Structure and internal-stress formation in VT20 titanium-alloy welded joints

Microstructure, texture, and microhardness and residual-stress distributions are studied in a VT20 alloy welded shell consisting of two coaxial nested components connected by a circular weld.     

Self-injection locking of DFB laser diode with Brillouin amplification in optical fibre feedback

A novel optical injection-locking configuration utilising Brillouin amplification in optical fibre feedback is reported. The proposed structure exhibits properties inherent in two phenomena, self-injection locking and injection-locking in master-slave configuration at the same time. Significant narrowing of the locked DFB laser linewidth was recorded. The configuration provides intensity-stable Stokes generation without a high-frequency external modulator and generator.     

Parameters and Technology for Fabricating PIK Reactor Fuel Elements

The construction of the fuel elements of a high-flux PIK research reactor is described. The technological tolerances in the process of fuel-element fabrication are presented. The basic geometric and mass parameters of several standard batches of fabricated fuel elements are determined experimentally. Statistical analysis of the experimental data shows that the deviations in the main parameters fall within the limits of the indicated technological tolerances and are described by a Gaussian distribution to a high degree of accuracy.     

On the optimization of metal forming

An approach to the calculation and design of metal forming is proposed and theoretically considered. This approach can minimize the nonuniformity of a deformation distribution over the cross section of ready products, which is equal to controlling the structure and properties of forged pieces. This approach is based on the calculation of the intermediate shapes of a forged piece by solving a set of inverse forming problems using the boundary element method and by constructing a forging process that is optimal according to a given criterion using dynamic programming.     

Technological prediction as a means of identifying additional competitive advantages of a specific production process

Results are presented from predictions of the quality indices of metal products used in critical applications. The predictions are obtained for combinations of technological factors that are not used in the actual production process. The reliability of the predictions is confirmed by the fact that the index values obtained with the use of regression models agree with the values obtained using corresponding genetic algorithms. The advantages of the methodology described in the article are demonstrated using the example of analysis of the multi-stage cold rolling of tubes made of zirconium alloys. The introduction of procedures for making technological predictions will help make production processes more efficient and, thus, more competitive. __________ Translated from Metallurg, No. 2, pp. 31–36, February, 2007.