Structural Lattice Topology and Material Optimization for Battery Protection in Electric Vehicles Subjected to Ground Impact Using Artificial Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms

A critical external interference that often appears to pose a safety issue in rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS) for electric vehicles (EV) is ground impact due to stone impingement. This study aims to propose the new concept of the sandwich for structural battery protection using a lattice structure configuration for electric vehicle applications. The protective geometry consists of two layers of a twisted-octet lattice structure. The appropriate lattice structure was selected through topology and material optimization using an artificial neural network (ANN), genetic algorithms (GA), and multi-objective optimization with technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methods. The optimization variables are the lattice structure relative density, ρ¯, angle, θ, and strength of the materials, σy. Numerical simulations were used to model the dynamic impact loading on the structures due to a conical stone mass of 0.77 kg traveling at 162 km/h. The two-layer lattice structure configuration appears to be suitable for the purposes of RESS protection. The optimum configuration for battery protection is a lattice structure with an angle of 66°, relative density of 0.8, and yield strength of 41 MPa. This optimum configuration can satisfy the safety threshold of battery-shortening deformation. Therefore, the proposed lattice structure configuration can potentially be implemented for electric vehicle applications to protect the battery from ground impact.

High mobility SiMOSFETs fabricated in a full 300 mm CMOS process

The quality of the semiconductor-barrier interface plays a pivotal role in the demonstration of high quality reproducible quantum dots for quantum information processing. In this work, we have measured SiMOSFET Hall bars on undoped Si substrates in order to investigate the device quality. For devices fabricated in a full CMOS process and of very thin oxide below a thickness of \unit[10]{nm}, we report a record mobility of \unit[$17.5\times 10^{3}$]{cm$^2$/Vs} indicating a high quality interface, suitable for future qubit applications. We also study the influence of gate materials on the mobilities and discuss the underlying mechanisms, giving insight into further material optimization for large scale quantum processors.

Lightweight Material Optimization of Aquatic Vehicles’ Propeller Based on Fatigue Life Using Hydro Structural Interaction Simulation

Generally, inward and outward effects are huge and prime in the rotating components. Based on the working environments of a rotor, the complexity is increased furthermore. Similarly, this work also deals the complicated problem, which is fatigue life estimation of Marine Vehicles’ propeller for different lightweight materials under given Ocean environments by using Ansys Fluent 16.2. The conceptual design of the ship propeller is modeled with the help of CATIA. Fatigue life estimation on the rotor is a key and complex output of this work, so advanced methodology is mandatory for computation. For that purpose, the following advanced methodology has been implemented for this work, which is Hydro Structural Interaction (HSI) and Moving Reference Frame (MRF) techniques are associated in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Hydro-Fluid properties such as density and operating pressure are used as per the working vehicles’ environment, which has been easily, defined in Ansys Fluent 17.2. Thus this computational platform is perfect to handle hydrodynamic simulations, even though the gird convergence study is conducted for the better outcomes. In the case of structural simulation, the existing materials such as Aluminium alloy and Stainless Steel are used for fatigue life estimation under HSI loading conditions. Finally, the fatigue life estimation of Marine Vehicles’ propeller is extended for composite materials to compare the life of a rotor. Both the Hydrostatic and Hydrodynamic loading conditions are tested on Aquatic Vehicle’s rotor and thereby the suitable material is chosen and given to the future input for real-time applications.

CARES research: product and process digitalization for design and manufacturing of prefabricated cardboard panels

Building prefabrication is facing the challenge to reduce the life-cycle impact of construction, enhance material circularity, and increase the quality of building products and processes. The paper presents the first phase of the research CARES - CArdboard RElocatable School developed with the Italian brand Archicart by Area S.r.l with the aim to prototype a temporary school unit. The work presented is focused on the industrialization of a prefabricated building technology based on the use of cardboard panels (PACOTECTM Stre-Wall panels). Cardboard is a circular and environmentally sustainable material but currently the design and manufacturing process lacks digital integration, resulting in poor quality control, limited adaptability, and lack of material optimization. To address sustainability goals, the work implemented a “file-to-factory” approach to redesign the design-manufacturing process of prefabricated cardboard panels, integrating industry 4.0 paradigms in manufacturing (automation, high-precision manufacturing) and the use of BIM tools for design to achieve better product-process quality and predictability. The redesigned workflow allows achieving sustainability goals, such as reduction of errors, reduction of material wastes, cost and time predictability, product customization, and adaptability. The workflow will be verified and tested in the design and manufacturing of prefabricated cardboard panels to build a temporary school unit.