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Showing papers on "Material flow published in 2012"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a 3D Lagrangian incremental finite element method (FEM) simulation of friction stir processing (FSP) was developed to predict defect types, temperature distribution, effective plastic strain, and especially material flow in the weld zone.

130 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparison of the EU's RMC with its domestic extraction shows that the EU is nearly self-sufficient in biomass and nonmetallic minerals but extremely dependent on direct and indirect imports of fossil energy carriers and metal ores.
Abstract: This article presents the concept, calculation method, and first results of the "Raw Material Consumption" (RMC) economy-wide material flow indicator for the European Union (EU). The RMC measures the final domestic consumption of products in terms of raw material equivalents (RME), i.e. raw materials used in the complete production chain of consumed products. We employed the hybrid input-output life cycle assessment method to calculate RMC. We first developed a highly disaggregated environmentally extended mixed unit input output table and then applied life cycle inventory data for imported products without appropriate representation of production within the domestic economy. Lastly, we treated capital formation as intermediate consumption. Our results show that services, often considered as a solution for dematerialization, account for a significant part of EU raw material consumption, which emphasizes the need to focus on the full production chains and dematerialization of services. Comparison of the EU's RMC with its domestic extraction shows that the EU is nearly self-sufficient in biomass and nonmetallic minerals but extremely dependent on direct and indirect imports of fossil energy carriers and metal ores. This implies an export of environmental burden related to extraction and primary processing of these materials to the rest of the world. Our results demonstrate that internalizing capital formation has significant influence on the calculated RMC.

113 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Based on the measured stress-strain data, a new constitutive model is proposed, considering the coupled effects of strain, strain rate, and forming temperature on the material flow behavior of 7075 Al alloy as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The hot compression tests were conducted with wide strain rates and forming temperature ranges to study the high-temperature deformation behavior of 7075 Al alloy. The material flow behavior and microstructural evolution during hot-forming process are discussed. Based on the measured stress–strain data, a new constitutive model is proposed, considering the coupled effects of strain, strain rate, and forming temperature on the material flow behavior of 7075 Al alloy. In the proposed model, the material constants are presented as functions of forming temperature. The proposed constitutive model gives good correlations with the experimental results, which confirms that the proposed model can give an accurate and precise estimate of flow stress for 7075 Al alloy.

103 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a static material flow model of lithium comprehending key processes and flows was developed based on data about production, manufacture, and use for the year 2007, which shows how supply and demand of lithium as well as flows into the environment are connected on a global scale.
Abstract: Developments in electric mobility are strongly focussed on lithium-ion batteries entailing a rising interest in lithium by science, industry, and politics. As several studies forecast a strong increase of demand, controversial statements are circulating about the element's future availability. This indicates that a more comprehensive understanding of the global lithium cycle is necessary. Therefore, a study was carried out to describe the global lithium flows by means of a material flow analysis. A static material flow model of lithium comprehending key processes and flows was developed based on data about production, manufacture, and use for the year 2007. The work provides the first global lithium model and shows how supply and demand of lithium as well as flows into the environment are connected on a global scale. Whilst the different data sets used are subject to some inaccuracies, a noticeable discrepancy between production and consumption could be identified, which needs further explanation. The stationary global lithium model developed allows both to explore the recycling possibilities for lithium products and their resulting material flows and to identify important influencing parameters along the lifecycle, which can be used to increase the resource efficiency of lithium. This, in turn, is crucial to improving the resource security for future technologies of such a strategic metal as lithium.

87 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of shoulder geometry and pin geometry on material plastic flow behavior is studied, and the results of numerical simulation show that the flow velocity of material decreases with the increase of the distance away from the weldment surface or the rotational axis of pin.

84 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a three-dimensional transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to investigate the material flow and heat transfer during friction stir processing (FSP) in an AZ31B magnesium alloy.
Abstract: A three-dimensional transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to investigate the material flow and heat transfer during friction stir processing (FSP) in an AZ31B magnesium alloy. The material was assumed to be a non-Newtonian viscoplastic fluid, and the Zener-Hollomon parameter was used to describe the dependence of material viscosity on temperature and strain rate. The material constants used in the constitutive equation were determined experimentally from compression tests of the AZ31B Mg alloy under a wide range of strain rates and temperatures. A dynamic mesh method, combining both Lagrangian and Eulerian formulations, was used to capture the material flow induced by the movement of the threaded tool pin. Massless inert particles were embedded in the simulation domain to track the detailed history of material flow. The actual FSP was also carried out on a wrought Mg plate where temperature profiles were recorded by embedding thermocouples. The predicted transient temperature history was found to be consistent with that measured during FSP. Finally, the influence of the thread on the simulated results of thermal history and material flow was studied by comparing two models: one with threaded pin and the other with smooth pin surface.

