Formation of ANFO Analogues under Fire Conditions in the Presence of Common Plastics

This article is a continuation of a case study in which we presented the results of research on processes generated under fire conditions by mixing molten ammonium nitrate (AN) with selected polymers. Here, we present an analysis of how certain materials, which may frequently appear in farm buildings and are commonly used in the immediate vicinity of humans, can potentially form explosives. The chosen materials include polyamides (PA) from which the wear-resistant machine elements are made (e.g., high-performance gears, wheels of transport trolleys); polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used, i.e., in construction carpentry, electrical insulation, and hydraulic pipes; polystyrene (PS) used, i.e., in insulation and containers; and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), i.e., so-called organic glass and plexiglass. The research results showed that these seemingly harmless and safe materials, mixed with AN and heated under fire conditions, may turn into explosives and stimulate stored AN. This creates significant risks of an uncontrolled fire progress.

Study of forces in a 2T9R robot mechanism

The paper presents in detail a method of calculating the forces acting on a 2T9R type robot. In order to determine the reactions (forces in the kinematic couples), one must first determine the inertial forces in the mechanism to which one or more useful loads of the robot can be added. The torsor of the inertia forces is calculated with the help of the masses of the machine elements and the accelerations from the centers of mass of the mechanism elements, so the positions, velocities, and accelerations acting on it will be determined, i.e. its complete kinematics. The calculation method applied by a MathCad program intelligently uses data entry through the IFLOG logic function so that the calculations can be automated. So the effective automation of the calculation program is done exclusively through the IFLOG functions originally used in the paper.

Application of nanofluids on various performance characteristics of hydrodynamic journal bearing—A review

Bearings are designed to support the loads normally applied to the shaft, while allowing relative movement between two machine elements. Journal or sliding bearings are perhaps the most well-known sorts of hydrodynamic bearings. The journal bearings contain no rolling elements and these bearings’ design and construction are simple, but their operation and theory are complex. Due to this and other advantages, journal bearings are much preferred in engineering applications. Simultaneously, the associated research and development have resulted in reasonable progress and therefore, a thorough review of these is earnestly felt. The static and dynamic characteristics of hydrodynamic journal bearings mainly depend on the lubricant viscosity and other factors such as load, speed, friction, and eccentricity. The review analysis focused on nanofluid lubricated hydrodynamic journal bearings are one of the rare topics of interest among tribologists. The use of a nanofluid as a lubricant is very important as it significantly improves the performance characteristics of the investigated bearing. The aggregation of nanoparticles in lubricants available commercially can cause a sharp increase in pressure drop and significantly improve the lubricant viscosity, which leads to an increase in load-carrying capacity. The tribological properties of various lubricants/base oils can be augmented by nanoparticles containing the lubricant. Studies have shown that compared to other conventional engine oils the load-carrying capacity is increased with nanoparticles containing the lubricant.

A New Model for Shaft Design of Engine Using MATLAB-GUI

Shaft design is still has the most significant effect in design of machine elements as shafts are common elements in aircraft engines, gear boxes and mechanisms. In this paper, a MATLAB code is established to obtain the optimum shaft design automatically. A friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) is developed to receive all design parameters such as; rotational speed, transmitted power, shaft material…etc. the proposed GUI also receives design parameters of shaft components such as pulleys and gears. Two case studies are introduced to illustrate the proposed shaft design tool to confirm its validity. All reaction forces, bending moment diagrams and torque diagrams are obtained using the proposed MATLAB code. These results are consistent with manual traditional design calculations.

Planetary Gearbox Prototype Development and Manufacturing

Goal of this research was to develop and manufacture planetary gearbox prototype using rapid prototyping technology (additive manufacturing). Developed prototype was used to visually analyse the design of the planetary gearbox. Also, it was used to improve and innovate education of students on several courses at Mechanical Design study program at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. It is shown that low cost rapid prototyping technology can be used to manufacture prototypes of complex machines and machine elements. Prototypes manufactured using this technology have same functionality like the real one. Main limitation is the fact that they cannot sustain real world loads and stresses. This paper shows opportunities which low cost rapid prototyping technology is offering in improvement and innovation of education process at engineering schools and faculties. All complex and heavy machines can be manufactured using this type of technology and on that way more precisely presented to the students.

Fatigue Characteritics of Medium Carbon Steel after Heat Treatment Using Sand as Cooling Media

Stress concentrations cause many machine element failures. Failure will occur more rapidly if the machine elements obtain repeated and fluctuating loading. For this reason, the material for machine elements must have better fatigue life. There are various attempts made to increase material life and other mechanical properties. In this study, the research sample used is AISI 4140 steel. The samples obtain hardening followed by cooling and tempering. The hardening temperature is 8500C with a holding time of 17 minutes. The cooling media in this research are dry sand, semi-wet sand, and wet sand. Wet measurements based on volumetric ratios. Semi-wet sand with a ratio of sand and water 4: 1, sandy sand 4: 2. The final process is tempering treatment, with a temperature of 2500C. The material fatigue test refers to the JIS Z 2274 Standard. From this study, the heat treatment given can reduce the fatigue life of the material, even though the hardness increases. The higher the cooling rate, the hardness of the material increases, but the fatigue life is low.

Heat Treatment Consideration in Structural Simulations of Machine Elements: Analysis of a Starter Clutch Barrel

Consideration of heat treatment in simulations of structural components and its impact on predictions of behaviour during operation is analysed here. An automotive machine element with a complex geometry and dynamic load is analysed rather than a standard laboratory specimen under controlled conditions. The heat treatment analysis of a starter clutch barrel has been performed in DANTE followed by a structural analysis in ANSYS 2019 R3 during operation simulating a load cycle due to the start of an internal combustion engine. The heat treatment simulation consisted of carburisation, quenching and tempering. First, the carbon content and its distribution have been simulated. Next, the hardness of the starter clutch barrel and its distribution have been analysed with respect to the carbon distribution and hardness-dependent material properties of the AISI/SAE 4142 steel. Finally, the stress field after the heat treatment and during the operation of the starter clutch barrel has been thoroughly evaluated and compared to the simulation without the consideration of the heat treatment. Results of the simulation show that the heat treatment introduces favourable compressive stresses at the critical location of the starter clutch barrel and reduces the effective amplitude of the equivalent stress during the operation. Furthermore, the results of the simulation prove that heat treatment should be considered already during the early stages of the R & D process as it can have a decisive effect on the operational behaviour of the structural component. Moreover, a non-consideration of the heat treatment can lead into erroneous conclusions regarding the suitability of machine elements.