Structure Optimization of Semi-Solid Die Cast Steering Knuckle and its Experiment Verification

Steering knuckles are vital functional and structural components in automotive suspension systems, requiring high strength, high ductility, and complex shapes. In this study, an aluminum alloy knuckle with the semi-solid die casting process was developed to replace the conventional steel components. This research aims to optimize product design based on both structural simulation and casting process simulation to avoid defects and to meet mechanical requirements. Furthermore, the optimal design solutions need to be verified through the filling experiments and defect analysis. The results show that the removal of support rib located in the thick area of the shock absorber mounting arm is helpful to avoid the rewelding defects in the filling frontier of the SSM melt. Besides, the position of the steering rod is of medium thickness, and two ribs from different directions come together to support that area. Rewelding defects were detected when two ribs come together. To avoid rewelding defects in local areas of steering rod position, the ribs were reduced to uniform wall thickness. Thus, the local flow state was modified and the SSM melt was reinforced shear action. Ultimately, by controlling all the processes of the SSM die casting process, the high performance of aluminum knuckle was successfully developed.

An Analysis of the Catastrophe Model and Catastrophe Characteristics of Traffic Flow Based on Cusp Catastrophe Theory

—The state of urban road traffic flow shows discontinuity and jumping phenomenon in the process of running. There was a data gap in the collected traffic flow data. Through the data analysis, it was found that the traffic flow state had the characteristics of multimode, mutation, inaccessibility, divergence and hysteresis, which were similar to the mutation characteristics of the basic model of catastrophe theory when the system state changed. The cusp catastrophe model of traffic flow based on traffic wave theory was established by analyzing the movement process of traffic flow. In this model, the traffic density was taken as the state variable, and traffic flow and wave speed were taken as the control variable. Referring to the basic idea of catastrophe theory, the solution method of the model was given, and the structural stability of the traffic flow state was analyzed. Through the critical equilibrium surface equation, the stability of the extreme value of the system potential function can be analyzed, and the bifurcation set equation when the traffic flow state changed can be obtained, which can be used to determine the critical range of the structural stability of the system. This paper discussed and analyzed the changing trend and constraint relationship among the wave speed, traffic density and traffic flow when the traffic flow state changed suddenly in different running environments. The analysis results were consistent with the actual road traffic flow state. A case was given, and the results showed that the cusp catastrophe model could describe the relationship among the three parameters of traffic flow from three-dimensional space, and could effectively analyze the internal relationship of the parameters when the traffic flow state changed. The validity of the model and analysis method was verified. The goal of this paper is to provide an analysis method for the judgment of urban road traffic state.

Numerical Simulation of the Influence of Taylor Vortex on the Apparent Viscosity Measurement of Semi-Solid Metallic Based On ANSYS Fluent

The apparent viscosity of semi-solid metallic slurry with a low solid fraction, which is one of the most essential parameters for representing the rheological behavior, is mainly measured by the concentric cylinder rotational approach. The principle of this method is based on the assumptions that the fluid is in an ideal laminar flow state and obey the Newton’s internal friction law. However, as the angular velocity ω increases, the fluid undergoes a transition from a stable laminar flow state to a Taylor vortex and turbulent flow state. These unstable flow conditions such as Taylor vortex and turbulence have a severe impact on the accuracy of apparent viscosity measurement. However, these unstable flow conditions are difficult to monitored and analyzed in real time through experimental methods. Computer numerical simulation technology provides the possibility and convenience for the visualization of the flow state of the semi-solid metallic slurry in the measurement system. In this work, ANSYS Fluent was used to simulate the apparent viscosity measurement process of semi-solid slurry, and the flow state transition process of the semi-solid slurry in the measurement system was successfully visualized and analyzed. In order to avoid the influence of Taylor vortex, combined with the measurement principle of the concentric cylinder rotational rheometer and Taylor’s study on flow stability, the empirical equation of limiting speed to avoid Taylor vortex in the process of Searle rheometer viscosity measurement is given.

The Uses of Games That Transcend the Play and Mediate Learning

The digital games market is around 109 billion dollars. In this scenario, games as tools for mental and educational stimulation have been highlighted. They allow the connection between friends, the narrowing of family ties, artistic expression, improvement of aspects related to health, institute mechanisms for business and advertising, as well as constitute opportunities for differentiated training and simulations. Such artifacts are also mediators for building knowledge, as well as developing or exercising skills and attitudes, since they involve the flow state. For this it is necessary to make use of adaptability that in the educational scope allows the personalization of the experience to extend the immersion and fun. The present chapter presents a review to subsidize the expansion of the mapping of games' uses developed by Klopfer, Osterweil, and Salen, as well as to establish their relation with the deliberate practice to institute immersive and meaningful educational proposals.