75 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, material flow and local texture evolution during friction stir spot welding (FSSW) of AZ31 magnesium alloy was characterized by varying tool rotation rates and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements at various locations of the welded region.
Abstract: Material flow and local texture evolution during friction stir spot welding (FSSW) of AZ31 magnesium alloy was characterized by varying tool rotation rates. Texture at various locations of the welded region was measured using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Material flow is significantly influenced by tool rotation rate with a conical step spiral pin tool, and FSSW introduces a unique basal fiber texture in the welded region. Results indicate that local texture evolution is dominated by shear deformation through material flow. The tool shoulder applies both shear and compressive deformation to the upper region material; however, the rotating pin introduces only shear deformation to the adjacent material. As the tool rotation rate increases, the effect of both tool shoulder and pin becomes more prominent by introducing a higher degree of basal pole tilt with respect to the initial rolling texture at the periphery of the pin, but less tilt in the upper region beneath the tool shoulder undersurface. The equiaxed fine grain structure in the stir zone appears to result from the twinning-induced dynamic recrystallization and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization.

73 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a coupled Eulerian/Lagrangian computational analysis of the friction stir welding (FSW) process was performed, where the FSW tool material (AA5059, solid-solution strengthened and strain-hardened aluminum alloy) was represented using a modified version of the classical Johnson-Cook model, and the workpiece material (AISI H13 tool steel) was modeled as an isotropic linear-elastic material.
Abstract: Workpiece material flow and stirring/mixing during the friction stir welding (FSW) process are investigated computationally. Within the numerical model of the FSW process, the FSW tool is treated as a Lagrangian component while the workpiece material is treated as an Eulerian component. The employed coupled Eulerian/Lagrangian computational analysis of the welding process was of a two-way thermo-mechanical character (i.e., frictional-sliding/plastic-work dissipation is taken to act as a heat source in the thermal-energy balance equation) while temperature is allowed to affect mechanical aspects of the model through temperature-dependent material properties. The workpiece material (AA5059, solid-solution strengthened and strain-hardened aluminum alloy) is represented using a modified version of the classical Johnson-Cook model (within which the strain-hardening term is augmented to take into account for the effect of dynamic recrystallization) while the FSW tool material (AISI H13 tool steel) is modeled as an isotropic linear-elastic material. Within the analysis, the effects of some of the FSW key process parameters are investigated (e.g., weld pitch, tool tilt-angle, and the tool pin-size). The results pertaining to the material flow during FSW are compared with their experimental counterparts. It is found that, for the most part, experimentally observed material-flow characteristics are reproduced within the current FSW-process model.

63 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the size effect on material flow behavior, surface roughness evolution, flow stress and hardening behavior was investigated in micro-scale plastic deformation by using micro upsetting of cold-drawn and annealed pure copper.
Abstract: Microforming is one of the promising approaches to fabricating microparts for its high productivity, low production cost and good mechanical properties The material deformation behavior in microforming, however, is different from the one in macroforming The macroforming knowledge is not applicable to the design and development of microparts It is thus necessary to investigate the size effect on deformation behaviors and the physics behind in the microforming In this research, the micro upsetting of cold-drawn and annealed pure copper with different billet sizes from macro- to micro-scale is conducted to investigate the size effect on material flow behavior, surface roughness evolution, flow stress and the hardening behavior It is found that the compressive instability takes place for the cold-drawn specimens, resulting in the occurrence of double barreling In addition, the inhomogeneous material flow occurs, surface roughness increases, flow stress decreases and the scattering range of the measured material properties increases with the decrease of workpiece size and the increase of grain size To quantify the size effect, the ratio of the internal grain boundary surface area to the total grain boundary surface area of the workpiece is introduced Based on the hardening behavior and the flow stress, the proposed modeling methodology for describing the size effect phenomena is verified The reported experimental results and the modeling methodology thus provide an in-depth understanding of the size effect in microscale plastic deformation

