Dry sliding wear of A356-Al-SiCp composites

Aluminium alloy (A356)-SiC composites containing 15 and 25 wt.% silicon carbide particles (average size 43 μm) were tested for sliding wear at different loads using a pin on disc machine. Composites exhibited better wear resistance compared with unreinforced alloy up to a pressure of 26 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy examination of worn surfaces and subsurfaces show that the presence of dispersed SiC particles help in reducing the propensity of material flow at the surface, at the same time leading to the formation of an iron-rich layer on the surface.

On evaluating erosion by sand particles in polythene system without and with ceramic particles

The effect of the inclusion of ceramic particles in polythene material on the response to erosion due to impingement by sand particles at three angles is investigated. It is seen that erosion resistance varies with ceramic inclusions. The work also considers the limitations posed by the system in adopting weight change measurements as a measure to follow erosive wear owing to the softer nature of the matrix material. Consequently, the investigation looks at two other experimental parameter, that can readily be measured to quantify erosion. Of the two approaches. the advantages of following wear through measuring linear dimension of the resulting crater is stressed in this work. The study also highlights the problems associated in assessing the depth of the crater as a parameter to express the extent of erosion owing to the phenomenon of material flow suggested and schematically illustrated in the work. Corroborative evidence for this flow behaviour through scanning electron microscopic studies is presented. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Energy Dissipation In Fracture Of Bulk Metallic Glasses Via Inherent Competition Between Local Softening And Quasi-Cleavage

Compression, tension and high-velocity plate impact experiments were performed on a typical tough Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu10Ni12.5Be22.5 (Vit 1) bulk metallic glass (BMG) over a wide range of strain rates from similar to 10(-4) to 10(6) s(-1). Surprisingly, fine dimples and periodic corrugations on a nanoscale were also observed on dynamic mode I fracture surfaces of this tough Vit 1. Taking a broad overview of the fracture patterning of specimens, we proposed a criterion to assess whether the fracture of BMGs is essentially brittle or plastic. If the curvature radius of the crack tip is greater than the critical wavelength of meniscus instability [F. Spaepen, Acta Metall. 23 615 (1975); A.S. Argon and M. Salama, Mater. Sci. Eng. 23 219 (1976)], microscale vein patterns and nanoscale dimples appear on crack surfaces. However, in the opposite case, the local quasi-cleavage/separation through local atomic clusters with local softening in the background ahead of the crack tip dominates, producing nanoscale periodic corrugations. At the atomic cluster level, energy dissipation in fracture of BMGs is, therefore, determined by two competing elementary processes, viz. conventional shear transformation zones (STZs) and envisioned tension transformation zones (TTZs) ahead of the crack tip. Finally, the mechanism for the formation of nanoscale periodic corrugation is quantitatively discussed by applying the present energy dissipation mechanism.

Efficient strategies for process design and optimization in ring rolling

Ring rolling is an incremental bulk forming process for the near-net-shape production of seamless rings. This paper shows how nowadays the process design and optimization can be efficiently supported by simulation methods. For reliable predictions of the material flow and the microstructure evolution it's necessary to include a real ring rolling mill's control algorithm into the model. Furthermore an approach for the online measurement of the profile evolution during the process is presented by means of axial profiling in ring rolling. Hence the definition of new ring rolling strategies is possible even for advanced geometries.

Characterizing the class of local metal sheet thickening processes

The need to create high-value products for specialist applications, and the search for efficient forming routes that obviate the need for some machining steps, is driving Interest In a novel class of forming processes aiming to create locally thickened features within sheet work- pieces. A number of novel forming processes have been proposed to meet this need, but it is as yet unclear which processes will be most effective in creating local thickening of various geometries, and many process configurations have yet to be tried. This paper aims to provide some basic principles for designing and characterising process behaviour. A simplified generic description of sheet thickening processes is provided, with two tools of variable operating on a sheet workpiece in plane strain, with different tool separations and motions parameterised. A comprehensive numerical study of the behaviour of this class of processes is conducted in Abaqus to predict the main characteristics of the material flow in each configuration. The results are used to classify the different basic behaviours that can be achieved by the sheet-bulk thickening processes and to give guidance on future process development, capability and applicability. © 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Weinheim.

