</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1770664</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Fault diagnosis method for high-voltage circuit breakers based on physics-informed transfer learning]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Dong Wang</author><author>Lubo Zhou</author><author>Liyun Xie</author><author>Xipu Liu</author><author>Shiqi Dong</author><author>Junhua Liu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionHigh-voltage circuit breakers are core control and protection equipment in power systems, and their operational status directly affects device stability and power grid security. Improving the accuracy of their fault detection is a key demand for the operation and maintenance of power equipment.MethodsThis study proposes a fault detection method for high-voltage circuit breakers based on multi-source information and motion analysis. First, a 1-dimensional recurrent neural network (1DRNN) is used to analyze voiceprint and current signals to extract feature data related to the mechanical state of the operating mechanism. Second, a physics-informed transfer learning network model consisting of a Common Feature Learning Network (CFLN) and a Mechanical Feature Learning Network (MFLN) is constructed to explore shared features between multi-source signals and mechanical parameters and extract specific features of individual mechanical parameters in a targeted manner. Meanwhile, a multi-head attention mechanism is integrated to enhance the model’s ability to capture key features, and a physics-based loss function is designed to improve the physical consistency of the model during mechanical parameter identification.ResultsExperimental verification shows that the proposed method achieves a fault diagnosis accuracy of over 93% for high-voltage circuit breakers, and the model can still maintain high diagnostic stability and detection accuracy under noise interference conditions.DiscussionThrough the design of deep fusion of multi-source signals and embedding of physical information, this method makes up for the information defects of single-signal diagnosis, solves the problem of lack of physical consistency in data-driven models, and improves the environmental adaptability of fault diagnosis models, providing a practical technical solution for the intelligent fault diagnosis of high-voltage circuit breakers.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1780728</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1780728</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Design of a micrometer-scale multilayer air filter]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-18T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Fenglong Yin</author><author>Yuehao Li</author><author>Xinyi Zhang</author><author>Yanxia Li</author><author>Xiaodong Liang</author>
        <description><![CDATA[We constructed a micrometer-scale, multilayer air filter structure for use in dangerous gas pipelines based on the design requirements of low pressure drop, high sealing, compact filter components, and micrometer-scale air particles. The novelty of this study lies in the filter structure design that achieves reasonable pressure drop control. First, we designed the inner and outer diameter parameters of the filter and modeled the corresponding structure. Based on these parameters, we simulated and analyzed the influences of the filter layer number and air gap thickness on the filter efficiency and pressure drop using the finite element method; accordingly, we determined the multilayer filter design required to achieve high efficiency and low pressure drop. We found the filter performance to be optimal when the air gap thickness was 25 mm, and the number of filter stages was 7; these criteria were used to design and manufacture the filter. Finally, the effectiveness of the high-efficiency, low-pressure-drop micrometer-scale air filter design was verified through tests on the pressure drop of a gas pipeline; we noted that the pressure drop was maintained at 5.25 kPa during the experiments, which was in good agreement with the simulation results.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1781189</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1781189</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Multi-operating-condition adaptability enhancement: simulation and experimental study on the roof beam structure of hydraulic support]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-13T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yang Liu</author><author>Guozhu Liu</author><author>Jingxi Li</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe mechanical properties of the hydraulic support top beam are a critical determinant of mine support safety. The ZY14790/15/25D hydraulic support top beam, tailored for one-pass full-seam mining of medium-thick coal seams, is subjected to extreme deep coal mine working conditions including high ground stress, intense rock burst, and large roof deformation, posing severe challenges to its structural reliability.MethodsA finite element model of the ZY14790/15/25D top beam was established via ANSYS software to analyze the stress and deformation characteristics under three typical working conditions (symmetric bending, diagonal torsion, and bending-torsion combination), and the structural weak areas under different conditions were identified. Aiming at the defects of the original top beam design (uneven stress distribution, discontinuous force flow transmission, insufficient local stiffness), an optimization technology focusing on enhancing structural continuity, optimizing rib load-bearing efficiency and strengthening local load-resistant capacity was proposed, with four specific optimization schemes constructed. A new top beam model was then established based on the optimized schemes, and finite element simulation and comparative cyclic loading tests were conducted to verify the optimization effect.ResultsFinite element simulation results showed that the optimized top beam achieved significant improvements in mechanical performance under all three working conditions: the maximum stress was reduced by 31.44% (symmetric bending), 19.28% (diagonal torsion) and 27.20% (bending-torsion combination), respectively; the maximum deformation was reduced by 12.91%, 12.26% and 15.63%, respectively. Cyclic loading test results indicated that the original top beam suffered fracture at the joint of the top plate and internal stiffening plate after only 16,522 cycles. In contrast, the optimized top beam exhibited a markedly improved fatigue life: although weld cracks appeared and propagated to the base metal at 19,100 cycles, the top beam could stably bear the full yield load after standardized repair, meeting the engineering requirements of actual working conditions.DiscussionThis study addresses the structural defects of the hydraulic support top beam under complex multi-working conditions through targeted structural optimization, and the proposed optimization technology and schemes are verified to be effective via both numerical simulation and experimental tests. The optimization not only significantly reduces the stress and deformation of the top beam and improves its fatigue life and load-bearing capacity, but also provides a practical and feasible technical scheme for the structural optimization of hydraulic support top beams. Meanwhile, the research results offer important reference value for improving the structural reliability of coal mining equipment and ensuring the safety of deep coal mine production.