22,437 research outputs found

    Meso-scale FDM material layout design strategies under manufacturability constraints and fracture conditions

    Get PDF
    In the manufacturability-driven design (MDD) perspective, manufacturability of the product or system is the most important of the design requirements. In addition to being able to ensure that complex designs (e.g., topology optimization) are manufacturable with a given process or process family, MDD also helps mechanical designers to take advantage of unique process-material effects generated during manufacturing. One of the most recognizable examples of this comes from the scanning-type family of additive manufacturing (AM) processes; the most notable and familiar member of this family is the fused deposition modeling (FDM) or fused filament fabrication (FFF) process. This process works by selectively depositing uniform, approximately isotropic beads or elements of molten thermoplastic material (typically structural engineering plastics) in a series of pre-specified traces to build each layer of the part. There are many interesting 2-D and 3-D mechanical design problems that can be explored by designing the layout of these elements. The resulting structured, hierarchical material (which is both manufacturable and customized layer-by-layer within the limits of the process and material) can be defined as a manufacturing process-driven structured material (MPDSM). This dissertation explores several practical methods for designing these element layouts for 2-D and 3-D meso-scale mechanical problems, focusing ultimately on design-for-fracture. Three different fracture conditions are explored: (1) cases where a crack must be prevented or stopped, (2) cases where the crack must be encouraged or accelerated, and (3) cases where cracks must grow in a simple pre-determined pattern. Several new design tools, including a mapping method for the FDM manufacturability constraints, three major literature reviews, the collection, organization, and analysis of several large (qualitative and quantitative) multi-scale datasets on the fracture behavior of FDM-processed materials, some new experimental equipment, and the refinement of a fast and simple g-code generator based on commercially-available software, were developed and refined to support the design of MPDSMs under fracture conditions. The refined design method and rules were experimentally validated using a series of case studies (involving both design and physical testing of the designs) at the end of the dissertation. Finally, a simple design guide for practicing engineers who are not experts in advanced solid mechanics nor process-tailored materials was developed from the results of this project.U of I OnlyAuthor's request

    Re-entrant relaxor ferroelectric behaviour in Nb-doped BiFeO 3 –BaTiO 3 ceramics †

    Get PDF
    BiFeO3–BaTiO3 (BF–BT) solid solutions exhibit great promise as the basis for high temperature piezoelectric transducers and energy storage dielectrics, but the fundamental mechanisms governing their functional properties require further clarification. In the present study, both pure and niobium-doped 0.7BF–0.3BT ceramics are synthesized by solid state reaction and their structure–property relationships are systematically investigated. It is shown that substituting a low concentration of Ti with Nb at a level of 0.5 at% increases the resistivity of BF–BT ceramics and facilitates ferroelectric switching at high electric field levels. Stable planar piezoelectric coupling factor values are achieved with a variation from 0.35 to 0.45 over the temperature range from 100 to 430 °C. In addition to the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transformation at the Curie point (∌430 °C), a frequency-dependent relaxation of the dielectric permittivity and associated loss peak are observed over the temperature range from −50 to +150 °C. These effects are correlated with anomalous enhancement of the remanent polarization and structural (rhombohedral) distortion with increasing temperature, indicating the occurrence of a re-entrant relaxor ferroelectric transformation on cooling. The results of the study provide new insight into the thermal evolution of structure and the corresponding functional properties in BF–BT and related solid solutions

    Treatment of fractured concrete via microbially induced carbonate precipitation : from micro-scale characteristics to macro-scale behaviour

    Get PDF
    The development of techniques for concrete repair will reduce environmental impacts associated with concrete usage by extending the lifespan of existing structures. This study investigates microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) for treating fractured concrete. Our results demonstrate the excellent penetrability of MICP with precipitates well-distributed along core length. Some individual treatment cycles resulted in ~one order of magnitude reduction in core permeability. Treatment efficiency is shown to be dependent on fracture network characteristics, i.e. number of fractures, fracture orientation, initial hydraulic aperture. Furthermore, bridging of precipitates across fracture surfaces resulted in a recovery of 26-50% of initial tensile strength