黄土旱塬麦田生态系统物质平衡及评价

根据长武试区 1986～ 1995年的统计资料并结合田间试验 ,对黄土旱塬麦田生态系统的主要物质 (氮、磷、钾 )循环及平衡特征进行了较为系统的分析。结果表明 ,农田中养分的流动量大 ,流通途径少 ,养分循环的开放性大 ,外循环规模大 ,内循环率小 ;系统养分平衡中 N基本保持收支平衡 ,K2 O入不敷出 ,P2 O5 输入大于输出 ;养分输入中 ,人工投入的化肥与有机肥是养分的主要来源 ,输出中 N主要集中于籽粒 ,K2 O主要集中于秸秆 ,P2 O5 主要残留于土壤中。指出在农业生产中 ,应采用秸秆还田以增加钾的投入 ,同时要增加氮肥投入尤其是有机肥的投入 ,而磷应以提高其有效性为主。

青藏高原东部电性结构特征及地球动力学意义

As the largest and highest plateau on the Earth, the Tibetan Plateau has been a key location for understanding the processes of mountain building and plateau formation during India-Asia continent-continent collision. As the front-end of the collision, the geological structure of eastern Tibetan Plateau is very complex. It is ideal as a natural laboratory for investigating the formation and evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Institute of Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) carried out MT survey from XiaZayii to Qingshuihe in the east part of the plateau in 1998. After error analysis and distortion analysis, the Non-linear Conjugate Gradient inversion(NLCG), Rapid Relaxation Inversin (RRI) and 2D OCCAM Inversion algorithms were used to invert the data. The three models obtained from 3 algorithms provided similar electrical structure and the NLCG model fit the observed data better than the other two models. According to the analysis of skin depth, the exploration depth of MT in Tibet is much more shallow than in stable continent. For example, the Schmucker depth at period 100s is less than 50km in Tibet, but more than 100km in Canadian Shield. There is a high conductivity layer at the depth of several kilometers beneath middle Qiangtang terrane, and almost 30 kilometers beneath northern Qiangtang terrane. The sensitivity analysis of the data predicates that the depth and resistivity of the crustal high conductivity layer are reliable. The MT results provide a high conductivity layer at 20~40km depth, where the seismic data show a low velocity zone. The experiments show that the rock will dehydrate and partially melt in the relative temperature and pressure. Fluids originated from dehydration and partial melting will seriously change rheological characteristics of rock. Therefore, This layer with low velocity and high conductivity layer in the crust is a weak layer. There is a low velocity path at the depth of 90-110 km beneath southeastern Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas from seismology results. The analysis on the temperature and rheological property of the lithosphere show that the low velocity path is also weak. GPS measurements and the numerical simulation of the crust-mantle deformation show that the movement rate is different for different terranes. The regional strike derived from decomposition analysis for different frequency band and seismic anisotropy indicate that the crust and upper mantle move separately instead of as a whole. There are material flow in the eastern and southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Therefore, the faults, the crustal and upper mantle weak layers are three different boundaries for relatively movement. Those results support the "two layer wedge plates" geodynamic model on Tibetan formation and evolution.

Improving supply chain performance: Real-time demand information and flexible deliveries

In some supply chains, materials are ordered periodically according to local information. This paper investigates how to improve the performance of such a supply chain. Specifically, we consider a serial inventory system in which each stage implements a local reorder interval policy; i.e., each stage orders up to a local basestock level according to a fixed-interval schedule. A fixed cost is incurred for placing an order. Two improvement strategies are considered: (1) expanding the information flow by acquiring real-time demand information and (2) accelerating the material flow via flexible deliveries. The first strategy leads to a reorder interval policy with full information; the second strategy leads to a reorder point policy with local information. Both policies have been studied in the literature. Thus, to assess the benefit of these strategies, we analyze the local reorder interval policy. We develop a bottom-up recursion to evaluate the system cost and provide a method to obtain the optimal policy. A numerical study shows the following: Increasing the flexibility of deliveries lowers costs more than does expanding information flow; the fixed order costs and the system lead times are key drivers that determine the effectiveness of these improvement strategies. In addition, we find that using optimal batch sizes in the reorder point policy and demand rate to infer reorder intervals may lead to significant cost inefficiency. © 2010 INFORMS.

The application of the ecological footprint in two Irish urban areas: Limerick and Belfast

The ecological footprint is now a widely accepted indicator of sustainable
development. Footprinting translates resource consumption into the land area
required to sustain it, and allows for an average per capita footprint for a region
or nation to be compared with the global average. This paper reports on a project
in which footprints were calculated for two Irish cities, namely Belfast in
Northern Ireland and Limerick in the Republic of Ireland for the year 2001. As
is frequently the case at sub-national scale, data quality and availability were
often problematic, and in general data gaps were filled by means of population
proxies or national averages. A range of methods was applied to convert
resource flows to land areas. Both footprints suggest that the lifestyles of citizens
of the cities use several times more land than their global share, as has been
found for other cities.

