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Friction pairs of the hydro-viscous drive speed regulating start device should be designed based on the rated torque. To obtain design basis of the rated torque of the hydro-viscous drive speed regulating start device, studies on effect of torque ratio (a ratio of the load torque to the rated torque) on speed regulating start were carried out theoretically and experimentally.

Under different torque ratio, the modified Reynolds, the thermal energy and the viscosity-temperature equations were solved simultaneously by using finite element method to reveal variation laws of the oil film load capacity and torque transmission during the starting process. Then, speed regulating start experiments were carried out to study the following performance of the output speed.

The results show that oil film thickness decreases with the increase of the torque ratio; when oil film thickness is less than 0.05 mm, oil film temperature increases rapidly with the decrease of oil film thickness, which eventually deteriorates performance of the speed regulating start; when the torque ratio decreases to about 0.3, output speed shows a better following performance.

It indicates that, to acquire a better speed regulating start, the rated torque of the hydro-viscous drive speed regulating start device should not be less than three times of the load torque. Achievements of this work provide theoretical basis for optimal design of the friction pairs of the hydro-viscous drive speed regulating start device.

An important characteristic of most induction motors is speed- or slip-torque curve. A simplified Kloss formula is widely used for describing speed-torque characteristic because it is fairly simple. Only two parameters related to break-down torque and break-down slip are regarded as input parameters. Because this simplified formula ignores an unknown parameter that is a ratio between Thevenin’s and rotor resistances, an accurate torque curve characteristic may not be fully obtained over an entire speed range. Moreover, the conventional Kloss formula does not offer a speed-torque curve calculation when motor’s supply voltages and frequencies are deviated from rated values. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to present an extension of Kloss formula, which allows a more precise estimation of speed-torque and speed-current curves of single-cage three-phase induction motors over a wide range of speeds at different motor’s operating voltages, frequencies and rotor-circuit resistances.

The analytical approach is mainly used for determining all key parameters in the Kloss formula using a known set of data such as rated torque, starting torque, break-down torque and rated speed, in which they can be obtained from motor’s manufacturer.

The speed-torque and speed-current curves taken from laboratory measurements are compared with those from the calculations. Good agreements between them are fully observed.

This analytical approach is useful in providing an accurate speed-torque and speed-current curves required for most steady-state analysis.

The purpose of this paper is to study the transient cavitation process in torque converters with a particular focus on cavitation suppression with a passive flow control technique.

The transient fluid field in a torque converter was simulated by RANS-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in a full three-dimensional (3D) model. A homogeneous Rayleigh–Plesset cavitation model was used to simulate the transient cavitation process and the results were validated with test data. Various secondary flow passages (SFP) were applied to the stator blade. The cavitation behavior and hydrodynamic performance were simulated and compared to investigate the effect of SFP geometries on cavitation suppression.

Presented results show that cavitation in the torque converter is highly unstable at stall operating condition because of the combination of a high incidence angle and high flow velocity. The addition of an SFP to the stator blade produces a disruption of the re-entrant jet and reduces the overall degree of cavitation, consequently inhibiting the unstable cavitation and reducing performance degradation.

This paper provides unique insights into the complicated transient cavitation flow patterns found in torque converters and introduces effective passive flow control techniques useful to researchers and engineers in the areas of fluid dynamics and turbomachinery.

This paper aims to the improvement of permanent magnet shape in the popular permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) is proposed in this paper in view to mitigate cogging torque magnitude and torque ripple.

A two-dimensional exact analytical approach of magnetic field distribution is established for the PMSM considering magnet shape and slot opening. The optimal magnet shape is constituted of small number of layers stacked radially. The thickness of each magnet layer is considered equal to about one mm or more; however, a parametric study was performed to determine pole pitch ratio value. The finite element method is used to validate the analytical results.

Cogging torque peaks and torque ripples can be mitigated significantly more than 90 per cent compared to results issued from machine having classical magnet shape. Raising the number of magnet layers can give better results. The results of this paper are compared also with those issued from the machine having sinusoidal magnet shape and give a good solution.

