Contact force modeling and analysis for robotic tilted-disc polishing of freeform workpieces

This paper investigates the tool-workpiece contact mechanism in the disc polishing process, where the soft polishing disc touches the rigid freeform workpiece with a small tilt angle. The developed contact force model can explain how the contact parameters, including the disc contact depth, the disc tilt angle, the radii of curvature of the disc and the workpiece, affect the normal contact force. Under some reasonable geometric and mechanical assumptions of the disc and the workpiece, an approximated contact force equation is derived in a simple power-law form similar to the Hertzian contact model. The contact force is found to be positively related to the disc contact depth and the disc radius, while negatively related to the disc tilt angle and the workpiece normal curvature that is orthogonal to the feed direction. Both finite element simulations and experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed contact force model. Furthermore, the material removal process is analyzed and a model-based process parameter planning method is developed to achieve uniform material removal considering the variation of workpiece curvatures.     

Flow and spawning habitat relationships for Dolly Varden: Understanding habitat–population dynamics in the Canadian Western Arctic

Northern form Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma) have been designated as a species of Special Concern in Canada due to declines in population abundance and potential threats. Concern over detrimental effects of low flows on population abundance prompted research on how variability in discharge regimes influence habitat availability. Habitat suitability indices for prespawning and spawning adult anadromous Dolly Varden from two streams were integrated into a two‐dimensional hydrodynamic habitat model to assess the effect of flow variability on usable habitat. Regional hydrographs were used to identify an ecologically relevant range of flows that provided optimal spawning habitat for these populations and examine the relationship between abundance and discharge. Adults spawned in the tail end of pools at moderate water depths and water velocities, and used pebble‐ to cobble‐sized substrate for building redds; whereas, prespawning adults occupied deeper pools with moderate velocities and used cobble for cover. Model outputs showed that spawning habitat availability was optimized at flow rates between 1.6 and 3.0 m³/s and between 1.0 and 6.0 m³/s in Fish Hole Creek (FHC) and Little Fish Creek, respectively. A positive relationship between flows during the fall spawning period and abundance of the FHC population suggests that higher flows coinciding with optimal habitat availability may have contributed to positive recruitment. To strengthen and refine this habitat–population relationship for Dolly Varden in this area requires investigation of a broader suite of variables associated with environmental regimes and physical habitat in reaches used for spawning.     

Teaching construction sciences with the integration of BIM to undergraduate architecture students

This study aims to test two hypotheses: teaching building information modeling (BIM) in relation to construction science provides students with a remarkable understanding of the nature of construction science (Hypothesis 1), and if the student has positive attitude toward the use of the BIM program, then efficiency by which construction science is taught by its means is improved (Hypothesis 2). Results and process of a case study with a novel teaching methodology were discussed in terms of the benefits of the students. A questionnaire study was conducted on the student group with which the case study was performed to test each student's attitude. Results were evaluated statistically. When BIM is integrated with the teaching of basic construction courses within architecture degree programs, the students understood the building system principles simply and effectively. As a result of the statistical analysis, the students find the applied method effective. Moreover, their attitude toward BIM affects the process.     

Failure mechanism of rigid polyurethane foam under high temperature vibration condition by experimental and finite element method

The failure mechanism of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) under room temperature (RT) and high temperature vibration conditions was investigated by experiment and finite element stimulation. Damaged RPUF specimens were prepared at different vibration amplitudes ranging from 0 to 19.879 mm at RT and 150 °C for different vibration times. The tensile test was utilized to evaluate the vibration damage degree of RPUFs, and the results exhibited that tensile strength decreased gradually with the increase of vibration amplitude and time at both RT and 150 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy illustrated that thermal degradation of RPUF is attributed to the decomposition of carbonyl urethane groups at 150 °C. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the tensile fracture surfaces revealed that the vibration failure of RPUF mainly resulted from the existence of microcracks in cell structure. A finite element simulation was established by ABAQUS to study stress distribution of RPUF under different vibration loads, which then demonstrated that the microcracks are most likely to exist on the junction of two microcell units, which is due to convergence of stress in the process of vibration. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48343.     

Numerical investigation of a direct ammonia tubular solid oxide fuel cell in comparison with hydrogen

Nowadays, carbon-rich fuels are the principal energy supply utilized for powering human society, and it will be continued for the next few decades. Connecting with this, modern energy technologies are very essential to convert the available limited carbon-rich fuels and other green alternative energies into useful energy efficiently with an insignificant environmental impression. Amongst all kinds of power generation systems, SOFCs running with high temperatures are emerging as a frontrunner in chemical to electrical transformation efficiency, allows the engagement of all-embracing fuel varieties with negligible environmental impact. This study investigates the effect of ammonia usage in tubular SOFC performance. Firstly, the use of ammonia and hydrogen in the electrolyte-supported SOFC (ES-SOFC) has investigated. Then, the effect of using ammonia in anode-supported SOFC (AS-SOFC), ES-SOFC and cathode-supported SOFC (CS–SOFC) on performance has been examined by using COMSOL software. As a result of the study performed, it is found that the ammonia can be used in tubular SOFC's as a carbon-free fuel and CS-SOFC shows better performance compared with ES-SOFC and AS-SOFC. Besides, the findings of this study indicate that the use of ammonia as a fuel for SOFCs is comparable to the use of hydrogen.     

What makes an elongated lake ‘large’? Scales from wind-driven steady circulation on a rotating Earth

When investigating wind-induced steady circulation, the effect of the acceleration due to Earth’s rotation is often neglected in narrow lakes, but the argument behind this assumption is blurred. Commonly, when the horizontal dimension is smaller than the Rossby radius, the Coriolis force is considered unimportant, but this is correct only for inertial currents and barotropic and baroclinic waves. In this work, we revisit the classical Ekman transport solution for wind stress acting along the main axis of an elongated lake in steady-state conditions. We demonstrate that a secondary circulation develops and that the resulting crosswise volume transport, constrained in the closed domain, produces downwelling and upwelling that cannot be predicted by the standard Ekman formulas. We claim that the Rossby radius does not play any role in this process, which on the contrary is governed by the ratio between the actual depth and the thickness of the Ekman layer. The theoretical analysis is supported by numerical experiments to show the dependence on latitude, width, depth and turbulence closure.     

Thermal effects in H2O and CO2 assisted direct carbon solid oxide fuel cells

Thermal effects in a H₂O and CO₂ assisted tubular direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC-SOFC) are numerically investigated. Parametric simulations are further conducted to study the effects of operating potential, the distance between carbon and anode, inlet gas temperature, and anode inlet gas flow rate on the thermal behaviors of the fuel cell. It is found that the fuel cell with H₂O as gasification agent performs considerably better than the cell with CO₂ as gasification agent in all cases. It is also found that the temperature field of the fuel cell is highly uneven. The breakdown of the heat sources in the fuel cell shows that the H₂O assisted DC-SOFC has much higher heat generation and consumption than the CO₂ assisted cell. Interestingly, a thermal neutral voltage is observed, at which no heating or cooling of the cell is needed. In addition, the distance between the anode and the carbon layer is required to be as small as possible, which improves the temperature uniformity of the fuel cell. The results of this study demonstrates the importance of thermal effects in DC-SOFCs and form a solid foundation for DC-SOFC thermal management.