Production of aluminium based composites reinforced with embedded NiTi by friction stir welding

Dissertação para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Joining copper to stainless steel by friction stir diffusion process

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Characterization of processed materials by electrical currents: development of equipment and applications

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Lime or Chloride Treatment of Granular Base Course Materials, HR-99

Results are presented of triaxial testing of three crushed limestones to which either hydrated high-calcium lime, sodium chloride or calcium chloride had been added. Lime was added at rates of 1, 3, 10 and 16 percent, chlorides were added at 0.5 percent rate only. Speciments were compacted using vibratory compaction apparatus and were tested in triaxial compression using lateral pressures from 10 to 100 psi. Triaxial test results indicate that: (1) sodium chloride slightly decreased the angle of internal friction and increased cohesion, (2) calcium chloride slightly increased the angle of internal friction and decreased cohesion, and (3) lime had no appreciable effect on angle of internal friction but increased cohesion, decreased density and increased pore water pressure.

Maintenance of Pavement Skid Resistance (Open Graded Asphalt Friction Courses), Progress Report, HR-170, 1976

This project involved the evaluation of several aggregates previously rated poor to excellent with respect to skid resistance and certain mix design parameters. An open graded asphalt friction course was evaluated using 4 comparably graded aggregates: quartzite, fine grained limestone, coarse limestone and lightweight expanded shale. The performance investigations involved the verification of observations of the quartzite test sections, evaluation of the effect of blending the superior quartzite with a typical coarse grained-textured limestone, and the evaluation of the limestone. The effects of traffic on the aggregates used in the test sections were studied, as well as the relationship between asphalt content levels and traffic with respect to performance. The bond of the open graded friction course mixture was also evaluated. The SN performance of all test sections after sixteen months of exposure was found to be satisfactory in that none of the material combinations had polished to the point where unacceptable SN levels developed. When material combinations were compared, significant differences were noted.

Identification of Laboratory Techniques to Optimize Superpave HMA Surface Friction Characteristics, TR-450, 2010

Wet pavement friction is known to be one of the most important roadway safety parameters. In this research, frictional properties of flexible (asphalt) pavements were investigated. As a part of this study, a laboratory device to polish asphalt specimens was refined and a procedure to evaluate mixture frictional properties was proposed. Following this procedure, 46 different Superpave mixtures, one stone matrix asphalt (SMA) mixture and one porous friction course (PFC) mixture were tested. In addition, 23 different asphalt and two concrete field sections were also tested for friction and noise. The results of both field and laboratory measurements were used to develop an International Friction Index (IFI)-based protocol for measurement of the frictional characteristics of asphalt pavements for laboratory friction measurements. Based on the results of the study, it appears the content of high friction aggregate should be 20% or more of the total aggregate blend when used with other, polish susceptible coarse aggregates; the frictional properties increased substantially as the friction aggregate content increased above 20%. Both steel slag and quartzite were found to improve the frictional properties of the blend, though steel slag had a lower polishing rate. In general, mixes containing soft limestone demonstrated lower friction values than comparable mixes with hard limestone or dolomite. Larger nominal maximum aggregate size mixes had better overall frictional performance than smaller sized mixes. In addition, mixes with higher fineness moduli generally had higher macrotexture and friction.