A new technique for cogging torque and torque ripple mitigation is proposed in this paper by changing permanent magnet shape. The proposed final magnet shape is constituted of a set of stacked and well-dimensioned layers relative to the opening angle.

The purpose of this study is to present a variable stiffness actuator, one of whose main features is that the compliant elements simultaneously allow measuring of the torque exerted by the joint. Conceived as a force-controlled actuator, this actuator with Adjustable Rigidity and Embedded Sensor (ARES) is intended to be implemented in the knee of the ATLAS exoskeleton for children to allow the exploitation of the intrinsic dynamic during the locomotion cycle.

A set of simulations were performed to evaluate the behavior of the actuator mechanism and a prototype of the variable impedance actuator was incorporated into the exoskeleton’s knee and evaluations of the torque measurements capabilities along with the rigidity adjustments were made.

Mass and inertia of the actuator are minimized by the compact design and the utilization of the different component for more than one utility. By a proper match of the compliance of the joint and the performed task, good torque measurements can be achieved and no bandwidth saturation is expected.

In the actuator, the compliant elements simultaneously allow measuring of the torque exerted by the join. By a proper match of the compliance of the joint and the performed task, good torque measurements can be achieved and no bandwidth saturation is expected.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of different wedge shapes on the performance of air foil thrust bearing (AFTB).

During the study, a bump foil stiffness model considering slip deformation and a two-dimensional sheet top foil model is established, and the Reynolds equation and film thickness equation is solved using the finite difference method and finite element method. The static performance such as load carrying capacity, friction torque and power loss of AFTB under different taper parameters is obtained. The influence of different pitch ratio, film thickness ratio and wedge shapes on the bearing characteristics is studied.

There is an optimal height and a pitch ratio for the taper of AFTB with certain tile number. Compared to the plane and concave wedge shape, the upper convex shape can enhance the convergence effect of the wedge region, increase the effective film pressure distribution area of the bearing and reduce the local concentrated load of the top foil, which is more conductive to the increase of load capacity.

The wedge shape parameters bring a fundamental difference in the static performance of AFTB. The results are expected to be helpful to bearing designers, researchers and academicians concerned.

The flow phenomenon of particle image velocimetry has revealed the transition process of the complex multi-scale vortex between the boundary layer and mainstream region. Nonetheless, present computational fluid dynamics methods inadequately distinguish the discernable flows in detail. A multi-physical field coupling model, which was applied in rotor-stator fluid machinery (Umavathi, 2015; Syawitri et al., 2020), was put forward to ensure the identification of multi-scale vortexes and the improvement of performance prediction in torque converter.

A newly-developed multi-physical field simulation framework that coupled the scale-resolving simulation method with a dynamic modified viscosity coefficient was proposed to comparatively investigate the influence of energy exchange on thermal and flow characteristics and the description of the flow field in detail.

Regardless of whether quantitative or qualitative, its description ability on turbulence statistics, pressure-streamline, vortex structure and eddy viscosity ratio were visually experimentally and numerically analyzed. The results revealed that the modification of transmission medium viscous can identify flows more exactly between the viscous sublayer and outer boundary layer. Compared with RANS and large eddy simulation, a stress-blended eddy simulation model with a dynamic modified viscosity coefficient, which was further used to achieve blending on the stress level, can effectively solve the calculating problem of the transition region between the near-wall boundary layer and mainstream region.

This indeed provides an excellent description of the transient flow field and vortex structure in different physical flow states. Furthermore, the experimental data has proven that the maximum error of the external performance prediction was less than 4%.

An improved model was applied to simulate and analyze the flow mechanism through the evolution of vortex structures in a working chamber, to deepen the designer with a fundamental understanding on how to reduce flow losses and flow non-uniformity in manufacturing.

This paper aims to apply a two‐axis model for accurate representation of the characteristics of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) of the interior type.

