Images of a First‐Order Spin‐Reorientation Phase Transition in a Metallic Kagome Ferromagnet

First‐order phase transitions, where one phase replaces another by virtue of a simple crossing of free energies, are best known between solids, liquids, and vapors, but they also occur in a wide range of other contexts, including even elemental magnets. The key challenges are to establish whether a phase transition is indeed first order, and then to determine how the new phase emerges because this will determine thermodynamic and electronic properties. Here it is shown that both challenges are met for the spin reorientation transition in the topological metallic ferromagnet Fe₃Sn₂. The magnetometry and variable temperature magnetic force microscopy experiments reveal that, analogous to the liquid–gas transition in the temperature–pressure plane, this transition is centered on a first‐order line terminating in a critical end point in the field‐temperature plane. The nucleation and growth associated with the transition is directly imaged, indicating that the new phase emerges at the most convoluted magnetic domain walls for the high temperature phase and then moves to self‐organize at the domain centers of the high temperature phase. The dense domain patterns and phase coexistence imply a complex inhomogenous electronic structure, which can yield anomalous contributions to the electrical conductivity.     

Stripping methods studies for HVOF WC-10Co-4Cr coating removal

The use of high-velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) cermet coatings is considered to be a valuable and innovative alternative technology to replace Cr(VI) electroplating. Among others, a WC-10Co-4Cr coating is one of the best choices for landing gear components due to its excellent tribology and corrosion properties. The stripping process of such a cermet coating was studied due to its importance for the repair and overhaul of landing gear components. Stripping solutions fulfill the following criteria: keep substrate integrity; exhibit a high strip rate (SR); lead to uniform dissolution; show no galvanic corrosion; and be environmentally friendly. Three different high-strength steel substrates (4340, 300M, and Aermet100) were studied. Five different stripping solutions were selected for the electrochemical study. Only three met the targeted criteria: the meta-nitrobenzane sulfonate-sodium cyanide solution; the Rochelle salt; and a commercial nickel stripper. It was found that the process must be electrolytic, and that ultrasonic agitation is needed to enhance the overall mass transport and removal of WC particles and metallic matrix residues. When choosing the most efficient solution and conditions, the SR was found to be as high as 162 μm h⁻¹, which is a very acceptable SR for productivity sake.     

Calembour: an implicit method based on an enriched kinematical thin-plate model for sheet-metal forming simulation

In this paper, the main features of an implicit sheet-metal forming simulation code, named Calembour, are presented. Special emphasis is put on the way of expressing the contact conditions and of taking into account the geometrical non-linearity of which they comprise. An enriched kinematical thin-plate model, involving seven independent fields defined on the medium surface of the undeformed plate, is suggested. The constitutive laws used to model the material behavior and the friction phenomenon are given. A standard bilinear finite-element method is used to approximate the continuous total Lagrangian formulation of the global mechanical problem. Finally, some numerical results enlighting the effectiveness of the present approach are given.     

An analysis of the nosing process of metal tubes

In this paper, the finite element method is used to investigate the cold nosing process of partially laterally constrained metal tubes with a conical die from a tube billet. A series of simulations on the tube nosing using the FEM program ANSYS/LS-DYNA was carried out. The influences of the process parameters such as tube length, tube thickness, die fillet radius, die angle, friction factor, strength coefficient and strain hardening exponent of the billet material on the critical nosing ratio of the tube are analysed. Experiments were carried out with stainless steel SUS304 tube billets at room temperature, and the results of experiments were compared with the FEM calculations.     

Object-oriented graphical modeling of FMSs

Presented in the article is a method for constructing a graphical model of an FMS by using a new modeling tool called JR-net (Job Resource relation-net). JR-net is an object-oriented graphical tool for modeling automated manufacturing systems (AMSs), such as FMSs, FASs, and AS/RSs. As with the object-oriented modeling paradigm of Rumbaugh et al. (1991), the JR-net modeling framework supports the three stages of models: static layout model (object model); job flow model (functional model); and supervisory control model (dynamic model). In this article, the existing JR-net structure (Park 1992, Han et al., 1995) is extended further to make it a graphical tool for FMS modeling. Using the extended JR-net, a step-by-step procedure for constructing a graphical model of FMSs is presented. Also addressed are issues of classifying FMSs in terms of their generic functions and of utilizing the JR-net model of FMSs.     

