Maximization of Tensile Strength of Aluminum 6061 Alloy T6 Grade Friction Welded Joints by Using the Desirability Function

Various joining techniques are consistently used in fabrications and maintenance applications of numerous parts in manufacturing industries. Typically, the friction welding technique acquired attention in joining of aluminum and its different alloys for very general structural usages in small to medium to large-scale manufacturing sectors. This is an experimental attempt to weld aluminum 6061 alloy T6 grade of 3mm thickness metal sheets. The hexagonal-shaped steel pin of grade H13 is used. The experiment is performed by using the Taguchi L9 approach, and nine welded specimens are prepared. The chosen factors are rotating speed of the tool, tilting angle, and feed. After the welding, the tensile testing is followed for the measurement of strength of the welded samples. The analysis suggested that the chosen working limits of feed and rotational speed is significant and having impacts on weld strength. The maximum strength is obtained as 212MPa when the ranges of above said factors are 560RPM, 0degree, and 20mm/min.

Optimization of the trimming tilting angle of the electric tiltrotor propeller group

The paper examined the possibility of improving the energy efficient performance of an electric tiltrotor with a lift-propulsion propeller group for a steady flight mode by reducing the energy consumption of the propeller group per unit of time or per unit of the path traveled by the electric tiltrotor. This is achieved by selecting the optimal tilting angles of the electric tiltrotor total thrust vector. In the proposed approach, the trimming tilting angle of the propeller group is variable, depending on the aerodynamic characteristics of the electric tiltrotor, its propeller group. Since the propeller group is equipped with the drives for tilting them, this approach is easily implemented by the conventional facilities of the electric tiltrotor. The tilting of the total thrust vector, on the one hand, leads to an increase in the effective value of the aerodynamic lift coefficient and, on the other hand, it is accompanied by a decrease in the projection of the total thrust vector on the flight speed vector, a change in the drag and power required to create the thrust of the propeller group. This circumstance makes it necessary to solve the optimization problem in order to increase the maximum endurance and long-range capabilities in the cruise mode of the electric tiltrotor flight. The paper presents a method for calculating the optimal tilting angles of the total thrust vector based on the equations of steady motion of the electric tiltrotor in the cruise flight mode, the expression for the total power required for the rotation of the propellers of the propeller group. The analytical dependences for the optimal tilting angles of the total thrust vector are obtained depending on the ratio of the wing area to the total propeller-disk area of the propeller group and the aerodynamic quality of the electric tiltrotor.

Coupled effects of surface interaction and damping on electromechanical stability of functionally graded nanotubes reinforced torsional micromirror actuator

This paper demonstrated the coupled surface effects of thermal Casimir force and squeeze film damping (SFD) on size-dependent electromechanical stability and bifurcation of torsion micromirror actuator. The governing equations of micromirror system are derived, and the pull-in voltage and critical tilting angle are obtained. Also, the twisting deformation of torsion nanobeam can be tuned by functionally graded carbon nanotubes reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC). A finite element analysis (FEA) model is established on the COMSOL Multiphysics platform, and the simulation of the effect of thermal Casimir force on pull-in instability is utilized to verify the present analytical model. The results indicate that the numerical results well agree with the theoretical results in this work and experimental data in the literature. Further, the influences of volume fraction and geometrical distribution of CNTs, thermal Casimir force, nonlocal parameter, and squeeze film damping on electrically actuated instability and free-standing behavior are detailedly discussed. Besides, the evolution of equilibrium states of micromirror system is investigated, and bifurcation diagrams and phase portraits including the periodic, homoclinic, and heteroclinic orbits are described as well. The results demonstrated that the amplitude of the tilting angle for FGX-CNTRC type micromirror attenuates slower than for FGO-CNTRC type, and the increment of CNTs volume ratio slows down the attenuation due to the stiffening effect. When considering squeeze film damping, the stable center point evolves into one focus point with homoclinic orbits, and the dynamic system maintains two unstable saddle points with the heteroclinic orbits due to the effect of thermal Casimir force.

