A numerical study of the fluid flow and heat transfer around a single row of tubes in a channel using immerse boundary method

The analysis of the time-dependent and two-dimensional fluid flow and heat transfer around a single row of tubes in a channel is performed numerically. Due to its fundamental significance and practical importance, aerodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of tube bundle have been paid great attention by many researchers. In the present study, the immersed boundary method is applied by using a Cartesian grid system. Numerical solution for the governing equations of mass, momentum and energy conservation is obtained with the finite volume method. To validate the numerical approach with the immersed boundary method, the results have been compared with published data. The generation and evolution of vortical structures, wake interactions and their effects on the drag, lift and heat transfer are analyzed at different Reynolds numbers. The effect of hydraulic boundary layer development on the fluid flow and heat transfer is also investigated.     

Development of a Web-based RCM system for the driverless Rubber-Tired K-AGT system

The Korean Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) developed the rubber-tired AGT system (Model: K-AGT) between 1999 and 2005. The K-AGT is a light rail transit system does not require a driver and generally operates on an elevated railroad for transporting passengers. Accidents caused by driverless vehicles can severely affect social confidence, safety and economy. Therefore, it is very important to minimize the occurrences of such faults, and to accurately perform detailed maintenance tasks and thoroughly investigate the cause of any repeated failures. This research develops the web-based reliability centered maintenance (RCM) system for the K-AGT train system. The framework of the RCM system is based on performing a failure mode and effects analyses (FMEA) procedure on all the sub-systems in the K-AGT system. Out of the devices that have a low reliability, the high failure ranked devices are included high on the list for performing the overall maintenance plans. Through registration of historical failure data and the reliability indexes, the results of the FMEA can be updated. Such a process is repeated continuously and can achieve very accurate predictions for device operational lifetimes and failure rates. Also, the RCM system is designed so that workers can refer to the expert system for the latest procedures to perform the required diagnosis and repair of any failure. The overall RCM system consists of a failure/task management system, a preventive maintenance system, an expert system, a material management system, and an approval system. This research describes the development of the preventive maintenance system and the expert system that have been produced because these are the main functions for the RCM system. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Dae-Eun Kim Myung-Won Suh is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. During 1986–1988, he worked for Ford motor company as researcher. From 1989–1995, he worked in technical center of KIA motors. He took a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University and an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from KAIST, South Korea. He obtained his Doctorate at the University of Michigan, USA, in 1989. His research areas include structure and system optimization, advanced safety vehicle and reliability analysis & optimization. Chul-Ho Bae is a PhD candidate at Sungkyunkwan University in Suwon, South Korea. He accomplished fellowship work as researcher at Mississippi State University, USA, in 2003 and 2005. He worked in Institute of Advanced Machi-nery and Technology (IMAT) as a Research Assistant in 2004. He was a part time Lecturer in computer aided Mechanical Engineering of Ansan College of Technology, Suwon Science College, and Osan College during 2004–2005. He took a BS Degree in Mechanical Design and an MS Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Sungkyunkwan University. His research interests include computer aided engineering, reliability engineering, and optimization.     

A study on reliability centered maintenance planning of a standard electric motor unit subsystem using computational techniques