For a three‐phase PMSM, it uses a voltage source inverter with six power transistors with independent switching and PSIM software with Matlab for checking, by simulation, how some parameters influence the start process.

It was found that pulsating components generate the synchronizing torque.

The paper provides a model for accurate representation of the characteristics of permanent magnet motors.

The first purpose of this paper is to identify – by an inverse problem – the unknown material characteristics in a permanent magnet synchronous machine in order to obtain a numerical model that is a realistic representation of the machine. The second purpose is to optimize the machine geometrically – using the accurate numerical model – for a maximal torque to losses ratio. Using the optimized geometry, a new machine can be manufactured that is more efficient than the original.

A 2D finite element model of the machine is built, using a nonlinear material characteristic that contains three parameters. The parameters are identified by an inverse problem, starting from torque measurements. The validation is based on local BH‐measurements on the stator iron.

Geometrical parameters of the motor are optimized at small load (low‐stator currents) and at full load (high‐stator currents). If the optimization is carried out for a small load, the stator teeth are chosen wider in order to reduce iron loss. An optimization at full load results in a larger copper section so that the copper loss is reduced.

The identification of the material parameters is influenced by the tolerance on the air gap – shown by a sensitivity analysis in the paper – and by 3D effects, which are not taken into account in the 2D model.

The identification of the material parameters guarantees that the numerical model describes the real material properties in the machine, which may be different from the properties given by the manufacturer because of mechanical stress and material degradation.

The optimization is more accurate because the material properties, used in the numerical model, are determined by the solution of an inverse problem that uses measurements on the machine.

The purpose of this review paper is to address the substantial challenges of the outdated exoskeletons used for rehabilitation and further study the current advancements in this field. The shortcomings and technological developments in sensing the input signals to enable the desired motions, actuation, control and training methods are explained for further improvements in exoskeleton research.

Search platforms such as Web of Science, IEEE, Scopus and PubMed were used to collect the literature. The total number of recent articles referred to in this review paper with relevant keywords is filtered to 143.

Exoskeletons are getting smarter often with the integration of various modern tools to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation. The recent applications of bio signal sensing for rehabilitation to perform user-desired actions promote the development of independent exoskeleton systems. The modern concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning enable the implementation of brain–computer interfacing (BCI) and hybrid BCIs in exoskeletons. Likewise, novel actuation techniques are necessary to overcome the significant challenges seen in conventional exoskeletons, such as the high-power requirements, poor back drivability, bulkiness and low energy efficiency. Implementation of suitable controller algorithms facilitates the instantaneous correction of actuation signals for all joints to obtain the desired motion. Furthermore, applying the traditional rehabilitation training methods is monotonous and exhausting for the user and the trainer. The incorporation of games, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in exoskeletons has made rehabilitation training far more effective in recent times. The combination of electroencephalogram and electromyography-based hybrid BCI is desirable for signal sensing and controlling the exoskeletons based on user intentions. The challenges faced with actuation can be resolved by developing advanced power sources with minimal size and weight, easy portability, lower cost and good energy storage capacity. Implementation of novel smart materials enables a colossal scope for actuation in future exoskeleton developments. Improved versions of sliding mode control reported in the literature are suitable for robust control of nonlinear exoskeleton models. Optimizing the controller parameters with the help of evolutionary algorithms is also an effective method for exoskeleton control. The experiments using VR/AR and games for rehabilitation training yielded promising results as the performance of patients improved substantially.

Robotic exoskeleton-based rehabilitation will help to reduce the fatigue of physiotherapists. Repeated and intention-based exercise will improve the recovery of the affected part at a faster pace. Improved rehabilitation training methods like VR/AR-based technologies help in motivating the subject.

The paper describes the recent methods for signal sensing, actuation, control and rehabilitation training approaches used in developing exoskeletons. All these areas are key elements in an exoskeleton where the review papers are published very limitedly. Therefore, this paper will stand as a guide for the researchers working in this domain.