Structural Analysis of Riveted Structures Using a New FE Modelling Technique

A theoretical approach, in order to define the structural behaviour of riveted joints, is presented. The closed form solutions lead to the definition of a Rivet Element useful to FE models of multi-riveted structures. The objective is an accurate evaluation of the local stiffness of riveted joints in FE analysis, which is fundamental to perform a reliable simulation of multi-joint structures and, consequently, a good estimate of loads acting on connections; this makes it possible to introduce new general criteria allowing, for example, to predict fatigue behaviour. On the other hand, a low number of degrees of freedom is needed when several connections are present in a complex structure. The goal is to reach a reliable model of the rivet region which can be used as the basis to develop a Rivet Element in FE analysis. The proposed Rivet Element combines the precision in the simulation with a very limited number degrees of freedom in the finite element model of a complex structure having several rivets. In the present paper the structural behavior of two simple riveted specimens is investigated experimentally and numerically using a new Rivet Element. A comparison with a joint model performed with very refined non-linear 3D models of rivet and with experimental data is performed and a good agreement is shown.

Development of a Computer Program for the Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer in a Gasketed Plate Heat Exchanger

In this study, a computer program is developed to calculate characteristics of a Chevron type gasketed plate heat exchanger (CTGPHEX) such as: the number of plates, the effective surface area and total pressure drops. The main reason to prefer the use of CTGPHEXs to other various types of heat exchangers is that the heat transfer efficiency is much higher in comparison. Working conditions such as the flow rates and inlet and outlet temperature of both flow sides and plate design parameters are used as an input in the program. The Logarithmic Mean Temperature Method and the different correlations for convective heat transfer coefficient and Fanning factor that are found in the literature are applied to calculate the minimum necessary effective heat transfer area, the number of plate and pressure drops due to friction for both fluid sides of fulfill the desired heat transfer rate. This Turkish / English language optioned user friendly computer program is targeted to be used in domestic companies to design and select CTGPHEXs for any desired working conditions.

Dynamics of Rupture at Frictional Rough Interfaces During Sliding Initiation

The aim of this work is to present the results from a non linear finite element analysis in large transformations of the contact interface between two deformable bodies when sliding initiates and the roughness is introduced at the contact surfaces. The two-dimensional in-plane dynamic model consists of two different isotropic elastic media separated by an interface governed by Coulomb friction law, and subject to remotely applied normal and shear tractions (pre-stress phase). Once the ratio between the local values of tangential and normal stresses reaches the limit value, the sliding initiates and local ruptures are activated (nucleation phase). The propagation of the ruptures over the interface and the wave propagation inside the solids are analyzed. The interactions between the waves propagating into the two solids (P waves, shear waves, surface waves) give raise to different types of ruptures. They can be classified depending on their velocity front (sub-Rayleigh, sub-shear, super-shear) or on their interface states (pulse-like, crack-like). A sinusoidal roughness is introduced at the contact surfaces and the analysis is performed for different values of the roughness parameters. Depending on the relative dimension between the roughness wavelength and the width of the wave fronts, two different behaviour can be observed: i) a coupling between the wave propagating into the two bodies; ii) a decoupling of the wave propagation inside the two materials, characterized by an independent wave propagation. First the wave propagation is analyzed when a single rupture is originated in pre-sliding conditions; successively, the wave generation during sliding initiation is addressed.

Does a Predictive Minimal Model of Friction-Induced Vibration Exist?

Highly idealised models of friction-induced vibration have been motivated by an attempt to capture what is essential to the phenomenon. This approach has resulted in a few simple mechanisms that are thought to capture common routes to instability. This paper aims to determine how well these perform as approximations to a more complex system, and whether the essential ingredients needed for a minimal model can be identified. We take a reduced-order model that exemplifies ‘mode-coupling’ and explore the extent to which it can approximate predictions based on an experimentally identified test-system. For the particular test system under study, two-mode ‘mode-coupling’ is rarely a good approximation and three modes are usually required to model a limited frequency range. We then compare predictions with results from an extensive program of sliding contact tests on a pin-on-disc rig in order to identify which ingredients are needed to explain observed squeal events. The results suggest that several minimal models would be needed to describe all observed squeal initiations, but the ‘negative-damping’ route to instability, which requires a velocity-dependent friction law, convincingly accounts for one cluster.