An investigation of local heat transfer characteristics in a ventilated disc brake with helically fluted surfaces

Local Nusselt numbers in the cooling flow passage of the automobile disc brake with helically fluted surfaces are presented. The flat surface in the flow passage is modified to the helically fluted surface for the purpose of enhancing the heat transfer rate, thereby reducing the thermal stress and deformation in the disc brake. Thermochromic liquid crystals and shroud-transient technique are used to measure spatially-resolved surface temperature distributions, which are used to deduce local Nusselt numbers. The Reynolds number Re ranges from 30,000 to 70,000, the helix angle θ is fixed at 45° and the dimensionless streamwise distance z/d ranges from 1.5 to 4.5. The results show that in general, local Nusselt numbers monotonically decrease with a distance away from both windward and leeward crests of the helical flute and reach a minimum value near its valley for all Re’s and z/d’s tested. The local Nusselt numbers on the helically fluted grooves are maximum 51.6 to 93.7% higher than values measured on the flat surface. The heat transfer enhancement magnitudes become more pronounced with smaller Re and z/d. The largest enhancement occurs at the windward side of the helical flute at z/d=1.5 and Re=30,000. It is also found that at Re=30,000 the average Nusselt numbers on the helically fluted surface are maximum 37% higher than those on the flat surface. The numerical results show that with 10 braking cycles, the temperatures with helically fluted surface are maximum 44.3%, 36.8%, and 36.6% lower than those with the flat surface in the inlet, the center, and the outlet, respectively.     

Photoelectron-photofragment coincidence spectroscopy in a cryogenically cooled linear electrostatic ion beam trap

A cryogenically cooled linear electrostatic ion beam trap for use in photoelectron-photofragment coincidence (PPC) spectroscopy is described. Using this instrument, anions created in cold, low-duty-cycle sources can be stored for many seconds in a ~20 K environment to cool radiatively, removing energetic uncertainties due to vibrationally excited precursor anions. This apparatus maintains a well-collimated beam necessary for high-resolution fragment imaging and the high experimental duty cycle needed for coincidence experiments. Ion oscillation is bunched and phase-locked to a modelocked laser, ensuring temporal overlap between ion bunches and laser pulses and that ions are intersected by the laser only when travelling in one direction. An electron detector is housed in the field-free center of the trap, allowing PPC experiments to be carried out on ions while they are stored and permitting efficient detection of 3-dimensional electron and neutral recoil trajectories. The effects of trapping parameters on the center-of-mass trajectories in the laser-ion interaction region are explored to optimize neutral particle resolution, and the impact of bunching on ion oscillation is established. Finally, an initial demonstration of radiative cooling is presented.     

Die shape design for T-shape tube hydroforming

In this paper, two design methods for T-shape tube hydroforming dies are proposed, namely, the extrusion-cutting-fillet method (ECFM) and the intersection-fillet method (IFM). Simulations on hydraulic expansion and axial feeding of T-shape tube hydroforming with two dies using the program DEFORM-3D were performed. The influence of the two dies on workpiece formability of T-shape tube hydroforming was examined. Experiments were carried out with SUS304 stainless steel tube at room temperature. A qualified product of T-shape tube, without wrinkling or bursting, was obtained using the die designed by the IFM method.     

Support vector machine based decision for mechanical fault condition monitoring in induction motor using an advanced Hilbert-Park transform

In this work we suggest an original fault signature based on an improved combination of Hilbert and Park transforms. Starting from this combination we can create two fault signatures: Hilbert modulus current space vector (HMCSV) and Hilbert phase current space vector (HPCSV). These two fault signatures are subsequently analysed using the classical fast Fourier transform (FFT). The effects of mechanical faults on the HMCSV and HPCSV spectrums are described, and the related frequencies are determined. The magnitudes of spectral components, relative to the studied faults (air-gap eccentricity and outer raceway ball bearing defect), are extracted in order to develop the input vector necessary for learning and testing the support vector machine with an aim of classifying automatically the various states of the induction motor.