57 citations


01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: A generic architecture that optimally exploits synergy between the different market sectors may reduce design time and costs considerably for system suppliers, where finding a common ground to model AMHSs in these different sectors forms a scientific challenge.
Abstract: This paper addresses the problem of generic planning and control of Automated Material Handling Systems (AMHSs). The paper builds upon previous work in this research direction to provide a proof of concept for generic control of AMHSs in different application areas. We present a generic control architecture for AMHSs, and apply this architecture to a material flow model with storage and sorter systems. We set up our model to be applicable to AMHSs in two different market sectors, baggage handling and distribution. We report on performance indicators, and analyze how far we can control the two industries generically in terms of software implementation. To this end, we present an impressive degree of 84% commonality in the control software. Moreover, we highlight deviations from the generic control and give insight to procedures that deviate from the generic code. A generic architecture that optimally exploits synergy between the different market sectors may reduce design time and costs considerably for system suppliers, where finding a common ground to model AMHSs in these different sectors forms a scientific challenge.

55 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a tensile test and the embossing of microchannels using pure copper foils with different grain sizes are conducted to investigate the material size effect on the flow stress, surface roughening and local deformation behavior.
Abstract: In microforming, the workpiece size is in microscale and has only a few grains involved in a deformation zone, leading to the deformation behaviors different from those in macroscale. The researches on micro-scaled plastic deformation behavior and microforming process are thus needed. In this research, the tensile test and the embossing of microchannels using pure copper foils with different grain sizes are conducted to investigate the material size effect on the flow stress, surface roughening and local deformation behavior. It is revealed that the surface roughness increases with strain and its change rate increases with grain size. This phenomenon results from the deformation incompatibility among grains with different properties in material surfaces. In addition, the size effect on the measurement of material properties in tensile test is analyzed based on the Monte Carlo simulation. It is found that the longer the gage length and the lesser the number of grains in the specimen section in tensile test, the higher the probability to have a significantly large fraction of soft grains in the section of specimen. The decrease of flow stress with the increase of grain size is partly caused by the decrease of Taylor factor, which leads to the underestimation of the averaged flow stress of the grains along the gage length. By using the flow stress curves obtained via tensile test to simulate the microembossing process, the simulation result shows an underestimation of the deformation load and the deviation tends to increase with the increase of grain size. This further validates the occurrence of size effect leading to the error of the measurement of material flow stress in tensile test.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a 3D model was developed to conduct the numerical simulation of the temperature profile and plastic material flow in friction stir welding, and the predicted shape and size of the weld nugget zone match with the experimentally measured ones.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used entropy theory to assess the level of risk introduced by different sources of perturbation into the material flow stream and the use of discrete event simulation to investigate the impact of the resulting disruption on collaborating members.
Abstract: Purpose – Manufacturing organizations and networks are heavily dependent on the flow of information within and across organization boundaries. A disruption in information flow might interrupt the operations of the organization and make management even more difficult. The purpose of this paper is to incorporate information theory approach to investigate the perturbation introduced into a manufacturing organization as a result of disruption in the flow of critical information needed in manufacturing operations.Design/methodology/approach – This study proposes the use of entropy theory to assess the level of risk introduced by different sources of perturbation into the material flow stream and the use of discrete event simulation to investigate the impact of the resulting disruption on collaborating members.Findings – The result of the analysis carried out on the effect of system failure on supply chain performance revealed that the retailer experiences the most uncertainty in the supply chain while the hold...

Journal ArticleDOI
Cunsheng Zhang1, Guoqun Zhao1, Hao Chen1, Yanjin Guan1, Fujun Kou 
TL;DR: In this article, a numerical model was developed to investigate metal flow behavior during aluminum profile extrusion, and the numerical results were validated by comparing with the nose ends of two extrudates in practice.
Abstract: The most important way to improve the quality of aluminum profiles is to assure the material flow through die land exit with the same velocity. In this paper, a numerical model was developed to investigate metal flow behavior during aluminum profile extrusion. Firstly, the numerical model for a complex hollow aluminum profile was built based on the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian program HyperXtrude. Then, with the numerical model, metal flow behavior at each stage during the whole extrusion process was analyzed and dead zones in the die cavity were also investigated by means of the particle tracking method. Finally, the numerical results were validated by comparing with the nose ends of two extrudates in practice, and the comparison showed that the numerical model developed in this work could provide the effective guidance for practical production.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the extrusion process of a large, multi-cavity aluminum profile for high-speed train was simulated using the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) algorithm.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the velocity field and mixing of granular material as it flows over a single blade are studied. And the results agree qualitatively with a simple model for granular mixing.

