Physical modelling of amorphous thermoplastic polymer and numerical simulation of micro hot embossing process

Micro hot embossing process is considered as one of the most promising micro replication processes for manufacturing of polymeric components, especially for the high aspect ratio components and large surface structural components. A large number of hot embossing experimental results have been published, the material modelling and processes simulation to improve the quality of micro replication by hot embossing process are still lacking. This paper consists to 3D modelling of micro hot embossing process with amorphous thermoplastic polymers, including the mechanical characterisation of polymers properties, identification of the viscoelastic behaviour law of the polymers, numerical simulation and experimental investigation of micro hot embossing process. Static compression creep tests have been carried out to investigate the selected polymers’ viscoelastic properties. The Generalized Maxwell model has been proposed to describe the relaxation modulus of the polymers and good agreement has been observed. The numerical simulation of the hot embossing process in 3D has been achieved by taking into account the viscoelastic behaviour of the polymers. The microfluidic devices with the thickness of 2 mm have been elaborated by hot embossing process. The hot embossing process has been carried out using horizontal injection/compression moulding equipment, especially developed for this study. A complete compression mould tool, equipped with the heating system, the cooling system, the ejection system and the vacuum system, has been designed and elaborated in our research. Polymer-based microfluidic devices have been successfully replicated by the hot embossing process using the compression system developed. Proper agreement between the numerical simulation and the experimental elaboration has been observed. It shows strong possibility for the development of the 3D numerical model to optimize the micro hot embossing process in the future

Kompetensi pembimbing syarikat bertauliah Sistem Latihan Dual Nasional (SLDN)

Sistem Latihan Dual Nasional (SLDN) merupakan satu sistem latihan dan usahasama antara sektor awam dan sektor swasta dilaksanakan untuk melahirkan tenaga mahir k-worker selari dengan keperluan industri masa kini untuk membangunkan ekonomi negara. Pihak kerajaan dan syarikat swasta menaja pekerja pilihan mereka sebagai pelatih dalam sistem latihan ini bagi mempertingkatkan kebolehan pekerja mereka. Selain itu, pelatih juga terdiri daripada pelajar yang tidak dapat melanjutkan pelajaran ke mana-mana institusi pengajian tinggi awam mahupun swasta. Sistem ini menjalankan pendekatan day release iaitu pelatih menjalani latihan selama empat hari di industri dan satu hari di institusi latihan atau block release iaitu pelatih menjalani latihan kemahiran di industri empat bulan dan satu bulan di institusi latihan mengikut kesesuaian industri tersebut. Kajian berbentuk deskriptif dijalankan untuk melihat melihat tahap kompetensi pembimbing SLDN. Selain itu juga, kajian ini dijalankan bagi melihat perbezaan terhadap tahap pengetahuan, kemahiran dan sikap pembimbing SLDN berdasarkan jantina. Kajian ini juga dibuat bagi menentukan hubungan kompetensi pembimbing berdasarkan pengalaman bekerja. Penyelidikan tinjauan deskriptif ini menggunakan borang soal selidik sebagai instrumen kajian berskala Likert. Seramai 84 orang responden yang terdiri daripada pembimbing syarikat bertauliah SLDN terlibat di dalam kajian ini. Data dianalisis menggunakan SPSS versi 16.0. Hasil analisis mendapati pembimbing mempunyai pengetahuan yang tinggi di samping kemahiran dan sikap. Keputusan inferensi pula menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan antara tahap pengetahuan, kemahiran dan sikap pembimbing berdasarkan jantina manakala analisis korelasi Pearson menunjukkan tidak terdapat hubungan antara kompetensi pembimbing berdasarkan pengalaman bekerja

Kompetensi pembimbing syarikat bertauliah Sistem Latihan Dual Nasional (SLDN)

Sistem Latihan Dual Nasional (SLDN) merupakan satu sistem latihan dan usahasama antara sektor awam dan sektor swasta dilaksanakan untuk melahirkan tenaga mahir k-worker selari dengan keperluan industri masa kini untuk membangunkan ekonomi negara. Pihak kerajaan dan syarikat swasta menaja pekerja pilihan mereka sebagai pelatih dalam sistem latihan ini bagi mempertingkatkan kebolehan pekerja mereka. Selain itu, pelatih juga terdiri daripada pelajar yang tidak dapat melanjutkan pelajaran ke mana-mana institusi pengajian tinggi awam mahupun swasta. Sistem ini menjalankan pendekatan day release iaitu pelatih menjalani latihan selama empat hari di industri dan satu hari di institusi latihan atau block release iaitu pelatih menjalani latihan kemahiran di industri empat bulan dan satu bulan di institusi latihan mengikut kesesuaian industri tersebut. Kajian berbentuk deskriptif dijalankan untuk melihat melihat tahap kompetensi pembimbing SLDN. Selain itu juga, kajian ini dijalankan bagi melihat perbezaan terhadap tahap pengetahuan, kemahiran dan sikap pembimbing SLDN berdasarkan jantina. Kajian ini juga dibuat bagi menentukan hubungan kompetensi pembimbing berdasarkan pengalaman bekerja. Penyelidikan tinjauan deskriptif ini menggunakan borang soal selidik sebagai instrumen kajian berskala Likert. Seramai 84 orang responden yang terdiri daripada pembimbing syarikat bertauliah SLDN terlibat di dalam kajian ini. Data dianalisis menggunakan SPSS versi 16.0. Hasil analisis mendapati pembimbing mempunyai pengetahuan yang tinggi di samping kemahiran dan sikap. Keputusan inferensi pula menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan antara tahap pengetahuan, kemahiran dan sikap pembimbing berdasarkan jantina manakala analisis korelasi Pearson menunjukkan tidak terdapat hubungan antara kompetensi pembimbing berdasarkan pengalaman bekerja

