Optimal design of a frictional pair of a hub–plunger

Based on the model of a rough friction surface, the theoretical analysis of the displacement function for the external contour points of the hub of a frictional pair, providing the absence of the initial wear and tear, which takes place towards the end of the bedding period, is carried out. The obtained displacement function for the external contour points of the hub provides increased wear resistance of the frictional pair.     

Experimental Study of the Spatial Resolution of a Spherical Quartz Crystal for X rays at a Wavelength of 8.42 Å

The results of an experimental study of the spatial resolution of a spherical quartz crystal for X rays at = 8.42 Å are presented. An experimental design for the two-dimensional X-ray imaging of test objects was used to determine the spatial resolution of such a crystal. The crystal resolution measured using an image scan was 2 m for the Gaussian point spread function.     

The efficiency of a hypoid axle—a thermally coupled lubrication model

The final drive unit in road vehicles, such as medium and heavy trucks, and four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive passenger cars, usually consists of a hypoid or spiral bevel geared transmission and differential, housed in a self-contained, dip-lubricated axle. Such units are subjected to very variable duty—including extreme combinations of speed, gradient, applied torque and external temperature—and are typically cooled by natural and forced convection on the exterior surface. On the other hand, there are appreciable internal power losses due to gear friction and churning and to bearing and seal losses. These losses are highly dependent upon the lubrication regime of the internal components and hence to the thermal behaviour of the entire axle.In the present paper, we describe a thermally coupled model of axle lubrication. The torque and speed demand is first found from a specified duty (“drive cycle”) which includes terrain as well as speed-versus-time and external temperature data. The evolution of sump oil and component temperatures is followed, and increments of energy loss evaluated in each time-step. Elastohydrodynamic film thickness is determined for the hypoid gear set, using a development of Buckingham's method, and friction losses calculated using a simple oil rheological model based on tribometer (MTM) testing. Churning, seal and bearing (speed-dependent) losses are found using empirical algorithms. Energy losses over complete drive cycles for different lubricants are derived, enabling the relative fuel economy for different oils to be evaluated.Results show that (i) the bulk temperature rise of the axle is highly dependent on the specified vehicle duty and (ii) the efficiency can be strongly influenced by choices available to the lubricant formulator. Taken together, these findings suggest that specialist axle lubricant formulations for particular vehicle types and applications will be attractive as a route to optimum fuel economy.     

Characterization of the Capacitance of a Rotating Ring–Disk Electrode

The use of rotating ring–disk electrodes as generator-collector systems has so far been limited to the detection of Faradaic currents at the ring. As opposed to other generator-collector configurations, non-Faradaic detection has not yet been carried out with rotating ring–disk electrodes. In this study, a.c. perturbation based detection for measurement of the ring impedance is introduced. By using a conducting polymer-modified disk electrode in combination with a bare gold ring as a model, it is shown that the measured ring capacitance correlates with the polarization of the polymer film, most probably due to counter-ion exchange. A method of calculating the ring capacitance based on a small-signal sinusoid perturbation is described and the most important instrumental limitations are identified.     

Evaluation of a digital data acquisition system and optimization of n-γ discrimination for a compact neutron spectrometer

A compact NE213 liquid scintillation neutron spectrometer with a new digital data acquisition (DAQ) system is now in operation at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). With the DAQ system, developed by ENEA Frascati, neutron spectrometry with high count rates in the order of 5×10(5) s(-1) is possible, roughly an order of magnitude higher than with an analog acquisition system. To validate the DAQ system, a new data analysis code was developed and tests were done using measurements with 14-MeV neutrons made at the PTB accelerator. Additional analysis was carried out to optimize the two-gate method used for neutron and gamma (n-γ) discrimination. The best results were obtained with gates of 35 ns and 80 ns. This indicates that the fast and medium decay time components of the NE213 light emission are the ones that are relevant for n-γ discrimination with the digital acquisition system. This differs from what is normally implemented in the analog pulse shape discrimination modules, namely, the fast and long decay emissions of the scintillating light.     

