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Detailed evaluation of topographical effects of Hirtisation post-processing on electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF-EB) manufactured Ti-6Al-4V component
Full text linkMetal additive manufacturing surface topographies are complex and challenging to characterise due to e.g. steep local slopes, re-entrant features, varying reflectivity and features of interest in vastly different scale ranges. Nevertheless, average height parameters such as Ra or Sa are commonly used as sole parameters for characterisation. In this paper, a novel method for selecting relevant parameters for evaluation is proposed and demonstrated using a case study where the smoothing effects after three processing steps of the electro chemical post-process Hirtisation of a metal AM surface are quantified. The method uses a combination of conventional areal texture parameters, multiscale analysis and statistics and can be used to efficiently achieve a detailed and more relevant surface topography characterisation. It was found that the three process steps have different effects on the surface topography regarding the types and sizes of features that were affected. In total, Sdq was reduced by 97 %, S5v was reduced by 81 % and Sa was reduced by 78 %. A surface texture with much lower average roughness, less deep pits and less steep slopes was produced, which is expected to be beneficial for improved fatigue properties
Feedstock recycling of cable plastic residue via steam cracking on an industrial-scale fluidized bed
Full text linkThe use of plastic materials in a circular way requires a technology that can treat any plastic waste and produce the same quality of product as the original. Cable plastic residue from metal recycling of electric wires is composed of cross-linked polyethene (XLPE) and PVC, which is a mixture that cannot be mechanically recycled today. Through thermochemical processes, polymer chains are broken into syngas and monomers, which can be further used in the chemical industry. However, feedstock recycling of such a mixture (XLPE, PVC) has been scarcely studied on an industrial scale. Here, the steam cracking of cable plastic was studied in an industrial fluidised bed, aiming to convert cable plastics into valuable products. Two process temperatures were tested: 730 \ub0C and 800 \ub0C. The results show that the products consist of 27–31 wt% ethylene and propylene, 5–16% wt.% other linear hydrocarbons, and more than 10 wt% benzene. Therefore, 40%–60% of the products are high-value chemicals that could be recovered via steam cracking of cable plastic
Strength analysis and failure prediction of thin tow-based discontinuous composites
Full text linkTow Based Discontinuous Composites (TBDCs) are a new class of composite materials which combine in-plane isotropy, high strength and stiffness and enhanced manufacturability. However, due to their complicated micro-architecture, characterising the performance of these materials and predicting their response is challenging. This work develops a complete experimental and analytical framework which identifies all the key properties in the performance of the TBDCs, characterises them experimentally and builds an analytical predictive tool for both the stiffness response and the strength of the TBDC material. Fractography is also utilised to identify the damage mechanisms and correlate them with the analytical predictions. A parametric study is developed which shows the critical effect that the tape thickness and mode II fracture toughness have on the TBDCs. Finally, the performance of the material is compared to similarly developed TBDCs from the literature and shows the significant strength and stiffness increases recorded through the combination of the thin high-modulus tapes and the increased fibre volume fractions
Performance improvement and thermomechanical analysis of a novel asymmetrical annular thermoelectric generator
No full textEnhancing thermoelectric performance hinges on optimizing the geometry of thermoelectric legs. In this study, we present a novel asymmetrical annular thermoelectric generator (ATEG) in which the proportions of P-type and N-type legs are meticulously balanced. We construct a one-dimensional analytical model tailored to this ATEG. Utilizing this model, we derive the relationship governing thermal-electrical impedance matching in an asymmetrical ATEG and formulate a general expression for optimizing the asymmetry coefficient. We explore the influence of various thermal boundary conditions on optimal impedance matching, ideal annular leg parameters, and the optimal asymmetry coefficient. Our findings reveal that thermal boundary conditions significantly affect the optimal load ratio. Furthermore, in comparison to traditional ATEGs, our proposed asymmetrical ATEG with the optimized structure exhibits a remarkable 16.2 % increase in output power while maintaining the same material volume. Additionally, we perform a three-dimensional numerical analysis of the asymmetrical ATEG using Comsol. Our research findings indicate that introducing the asymmetric structure leads to higher maximum thermal stress on the legs. Interestingly, the study of asymmetric thermal boundary conditions highlights that improving heat transfer between the ATEG and the cooler yields higher mechanical reliability compared to enhancing heat transfer between the ATEG and the heat source
Positioning methods
No full textThis chapter introduces the main positioning methods, starting from the state-of-the-art and following a statistical estimation perspective. This is followed by an in-depth treatment of radio positioning, first focusing on device-based positioning and then on device-free positioning. Finally, recent approaches based on artificial intelligence methods for positioning are detailed