Weld joint characteristics by nano-materials addition

The need for industries to remain competitive in the welding business, has created necessity to develop innovative processes that can exceed customer’s demand. Significant development in improving weld efficiency, during the past decades, still have their drawbacks, specifically in the weld strength properties. The recent innovative technologies have created smallest possible solid material known as nanomaterial and their introduction in welding production has improved the weld strength properties and to overcome unstable microstructures in the weld. This study utilizes a qualitative research method, to elaborate the methods of introducing nanomaterial to the weldments and the characteristic of the welds produced by different welding processes. The study mainly focuses on changes in the microstructural formation and strength properties on the welded joint and also discusses those factors influencing such improvements, due to the addition of nanomaterials. The effect of nanomaterial addition in welding process modifies the physics of joining region, thereby, resulting in significant improvement in the strength properties, with stable microstructure in the weld. The addition of nanomaterials in the welding processes are, through coating on base metal, addition in filler metal and utilizing nanostructured base metal. However, due to its insignificant size, the addition of nanomaterials directly to the weld, would poses complications. The factors having major influence on the joint integrity are dispersion of nanomaterials, characteristics of the nanomaterials, quantity of nanomaterials and selection of nanomaterials. The addition of nanomaterials does not affect the fundamental properties and characteristics of base metals and the filler metal. However, in some cases, the addition of nanomaterials lead to the deterioration of the joint properties by unstable microstructural formations. Still research are ongoing to achieve high joint integrity, in various materials through different welding processes and also on other factors that influence the joint strength.

Mathematical Modelling of the Dynamics of Granular Materials in a Rotating Cylinder

The current study is aimed at the development of a theoretical simulation tool based on Discrete Element Method (DEM) to 'interpret granular dynamics of solid bed in the cross section of the horizontal rotating cylinder at the microscopic level and subsequently apply this model to establish the transition behaviour, mixing and segregation.The simulation of the granular motion developed in this work is based on solving Newton's equation of motion for each particle in the granular bed subjected to the collisional forces, external forces and boundary forces. At every instant of time, the forces are tracked and the positions velocities and accelarations of each partcle is The software code for this simulation is written in VISUAL FORTRAN 90 After checking the validity of the code with special tests, it is used to investigate the transition behaviour of granular solids motion in the cross section of a rotating cylinder for various rotational speeds and fill fraction.This work is hence directed towards a theoretical investigation based on Discrete Element Method (DEM) of the motion of granular solids in the radial direction of the horizontal cylinder to elucidate the relationship between the operating parameters of the rotating cylinder geometry and physical properties ofthe granular solid.The operating parameters of the rotating cylinder include the various rotational velocities of the cylinder and volumetric fill. The physical properties of the granular solids include particle sizes, densities, stiffness coefficients, and coefficient of friction Further the work highlights the fundamental basis for the important phenomena of the system namely; (i) the different modes of solids motion observed in a transverse crosssection of the rotating cylinder for various rotational speeds, (ii) the radial mixing of the granular solid in terms of active layer depth (iii) rate coefficient of mixing as well as the transition behaviour in terms of the bed turnover time and rotational speed and (iv) the segregation mechanisms resulting from differences in the size and density of particles.The transition behaviour involving its six different modes of motion of the granular solid bed is quantified in terms of Froude number and the results obtained are validated with experimental and theoretical results reported in the literature The transition from slumping to rolling mode is quantified using the bed turnover time and a linear relationship is established between the bed turn over time and the inverse of the rotational speed of the cylinder as predicted by Davidson et al. [2000]. The effect of the rotational speed, fill fraction and coefficient of friction on the dynamic angle of repose are presented and discussed. The variation of active layer depth with respect to fill fraction and rotational speed have been investigated. The results obtained through simulation are compared with the experimental results reported by Van Puyvelde et. at. [2000] and Ding et at. [2002].The theoretical model has been further extended, to study the rmxmg and segregation in the transverse direction for different particle sizes and their size ratios. The effect of fill fraction and rotational speed on the transverse mixing behaviour is presented in the form of a mixing index and mixing kinetics curve. The segregation pattern obtained by the simulation of the granular solid bed with respect to the rotational speed of the cylinder is presented both in graphical and numerical forms. The segregation behaviour of the granular solid bed with respect to particle size, density and volume fraction of particle size has been investigated. Several important macro parameters characterising segregation such as mixing index, percolation index and segregation index have been derived from the simulation tool based on first principles developed in this work.