Experimental method of fabrication of a matched metal–dielectric structure for a sensor based on the effect of frustrated total internal reflection

An experimental method of fabrication of a sensor based on a metal–dielectric structure (Al + ZnS) and optimization of its characteristics is described. The coefficient of light reflection (p-polarization) from the aluminum layer is studied as a function of the layer thickness for different angles of incidence at the wavelength of 532 nm. Based on calculations, which are qualitatively consistent with experimental results, a structure consisting of matched layers of aluminum and zinc sulfide is fabricated; this structure has a higher angular resolution than the aluminum film with no dielectric coating. The detection limit of angular measurements by the sensor based on this structure is estimated as 2.6 · 10^-5 RIU (refraction index units).     

Square-Wave Operation of a Thermal Conductivity Detectort†

SUMMARY

Equipment is described for the operation of thermal conductivity detectors with square-wave bridge current. The resulting ac output signal allows amplification without the need for low-level choppers. With phase-locked demodulation of the amplified signal, bridge unbalance signals of the order of 10 nV can be detected. This performance exceeds the requirements of presently available detector cells, which produce noise levels of the order of 100 nV.

The instrument is compatible with most existing hot wire detectors and may be used with economical recorders. Air and other permanent gases can be reliably analyzed at levels of 0.02 μl, with detection limits of the order of 0.002 μl. This performance makes the instrument attractive in the field of air pollution and opens the way to further research in the design of low-noise detector cells.     

Precision nanometrology of a large areamicrostructured metrology surface

1 Introduction The authors have been working on a newsurface encoder for detecting multi-degree-of-freedom(MDOF) translational and tilt motionsof precision stages[1]. The surface encoder con-sists of two fundamental elements: a sinusoidalmicrostructured metrology surface, which is re-ferred to as the angle grid, and a two-dimension-al (2D) slope sensor[2-3].     

Note: Non-destructive measurement of thermal effusivity of a solid and liquid using a freestanding serpentine sensor-based 3ω technique

A non-destructive thermal effusivity characterization method described as a freestanding serpentine sensor-based 3ω technique was reported. This freestanding serpentine sensor was fabricated by the mature flexible printed circuit production technique. Expression for the temperature response of the freestanding serpentine sensor with respect to the thermal effusivity of the test sample was presented. The technique was further verified by measuring four kinds of standard samples at room temperature. Experimental results which well agree with reference values demonstrate the new technique is of great application value to thermal effusivity characterization of solids, liquids, and structures to which the conventional 3ω technique is not applicable, e.g., solids with porous surfaces.     

Influence of friction during forming processes—a study using a numerical simulation technique

Friction has an important influence in metal forming operations, as it contributes to the success or otherwise of the process. In the present investigation, the effect of friction on metal forming was studied by simulating compression tests on cylindrical Al-Mg alloy using the finite element method (FEM) technique. Three kinds of compression tests were considered wherein a constant coefficient of friction was employed at the upper die–work-piece interface. However, the coefficient of friction between the lower die–work-piece interfaces was varied in the tests. The simulation results showed that a difference in metal flow occurs near the interfaces owing to the differences in the coefficient of friction. It was concluded that the variations in the coefficient of friction between the dies and the work-piece directly affect the stress distribution and shape of the work-piece, having implications on the microstructure of the material being processed.     

Development of a Setup for the Discrimination of β+ and γ Rays

Abstract

A β⁺–γ discrimination set‐up was developed and applied to the ²²Na radioisotope. The radioisotope emits positrons (β⁺) and these positrons create γ rays by annihilating with electrons. These annihilation γ rays were used here, and the discrimination between these positrons and γ rays was investigated by the coincidence measurement between time signals and the energy signals. The detection system presented here uses a 3 inch (diameter) by 3 inch (length) NaI(Tl) inorganic scintillation detector for γ detection and 3 inch (diameter) by 3 inch (length) plastic scintillation detector for β⁺ detection.     

Evaluation of a novel approach to a delamination factor after drilling composite laminates using a core–saw drill

Drilling is the most commonly applied method for hole making of fiber-reinforced materials owing to the need for structure joining. Delamination is the most common defect during drilling because of the heterogeneity of both the fibers and the matrix. The delamination, in general, is an irregular shape and size, containing long and fine breaks and cracks at the exit of the drilled hole, especially in the drilling of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). On the other hand, a core–saw drill is designed to reduce the threat of chip removal in drilling composite materials. Since the thrust force of core–saw drill is distributed toward the periphery, the core–saw drill allows a larger critical thrust force than the twist drill at the onset of delamination when drilling composite materials. The aim of this paper is to present a novel approach of the equivalent delamination factor (F _ed) to characterize drilling-induced delamination using a core–saw drill and compare it with the adjusted delamination factor (F _da) and the conventional delamination factor (F _a). The experimental results indicated that the F _ed obtained is considered suitable for characterizing delamination at the exit of a hole after drilling CFRP.     