Improvements proposed to noisy-OR derivatives for multi-causal analysis: A case study of simultaneous electromagnetic disturbances
No full textIn multi-causal analysis, the independence of causal influence (ICI) assumed by the noisy-OR (NOR) model can be used to predict the probability of the effect when several causes are present simultaneously, and to identify (when it fails) inter-causal dependence (ICD) between them. The latter is possible only if the probability of observing the multi-causal effect is available for comparison with a corresponding NOR estimate. Using electromagnetic interference in an integrated circuit as a case study, the data corresponding to the probabilities of observing failures (effect) due to the injection of individual (single cause) and simultaneous electromagnetic disturbances having different frequencies (multiple causes) were collected. This data is initially used to evaluate the NOR model and its existing derivatives, which have been proposed to reduce the error in predictions for higher-order multi-causal interactions that make use of the available information on lower-order interactions. Then, to address the identified limitations of the NOR and its existing derivatives, a new deterministic model called Super-NOR is proposed, which is based on correction factors estimated from the available ICD information
Influences of Cr contents on oxidation behavior of WC-Co-Ni-Cr cemented carbides at 900 \ub0C
No full textModification of binder composition is an effective way to improve the oxidation resistance of WC-Co-Ni-Cr cemented carbide. Since the adjustment of Ni and Cr contents in the Co-Ni-Cr binder alters the oxidation behavior and oxidation products, WC-Co-Ni-Cr cemented carbide is expected to achieve excellent oxidation resistance in severe service conditions. In this paper, the influences of Cr contents in Co-Ni-Cr binder phase with a fixed total amount of Co and Ni on the oxidation behavior of WC-Co-Ni-Cr cemented carbides at 900 \ub0C was investigated. The oxide morphology and phase distribution were focused. The oxidation mechanism of WC-Co-Ni-Cr cemented carbide was discussed. It has been shown that Co-rich regions are preferentially oxidized in the initial stage of oxidation. As oxidation proceeds (60 min), the dominant oxidation product on the alloy surface is NiO. The oxidation resistance of the WC-Co-Ni-Cr cemented carbide increases with increasing Cr content in the binder. Compared to the series of WC-2Co-11Ni-xCr, WC-6.5Co-6.5Ni-xCr presents a better overall oxidation resistance due to the formation of Cr2O5 in the middle of the oxide layer
Bed inventory balance and stability of dual circulating fluidized bed systems
No full textExperiments and modelling are conducted for general understanding on the imbalance phenomenon and for discussion on the strategies to improve the bed inventory balance and stability of a dual circulating fluidized bed (DCFB) system. The experiments are carried out in a 15.5 m high pilot-scale DCFB cold test system. A fluid-dynamic DCFB model is developed based on a 1.5-dimensional semi-empirical model of an industrial CFB boiler, validated by experimental data. The effects of control methods and operation conditions on the bed inventory balance and on the stability of the pilot- and large-scale DCFB systems are discussed. A “stable-unbalanced” state, where the system reaches a steady state, consisting of unbalanced bed inventories, is observed in both experiments and model simulation. To maintain a balanced state and similar bed inventory in the DCFB systems with similar cross-sectional areas, it is recommended to keep similar total pressure drops or gas velocities in both reactors
Closing Open Innovation
No full textThe literature on open innovation has documented how companies expand\ua0their boundaries to become more open, leaving out how boundaries narrow as open\ua0innovation relationships end—the closing of open innovation. We explain how open\ua0innovation creates new relationships on multiple levels—among firms, individuals, and\ua0technologies. Drawing on open innovation and alliance literature, we discuss how the closing\ua0of open innovation entails the dissolution of this web of multiplex relationships. We\ua0contribute to innovation and strategy literature by explaining how the closing decision is not\ua0simply mirroring the initial decision to open up innovation, partly because of evolving\ua0interdependencies at multiple levels (firms, individuals, and technologies). Finally, we\ua0discuss how closing open innovation relates to new challenges in terms of attention, agency,\ua0long-lived interdependencies, and portfolio management that provide new avenues for future\ua0research
Physics-informed machine learning models for ship speed prediction
No full textThis paper proposes a novel physics-informed machine learning method to build grey-box model (GBM) predicting ship speed for ocean crossing ships. In this method, the expected ship speed in calm water is first modeled by the physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) based on speed-power model tests. Then the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) machine learning algorithm is integrated to estimate ship speed reduction under actual weather conditions. The proposed GBM has been compared against the traditional black-box model (BBM) using performance monitoring data from two ships. The results show that when the amount of data is sufficient for modeling, the GBM can increase the accuracy of speed prediction by about 30%. When data volume is limited, the GBM can also significantly improve the prediction results. Finally, the GBM is validated by checking its implementation for the ETA predictions of cross-Pacific or North Atlantic voyages. The highest cumulative error of sailing time estimated by the GBM is 5 h among all the study cases