scholarly journals Nature-inspired optimization of tubular joints for metal 3D printing

Author(s):  
Alper Kanyilmaz ◽  
Filippo Berto ◽  
Ingrid Paoletti ◽  
Ric Joseph Caringal ◽  
Samantha Mora

Abstract Steel tubular frames are often used to build a variety of structures because of their optimal mechanical properties and attractive forms. However, their joint fabrication involves a vast quantity of cutting and welding works, which induces high labour costs, material waste, and environmental pollution. The construction industry dominates the global carbon footprint, and it needs more sustainable products. Nature’s structures are also often tubular, and their joints (e.g. the knees of a human body, the nodes of trees and plants) are intrinsically optimized to maximize stiffness, resistance, and robustness. The 3D metal printing technology can enable a nature-inspired optimization of steel tubular joints, saving material waste and decreasing fabrication costs as well as the carbon footprint of the sector, since it is free from the constraints of traditional manufacturing. In this study, we designed new tubular joint shapes using solid isotropic material with the penalization (SIMP) method. The objective of the optimization was to maximize the structural performance of the node. The optimized node that used to be achieved after a complex manufacturing process composed of numerous cutting and welding operations, can now be 3D printed and then connected to the rest of the joint leading to a shorter fabrication time. We quantified the joints’ structural performance with different grades of optimization using non-linear finite element analysis. Compared with the conventional joint shapes, the new geometries offered a higher stiffness, resistance, and robustness. We performed a powder bed fusion simulation to analyze the residual stresses after production, and estimated the cost of the new solutions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 506
Author(s):  
Sun-Jin Han ◽  
Inwook Heo ◽  
Jae-Hyun Kim ◽  
Kang Su Kim ◽  
Young-Hun Oh

In this study, experiments and numerical analyses were carried out to examine the flexural and shear performance of a double composite wall (DCW) manufactured using a precast concrete (PC) method. One flexural specimen and three shear specimens were fabricated, and the effect of the bolts used for the assembly of the PC panels on the shear strength of the DCW was investigated. The failure mode, flexural and shear behavior, and composite behavior of the PC panel and cast-in-place (CIP) concrete were analyzed in detail, and the behavioral characteristics of the DCW were clearly identified by comparing the results of tests with those obtained from a non-linear flexural analysis and finite element analysis. Based on the test and analysis results, this study proposed a practical equation for reasonably estimating the shear strength of a DCW section composed of PC, CIP concrete, and bolts utilizing the current code equations.


Author(s):  
P. Thibaux ◽  
J. Van Wittenberghe ◽  
E. Van Pottelberg ◽  
M. Van Poucke ◽  
P. De Baets ◽  
...  

Tubular joints are intensively used in off-shore structures for shallow waters. Depending on the sea conditions and the type of structure, the design can be fatigue driven. This is particularly the case for off-shore wind turbines, where turbulences are generating a fatigue loading. Any improvement of the fatigue performance of the tubular joint would be beneficial to reduce the weight and the cost of the structure. To assess efficiently the fatigue resistance of the tubular joint, a testing method has been developed based on the resonance principle. The complete circumference of the welded joint can be loaded, successively in the in-plane and out-of-plane modes at a frequency close to 20Hz. Finite element computations were used to investigate the feasibility of the concept. Then, an X-node was made and successfully tested to investigate the stress distribution along the weld. The experimental results were compared with finite element computations, giving a good agreement.


2014 ◽  
Vol 945-949 ◽  
pp. 1135-1138
Author(s):  
Tao Liang ◽  
Chun Ling Meng ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Xiu Hua Zhao

The finite element analysis of large air cooling tower was carried out using ABAQUS. On the basis of strength above,8 types of the axial force are analyzed and summarized, find valuable rules, and put forward the further optimization design. So that it can satisfy the strength and stability of air cooling tower, the structure is more reasonable, reduce weight, reduce the cost.


2013 ◽  
Vol 823 ◽  
pp. 247-250
Author(s):  
Jie Dong ◽  
Wen Ming Cheng ◽  
Yang Zhi Ren ◽  
Yu Pu Wang

Because of the huge lifting weight and complex structure of large-tonnage gantry crane and in order to effectively design and review it, this paper aims to carry out a research on its structural performance based on the method of theoretical calculation and finite element analysis. During the early period of design, the method of theoretical calculations is adopted, and after specific design it comes the finite element analysis, so as to get the results of analysis under a variety of operating conditions, which illustrates that the structural design and review of large-tonnage gantry crane based on theoretical calculations and finite element are feasible, and also verifies that the method of finite element is an effective way to find a real dangerous cross-section, thus providing the basis for the design and manufacture of the crane structure.


Author(s):  
Jimmy Chuang ◽  
Jin Yang ◽  
David Shia ◽  
Y L Li

Abstract In order to meet increasing performance demand from high-performance computing (HPC) and edge computing, thermal design power (TDP) of CPU and GPU needs to increase. This creates thermal challenge to corresponding electronic packages with respect to heat dissipation. In order to address this challenge, two-phase immersion cooling is gaining attention as its primary mode of heat of removal is via liquid-to-vapor phase change, which can occur at relatively low and constant temperatures. In this paper, integrated heat spreader (IHS) with boiling enhancement features is proposed. 3D metal printing and metal injection molding (MIM) are the two approaches used to manufacture the new IHS. The resultant IHS with enhancement features are used to build test vehicles (TV) by following standard electronic package assembly process. Experimental results demonstrated that boiling enhanced TVs improved two-phase immersion cooling capability by over 50% as compared to baseline TV without boiling enhanced features.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Harbison ◽  
W. Koon ◽  
V. Smith ◽  
P. Haymon ◽  
D. Niole ◽  
...  

As a result of enhanced performance and mission requirements for Navy ships, ship design has dramatically increased the use of higher strength, lightweight steels and various local reinforcements, e.g., deck inserts, ring stiffeners, etc., in foundation designs to satisfy the design requirements for supporting machinery, consoles, and weapon systems among others. In additional to operational loading requirements, most of these foundations must also be designed to satisfy shock, vibration and other combat system requirements. While the same piece of equipment may be used in other ship contracts, the foundations are uniquely designed and require a separate analysis and drawing package. Computer modeling and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) have helped reduce the labor required to analyze foundations, but the high number of “unique” foundations as well as changes which necessitate a new analysis still create a large workload for engineers. This is further compounded by increased costs in production due to greater numbers of unique parts and materials that must be marked, stored, and retrieved later for fabrication. This goal of this project was to determine the cost-savings potential of leveraging past foundations work in designing, analyzing, and drawing foundations in the future. By the project’s conclusion Ingalls will have created a database for rapid access to previously-generated foundation information, the framework of which will be publicly available for all shipyards to populate with their own foundation information.


2019 ◽  
Vol 208 ◽  
pp. 785-794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan P. Correa ◽  
Juan M. Montalvo-Navarrete ◽  
Miguel A. Hidalgo-Salazar

2011 ◽  
Vol 199-200 ◽  
pp. 1175-1179
Author(s):  
Shuang Zhao ◽  
Jing Gang Wang ◽  
Li Li Dai ◽  
Ya Qiong Deng ◽  
Jiao Miao

The research is conducted on the tank of semi-trailers which is made of steel by using the method of Finite Element Analysis. The optimized result indicated that the mass of the tank structure reduced by 9% on the premise that the intensity and the rigidity request of structural property is satisfied, and the dynamic characteristic also meets the requirement. It is the foundation to reduce the cost of manufacture and improve the operational effectiveness of user.


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