Book
25 Sep 2012
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an integrated framework for the design of material flow systems, including cell design, integration and justification, for efficient material handling and its impact on manufacturing systems performance.
Abstract: Preface. Design, integration and justification. An integrated framework for the design of material flow systems. Design justification of material handling systems. Cell design and material handling considerations. Cell design strategies for efficient materials handling. Unit load design and its impact on manufacturing systems performance. Work-in-process storage and handling capacity tradeoffs in material flow design. Alternative material flowpaths. Reachability in material flowpath design. Single loop guide paths for AGVS. SFT - segmented flow topology. Operational control issues. Bidirectional AGVS. Approaches for analysing the load routing problem in tandem AGVS. Real-time control strategies for multi-load AGVS. Tooling requirements and transport equipment. Tool automation in computerized manufacturing systems. Guidance and navigation techniques for guided and autonomous vehicles.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the effect of local adapted tribological conditions on the material flow in sheet-bulk metal forming (SBMF) processes and developed a masking technique based on the FE-simulation.
Abstract: Innovative trends like increasing component functionality, the demand for automotive lightweight constructions and the economic issue to optimize existing process chains, require new ways in manufacturing. Today, the traditional sheet metal and bulk metal forming processes are often reaching their limits if closely-tolerated complex functional components with variants have to be produced. A promising approach is the direct forming of high-precision shapes starting from blanks. Thus, classic sheet metal forming operations, such as deep drawing, are combined with bulk metal forming operations like extrusion of complex variants as for example teeth. This combination of sheet and bulk metal forming operations leads to a side by side situation of different tribological conditions according to the locally varying load situations within the same forming process. This new class of forming processes is defined as sheet-bulk metal forming (SBMF). The tribological conditions in sheet-bulk metal forming processes are of major importance for the process realization, its stability and for the quality of the produced part. The objective of this paper is the investigation of material flow in SBMF in general and the attempt to improve the material flow by local adapted tribological conditions. First the material flow was analyzed by FE-simulation of a model geometry that is typical for SBMF. The investigations with FE-simulation have shown, locally adapted tribological conditions are leading to an improvement in material flow and thus to an increased mould filling. As frictional conditions are directly connected to the topography of workpiece and tool, the modification of the workpiece topography is leading to an alteration in friction values. For the modification of workpiece topography grit blasting was used. The increase in friction of grit blasted surface towards untreated surface was investigates by using the laboratory friction tests. To manufacture specimens with locally adapted topographies for forming tests a masking technique has been developed. The masks are designed after the preliminary findings determined by FE-simulation.

Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of three difference kinds of flows on supply chain performance; information, materials and financial flows was investigated in manufacturing companies in the northern region of Malaysia and the results showed that information flow and material flow do not have significant impacts on the performance of supply chain management.
Abstract: In a challenging business environment, organizations not only need to improve their performances to meet customers' requirements but ultimately they need to achieve customers 'satisfaction. This study aims to study the impact of three difference kind of flows on supply chain performance; information, materials and financial flows. This study is focused on manufacturing companies in the northern region of Malaysia. Data has been collected by using questionnaires that have been to 202 manufacturing companies in the northern region of Malaysia. Results from the analyses show that information flow and material flow do not have significant impacts on the performance of supply chain management, while financial flow has a significant impact on the performance of supply chain management. The implications of the findings for the effective management of the supply chain in manufacturing firms are discussed. Introduction The business environment has evolved rapidly and is constantly changing. In the rapidly changing environment, organizations face intense pressure to compete and gain a leading edge over their rivals. According to Sundaram and Mehta (2002), economic globalization over the past two decades has led to fierce competition as organizations can operate boundary-less. Apart from ensuring quality, organizations also need to ensure speedy and inexpensive products and are continuously improving their internal operations and at the same time focusing on external operations which led to the concept of supply chain management (SCM). Robertson, Fagerhaug, Randmoel, Schuldmaier and Prenninger (2002) claim that SCM is the oversight of materials, information, and finances as they move in a process from supplier to manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to consumer. Supply chain management involves coordinating and integrating these flows both within and among companies. The product flow includes the movement of goods from a supplier to a customer, as well as any customer returns or service needs. Today, goods' movements or material flows require a complex network of many providers to ensure capacity coverage. Businesses need to think about and plan much more carefully, how they are going to move products, since moving products makes up about 60 percent of logistics costs in the U.S. market (Lofgren et al., 2005). The information flow involves transmitting orders and updating the status of delivery. Lofgren et al. describe how information flow is a key component of today's supply chain; it is the mechanism that brings trading partners together. In the past, they say, businesses looked only inside their four walls for ways to reduce waste. Today, businesses have to look outside for ways to become more efficient, and many companies are turning to partnerships. "The information flow provides the opportunity to really get at the inefficiencies". The financial flow consists of credit terms, payment schedules and consignment as well as title ownership, Lofgren et al. (2005). They explain how the funds or financial flow drives the need to efficiently move money. Fundamentally, all of the partners who come together are in business to make money and yet, how those dollars flow is not often thought about. The efficiencies of cash flows, however, can be increased. "The ability to organize and extract important information on how a product flows is critical in managing this flow, and effectiveness in this area leads to healthy cash flows." Hence, today the supply chain strategy has evolved and the integration of supply chain is the main focus so that the flows of information, materials and financial are efficient. There are several schools of thoughts concerning the evolution of the integrated process of supply chain, as described by Cigolini, Cozzi and Perona (2004). The "traditional logistics" school (authors Scott and Westbrook, 1991) began their research on how to reduce the fluctuations in material flows among channel partners, particularly in the areas of logistics and transportation with the objective of improving supply chain efficiency by reducing inventory levels. …

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the application of the molecular dynamics simulation approach to the high-resolution visualization of the plastic material flow at the tool/workpiece interface during orthogonal cutting is discussed.
Abstract: This paper reviews the application of the molecular dynamics simulation approach to the high-resolution visualization of the plastic material flow at the tool/workpiece interface during orthogonal cutting. MD simulation techniques have been applied to nano-scale processes, but due to restrictions in the model size and computational time, they have not been utilized to investigate processes occurring at the micro-scale. Techniques employed to extend the MD simulation techniques to the micro-scale are discussed. Preferred ranges for model parameters that provide for sufficient resolution in order to adequately describe the characteristic features of the plastic material flow, yet achieve significant reduction in the model computational times, are identified. An investigation of the plastic material flow at the tool/workpiece interface as the uncut chip thickness increases from 10% to 90% of the edge radius of the tool was undertaken. A key observation is that there is a marked variation in the geometry of the observed characteristic features, most notable being the rotation and growth of the stable built-up edge as the uncut chip thickness increases. Furthermore, the transition between the plowing and cutting regimes is observed.

01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a preliminary investigation of the use of forging to produce bi-metallic components, through the production of a spur gear form, is described, and the experimental and simulation work described in this paper, provides knowledge of the effects of process variables on the outcome of forging bimetallic gears.
Abstract: High performance components, such as poppet valves, connecting rods, and pistons are manufactured from materials that pro- vide the necessary performance characteristics to withstand tough operating conditions. These materials usually possess high values of yield strength, Young's modulus, fatigue strength, and maintain them over a range of temperatures. Low density is also useful in compo- nents subjected to rapid speed changes. However, high performance materials, such as titanium alloys and stainless steels usually have a high density or are too costly to be used extensively. In many applications, high performance properties are required on particular surfaces or contact points, and are not necessary throughout the entire body of the component. One way of achieving this is to make components with more than one strategically located material. For practical reasons, normally the maximum number of alloys would be two. The work described in this paper is a preliminary investigation of the use of forging to produce bi-metallic components, through the production of a spur gear form. The experimental and simulation work described in this paper, provides knowledge of the effects of process variables on the outcome of forging bimetallic gears.