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1766169</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1766169</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Strength optimization and assembly technology of key parts of reducer based on parametric design]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Fengchan Zhou</author><author>Xianqiao Zhao</author><author>Wei Guo</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionWith the development of high efficiency in the machinery industry, the importance of reducers as key transmission components has become increasingly prominent.MethodsThis study proposes a strength optimization and assembly technology improvement plan for key parts of the reducer based on parametric design.ResultsThe outcomes revealed that compared with the unmodified control group, the transmission error of experimental group B (moderate modification) was 25.8%–32.4% lower than that of the control group under the working condition of 1500r/min+150N·m, and the noise fluctuation range was only 0.1 dB. In the 800 h continuous operation experiment, the contact stress under the 500r/min and 1000r/min operating conditions was reduced by 3.6% and 4.8% respectively compared with the control group. In the 1050 h environmental adaptability test, the meshing stiffness drop of the optimized design was 2%–5% lower than that of the traditional design, and the increase in transmission error was significantly smaller.DiscussionCompared with existing research, the parametric design method proposed in this study achieves part strength balance through parameter sensitivity and coupling weight analysis, combined with tooth profile modification and natural frequency adjustment. It not only optimizes part performance, but also has significant advantages in noise reduction, deformation control, and design efficiency.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1777195</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1777195</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Optimization of time-varying load dynamic response of industrial robot PLC system based on improved model reference adaptive control]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jing Li</author><author>Aoqi Lian</author><author>Jiawei Yang</author><author>Lihua Liu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionIn the process of industrial automation, industrial robots are widely used in complex operations such as welding, assembly, and handling. The dynamic response performance under time-varying load conditions directly affects production efficiency and control quality.MethodsTo improve the dynamic response speed and control accuracy of industrial robot Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems under time-varying loads, an improved Model Reference Adaptive Control (MRAC) strategy that combines Fuzzy Correction Adaptive Law (FCAL) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is designed. It combines an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) load observer with a composite control law to adapt to the discrete characteristics of PLC and optimize multi-task scheduling.ResultsExperiments show that in three scenarios: automotive welding, electronic assembly, and metal cutting, the production efficiency of this system is increased by 20.7%–23.8% compared with traditional PLC methods, and the dynamic response time is shortened from 0.8 s to 0.3 s. The product qualification rate increases from 1.9% to 3.9%, and the positioning error of the assembly robot drops from ±0.1 m to ±0.05 m. The torque fluctuation of the cutting robot motor drops from 1.0 N m to 0.58 N m, the load observation error does not exceed 0.05 N m, and the angular velocity overshoot is less than 1.2%. DiscussionThrough the deep integration of adaptive control strategy and PLC system, the dynamic response speed and control accuracy of industrial robots under time‐varying load conditions are effectively improved, and production efficiency, product qualification rate, and energy consumption indicators are improved. This study provides reliable technical support for the field of flexible manufacturing.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1755786</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmech.2026.1755786</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Development of a hydrostatic test bench to characterize mechanical losses of low power internal combustion engines under controlled lubricant and coolant temperature conditions]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-06T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Juan D. Ramírez</author><author>Carlos A. Romero</author><author>Wilson Pérez</author><author>Edison Henao</author><author>Mauricio Monroy</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Experimental testing of internal combustion engines is essential for evaluating mechanical performance, developing engine components, assessing surface coatings, formulating lubricants and friction modifiers, and validating predictive friction models. This work presents the development and integration of a test bench for low-power engines, based on a hydrostatic loading system, to characterize mechanical losses under controlled conditions of engine speed, load, lubricant temperature, and coolant temperature. The tested engine is a liquid-cooled single-cylinder spark-ignition motorcycle engine, whose design couples a five-speed gearbox to the engine crankshaft by means of a multi-disc clutch. The test bed is equipped with two independent thermal management circuits: one for heating, cooling, and circulating the lubricant, and another for supplying cold coolant to the engine. The instrumentation and data acquisition system are described in detail. Initial results from the test bench are presented, including instantaneous curves and three-dimensional maps of mean effective and indicated parameters, mechanical losses, and pumping losses.]]></description>
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