Influence of Interface Surface Geometries In The Tensile Characteristics Of Friction Welded Joints From Aluminium Alloys

Friction welding is a solid state joining process that produces coalescence in materials, using the heat developed between surfaces through a combination of mechanical induced rubbing motion and applied load. In rotary friction welding technique heat is generated by the conversion of mechanical energy into thermal energy at the interface of the work pieces during rotation under pressure. Traditionally friction welding is carried out on a dedicated machine because of its adaptability to mass production. In the present work, steps were made to modify a conventional lathe to rotary friction welding set up to obtain friction welding with different interface surface geometries at two different speeds and to carry out tensile characteristic studies. The surface geometries welded include flat-flat, flat-tapered, tapered-tapered, concave-convex and convex-convex. A comparison of maximum load, breaking load and percentage elongation of different welded geometries has been realized through this project. The maximum load and breaking load were found to be highest for weld formed between rotating flat and stationary tapered at 500RPM and the values were 19.219kN and 14.28 kN respectively. The percentage elongation was found to be highest for weld formed between rotating flat and stationary flat at 500RPM and the value was 21.4%. Hence from the studies it is cleared that process parameter like “interfacing surface geometries” of weld specimens have strong influence on tensile characteristics of friction welded joints

A Comparative Study Of Tensile And Microstructural Characteristics Of Friction Welded Joints And Conventionally Welded Joints Of Aluminium Alloy 6061

Welding of high strength and low weight materials like Aluminium Alloys without any defects by conventional welding techniques is a major challenge in industries. Hence research on solid state welding techniques like Friction stir welding and Friction welding techniques have got much importance in joining of Aluminium alloys. However most of the industries are not changing conventional techniques as skilled workers are available on that area. Most common conventional welding techniques used for joining of Aluminium alloys are Gas welding and Arc welding. Friction welding is a solid-state welding process that generates heat through mechanical friction between a moving and a stationary component with the addition of a lateral force called “upset” to plast ically displace and fuse the materials. In this work, experimental study on tensile and micro structural characteristics of welded joints formed from conventional welding techniques and Rotary friction welding(suitable for weld specimens with circular cross section) has been carried out and the same were compared. The process parameters for arc welding used was 50-70 Amp reverse polarity DC and electrodes of 2.3mm diameter. In Gas welding, the parameters were oxy acetylene neural flame at 3200°C and 3mm electrodes . In the case of friction welding an axial pressure loading of 3Mpa with 5 MPa as upsetting pressure and 500 rpm were used to obtain good welded joints. Tensile characteristic studies of Arc welded joints and Gas welded joints showed 48% and 60 % variations respectively from the maximum load bearing characteristics of parent metal. In the case of friction welded joint, the variation was found to 46%. Micro structural evaluation of conventionally welded joints exhibited clear distinct zones of various weld regions. In the case of friction welded joint micro structural photographs showed comparable features both in parent metal and welded region. Thus the tensile characteristic study and microstructure evaluations proved that friction welded joints are good in both aspects compared to conventionally welded joints.

Cutting, by 'pressing and slicing,' of thin floppy slices of materials illustrated by experiments on cheddar cheese and salami

Why it is easier to cut with even the sharpest knife when 'pressing down and sliding' than when merely 'pressing down alone' is explained. A variety of cases of cutting where the blade and workpiece have different relative motions is analysed and it is shown that the greater the 'slice/push ratio' xi given by ( blade speed parallel to the cutting edge/blade speed perpendicular to the cutting edge), the lower the cutting forces. However, friction limits the reductions attainable at the highest.. The analysis is applied to the geometry of a wheel cutting device (delicatessan slicer) and experiments with a cheddar cheese and a salami using such an instrumented device confirm the general predictions. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Ice internal friction: Standard theoretical perspectives on friction codified, adapted for the unusual rheology of ice, and unified

