Calculation of neutron importance function in fissionable assemblies using Monte Carlo method

The purpose of the present work is to develop an efficient solution method for the calculation of neutron importance function in fissionable assemblies for all criticality conditions, based on Monte Carlo calculations.     

Overaluminizing of a CoNiCrAlY Coating by Inward and Outward Diffusion Treatments

Overaluminizing is a commercially accepted treatment to enhance high temperature oxidation resistance of MCrAlY overlay coatings. In the current investigation, a low pressure plasma-sprayed CoNiCrAlY coating was aluminized by two different growth modes: outward growth and inward growth. The resultant microstructures were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The results showed that the final microstructure of both types of overaluminized coatings was similar and included Al-rich NiAl and Ni-rich NiAl zones from the top to the bottom. The details of the microstructures are discussed and compared with the results of simple aluminizing of the nickel-based substrate.     

Modelling of a clinker rotary kiln using operating functions concept

Modelling and parameter identification of complex dynamic systems/processes is one of the main challenging problems in control engineering. An example of such a process is clinker rotary kiln (CRK) in cement industry. In the prevailing models independently of which structure is used to describe the kiln's dynamics and the identification algorithm, parameters are assumed to be centralised and constant while the CRK is well known as a distributed parameter system with a strongly varying dynamic through time. In this work, the kiln's dynamic is described in the form of a state‐space representation with three state variables using a system of partial differential equations (PDE). The structure is chosen so that it can easily be embedded in classical state‐space control algorithms. The parameters of the PDE system are called operating functions since their numerical values vary with respect to different operating conditions of the kiln, to their position in the kiln, and through time. A phenomenological approach is also proposed in this paper to identify the operating functions for a given steady‐state operation of the kiln. The model is then used to perform a semi‐dynamic simulation of the process through manipulating main process variables.     

An Integrated Approach for Enhancing the Quality of the Product by Combining Robust Design and Customer Requirements

Enhancing the quality of the product has always been one considerable concern of production process management, and this subject gave way to implementing so many methods including robust design. In this paper, robust design utilizes response surface methodology (RSM) considering the mean and variance of the response variable regarding system design, parameter design, and tolerance design. In this paper, customer requirements and robust design are regarded simultaneously to achieve enriched quality. Subsequently, with a non‐linear programming, a novel method for integrating RSM and quality function deployment has been proposed to achieve robustness in design. The customer requirements are regarded in every stage of product development process meaning system design, parameter design and tolerance design. To validate the applicability of the proposed approach, it has been implemented in a real case of chemical industry. Research findings show that the proposed method is much better than other existing methods including MSE and dual response methods. According to this method, the resulted mean is better than MSE method, and more importantly, the variance of the process is approximately 14% and 10% lesser than dual response and MSE method. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metallurgical assessment of critical defects in continuous hot dip galvanized steel sheets

Development of hot dip zinc coated sheets in new applications increased demand for production of high quality galvanized coatings, but the presence of surface defects reduces the quality of these products. In order to alleviate the problem, one needs to know the extent to which the properties of a galvanized sheet are influenced by the presence of a given defect. In this paper, specimens including any of the four major defects of continuously galvanized steel sheets produced in an industrial continuous process have been studied. The defects, including scratches, bare spots, pimples and wrinkle bands, were microstructurally characterized and their influence on corrosion behavior of the coated sheet was evaluated. The defects, originating from insufficient cleaning procedure, improper quality of steel substrate or adhered metallic particles to the substrate surface, exert their main effects on corrosion resistance and surface quality. Corrosion behavior was examined via standard salt spray test and polarization test. Based on the experimental results, it was concluded that the corrosion resistance was influenced by severity of defects; bare spots reduced the overall corrosion resistance of galvanized sheet by 39% ± 1% and pimples by 10% ± 1% as compared to defect free specimens.     

