Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Mechanical Systems

Mechanical Systems

Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Molecular cloning and heterologous expression of an acid-stable endoxylanase gene from Penicillium oxalicum in Trichoderma reesei.

Journal of microbiology and biotechnology·2013

Same author

Increasing gastric juice pH level prior to anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy may be beneficial to the healing of duodenal ulcers.

Experimental and therapeutic medicine·2013

Same author

Inhibitory effect of glutathione on oxidative liver injury induced by dengue virus serotype 2 infections in mice.

PloS one·2013

Same author

Efficacy of tribendimidine against Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in the mice.

Parasitology research·2013

Same author

Double-bundle anatomical versus single-bundle isometric medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for patellar dislocation.

International orthopaedics·2013

Same author

Fatty acid binding proteins FABP9 and FABP10 participate in antibacterial responses in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis.

PloS one·2013

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays

Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays

Published on: October 1, 2007

Vapomechanically Responsive Motion of Microchannel-Programmed Actuators.

Lidong Zhang¹, Pancˇe Naumov², Xuemin Du³

¹Department of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

|August 1, 2017

Summary

Researchers developed novel programmable actuators from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl alcohol that reversibly coil in response to acetone vapor. These smart materials offer rapid, repeatable actuation for soft robotics applications.

Keywords:

motility programmable actuators shape memory smart materials vapomechanical actuation

More Related Videos

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Published on: August 17, 2018

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published on: May 20, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays

Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays

Published on: October 1, 2007

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers

Published on: August 17, 2018

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published on: May 20, 2018

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Science
Soft Robotics

Background:

Actuators responding to external stimuli are crucial for real-world applications.
Developing materials with rapid and reversible responses is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

To create programmable actuators capable of reversible responses to low concentrations of acetone vapor.
To investigate the vapomechanical properties of microchanneled polymers.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of single- and bilayer actuators using templates to create microchannel structures on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl alcohol.
Exposure of actuators to acetone vapor to observe vapomechanical coiling.
Testing reversibility, fatigue resistance, and solvent saturation effects.

Main Results:

Actuators exhibited reversible, chiral coiling upon exposure to minute acetone vapor concentrations.
The vapomechanical coiling was repeatable over 100 cycles without fatigue.
Actuators recovered motility within seconds after acetone evaporation, with PVDF showing faster desorption.

Conclusions:

Programmable actuators based on microchanneled PVDF and polyvinyl alcohol demonstrate effective vapomechanical actuation.
The rapid and reversible response, along with durability, makes these materials suitable for soft robotics.
Controllable sensing capabilities open avenues for dynamic element actuation.