Sea ice contains flaws including frictional contacts. We aim to describe quantitatively the mechanics of those contacts, providing local physics for geophysical models. With a focus on the internal friction of ice, we review standard micro-mechanical models of friction. The solid's deformation under normal load may be ductile or elastic. The shear failure of the contact may be by ductile flow, brittle fracture, or melting and hydrodynamic lubrication. Combinations of these give a total of six rheological models. When the material under study is ice, several of the rheological parameters in the standard models are not constant, but depend on the temperature of the bulk, on the normal stress under which samples are pressed together, or on the sliding velocity and acceleration. This has the effect of making the shear stress required for sliding dependent on sliding velocity, acceleration, and temperature. In some cases, it also perturbs the exponent in the normal-stress dependence of that shear stress away from the value that applies to most materials. We unify the models by a principle of maximum displacement for normal deformation, and of minimum stress for shear failure, reducing the controversy over the mechanism of internal friction in ice to the choice of values of four parameters in a single model. The four parameters represent, for a typical asperity contact, the sliding distance required to expel melt-water, the sliding distance required to break contact, the normal strain in the asperity, and the thickness of any ductile shear zone.

Study of interstitial oxygen mobility in RuSr2GdCu2O8 by internal friction

The discovery of the spatial uniform coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in ruthenocuprates, RuSr2GdCu2O8 (Ru-1212), has spurred an extraordinary development in the study of the competition between magnetism and superconductivity. However, several points of their preparation process and characterization that determine their superconductive behaviour are still obscure. The improvement of sample preparation conditions involves some thermal treatments in inert atmosphere. Anelastic spectroscopy measurements were made using an inverted torsion pendulum, operating with an oscillation frequency of 38 Hz, temperature in the 90 and 310 K range, heating rate of 1 K/min, and vacuum better than 10(-3) Pa. The results show anelastic relaxation peaks at 210 K related to the presence of interstitial oxygen atoms. The peaks decrease significantly with the oxygen loss caused by the heat treatments in vacuum, appearing again after the annealing of the sample in an oxygen atmosphere. These observed peaks are clearly related to the additional oxygen atoms, with activation energy 0.13 and 0.36 eV, and can be explained in terms by diffusional jumps of interstitial oxygen in the RuO2 planes. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Debris, Roughness and Friction of Stainless Steel Archwires Following Clinical Use

Objective: To investigate the degree of debris, roughness, and friction of stainless steel orthodontic archwires before and after clinical use.Materials and Methods: For eight individuals, two sets of three brackets (n = 16) each were bonded from the first molar to the first premolar. A passive segment of 0.019- x 0.025-inch stainless steel archwire was inserted into the brackets and tied by elastomeric ligature. Debris level (via scanning electron microscopy), roughness, and frictional force were evaluated as-received and after 8 weeks of intraoral exposure. Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and Spearman correlation tests were used for statistical analysis at the .05 level of significance.Results: There were significant increases in the level of debris (P = .0004), roughness of orthodontic wires (P = .002), and friction (P = .0001) after intraoral exposure. Significant positive correlations (P < .05) were observed between these three variables.Conclusion: Stainless steel rectangular wires, when exposed to the intraoral environment for 8 weeks, showed a significant increase in the degree of debris and surface roughness, causing an increase in friction between the wire and bracket during the mechanics of sliding. (Angle Orthod. 2010;80:521-527.)

On the control of a non-ideal engineering system: A friction-driven oscillating system with limited power supply

In this work a switching feedback controller for stick-slip compensation of a 2-DOF mass-spring-belt system which interacts with an energy source of limited power supply (non-ideal case) is developed. The system presents an oscillatory behavior due to the stick-slip friction. As the system equilibrium for a conventional feedback controller is not the origin, a switching control law combining a state feedback term and a discontinuous term is proposed to regulate the position of the mass. The problem of tracking a desired periodic trajectory is also considered. The feedback system is robust with respect to the friction force that is assumed to be within known upper and lower bounds.