01 Dec 2012
TL;DR: Results of the research regarding ineffective material management confirm insufficient analytical supporting in various decisions of procurement operations and the article model of efficiency analysis system of material management is presented.
Abstract: Background: Significant scope of enterprise's efficiency management is improving of material management process both the strategic and operational level. The complexity of material flow processes can lead to a threat such as distraction and disintegration of analysis focusing on many different factors influenced on effective sourcing and procurement management, transport and warehousing processes, inventory management, working capital and cash flow management. Material and methods: The presented article focuses on multidimensional and multi-criteria analysis of material management efficiency that is considered as decision support system. Authors have presented results of the research regarding ineffective material management confirm insufficient analytical supporting in various decisions of procurement operations. Results and conclusions: Based on research results authors presented in the article model of efficiency analysis system of material management.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Cooperative coevolutionary and classical sequential approaches are taken to address the experimental multi‐silo supply chains, but evolutionary algorithm was not sufficient to tackle the problem.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper and its companion (Part I: single and two‐component supply chains) is to investigate methods to tackle complexities, constraints (including time‐varying constraints) and other challenges. In this part, attention is devoted to multi‐silo supply chain and the relationships between the components. The first part of the paper aims to consider two types of experimental supply chains: with one‐to‐many and many‐to‐one relationships. The second half of the paper aims to present two approaches on optimising the material flow in the real‐world supply chain network.Design/methodology/approach – Cooperative coevolutionary and classical sequential approaches are taken to address the experimental multi‐silo supply chains. Due to the nature and the complexity of the supply chain presented in the second half of the paper, evolutionary algorithm was not sufficient to tackle the problem. A fuzzy‐evolutionary algorithm is proposed to address the problem.Findings – The proposed systems pro...

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Aug 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a computational fluid dynamics approach was used to study the effects of friction stir welding tool profiles on the thermal conditions and material flow in welds, and the results showed that friction stir weld tool profiles had a significant impact on the material flow and thermal conditions.
Abstract: The present investigation describes a computational fluid dynamics approach to study the effects of friction stir welding tool profiles on the thermal conditions and material flow in welds The aim

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: The requirements on the virtual commissioning are a strongly time-deterministic computation in the range of one millisecond, robust and efficient computing algorithms and system-dynamic features, and both simulation models are validated against a real conveyor belt.
Abstract: In this paper a multi-scale simulation approach based on system dynamics is investigated that is divided into a microscopic and a macroscopic model scale. On the microscopic model scale small amounts of parts are simulated, whereby the motion of each single discrete element is explicitly realized by means of a physically-based simulation. On the macroscopic model scale, based on a two-dimensional hyperbolic partial differential equation (PDE), a simulation of the material flow with a large amount of parts is realized. We explicitly examine the requirements on the virtual commissioning, which are a strongly time-deterministic computation in the range of one millisecond, robust and efficient computing algorithms and system-dynamic features. Both simulation models are validated against a real conveyor belt.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a finite element analysis is carried out in order to predict the position of the elements in the forging parts depending on the position in the extrusions, where the steel-reinforcements are appear in the strand.
Abstract: Aluminum matrix composite extrusions reinforced with wires made of high strength stainless steel represent an innovative material concept for lightweight structures. The use of reinforcing elements should improve the mechanical properties and the performance of lightweight structures. This study deals with the process chain of extrusion and die forging to manufacture steel-reinforced products. The production of discontinuously-reinforced, semi-finished aluminum profiles by co-extrusion is in focus on the extrusion part. The material flow is analysed in order to understand, and further to influence, where the steel-reinforcements are appear in the strand. For the forging part the extruded profiles are continuous-reinforced by means of steel wires as well as partially by means of steels elements. For the process design the geometry of the forging die cavity and the material flow are of vital importance. A Finite Element Analysis is carried out in order to predict the position of the elements in the forging parts depending on the position in the extrusions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, two three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are reported which simulate FSP with and without coolant application while using the STAR CCM+ CFD commercial software.
Abstract: The ability to generate nano-sized grains is one of the advantages of friction stir processing (FSP). However, the high temperatures generated during the stirring process within the processing zone stimulate the grains to grow after recrystallization. Therefore, maintaining the small grains becomes a critical issue when using FSP. In the present reports, coolants are applied to the fixture and/or processed material in order to reduce the temperature and hence, grain growth. Most of the reported data in the literature concerning cooling techniques are experimental. We have seen no reports that attempt to predict these quantities when using coolants while the material is undergoing FSP. Therefore, there is need to develop a model that predicts the resulting grain size when using coolants, which is an important step toward designing the material microstructure. In this study, two three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are reported which simulate FSP with and without coolant application while using the STAR CCM+ CFD commercial software. In the model with the coolant application, the fixture (backing plate) is modeled while is not in the other model. User-defined subroutines were incorporated in the software and implemented to investigate the effects of changing process parameters on temperature, strain rate and material velocity fields in, and around, the processed nugget. In addition, a correlation between these parameters and the Zener-Holloman parameter used in material science was developed to predict the grain size distribution. Different stirring conditions were incorporated in this study to investigate their effects on material flow and microstructural modification. A comparison of the results obtained by using each of the models on the processed microstructure is also presented for the case of Mg AZ31B-O alloy. The predicted results are also compared with the available experimental data and generally show good agreement.