Development of Competitive Skills in Future Mechanical Engineers

Nowadays, the Web is a common tool for students searching information about the subjects taught in the different university courses. Although this is a good tool for the first rapid knowledge, a more deep study is usually demanded. After many years of teaching one course about ceramic and composite materials, the authors, used the Bologna reformulation of the mechanical engineering course to introduce new teaching methodologies based on continuous evaluation. One of the main innovations is one practical work that comprises the study of a recent ceramic scientific article, using all the actual available tools, elaboration of a scientific report, present the work and participate in a debate. With this innovative teaching method the enrolment of the students was enhanced with a better knowledge about the ceramics subject and the skills related with the CDIO competences.

Experimental Investigation on the Heat Transfer of a Portable Forced-Convection Solar Air Heater

A cross-corrugated portable forced-convection solar air heater has been designed, fabricated, and developed. A wavelike bottom plate has been positioned crosswise to the air flow while rectangular baffles have been attached to the flat-plate absorber. The relative corrugation height, (e/Dh) ranges between 0.24 and 0.4, and relative baffles distance (l/L) varies between 0.21 and 0.48. The air flow rate in the heater duct has been varied in the range of 0.001 kgs−1 to 0.01kgs−1 (Reynolds number ranges from 350 to 3500), while other thermal specifications such as inlet, outlet, and plate temperatures have varied due to weather changes. Results of this study have been compared with those related to smooth ducts and other literatures, and the maximum enhancement in Nusselt number is observed to be approximately five times of that of the smooth duct under similar flow conditions. Finally, thermal efficiency of the device for different case studies has been determined and compared with other researches.

How Geometrical Tolerances Affect the Measurement of Reciprocal Alignment of Two Different Assemblies: A Case Study

Often a designer has the problem to apply a suitable system of geometrical and dimensional tolerances to an assembly. The right solution is not unique, in fact it depends on the chosen parameters. If the tolerances have to be optimized, some important parameters have to be taken into account, e.g. the efficiency of each prescription, or if this last is reachable, or it can be verified and how much the realization costs. The authors opinion is that a statistical approach based on the Monte Carlo Method is very useful when the tolerances chains are complex. This paper shows an application of this method in order to verify the functional alignment between two assemblies and a critical analysis of the uncertainty in phase both of the component design and test. This study has been developed thanks to the strict requirements imposed by ESA (European Space Agency) on the components that Thales Alenia Space has to realize within the LISA Pathfinder experiment. The very critical aspect of this work is to reciprocally align two cylindrical elements of two different assemblies. The specifications require 100 μm as maximum linear displacement and 300 μrad as maximum angular displacement. Moreover this prescriptions have to be verified also when the two elements are independently moving. To be able to reach such strict accuracy level the components have been assembled in an ISO 100 class cleanroom and the work space was a 3D Coordinate-Measuring Machine (CMM). The cylindrical elements have a 10 mm diameter, so the value of the measurement uncertainty associated with the alignment check is fundamental. Starting from the different uncertainty sources, the measurability and verifiability of the alignment have been considered and evaluated. The overall uncertainty has been assessed by numerical simulations which have taken into account the dimensional, geometrical and form tolerances as well as the instrumental uncertainty of the 3D CMM. This estimation has been positively validated by a session of repeated measurements. Numerical simulations have also allowed performing a sensitivity analysis, in order to give information about which sources more contribute to the overall uncertainty.