Numerical interpretation of the coupled hydromechanical behaviour of expansive clays in constant volume column tests

© The authors and ICE Publishing: All rights reserved, 2015.Experimental and numerical studies of the behaviour of expansive clays have been attracting increasing interest, due to their good sealing properties, which render them ideal to be used as engineered barriers (buffers) in both active (e.g. nuclear) and non-active waste disposal facilities. Both large scale and laboratory scaled experiments indicate that the sealing capabilities of the buffer are fundamentally governed by its volumetric behaviour when wetted. In this paper, a constant volume column infiltration test, performed under isothermal conditions on compacted MX80 bentonite, is modelled numerically using the Imperial College Finite Element Program (ICFEP). A modified version of the Barcelona Basic Model is used to simulate the behaviour of the buffer, which is inherently partly saturated. The numerical results agree well with the observed experimental data, especially with regard to the advancement of the wetting front. A detailed interpretation of the computed evolutions with time of stress state, suction and void ratio at different elevations along the samples axis is carried out, providing insight into the complex hydro-mechanical response of the buffer during the experiment. Indeed, even though the overall volume of the sample was kept constant, a region of localised dilation, which induced the contraction of other zones of the material, was observed to advance simultaneously with the wetting front along the height of the soil column

Micro-mechanical finite element analysis of Z-pins under mixed-mode loading

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This paper presents a three-dimensional micro-mechanical finite element (FE) modelling strategy for predicting the mixed-mode response of single Z-pins inserted in a composite laminate. The modelling approach is based upon a versatile ply-level mesh, which takes into account the significant micro-mechanical features of Z-pinned laminates. The effect of post-cure cool down is also considered in the approach. The Z-pin/laminate interface is modelled by cohesive elements and frictional contact. The progressive failure of the Z-pin is simulated considering shear-driven internal splitting, accounted for using cohesive elements, and tensile fibre failure, modelled using the Weibulls criterion. The simulation strategy is calibrated and validated via experimental tests performed on single carbon/BMI Z-pins inserted in quasi-isotropic laminate. The effects of the bonding and friction at the Z-pin/laminate interface and the internal Z-pin splitting are discussed. The primary aim is to develop a robust numerical tool and guidelines for designing Z-pins with optimal bridging behaviour

Advances in friction stir welding of steel : Project HILDA

A microstructure and property evaluation of friction stir welded DH36 6mm plate has been undertaken. The study examined a wide range of process parameters and, from this, a process parameter envelope has been developed and an initial process parameter set established that gives good welding properties. Thermo-mechanical deformation studies were developed to generate flow stress regimes over a range of stain rates and temperatures and these data will support the on-going local numerical modelling development. A preliminary thermo-fluid model has been developed to predict temperature and material flow during the FSW of steel grade DH36. In this model, materials are considered as highly viscous incompressible fluid. The welded material is flowing around the rotating tool thanks to the modelling of the friction at tool/workpiece interface. In parallel, a global numerical model is being developed to predict the inherent residual stresses and distortion of FSW butt welded assemblies often in excess of 6m long plate

Triaxial tests on frozen ground: formulation and modelling

Artificial Ground Freezing (AGF) is a controllable process that can be used by engineers to stabilise temporarily the ground, provide structural support and/or exclude groundwater from an excavation until construction of the final lining provides permanent stability and water tightness. In this work, the process of ground freezing is studied using a constitutive model that encompasses frozen and unfrozen behaviour within a unified effective-stress-based framework and employs a combination of ice pressure, liquid water pressure and total stress as state variables. The parameters of the constitutive model are calibrated against experimental data obtained from samples retrieved during construction of Napoli underground, in which AGF was extensively used to excavate in granular soils and weak fractured rock below the ground water table

Computational modelling of structural integrity following mass loss in polymeric charred cellular solids

A novel computational technique is presented for embedding mass-loss due to burning into the ANSYS finite element modelling code. The approaches employ a range of computational modelling methods in order to provide more complete theoretical treatment of thermoelasticity absent from the literature for over six decades. Techniques are employed to evaluate structural integrity (namely, elastic moduli, Poisson’s ratios, and compressive brittle strength) of honeycomb systems known to approximate three-dimensional cellular chars. That is, reducing the mass of diagonal ribs and both diagonal-plus-vertical ribs simultaneously show rapid decreases in the structural integrity of both conventional and re-entrant (auxetic, i.e., possessing a negative Poisson’s ratio) honeycombs. On the other hand, reducing only the vertical ribs shows initially modest reductions in such properties, followed by catastrophic failure of the material system. Calculations of thermal stress distributions indicate that in all cases the total stress is reduced in re-entrant (auxetic) cellular solids. This indicates that conventional cellular solids are expected to fail before their auxetic counterparts. Furthermore, both analytical and FE modelling predictions of the brittle crush strength of both auxetic and conventional cellular solids show a relationship with structural stiffness