The design and manufacture of urban transportation applications has been necessarily complicated in order to improve its safety. Urban transportation systems have complex structures that consist of various electric, electronic, and mechanical components, and the maintenance costs generally take up approximately 60% of the total operational costs. Therefore, it is essential to establish a maintenance plan that takes into account both safety and cost. In considering safety and cost limitations, this research introduces an advanced reliability centered maintenance (RCM) planning method using computational techniques, and applies the method to a standard electric motor unit (EMU) subsystem. First, this research devises a maintenance cost function that can reflect the current operating conditions, and maintenance characteristics, of components by generating essential cost factors. Second, a reliability growth analysis (RGA) is performed, using the Army Material Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) model, to estimate reliability indexes such as failure rate, and mean time between failures (MTBF), of a standard EMU subsystem, and each individual component Third, two optimization processes are performed to ascertain the optimal maintenance reliability of each component in the standard EMU subsystem. Finally, this research presents the maintenance time of each component based on the optimal maintenance reliability provided by optimization processesand reliability indexes provided by the RGA method. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Dae-Eun Kim Myung-Won Suh is a professor of Mechanical Engineering. During 1986–1988, he worked for Ford motor company as researcher. During 1989–1995, he worked in the technical center of KIA motors. He earned a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University and an MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from KAIST, South Korea. He obtained his Doctorate at the University of Michigan, USA, in 1989. His research areas include structure and system optimization, advanced safety vehicle and reliability analysis & optimization. Chul-Ho Bae is a PhD candidate at Sungkyunkwan University in Suwon, South Korea. He ac-complished fellowship work as researcher at Mississippi State University, USA, in 2003 and 2005. He worked in Institute of Advanced Machinery and Technology (IMAT) as a Research Assistant in 2004. He was a part time Lecturer in computer aided Mechanical Engineering of Ansan College of Technology, Suwon Science College, and Osan College during 2004–2005. He took a BS Degree in Mechanical Design and an MS Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Sungkyunkwan University. His research interests include computer aided engineering, reliability engineering, and optimization.     

Analysis of plating grain size effect on whisker

Whisker is a single beard-shape crystal filament, and it would be a main cause of producing electrical short circuits. Re-crystallization of both plating grain and base metal grain caused by internal and external stresses affects whisker growth. In this paper, we analyzed effect of grain size and structure of plating on whisker growth through whisker acceleration tests of ICs used in the electronic products. Samples with different package types, base metal, and plating thickness were used in the tests, and both structure and size of plating, and whisker were examined using SEM. From the test results, internal and external stresses produce more grain boundaries of plating when the grain size is smaller. And based on t-test, we found that there is a significant negative correlation between grain size and whisker growth. Therefore, smaller grain size of plating produces higher possibility of whisker occurrence, and whiskers grow in the grain boundaries of plating.     

The effect of reaction conditions on montmorillonite-catalysed peptide formation

Oligomerization of glycine (gly) and diglycine (gly₂) on montmorillonite was performed as cyclic, drying-wetting process at temperatures below 100°C, under varying reaction conditions. The influence of substrate/clay ratio, temperature and pH was found to be different for amino acid (AA) dimerization, cyclic anhydride (CA) formation and peptide chain elongation. High temperatures and neutral pH favour CA formation over diglycine production. An AA/catalyst ratio of 0.2 mmol/g leads to optimal yields. This supports the assumption that amino acid dimerization and CA formation take place at the edges of clay particles. Peptide chain elongation, starting from gly₂, produces higher yields at higher temperatures and neutral pH.     

The influence of calcination temperature on catalytic activities in a Co based catalyst for CO2 dry reforming

The carbon dioxide dry reforming of methane (CDR) reaction could be thermodynamically favored in the range of 800 to 1,000 °C. However, the catalyst in this reaction should be avoided at the calcination temperature over 800 °C since strong metal support interaction (SMSI) in this temperature range can decrease activity due to loss of active sites. Therefore, we focused on optimizing the temperature of pretreatment and a comparison of surface characterization results for CDR. Results related to metal sintering over support, re-dispersion by changing of particle size of metal-support, and strong metal support interaction were observed and confirmed in this work. In our conclusion, optimum calcination temperature for a preparation of catalyst was proposed that 400 °C showed a higher and more stable catalytic activity without changing of support characteristics.     