    Variable optical elements for fast focus control

    Full text link
    In this Review, we survey recent developments in the emerging field of high-speed variable-z-focus optical elements, which are driving important innovations in advanced imaging and materials processing applications. Three-dimensional biomedical imaging, high-throughput industrial inspection, advanced spectroscopies, and other optical characterization and materials modification methods have made great strides forward in recent years due to precise and rapid axial control of light. Three state-of-the-art key optical technologies that enable fast z-focus modulation are reviewed, along with a discussion of the implications of the new developments in variable optical elements and their impact on technologically relevant applications

    Low-cost fabrication of printed electronics devices through continuous wave laser-induced forward transfer

    Full text link
    Laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) is a direct-writing technique that allows printing inks from a liquid film in a similar way to inkjet printing but with fewer limitations concerning ink viscosity and loading particle size. In this work we prove that liquid inks can be printed through LIFT by using continuous wave (CW) instead of pulsed lasers, which allows a substantial reduction in the cost of the printing system. Through the fabrication of a functional circuit on both rigid and flexible substrates (plastic and paper) we provide a proof-of-concept that demonstrates the versatility of the technique for printed electronics applications

    Quantum dots based superluminescent diodes and photonic crystal surface emitting lasers

    Get PDF
    This thesis reports the design, fabrication, and electrical and optical characterisations of GaAs-based quantum dot (QD) photonic devices, specifically focusing on superluminescent diodes (SLDs) and photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs). The integration of QD active regions in these devices is advantageous due to their characteristics such as temperature insensitivity, feedback insensitivity, and ability to utilise the ground state (GS) and excited state (ES) of the dots. In an initial study concerning the fabrication of QD-SLDs, the influence of ridge waveguide etch depth on the electrical and optical properties of the devices are investigated. It is shown that the output power and modal gain from shallow etched ridge waveguide is higher than those of deep etched waveguides. Subsequently, the thermal performance of the devices is analysed. With increased temperature over 170 ÂșC, the spectral bandwidth is dramatically increased by thermally excited carrier transition in excited states of the dots. Following this, an investigation of a high dot density hybrid quantum well/ quantum dot (QW/QD) active structure for broadband, high-modal gain SLDs is presented. The influence of the number of QD layers on the modal gain of hybrid QW/QD structures is analysed. It is shown that higher number of dot layer provides higher modal gain value, however, there is lack of emission from QW due to the requirement of large number of carriers to saturate the QD. Additionally, a comparison is made between “unchirped QD” and “ chirped QD” of hybrid QW/QD structure in terms of modal gain and spectral bandwidth. It is showed that “chirped” of the QD can improve the “flatness” of the spectral bandwidth. Lastly, the use of self-assembled InAs QD as the active material in epitaxially regrown GaAs-based PCSELs is explored for the first time. Initially, it is shown that both GS and ES lasing can be achieved for QD-PCSELs by changing the grating period of the photonic crystal (PC). The careful design of these grating periods allows lasing from neighbouring devices at GS ( ~1230 nm) and ES (~1140 nm), 90 nm apart in wavelength. Following this, the effect of device area, PC etch depth, PC atom shape (circle or triangle or orientation) on lasing performance is presented. It is shown that lower threshold current density and higher slope efficiencies is achieved with increasing the device size. The deeper PC height device has higher output power due to more suitable height and minimal distance to active region. The triangular atom shape has slightly higher slope efficiency compared to triangular atom shape which is attributed to breaking in-plane symmetry and increase out-of-plane emission