Development of a technique for high-speed γ-ray spectrometry

A technique for high-speed γ-ray spectrometry was developed for γ-ray diagnostic experiments on the ITER tokamak and tested at the Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute on the cyclotron and the GLOBUS-M and TUMAN-3M tokamaks. This technique was used to upgrade the γ-ray diagnostic system of the JET tokamak. It was shown by the tests that the new technique compares favorably to the traditional one in that it allows the limiting counting rate of the spectrometer to be increased by at least an order of magnitude without noticeable deterioration of its energy resolution.     

Deformation and stress of a composite–metal assembly

Compliant structures, e.g. automobile body panel and airplane wing box are widely used. A compliant structure consists of one or more flexible parts, and these parts share the mating features among them. Because of process-induced deformation and part-to-part variations, external forces are applied during the assembly process and the parts are deformed. As a result, the final assembly is pre-stressed and its geometrical shape may deviate from the designed shape. Therefore, the assembly variation and residual stress need to be analysed in order to evaluate the structure performance. In this study, a new approach based on response surface methodology is developed. A number of organised virtual experiments are conducted with the aid of finite element analysis and regression models are fitted to the resulting data. These regression models relate part variations to assembly variation and residual stress. Monte Carlo simulation can be conveniently done using these simple regression models. The effectiveness of this method was illustrated using a composite–metal assembly. It is shown that the method presented in this paper provides a practical and reliable solution to the analysis of compliant structures.     

Calibration of a multilayer semiconductor spectrometer using α sources

A method for calibrating a multilayer spectrometer using α particles is presented. This spectrometer is composed of successive semiconductor Si(Li) detectors and is used for precision detection of long-range charged particles (p, d, and t) with energies of ～100 MeV. The factors affecting the accuracy of calibration are analyzed. This method is shown to guarantee high accuracy in measuring charged-particle energies.     

Development of a Stereolithography File Interface with ArtCAM™

This paper presents the technique used for converting a 3D ArtCAM™ relief file into the stereolithography (STL) format. This 3D file is obtained from a 2D picture using a 3D CNC engraving software called ArtCAM™. The problem is to convert the 3D relief files into an STL format without compromising the accuracy and details of therelief. This paper discusses the size of the files which have been converted, and steps taken to reduce the file size by reducing the number of triangles or facets in the STL file. The discussion involves the verification of the converted model by comparing it with the original relief. The problems associated with the reduction of triangles when the file has been converted to STL format are also discussed.     

Precision nanometrology of a large area microstructured metrology surface

1　Introduction　　Theauthorshavebeenworkingonanewsur faceencoderfordetectingmulti degree of freedom(MDOF)translationalandtiltmotionsofprecisionstages[1] .Thesurfaceencoderconsistsoftwofun damentalelements :asinusoidalmicrostructuredmetrologysurface ,whichisreferredtoastheanglegrid ,andatwo dimensional( 2D)slopesensor[2 3 ] .Theanglegridhasa 3Dmicrostructuredsur face ,whichisasuperpositionofsinusoidalwavesintheX andY directions.Sincetheanglegridsur faceisusedasthereferenceofpositionmeasur…     

Distribution of Fe and adsorption of NH3in mordenite:a computational study

采用色散校正密度泛函方法(DFT-D2)研究了Fe同晶取代进入丝光沸石骨架中的可能位置及其对NH3分子的吸附。结果表明,Fe优先取代位是T1O6位,然后依次是T2O5,T4O2和T3O1位,且能量差小于0.09 eV,说明Fe可能分布在四种非等价晶体T位,而且电荷平衡质子的位置影响Fe取代位的稳定性。本文还采用DFT和DFT-D2方法计算了NH3分子在每一个Fe取代的T位的吸附能。通过比较发现,DFT低估了NH3的吸附能约0.53 eV,这表明DFT-D2方法对于NH3吸附是很有必要的,且结果与文献相符,T2O5位的Brnsted酸性最强,NH3在Brnsted酸位的吸附比在Lewis酸位的吸附更稳定。