Numerical simulation of S-shaped inlet under the intake total pressure distortion

During the development of the stealth fighter, the S-shaped inlet enters the designer’s vision because it has better stealth than bump inlet and straight inlet. During the use of the S-shaped inlet, due to its structural reasons, secondary flow is likely to occur in the curved section, which directly causes the flow state to be changeable and complicated. Therefore, this paper takes the S-shaped inlet as the research object to analyzes the steady flow field simulation under uniform inlet condition and distortion inlet condition and analyze the flow field of the airflow and the total pressure of each section under the S-shaped inlet by changing the intake distortion conditions with CFX software. The results show that although the S-shaped inlet will occur total pressure distortion under uniform intake. However, when the S-shaped inlet work under certain flight conditions, the level of total pressure distortion will be smaller than the uniform inlet condition, which can improve the air intake performance. Finally, it can be inferred that with use of the S-shaped intake port, the deterioration of distortion may be prevented under certain specific intake conditions.

Effectiveness of Social Interactivity in Merchant Websites on Emotional and Behavioral Responses

In a context of hyper connectivity, the designers of commercial websites are constantly seeking to generate favorable psychological states among internet users and to re-enchant them. This research aims to study the effect of the interaction between the social dimensions of interactivity on psychological states and the approach behavior of the e-consumer. Experimentation is chosen as the most appropriate method for testing the proposed model. An online experiment was conducted with 662 internet users. A merchant website was designed for the purposes of the study incorporating the interaction forms investigated. The results of this research underline the power of the social dimension of interactivity in the mediated market environments and show that a socially interactive site can generate the user's flow state, as well as a feeling of being physically present in a remote environment. This relation is moderated by the perceived risk.

Fuzzy Regulator for Two-Phase Gas–Liquid Pipe Flows Control

The paper presents an intelligent module to control dynamic two-phase gas–liquid mixtures pipelines flow processes. The module is intelligent because it uses the algorithm based on AI methods, namely, fuzzy logic inference, to build the fuzzy regulator concept. The developed modification has allowed to design and implement the black-box type regulator. Therefore, it is not required to determine any of the complicated computer models of the flow rig, which is unfortunately necessary when using the classic regulators. The inputs of the regulator are four linguistic variables that are decomposed into two classes and two methods of fuzzification. The first input class describes the current values of gas and liquid pipe flows, which at the same time are the controlled values manipulated to generate desired flow type. The second class of the input signals contains a current flow state, namely, its name and the name preferred by the operator flow type. This approach improves the control accuracy since the given flow type can be generated with different gas and liquid volume fractions. Those values can be optimized by knowing the current flow type. Moreover, the fuzzification algorithm used for the input signals included in the first-class covers the current crisp signal value and its trend making the inference more accurate and resistant to slight measurement system inaccuracy. This approach of defined input signals in such environments is used for the first time. Considering all mentioned methods, it is possible to generate the desired flow type by manipulating the system input signals by minimum required values. Furthermore, a flow type can be changed by adjusting only one of the input signals. As an output of the inference process, two linguistic values are received, which are fuzzified adjustment values of the liquid pump and gas flow meter. The regulator looks to be universal, and it can be adopted by multiple test and production rigs. Moreover, once configured with a dedicated rig, it can be easily operated by the non (domain) technical staff. The usage of fuzzy terms makes understanding both the control strategy working principles and the obtained results easy.

MATERIAL MOVEMENT WITHIN A SINGLE-SCREW EXTRUDER

In present-day economic conditions, extrusion is one of the advanced feedstuffs and food production processes involving intensive manifold heat and force action. During extrusion, the main function is performed by a compression mechanism which includes a forcing screw unit built into the cylinder (cowling). The forcing mechanism performs the task of transferring material while concurrently compressing it up to a required pressure and increasing the material’s temperature due to compression and friction against the cowling's sides. In our view, the first technique is appropriate when a material which is moving within the compression area is in viscous-flow state. The second technique is optimal for theoretical description of areas of loading, transportation, and compression (melting) where the working pressure is maintained.

Hydraulic Characteristics and Numerical Simulation of the Entrance Section of Ladder-Shaped Spillway

The ladder-shaped spillway in a certain reservoir junction is set as the engineering background in the paper. The hydraulic similarly model experiment and three-dimensional numerical simulation of hydraulic characteristics of water flow are performed. The outflow capacity, flow state analysis, velocity distribution, water surface line, pressure, and the energy dissipation rate are analyzed, and experimental results are compared with the numerical results. The conclusions demonstrate that the numerical results of the flow characteristics are very proximate to actual experimental results, the changeable law is the same, and their energy dissipation rate is basically consistent; it shows the feasibility of three-dimensional numerical simulation; the conclusions can provide the basis for the optimization about the flow state of the ladder-shaped spillway in the future.