On the mechanical performance of closed cell Al alloy foams

The mechanical properties of three different commercially available closed cell Al alloys all made by foam casting are examined. The objective is to assess the roles of cell morphology and of imperfections in governing the basic properties: stiffness, yield strength and fracture resistance. This assessment provides goals for manufacturing strategies that enable attainment of good mechanical performance with affordable process technologies. A prevalent role of curves and wiggles in the cell walls on stiffness and strength (anticipated by models) is affirmed by the present measurements. Systematically larger stiffnesses and yield strengths found in tension than in compression are consistent with a prominent role exerted by such imperfections. Moreover, foam casting is apparently capable of cell morphologies that impart properties approaching the best achievable values for an isotropic closed cell solid, devoid of imperfections. There are associated implications for performance and affordability. Fracture measurements indicate crack growth occurring along the cell walls by a mechanism analogous to the plastic tearing of thin sheets. The crack growth resistances are in the range of 1 kJm⁻². This mechanism infers a toughness that scales with the cell wall thickness and its yield strength.     

Computer-aided methods in bespoke breast prosthesis design and fabrication

This case study presents a method of utilizing computer-aided design technologies to provide bespoke, external breast prostheses. The technique is illustrated through a case study of a mastectomy patient. Photogrammetry methods were used to capture the breast form when supported by a brassiere and the unsupported breast and defect side. Computer-aided design techniques were used to generate a digital prosthesis based upon the supported breast shape and with a fitting surface that matched the defect side. Furthermore, a two-part mould was designed and fabricated using rapid prototyping methods. A colour-matched prosthesis was then fabricated in a gel-based, platinum-cured silicone.     

Children and careers in IT

David Evans, BCS government relations, looks at what it couldtake to convince kids that the hard stuff is worth doing.     

Modelling the removal of organic vehicle from ceramic or metal mouldings: The effect of gas permeation on the incidence of defects

A shrinking undegraded core and a porous outer layer result, if the organic vehicle used for shaping ceramic or metal powder mouldings recedes in the interparticle space of the moulded body during pyrolysis. In the present work, a numerical model has been used which simulates the undegraded shrinking core situation and quantifies degradation of the organic vehicle and the diffusion of the resulting products in solution in the organic phase during pyrolysis of a ceramic moulding. This model is extended to include gaseous mass transport in the porous outer layer for a moulding in the shape of an infinite cylinder. The effect of resistance to gaseous mass transport in the porous outer region on defects originating in inner regions was estimated. It is shown that the greatest obstruction to mass transport is diffusion of degradation products in solution in the organic phase. However, the permeability coefficient for gas transport in the outer region begins to affect the critical heating rate required for avoidance of defects only when it is less than 10^–15m².Nomenclature C Concentration,C=C (r, t), based on the total volume of ceramic suspension - d Effective molecular diameter of alphamethylstyrene - D Diffusion coefficient,D=D (C, T) - e Porosity of powder - E Activation energy for thermal degradation - h Remaining weight fraction of polymer - H_vap Enthalphy of vaporization - i Node number - I Pre-exponential constant in Equation 13 - j Time step - K _p Permeability coefficient - K ₀ Specific rate constant - m Mass of monomer displaced - M Mass of one alphamethylstyrene molecule - P Monomer vapour pressure - P _s Monomer vapour pressure at outer surface of the cylinder - P ₁ ⁰ Vapour pressure of monomer over its pure liquid - Q Rate of production of monomer, based on the total volume of ceramic suspension - r Radius of the cylinder - r _j Distance from central axis to the inner surface of the porous layer at time stepj - r ₀ Initial radius of the cylinder - R Universal gas constant - S ₀ Specific surface area of powder per unit solid volume - t Time - T Absolute temperature - T _c Temperature at maximum vapour pressure of monomer and atZ _c - V Volume of monomer - V _c Ceramic volume fraction - V _p Polymer volume fraction - w Mass of monomer stored in the porous annulus - Z Heating rate - Z _c Critical heating rate - ₁ Volume fraction of monomer in the polymer-monomer solution - Viscosity of the monomer vapour - _p Density of the polymer - Polymer-monomer interaction constant     

Two legs, thing using and talking: The origins of the creative engineering mind

Instead of seeing technology as outside ourselves, it is argued that it is an innate human function and the main driving force in human evolution. Opportunistic thing using, long before stone tools appeared, was the likeliest cause of bipedalism. It also forced brain development and the emergence of creativity. The neural basis for this creative technical activity later provided the brain functions on which language could develop. This simple unifying hypothesis has interesting implications for the way that we see technology in history, and for determinist theories of the future. It also bears on the way engineers are trained, and more important, the human faculties which need to be fostered in children.     

An extension of Quasi-One-Dimensional Tomography

A method for rapid limited-angle tomography is suggested thatallows the reconstruction of density distribution in hardwood sampleswith high accuracy and spatial resolution from only a few x-rayprojections. The sparsity of the experimental x-ray data iscompensated by incorporation of a priori knowledge aboutgeneric wood macrostructure, as well as some morphological informationobtainable from optical images of the sample surface, in themathematical framework of the tomographic analysis. Numerical testsof the proposed method confirm its potential as a practical techniquefor nondestructive testing of trees for scientific and industrialpurposes. It can also be useful for the analysis of other types ofobject with an underlying layered structure.     

Dynamic behaviour of a magnetically actuated floating liquid marble

This paper reports the dynamic behaviour of a magnetically actuated floating liquid marble by analysing the oscillation of the marble. A liquid marble is a liquid droplet coated with hydrophobic powder. Magnetite particles inside the marble make it magnetic. The marble floats on a carrier liquid that contains aqueous glycerol of various concentrations. A permanent magnet located under the carrier liquid drives the floating marble with the initial velocity. Stopping the magnet abruptly causes the marble to oscillate around its final position for a few seconds. The oscillation was recorded and analysed using customised image processing and evaluation software. The damped harmonic motion model was then applied to the data and tested. Subsequently, critical parameters of the system such as the initial displacement, friction correction factor, the apparent frequency and the spring constant were determined and discussed. The simple experimental set-up and convenient theoretical approach allow us to characterise the marble motion under the influence of a magnet with good accuracy.     

Dynamic diamond anvil cell (dDAC): a novel device for studying the dynamic-pressure properties of materials

We have developed a unique device, a dynamic diamond anvil cell (dDAC), which repetitively applies a time-dependent load/pressure profile to a sample. This capability allows studies of the kinetics of phase transitions and metastable phases at compression (strain) rates of up to 500 GPa/s (approximately 0.16 s(-1) for a metal). Our approach adapts electromechanical piezoelectric actuators to a conventional diamond anvil cell design, which enables precise specification and control of a time-dependent applied load/pressure. Existing DAC instrumentation and experimental techniques are easily adapted to the dDAC to measure the properties of a sample under the varying load/pressure conditions. This capability addresses the sparsely studied regime of dynamic phenomena between static research (diamond anvil cells and large volume presses) and dynamic shock-driven experiments (gas guns, explosive, and laser shock). We present an overview of a variety of experimental measurements that can be made with this device.