Heat Transfer on Parallel Plate Heat Exchangers in an Oscillatory Flow

In thermoacoustic devices, an acoustic wave interacts with internal solid structures such as thermoacoustic stacks (regenerators), to either produce acoustic power due to an imposed temperature gradient, or to produce a heat pumping effect by an acoustic excitation. A cold and hot heat exchangers are usually placed on either side of these internal solid structures to enable heat communication between the thermoacoustic devices and their surroundings. Heat exchangers of various geometries have been extensively studied in steady flows and results are available from a collection of published articles and handbooks. However, there is still a lack of data for heat exchangers in an oscillatory flow, because the interaction of oscillatory flow with the solid boundary is governed by complicated fluid flow and heat transfer processes that are not fully understood. This work is a step towards a better understanding of the heat transfer mechanisms in the acoustically induced oscillatory flow within thermoacoustic systems, in particular obtaining the quantitative description of the heat transfer between heat exchangers and the stack. The assembly of a stack and heat exchangers is replaced by a simplified “stack-less” pair of heat exchangers, in order to focus on the generic heat transfer processes rather than the intricacies of practical thermoacoustic systems. The fins of the hot and cold heat exchangers are kept at constant temperatures by virtue of resistive heating and water cooling, respectively. Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) are used to obtain the temperature and velocity fields around the fins. The heat flux between the heat exchanger fins and the fluid is analyzed phase-by-phase. The time dependent local heat transfer coefficient is obtained from the temperature gradient in the thermal boundary layer. The measurements are conducted at various levels of acoustic excitation in order to study the correlation between the non-dimensional heat transfer coefficient Nu and the Reynolds number. The effect of the flow behaviour at the end of the plates on the temperature field in the region is also studied. It is hoped that this work could lead to a better understanding of heat transfer on short plates in the acoustically induced oscillatory flows.

Coherent Flame Model to Predict Formation Pollutants in Turbulent Premixed Flame

The objective of this work is to analyze and to model the turbulent flames in the context of coherent flame model. We present a detailed description of equations and the flamelet regimes in turbulent premixed flame. A surface density models proposed here represents a good issue for numerical simulation. Extension of coherent flame model and homogenous stilled reactor model is proposed to consider the dynamics behavior of flame and pollutants formation. From the results of this work it is concluded that the coherent flame model allows surpassing difficulties of the turbulent reactive flow modeling. Calculations based on a semi-global kinetic scheme and flamelet formulation combined with a well stirred reactor analysis of the burnt gases are used and provided reasonably accurate values of CO and NO formation. Also, we have observed that CO is formed near the reaction zone (front flame) but emission of CO2, H2O and NO are formed in the hot gases.

Investigation of Heat Transfer Over a Rotating Disk in Case of Temperature and Velocity Jump Conditions by Using Differential Transform Method

The energy crisis in the last two decades has turned the attention of scientific and engineering communities to redesigned and developed heat-fluid interaction systems. All of the details in analyses are reconsidered to reduce energy consumption. The present work examines the effects of temperature and velocity jump conditions on heat transfer, fluid flow over a single rotating disk. The flow due to rotating disks is of great interest in thermal engineering as it appears in many industrial and engineering applications such as gas turbine engines and micropumps. The related equation of flow, which is nonlinear and coupled, and heat transfer governing equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations by applying the so-called classical approach which was first introduced by Von Karman. Instead of this approach, a pure numerical one, the recently developed popular semi numerical analytical technique differential transform method (DTM), with Benton transformation, is employed to solve the reduced governing equations under the assumptions of velocity-slip and temperature jump conditions on the disk surface. The solution is valid for continuum and slip-flow regime which has a Knudsen number smaller than 0.1. The results attained for various physical cases are interpreted by using non-dimensional parameters related to flow and temperature fields. Velocity and temperature profiles are presented graphically. The effect of various parameters such as the Knudsen Number (Kn), Reynolds Number (Re) and Nusselt Numbers (Nu) are examined. The observed physical consequences are the velocity slip and temperature jump at the wall becoming strongly dependant on the Knudsen number. It is also observed that the temperature jump and velocity jump conditions have nonlinear effects on slip; these effects are investigated with great details and presented graphically.