Abrasive Waterjet (AWJ) Forces—Potential Indicators of Machining Quality

The necessity of monitoring the abrasive waterjet (AWJ) processes increases with the spreading of this tool into the machining processes. The forces produced on the workpiece during the abrasive waterjet machining can yield some valuable information. Therefore, a special waterjet-force measuring device designed and produced in the past has been used for the presented research. It was tested during the AWJ cutting processes, because they are the most common and the best described up-to-date AWJ applications. Deep studies of both the cutting process and the respective force signals led to the decision that the most appropriate indication factor is the tangential-to-normal force ratio (TNR). Three theorems concerning the TNR were formulated and investigated. The first theorem states that the TNR strongly depends on the actual-to-limit traverse speed ratio. The second theorem claims that the TNR relates to the cutting-to-deformation wear ratio inside the kerf. The third theorem states that the TNR value changes when the cutting head and the respective jet axis are tilted so that a part of the jet velocity vector projects into the traverse speed direction. It is assumed that the cutting-to-deformation wear ratio increases in a certain range of tilting angles of the cutting head. This theorem is supported by measured data and can be utilized in practice for the development of a new method for the monitoring of the abrasive waterjet cutting operations. Comparing the tilted and the non-tilted jet, we detected the increase of the TNR average value from 1.28 ± 0.16 (determined for the declination angle 20° and the respective tilting angle 10°) up to 2.02 ± 0.25 (for the declination angle 30° and the respective tilting angle of 15°). This finding supports the previously predicted and published assumptions that the tilting of the cutting head enables an increase of the cutting wear mode inside the forming kerf, making the process more efficient.

Transient fixation of L4 vertebra preserves lumbar motion and function in Lenke Type 5C and 6C scoliosis

This study investigated the efficacy of a novel surgical method that relies on the transient fixation of L4 in Lenke Type 5C and 6C adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Thirty-six transient surgically treated L4 fixation patients were retrospectively evaluated. The first surgery involved mechanical correction of scoliosis; the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) was L4. After an average of 1.3 years (range, 0.3–3.4), the second surgery to remove transient L4 pedicle screws was performed. Radiographic parameters and SRS-22 scores were measured. Cobb’s angle, coronal balance, LIV tilting angle, and LIV coronal disc angle clearly improved after the first surgery (p < 0.01). After the second surgery, the corrected Cobb angle (p = 0.446) and coronal balance were maintained (p = 0.271). Although L3/S1 lumbar lordosis decreased after the first surgery (p < 0.01), after removal of transient L4 pedicle screws, it recovered slightly (p = 0.03). Similarly, the preoperative L3/4 lateral disc mobility eventually recovered after transient L4 screw removal (p < 0.01). The function domain of the SRS-22 showed better scores after removal of transient L4 screws (p = 0.04). L4 transient fixation surgery is beneficial for Lenke Type 5C and 6C scolioses that do not fully satisfy LIV (L3) criteria. It preserves L3/4 disc motion, increases functional outcomes, and maintains spinal correction and coronal balance.

Changes in the Contact Stress Distribution Pattern of the Patellofemoral Joint After Medial Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy: An Evaluation Using Computed Tomography Osteoabsorptiometry

Background: Medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) theoretically causes distalization and lateralization of the tibial tuberosity and the patella. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of the study was to identify any changes in the stress distribution of subchondral bone density across the patellofemoral (PF) joint before and after OWHTO through the use of computed tomography (CT) osteoabsorptiometry. We hypothesized that OWHTO would alter the distribution of contact stress in the PF joint. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A total of 17 patients (17 knees) who underwent OWHTO were enrolled in this study between September 2013 and September 2015. All patients underwent radiologic examination preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively, and the distribution patterns of subchondral bone density through the articular surface of the femoral trochlea and patella were assessed preoperatively and >1 year postoperatively using CT osteoabsorptiometry. The quantitative analysis of the obtained mapping data focused on location of the high-density area (HDA) through the articular surface of the PF joint. The percentage of HDA at each divided region of the articular surface of the femoral trochlea and the patella was calculated. Results: In the radiologic evaluation, the Blackburne-Peel ratio was significantly reduced ( P < .001) after surgery, and the tilting angle of the patella was significantly decreased ( P < .001). On CT evaluation, the percentage of HDA in the lateral notch and lateral trochlea of the femur and in the medial portion of the lateral facet of the patella increased significantly after OWHTO surgery ( P ≤ .038). Conclusion: OWHTO significantly increased the stress distribution pattern of the lateral trochlea of the femur and the medial portion of the lateral facet of the patella. The procedure significantly lowered the patellar height and significantly decreased the patellar tilting angle after surgery.