Experimental evaluation of coating delamination in vinyl-coated metal forming

In this paper, a new evaluation and prediction method for coating delamination during sheet metal forming is presented. On the basis of the forming limit diagram (FLD), the current study evaluates the delamination of PET coating by using a cross-cut specimen, dome test, and rectangular-cup drawing test. Dome test specimens were subjected to biaxial, plane strain, and uniaxial deformation modes. Rectangular cup-drawing test specimens were subjected to the deep-drawing deformation mode, and compression deformation mode. A vinyl-coated metal (VCM) sheet consists of three layers of polymer on the sheet metals: a protective film, a PET layer and a PVC layer. The areas with coating delamination were identified, and the results of the evaluation were plotted according to major and minor strain values, depicting coating delamination. The constructed delamination limit diagram (DLD) can be used to determine the forming limit of VCM during the complex press-forming process. ARGUS (GOM) was employed to identify the strain value and deformation mode of the delaminated surface after the press forming. After identifying the areas of delamination, the DLD of the PET coating can be constructed in a format similar to that of the FLD. The forming limit of the VCM sheet can be evaluated using the superimposition of the delamination limit strain of the coating onto the FLD of VCM sheet. The experimental results showed that the proposed test method will support the sheet metal forming process design for VCM sheets. The assessment method presented in this study can be used to determine the delamination limit strain under plastic deformation of other polymer coated metals. The experimental results suggested that the proposed testing method is effective in evaluating delamination for specific applications.     

Modified A-star algorithm for modular plant land transportation

Many common path optimization algorithms are available. However, problems arise when a general route optimization algorithm is applied to land transportation of large cargo, such as a modular plant. The large and heavy structure of a modular plant can lead to a loss of time depending on the curve of the road. This problem is more critical when traveling through large turns, which may also cause mechanical problems. Therefore, curves are essential parameters for modular plant land transportation. In this research, we show the importance of angles in the path via multi-body dynamic simulations and finite element analysis. Based on these results, we constructed a pathfinding algorithm that considers the importance of angles. The traditional A-star algorithm considers only distance as a cost, whereas our modified A-star algorithm considers both distance and angle as costs. Our goal is to improve traditional A-star algorithms and optimize them for modular plant land transportation.     

Gate location design in injection molding of an automobile junction box with integral hinges

Polymers such as polypropylene or polyethylene offer a unique feature of producing an integral or living hinge for automobiles, which can flex over a million times without causing a failure. However, due to increased fluidity resistance at hinges during molding, several defects such as short shot or premature failure can occur with the improper selection of gate locations. In this paper, a design guideline was induced by investigating resin flow patterns depending on several gate positions obtained by numerical analyses of a simple strip with a hinge. The analyses of the simple strip part showed that the resin at the hinge did not flow until the other side of the strip was filled. Once the resin at the hinge did not flow for a long time enough to be solidified, defects such as short shots or hesitation marks formed. For a practical application of the design guideline determined, four gate systems for an automobile junction box were designed. It was found that the properly determined gate location leads to better resin flow and shorter hesitation time. Finally, injection molding tryouts using a mold that was designed by one of the proposed gate systems were conducted. The experiments showed that hinges without defects could be produced by using the designed gate location to assure the induced design guideline to be reasonable.     

弯曲受力时中空管以及混凝土填充纤维复合管的有限元模型:部分填充优化和杆设计方法

非线性有限元模型的拓展与验证在相关的论文(Son J,Fam A.中空管以及混凝土填充纤维复合管的有限元模型:第一部分——抗弯模型拓展与验证)中已被用于研究部分填充混凝土纤维增强复合材料线杆的抗弯性能。为提高抗弯强度和稳定性,建议采用部分填充厚壁管来降低造价。对不同直径与厚度比以及不同分层结构的悬臂单杆进行混凝土部分填充长度优化。研究发现,当下列任意一种情况出现时,优化长度会减少:当直径与厚度比变小时;当纤维角度相对于弯曲管纵向轴夹角增加时;当弯曲管中纵向纤维减少时;当采用侧向分布荷载代替端部集中荷载时。建立了计算中空管和混凝土填充FRP管承载力矩的简单表达式,基于同时发生在中空管和混凝土填充管处的破坏,结合简单的设计方法体系来优化混凝土填充管的长度。同时提出了计算锥形线杆的程序。