    Perspectives on high-frequency nanomechanics, nanoacoustics, and nanophononics

    Full text link
    Nanomechanics, nanoacoustics, and nanophononics refer to the engineering of acoustic phonons and elastic waves at the nanoscale and their interactions with other excitations such as magnons, electrons, and photons. This engineering enables the manipulation and control of solid-state properties that depend on the relative positions of atoms in a lattice. The access to advanced nanofabrication and novel characterization techniques enabled a fast development of the fields over the last decade. The applications of nanophononics include thermal management, ultrafast data processing, simulation, sensing, and the development of quantum technologies. In this review, we cover some of the milestones and breakthroughs, and identify promising pathways of these emerging fields.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figure

    Influence of Short-Pulse Microwave Radiation on Thermochemical Properties Aluminum Micropowder

    Get PDF
    The thermochemical properties of Al micropowder after exposure to microwave irradiation were investigated. The Al micropowder was exposed to microwave irradiation in air with a frequency of 2.85 GHz, a power density of 8 W/cm2, and a pulse duration of 25 ns and 3 ”s. The thermochemical parameters of the irradiated metal powders were determined by the method of thermal analysis at the heating in air. It was found that an increase in the duration of microwave pulses and irradiation time leads to the thermal annealing of the metal particles, and the thermal processes of melting and sintering begin to dominate over non-thermal processes. The specific thermal effect of irradiated Al micropowder oxidation increases from 7744 J/g to 10,154 J/g in comparison with the unirradiated powder. The modeling of thermal heating processes of aluminum (Al) micropowder under the action of pulsed microwave radiation has been performed. It is shown that with an increase in the duration of microwave pulses and irradiation time, a significant heating of the Al micropowder occurs, leading to its melting and sintering. The results of modeling on the action of microwave radiation on the Al micropowder were compared with experimental results

    Latest Advances in Waste Plastic Pyrolytic Catalysis

    Get PDF
    With the increase in demand for plastic use, waste plastic (WP) management remains a challenge in the contemporary world due to the lack of sustainable efforts to tackle it. The increment in WPs is proportional to man’s demand and use of plastics, and these come along with environmental challenges. This increase in WPs, and the resulting environmental consequences are mainly due to the characteristic biodegradation properties of plastics. Landfilling, pollution, groundwater contamination, incineration, and blockage of drainages are common environmental challenges associated with WPs. The bulk of these WPs constitutes polyethene (PE), polyethene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS). Pyrolysis is an eco-friendly thermo-chemical waste plastic treatment solution for valuable product recovery, preferred over landfilling and incineration solutions. In this extensive review, a critical investigation on waste plastic catalytic pyrolysis (WPCP) is performed, including catalyst and non-catalyst applications to sustainably tackle WP management. Current catalysis techniques are revealed, and some comparisons are made where necessary. Common pyrolytic products and common shortcomings and errors related to WP catalysis were also identified. The benefits of catalysts and their applications to augment and optimise thermal pyrolysis are emphasised. With all these findings, and more, this paper provides reassurance on the significance of catalysis to industrial-scale applications and products and supports related WPCP research work concerning the environment and other beneficiaries

    Investigation of microparticle behavior in Newtonian, viscoelastic, and shear-thickening flows in straight microchannels

    Get PDF
    Sorting and separation of small substances such as cells, microorganisms, and micro- and nano-particles from a heterogeneous mixture is a common sample preparation step in many areas of biology, biotechnology, and medicine. Portability and inexpensive design of microfluidic-based sorting systems have benefited many of these biomedical applications. Accordingly, we have investigated microparticle hydrodynamics in fluids with various rheological behaviors (i.e., Newtonian, shear-thinning viscoelastic and shear-thickening non-Newtonian) flowing in straight microchannels. Numerical models were developed to simulate particles trajectories in Newtonian water and shear-thinning polyethylene oxide (PEO) solutions. The validated models were then used to perform numerical parametric studies and non-dimensional analysis on the Newtonian inertia-magnetic and shear-thinning elasto-inertal focusing regimes. Finally, the straight microfluidic device that was tested for Newtonian water and shear-thinning viscoelastic PEO solution, were adopted to experimentally study microparticle behavior in SiO2/Water shear-thickening nanofluid
    • 

    corecore