Study on Hot Ring Compression Test of Nimonic 115 Superalloy Using Experimental Observations and 3D FEM Simulation

In hot forging of Nimonic 115, it is desirable to determine friction coefficients. Changing magnitudes of temperature and type of lubricant at the surface of the workpiece and dies influence friction coefficient. This paper describes an experimental investigation of friction under hot forging conditions using the ring compression test. The 3D FEM simulations were used to derive the friction calibration curves and to evaluate material deformation, geometric changes, and load-displacement results. A series of ring compression tests were carried out to obtain friction coefficients for a number of lubricants including mica plate, glass powder, graphite powder, and dry condition. The experiments show how the variations in temperature at the interface affected frictional behavior. On the basis of these results, mica is recommended for hot forging of Nimonic 115 and its friction coefficient is approximately 0.3.     

On the Occurrence of Liquation During Linear Friction Welding of Ni-Based Superalloys

A combination of experimental and analytical methods was used to study the possible occurrence of liquation during LFW of the newly developed AD730^TM Ni-based superalloy. LFWed joints were produced using a semi-industrial size facility and the interfaces of the joints as well as the ejected flash were examined using optical and Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscopy (FEG-SEM). Physical simulation of the LFW thermal cycle, using thermomechanical simulator Gleeble™ 3800, showed that incipient melting started from 1473 K (1200 °C). The analytical model, calibrated by experiments, predicted that the highest temperature of the interface was about 1523 K (1250 °C). The constitutive equations based on lattice and pipe diffusion models were developed to quantify the self-diffusivity of the elements and control the extent of liquation by considering the effect of LFW process parameters. Analytical results show that the application of compressive stresses during LFW results in 25 times increase in the diffusion of Ni atoms at the weld interface. Therefore, no presence of re-solidified phases, i.e., occurrence of liquation, was observed in the microstructure of the weld zone or the flash in the present study. Based on the obtained results, a methodology was developed for designing the optimum pressure above which no liquation, and hence cracking, will be observable.

     

Rheological and thermal properties of an enteral nutrition formula for nutritional support patients using a combined mixture of gelatin and maltodextrin

Enteral nutrition is a type of nutritional support that provides the necessary sources of energy and protein for patients who suffer from dysphagia, chronic disease, and loss of appetite. In this study, a gelatin-maltodextrin binary biopolymer system has been incorporated into a semi-solid formula. The I-optimal combination design approach was used to create 19 formulations, and the dynamic rheological properties, dynamic laser scattering, and zeta potential responses were evaluated over 30 days of storage at 5°C. Solid viscoelastic behavior has been approved since G′ > G″ in the frequency sweep test with no cross-over point. Maltodextrin may interfere within the gelatin network, and increasing the maltodextrin to gelatin (from 0.14 to 1) may lead to a wider linear viscoelastic (LVE) strain range (2.16%), a lower storage modulus at LVE (52%), a lower yield stress (46%), and a lower glass transition temperature (34%). The presence of maltodextrin may reduce the temperature of the sol-to-solid transformation by 48% and enhance its flexibility. In contrast, increasing the gelatin-to-maltodextrin ratio following melting at 37°C led to an increase in the cumulant mean and polydispersity index, indicating a relatively unstable system. The range of zeta potential values between −4.4 and 1.7 mV confirmed a tendency toward coagulation. Microscopic images revealed instability because of irregular or compact chains formed in the gelatin matrix by using higher amounts of maltodextrin. Finally, the best formula had the best rheological stability and was suitable for tube-feeding patients, with a gelatin-to-maltodextrin ratio of 4.35:3.64% w/w on day 17.4.     

Magnesiothermic synthesis of HfB2–HfC-SiC nanocomposite by spark plasma technique

The HfB₂-HfC-SiC nanocomposite was produced using H₃BO₃, HfO₂, Si, C, and Mg as starting materials by spark plasma for the first time. The reactions during synthesis indicate that the synthesis process progressed in self-propagating mode. The reaction mechanisms were investigated by the displacement-temperature-time (DTT) diagram, which was obtained during spark plasma cycles. The synthesis process of the composite was completed at the temperature of 400 °C in less than 30 min. The tendency to form the composite was investigated by thermodynamic calculations, and the formation of HfB₂, HfC, and SiC phases was observed by X-ray diffraction. Finally, using the Rietveld method, the mean crystallites sizes of about 54, 26, and 43 nm were calculated for HfB₂, SiC, and HfC phases, respectively.