Patent
17 Jul 2012
TL;DR: In this article, an automatic pressure control device is provided at an outflow passage for the gas mixture (GS) flowing from said source tank (5) while a mass flow meter (9) is provided on the downstream side of the automatic pressure controller device (8).
Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to accurately adjust the material concentration in gas mixture of carrier gas and material gas while making it possible to stably supply the gas mixture to a process chamber under highly accurate flow control, to simply and accurately detect the material gas vapor concentration in the gas mixture without using an expensive concentration meter and so forth, and to display the concentration in real time. The present invention provides a material vaporization supply device in which carrier gas (GK) is supplied to a source tank (5) through a mass flow controller (3) and the carrier gas (GK) is discharged from the source tank (5) while a gas mixture (GS) of saturated vapor (G) of a material (4) generated by keeping the source tank (5) at a constant temperature with a thermostatic section and said carrier gas (GK) is supplied to a process chamber. An automatic pressure control device (8) is provided at an outflow passage for the gas mixture (GS) flowing from said source tank (5) while a mass flow meter (9) is provided on the downstream side of the automatic pressure control device (8). The opening and closing of a control valve (8a) of said automatic pressure control device (8) is controlled so as to keep an internal pressure (Po) in the source tank (5) at a prescribed value. Detection values including the flow volume (Q1) of the carrier gas (GK) through said mass flow controller (3), said tank internal pressure (Po) and the flow volume (Qs) of the gas mixture (Gs) through said mass flow meter (9) are input into a material concentration computation unit (10). The material concentration computation unit (10) calculates a material flow volume (Q2) as Q2 = Qs × PMO/PO (where PMO is the saturated vapor pressure of a material vapor (G) at source tank temperature t°C). A material gas vapor concentration (K) in the gas mixture (Gs) supplied to said process chamber is calculated as K = Q2/Qs using the material flow volume (Q2) and displayed.

Patent
21 Nov 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, a hydrogenation method of a heavy hydrocarbon multi-segment fluidized bed is described, which combines the performances of the raw materials with the characteristic of each hydrogenation reaction, makes full use of reaction heating on the premise that a device is guaranteed to be stably operated, provides a product with good quality, and can flexibly adjust the operation process according to the requirement of a refinery.
Abstract: The invention discloses a hydrogenation method of a heavy hydrocarbon multi-segment fluidized bed. The technical process comprises the steps of: mixing thick heavy hydrocarbon raw materials with gas phase material flow which is discharged from a fluidized bed hydrogenation-desulfuration reactor and a hydrogenation-denitrification reactor to enter into a hydrogenation-demetalization reactor; cooling and purifying reacted gas phase material flow to be taken as recycle hydrogen; mixing the demetallized liquid phase material flow with hydrogen to enter into the fluidized bed hydrogenation-desulfuration reactor; mixing the desulfurated liquid phase material flow with hydrogen to enter into the hydrogenation-desulfuration reactor; and leading the denitrified liquid phase material flow to enter into a separating device. The technology adopts a new reactor assembly mode to machine heavy oil raw materials with high viscosity and bad quality, can provide a new flexible, high-efficiency and energy-saving operation mode, organically combines the performances of the raw materials with the characteristic of each hydrogenation reaction, makes full use of reaction heating on the premise that a device is guaranteed to be stably operated, provides a product with good quality, and can flexibly adjust the operation process according to the requirement of a refinery.