Modeling and Fatigue Analysis of Robotic Arm with Lightweight Materials using FEA Technique

A robotic arm is a device that can perform comparable duties to a human arm and is programmable and versatile. It is utilized to execute a variety of mechanical operations with great accuracy and efficiency for extremely repetitive jobs. Because robotic arms are employed for repetitive tasks, fatigue may occur as a result of continuous or continual loading; therefore, fatigue behavior is crucial to investigate with the lightweight materials. In this research, a robotic arm was designed and evaluated utilizing a CAD-tool (solid works) with real-time boundary conditions and five different materials (aluminum alloy 7475, carbon fiber, kevlar29, E-glass fiber, and boron fiber). There was a static analysis, a modal analysis, and a fatigue analysis. Deformations, stress, frequency values, component life, and safety considerations were all detected in these evaluations for all models. It can deduce from all of these data which materials have less deformation and which materials have lower stress levels. It can determine robot with which material to utilize for various situations, such as reduced weight or less stress generating robots with greater fatigue resistance, based on all of these findings. The created structure is compared to the metallic structure's original design. It is observed that the robot arm's stiffness has increased significantly while its mass and inertia have decreased, resulting in a very high specific stiffness, specific strength, and excellent dynamic performance, which will undoubtedly result in good productivity as per our requirements, which is the project's desired goal.

Characterization of Microstructure and Hardness of Aluminum Alloy Matrix Composites Reinforced with Boron Fiber (Coarse and Fine) Particles Prepared by Powder Metallurgy Technique

Powder metallurgy is one of the best methods to achieve uniform distribution of reinforcement in to the matrix. In this Paper, characterization of microstructure and hardness of aluminum alloy matrix composites reinforced with boron fiber particles prepared by powder metallurgy technique are investigated. The effects of boron fiber (Coarse particles size of 120 µm and Fine particles size of 50 µm) on mechanical properties were studied. Increasing the reinforcement of boron fiber content with 5%, 10% and15% into the matrix improved the mechanical properties. The percentage of boron fiber reinforcement increasing the strength of the hardness number is also increasing simultaneously, the aluminum alloys and boron fiber particles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with Energy dispersive spectrum (EDS) analyses indicated. Analysis and observing microstructure of the composite is boron fiber particles are uniformly dispersed in the aluminum alloy matrix composites.

New Composite Material Based on Heavy Concrete and Basalt-Boron Fiber for Neutron Radiation Shielding Properties

It is necessary to have reliable radiation protection for safe operation of different radiation sources. Radiation shielding properties have been studied for a long time both in our country and abroad. However, there is a strong necessity to develop new composite materials, which will provide protection against radiation and have improved mechanical and economic characteristics. The paper describes a new composite material for neutron radiation shielding properties based on heavy concrete with serpentinite aggregate and with basalt-boron fiber with different concentrations of fiber boron oxide for using in biological shielding in nuclear industry. Protective properties of the new composite material were investigated with different neutron sources: 1) neutrons with 14 MeV energy; 2) fast fission neutrons for U-235; 3) fast fission neutrons for U-235 after passing a water layer. The simulation of the neutron radiation in presented composite material with adding crushed stone aggregate and serpentinite aggregate is performed by Monte Carlo Serpent code. It is shown that basalt-boron fibers in concrete improve the protective properties of concrete against neutron irradiation for neutrons with different energies, but the most effective is the addition of a basalt-boron fiber in the case of thermal neutrons. This research was supported by Horizon 2020 ERA-NET Support Programme, Research Grant Agreement No 7.9-3/18/7 (“Development of Boron-Infused Basalt-Fiber Reinforced Concrete for Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Management Applications”). Implementation of activities described in the Roadmap to Fusion during Horizon 2020 through a joint programme of the members of the EUROfusion consortium (2014-2020), Work Package PMI. Also, this research was carried out with the financial support of the IAEA, within the terms and conditions of the Research Contract20638 in the framework of the Coordinated Research Project (CRP) “Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) Applications and Use of Low-Enriched Uranium in ADS (T33002)’’ within the Project “The Two-Zone Subcritical Systems with Fast and Thermal Neutron Spectra for Transmutation of Minor Actinides and Long-Lived Fission Products”.

New composite material based on heavy concrete reinforced by basalt-boron fiber for radioactive waste management

A new composite material with neutron radiation shielding properties is presented. This fiber reinforced concrete material incorporates basalt-boron fiber, with different concentrations of boron oxide in fiber, and is applicable to nuclear energy and nuclear waste management. The methodology for production of boron oxide (B2O3) infused basalt fiber has been developed. First experimental samples of basalt boron fiber containing 6% of B2O3 and 12% B2O3 have been produced in laboratory conditions. The concrete samples reinforced by two types of basalt-boron fiber with different dosages have been prepared for neutron experiment. The neutron experimental investigations on radiation shielding properties of concrete reinforced by basalt-boron fiber have been performed by means of Pu-Be neutron source. The prepared samples have been tested in the course of several series of tests. It is shown that basalt-boron fibers in concrete improve neutron radiation shielding properties for neutrons with different energies, but it appears to be most effective when it comes to thermal neutrons.

Study on the Factors of Residual Thermal Stress on Single Lap Joint

This paper discussed the residual thermal stress on single lap joint of various materials. Finite element method (FEM) was adopted to simulate the experimental phenomena. The adherend and adhesive were the main research objects. Mismatch of adherend, adhesive thickness, temperature variation which were the three key factors on the residual thermal stress were analyzed. While, four kinds of materials that include C/SiC, SiC, high temperature nickel based alloy GH1035 (GH1035) and high temperature boron fiber reinforced epoxy composite (composite) formed seven approaches for numerical analysis. The results showed that the adhesive with the C/SiC has the best performance and the best thickness of every approach was determined. Moreover, the ladder temperature is better than other temperature styles.

Bolt Bearing Strength of Commingled Boron/Glass Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Laminates

The bearing properties of recently developed hybrid fiber/metal laminates, or COmmingled Boron/glass fiber Reinforced Aluminum laminates (COBRA), are investigated in this study. The bolt-type bearing tests on GLass REinforced aluminum laminates (GLARE), non-commingled hybrid boron/glass/aluminum fiber/metal laminates (HFML) and COBRA were carried out as a function of e/D ratio, metal volume fraction, fiber volume fraction, and fiber orientation. Experimental results show that with the same joint geometry and metal volume fraction, the commingling of boron fibers improves the bearing strength of fiber/metal laminates. The bearing strength of COBRA with longitudinal fibers is lower than that with transverse fibers due to the fact that shearout failure takes place before maximum bearing strength is reached. The experimental results show that, with only either transverse fiber orientation or longitudinal fiber orientation, COBRA with 18% boron fiber volume fraction possesses a higher bearing strength when compared to HFML with 6% boron fiber volume fraction. In addition to the properties in COBRA with parallel-plies commingled prepreg, the bearing properties of various COBRA with [0°/90°] and [0°/90°/90°/0°] cross-ply commingled prepregs are also discussed.