Process and performance optimization by selective assembly of battery electrodes

The increasing demand for electric vehicles and thus lithium-ion batteries results in a multitude of challenges in production technology. The reproducibility and performance of large scale batteries for automotive applications are very high. At the same time the production processes are complex and involve many uncertainties. Two essential process steps are the electrode coating and electrode package assembly. The mass loading of anodes and cathodes are determined by the coating process, where deviations can be caused by different reasons. The selective assembly of the electrodes is a reasonable way to balance the production variances. The contribution shows extended algorithms and their benefits and drawbacks of matching electrodes in order to improve the subsequent electrode packaging process. Here, the aim is to reach higher cell capacities and optimized performance values by “optimally” balanced electrodes regarding the mass loading ratio, which is also related to the specific material capacity.     

Copper-Tungsten Composites Sprayed by HVOF

Copper and copper-tungsten composite coatings were produced by high-velocity oxy-fuel spraying (HVOF). After initial optimization of the spraying parameters, coatings of various compositions were made and their structure, composition, mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties were characterized. The HVOF technique was able to produce rather dense coatings with minimal oxide content and relatively good mechanical and thermal properties compared to, for example, plasma-sprayed coatings; however, the achieved tungsten content was quite low.     

Optimization of demand-related packaging sizes using a p-median approach

The determining of efficient packaging sizes is a key factor in saving material and transportation costs and also in reducing packaging waste. By analyzing the range of items and their contribution to sales-relevant order structures of a globally operating mail order company, a simplified packing algorithm is proposed. In combination with well-known methodologies, this heuristic provides near optimal solutions improving current packaging of eCommerce companies. It is shown that simple, practical heuristics are sufficient to achieve average material savings of more than 10 %. In order to find efficient packaging sizes, a set of them is generated by discretization of packaging dimensions. Given the set of orders and the set of packaging sizes, a p-median approach is applied to find a specified number of optimal, demand-related packaging sizes.     

Study on the scattering of 2-D Rayleigh waves by a cavity based on BEM simulation

A frequency domain boundary element method is introduced in this paper to simulate the scattering of two-dimensional Rayleigh waves by a cavity on the surface of an elastic half-space. This numerical method allows the Rayleigh wave to escape the truncated boundary without producing any spurious reflections. The numerical results of the displacements and stresses of a 2-D Rayleigh wave which travels along a flat surface of an elastic half-infinite medium are in good agreement when compared with theoretical ones. The problem of a Rayleigh wave scattering by a cavity on the surface of an elastic half-infinite medium is simulated by the proposed numerical method. The result is taken as the benchmark to introduce an approximate analytical method for such problems of scattering by a cavity on the surface. This numerical method is formulated for a two-dimensional homogeneous, isotropic, linearly elastic half-space and its implementation in a frequency domain boundary scheme is discussed in detail.     

Frequency-dependent damping model for the hydroacoustic finite element analysis of fluid-filled pipes with diameter changes

The integration of a model for longitudinal hydroacoustic fluid damping in thin hydraulic pipes in 3D finite element models is presented in this paper. In order to perform quantitative prediction of the vibroacoustic behavior and resulting noise levels of such fluid-structure coupled system due to hydraulic excitation, an accurate frequency-dependent fluid damping model including friction effects near the pipe wall is required. This step is achieved by matching complex wave numbers from analytical derivation into a parameterized damped wave equation and consecutive translation into finite element modeling.Since the friction effect close to the pipe wall changes locally with the inner pipe radius, the fluid damping model is applied segment-wise in order to model the influence of cross-sectional discontinuity, such as orifices, on the oscillating pressure pulsations. A component synthesis approach, which uses pipe segments as substructures, allows a simple model generation and fast computation times.The numerical harmonic results are compared to experimental frequency response functions, which are performed on a hydraulic test bench driven by a dynamic pressure source in the kHz-range.     

Prediction of backside micromotion in total knee replacements by finite element simulation

The micromotion at the interface between the polyethylene tibial insert and metal tibial tray [corrected] in modular total knee replacements [corrected] has been shown to contribute to wear particle-induced osteolysis and may [corrected] cause implant failure. Therefore, studying the design parameters that are involved in the backside wear process is an important task that may lead to improvement in new total knee replacements. In the present study, a finite element model was developed to predict the backside micromotion along the entire modular interface. Both the linear elastic constitutive model and non-linear J2-plasticity constitutive model were considered in the finite element model for polyethylene and were corroborated against published results obtained from displacement controlled knee simulator wear tests. The finite element simulation with the non-linear J2-plasticity constitutive model was able to predict backside micromotion [corrected] more accurately than the simulation with the linear elastic constitutive model. [corrected] The developed finite element model (including the non-linear J2-plasticity constitutive model) was then applied to assess the effects of the tibial tray locking mechanism design (dovetails versus fullperipheral [corrected] design) and different levels of interference fit on insert micromotion. The developed finite element model, implementing the non-linear J2-plasticity constitutive model, was shown to successfully predict clinical amounts of backside micromotion and could be used for the design and development of total knee replacements for the reduction of backside micromotion and polyethylene [corrected] wear.     

Development of an automated testing system for vehicle infotainment system

A current premium vehicle is implemented with a variety of information, entertainment, and communication functions, which are generally referred as an infotainment system. During vehicle development, testing of the infotainment system at an overall level is conventionally carried out manually by an expert who can observe at a customer level. This approach has significant limitations with regard to test coverage and effectiveness due to the complexity of the system functions and human’s capability. Hence, it is highly demanded by car manufacturers for an automated infotainment testing system, which replicates a human expert encompassing relevant sensory modalities relating to control (i.e., touch) and observation (i.e., sight and sound) of the system under test. This paper describes the design, development, and evaluation of such a system that consists of simulation of vehicle network, vision-based inspection, automated navigation of features, random cranking waveform generation, sound detection, and test automation. The system developed is able to: stimulate a vehicle system across a wide variety of initialisation conditions, exercise each function, check for system responses, and record failure situations for post-testing analysis.     

The organicists: planners,planning, and the environment in Czechoslovakia (1914–1949)

This article takes a brief look at the history of modern Central European planning, especially spatial planning in Czechoslovakia. It is primarily focused on urban and regional planners, planning ideas, concepts, and projects that can be considered ‘organic’. Several important planners (all males) who kept pace with the most current European and US trends (e.g. Vladimír Zákrejs, Jind?ich Kumpo?t, Bohuslav Fuchs, Alois Miku?kovic, Ladislav ?ák, Karel Honzík, and Emanuel Hru?ka) are discussed. The text also mentions some of the driving forces of the time, which had a fundamental impact on organic approaches in planning, including the institutionalization of urban and regional planning. Attention is also given to various international influences and the transfer of ideas that have not yet been adequately analysed. In conclusion, there are some reflections on the significance of organic modernity that succinctly express the atmosphere of that time as well as the efforts of the mentioned planners and thinkers. The main message is to show the close connection between early modern urban planning and the phenomenon of organicism, or rather, organic modernity.