Laajennetun lähettämön sisäisten materiaalivirtojen hallinta leipomoteollisuudessa

Työn tavoitteena on esitellä suunnitelma VAASAN Oy:n Vantaan leipomon laajennetun lähettämön materiaalivirtojen hallinasta. Suunnitelma pohjautuu laskelmiin, jotka sisältävät arviot lähettämön kasvavista materiaalivirroista sekä niiden vaikutuksista lähettämön toimintaan. Laskelmien pohjalta määritetään erikokoisten varastointialueiden sijoittelu, varastointikapasiteetit sekä kunkin alueen kuormittuneisuudet. Teoriaosuus käsittelee työn taustaksi keskeisimpiä teorioita materiaalivirtojen hallinnasta, layoutsuunnittelusta sekä lähettämön toiminnoista. Kunkin osa-alueen avulla voidaan vaikuttaa yrityksen materiaalivirtojen hallintaan. Teoriaosuutta koskevaa tietoa on hankittu logistiikan alan kirjallisuudesta, erilaisista tieteellisistä julkaisuista sekä verkkomateriaaleista. Empiirisessä osuudessa esitellään aluksi Vantaan leipomon lähettämön nykyinen toimintaperiaate. Tämän jälkeen arvioidaan laajennetun lähettämön kasvavia materiaalivirtoja. Työn tuloksena esitellään laskelmia apuna käyttäen suunnitelma laajennetun lähettämön materiaalivirtojen hallinnasta.

Process Variability in Micro-Embossing

A promising technique for the large-scale manufacture of micro-fluidic devices and photonic devices is hot embossing of polymers such as PMMA. Micro-embossing is a deformation process where the workpiece material is heated to permit easier material flow and then forced over a planar patterned tool. While there has been considerable, attention paid to process feasibility very little effort has been put into production issues such as process capability and eventual process control. In this paper, we present initial studies aimed at identifying the origins and magnitude of variability for embossing features at the micron scale in PMMA. Test parts with features ranging from 3.5- 630 µm wide and 0.9 µm deep were formed. Measurements at this scale proved very difficult, and only atomic force microscopy was able to provide resolution sufficient to identify process variations. It was found that standard deviations of widths at the 3-4 µm scale were on the order of 0.5 µm leading to a coefficient of variation as high as 13%. Clearly, the transition from test to manufacturing for this process will require understanding the causes of this variation and devising control methods to minimize its magnitude over all types of parts.

Minimization of stock weight during close-die forging of a spindle

In this paper, Finite Element method and full-scale experiments have been used to study a hot forging method for fabri-cation of a spindle using reduced initial stock size. The forging sequence is carried out in two stages. In the first stage, the hot rolled cylindrical billet is pre-formed and pierced in a closed die using a spherical nosed punch to within 20 mm of its base. This process of piercing or impact extrusion leads to high strains within the work piece but requires high press loads. In the second stage, the resulting cylinder is placed in a die with a flange chamber and upset forged to form a flange. The stock mass is optimized for complete die filling. Process parameters such as effective strain distribution, material flow and forging load in different stages of the process are analyzed. It is concluded from the simulations that minor modifications of piercing punch geometry to reduce contact between the punch and emerging vertical walls of the cylinder appreciably reduces the piercing load. In the flange chamber, a die surfaces angle of 52° instead of 45° is pro-posed to ensure effective material flow and exert sufficient tool pressure to achieve complete cavity filling. In order to achieve better compression, it is also proposed to shorten both the length of the inserted punch and the die “tongues” by a few mm.

Determination of drawbead contacts with variable bead penetration

In stamping operations, the sliding of the sheet metal over the drawbeads is of great importance. The geometry of the drawbead and the degree of penetration both influence material flow and alter the frictional effects between the work and the tool. The effect of drawbead penetration over drawbeads has been studied using the Drawbead Simulator (DBS) test. The contact phenomenon between the sheet and drawbeads was analysed by examining deformed samples with an image fitting technique. The results were compared with an FE simulation and with an approximate geometric analysis. The results give a useful relationship between the rates of change of the contact angle with increasing bead penetration.

Kanban devs modelling, simulation and verification

Kanban Control Systems (KCS) have become a widely accepted form of inventory and production control. The creation of realistic Discrete Events Simulation (DES) models of KCS require specification of both information and material flow. There are several commercially available simulation packages that are able to model these systems although the use of an application specific modelling language provides means for rapid model development. A new Kanban specific simulation language as well as a high-speed execution engine is verified in this paper through the simulation of a single stage single part type production line. A single stage single part KCS is modelled with exhaustive enumeration of the decision variables of container sizes and number of Kanbans. Several performance measures were used; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of container Flow Time (FT), mean line throughput as well as the Coefficient of Variance (CV) of FT and Cycle Time were used to determine the robustness of the control system.

Application of the strain localization CAFE model to investigate extrusion with various die shapes

Multi scale CAFE model for the prediction of initiation and propagation of the micro shear bands and shear bands in metallic materials subjected to plastic deformation is presented. The CAFE approach is the combination of the Cellular Automata (CA) and the Finite Element (FE) methods. The application of the developed CAFE model to analyze material flow during extrusion is the objective of the present work. The proposed CAFE approach is applied in this work to simulation of the extrusion with flat face and convex dies and to investigate differences in the material flow. The initial FE meshes with the set of the CA point are generated for the numerical tests and the results of the metal flow predicted by the CAFE method are presented in the paper.