Data related to optimized process parameters influence on hardness, microstructural evolution and wear resistance performance of Al-Si-Sn-Cu/Ti-6Al-4V composite coatings

This study investigated the metallurgical, mechanical properties and quality of coatings fabricated by direct laser metal deposition (DLMD) on Ti-6Al-4V, which were affected by the DLMD optimized process parameters. A 3-kW continuous wave ytterbium laser system (YLS) attached to a KUKA robot was used for the process. An analysis was conducted to determine the quality of the coatings in terms of hardness and wear resistance. Variables such as the time of interlayer deposition, thickness of the substrate, the initial temperature of the substrate, and the number of deposited layers were also investigated. The independent/collective effect that each process parameter had on the metallurgical and mechanical properties of the deposited Ti-6Al-4V were made clear when the processing parameters were varied. Minute pores/defects that significantly affect the metallurgical and mechanical properties of clads were also identified. The results obtained from the designed experiments showed that the depth of Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) was inversely proportional to the thickness of the substrate; as the thickness of the substrate was increased, the HAZ depth decreased. Moreover, the intensity of the laser power also affects the HAZ depth. In addition, it was discovered that the initial conditions of the substrate at room temperature also affected the coatings in relation to pre-heated conditions. The analysis conducted in identifying and quantifying the porosity showed indication that the factors such as scanning speed, laser power and powder feed rate had a predominant influence on the porosity. The grain form and structure as well as the mechanical properties of the cladded layer were significantly affected by the optimized process parameters of DLMD process. The parameters investigated had a significant impact on the hardness and wear resistance performance. Furthermore, the results revealed that the highest hardness of one of the coatings was 1.97-times the substrate which had a hardness value of 302 HV. The outstanding wear resistance performance of Al-Si-Sn-Cu/Ti-6Al-4V composite coating is attributed to major hard intermetallic phases. Keywords: Ti-6Al-4V alloy, Hardness, Wear performance, Microstructure, Al-Si-Sn-Cu coatings, DLM

Economic, social and environmental assessment of bamboo for infrastructure development

Abstract: The economic, social and environmental assessment of bamboo was necessary in this study, because there is a shift by world’s industries to its cultivation and usage. The increasing demand for wood and its products, coupled with the high depletion of the forest has contributed to the world global warming and as a result of this problem, most industries are now advocating for the use of natural materials for infrastructure works. Bamboo being a multifunctional, fast growing and a renewable plant was considered as an alternative to timber from the forest. Its wide range of uses as wood and wood product has add greatly to the agricultural economy as this has created an employment and income generation to the rural poor who goes into its cultivation and it has contributed to community development and revenues to governments. The social assessment also looked at how bamboos investment in a geographical area affects the livelihood of the people looking at the benefits, risks and threats related to the industry for the local people whilst the environmental assessment explores the plantation’s impacts on local forests, non-timber forest products, water resources and biodiversity, paying attention to the interlinkages between social and environmental assessment. The fast diminishing of the forest cover, degradation of environment and fast deteriorating ecology threatens the very existence of man and animals. The development of the bamboo resources globally will greatly add to the environment and the ecological balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the impact of the industry on the social life of people, as we consider the threats related to the industry in the locality. The study shows that a planned, scientific and holistic approach to the cultivation, processing and management of bamboo on a sustained basis will make bamboo a sustainable alternative material for infrastructure development and can play a significant role in the restoration and rejuvenation of rural and national economies by those who goes into its cultivation. By adoption and implementation of an appropriate technology on bamboo and its products, the infrastructure needs in most African countries will be attained

Influence of Rapid Solidification and Optimized Process Parameters on the Microstructural Evolution of Additive Manufactured Titanium Alloy Grade 5 Composite

The study experimentally investigates the effects that Ytterbium Laser System process parameters, such as laser power, powder feed rate and traverse speed, has on the resultant microstructure of Ti- 6Al-4V grade 5 alloy. The deposition process was conducted employing a 3kW (CW) Ytterbium Laser System (YLS-2000-TR) machine, coaxial to the reinforcement powder. The laser scanning speed and power were varied between the intervals of 1-1.2 m/min and 900-1000 W. All other parameters kept constant where the rate of gas flow, the spot diameter, and the rate of powder flow. The microstructure was characterized by grain size and morphology by using Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The microstructural and mechanical properties were ascertained and the relationships with the process parameters were achieved. As a result of rapid cooling, the morphological features of α and α’ are distinctive and appear acicular. The structures appear coarsened. The metallurgy of the samples identifies with a morphology of multi-scale; with the coarsened alpha structures being reduced, plate-like, discrete and finer. The alpha grains closer to the fusion zone grew epitaxially, and the ones above these are acicular and lamellar. The results also indicated that slow traverse speeds increase the scale of columnar grains, while other process parameters were kept constant. Columnar microstructures became prevalent due to the dynamic temperature gradients/spikes, and sustainable cooling rates, pertaining to fabricating direct laser deposited Ti-6Al-4V grade 5 alloy. It was ascertained that by increasing the traverse speeds, the cooling rates increased, which resulted in a decrease in the width of the columnar grains

Thermal Analysis and Impart of Temperature Distribution on the Performance of Additive Manufactured Titanium Alloy Based Composite Coatings

Finite element numerical analysis can be used to solve problems of boundary values. The accuracy of model is depended on the meshing refinement. In aerospace industry, finite element analysis has been used by several researchers to know the influence of temperature distribution on the performance of additive manufactured component parts. Accuracy is better with finer mesh. Complex nature of the additive manufacturing process due to rapid heating and cooling made many researchers to adopt numerical investigation which is made easier than the experimental method. Proper modelling of the process must be thoroughly done for the numerical modelling results to be analyzed. The experiment of ternary titanium alloy of Ti-Al-Si-Cu was carried out with cladding machine of 3000 Watts (CW) Ytterbium Laser System (YLS-2000-TR). This machine is situated at the National Laser Centre in the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (NLC-CSIR). The characterization was done using the standardization ASTM E3-11 procedure. The results shiw the impart of temperature distribution on the dendritic arm spacing in the microstructures. The rate of cooling imparts on the space between the dendritic arms. The more the space, the more the influence on the coating’s propertie

Strength of Materials 2B

Exam paper (Special) for second semeste

Evaluation of crude watermelon oil as lubricant in cylindrical turning of AISI 1525 steel employing Taguchi and grey relational analyses techniques

Cutting fluids are used for cooling and lubricating the machining area of components used in manufacturing industries such as aerospace, automotive, petroleum, and heavy machinery. Mineral oils derived from petroleum are commonly utilized as cutting fluids. Mineral oil is hazardous to the health of workers and damaging to the environment. There is a need for a substitute for mineral oil. Vegetable oil is increasingly being used as a cutting fluid. Vegetable oils are easily accessible and have benefits including excellent biodegradability, resistance to fire, low humidity rates, and a low coefficient of expansion under heat. This study adopts watermelon oil as a lubricant in MQL machining of AISI 1525 steel using tungsten tools. In the experiment, the feed rate, depth of cut (DC) and spindle speed were varied using the Taguchi L9 orthogonal array. Grey relational analysis was conducted to obtain optimum cutting parameters for surface roughness, machine vibration, and cutting temperature. Hardness and microstructural analysis of the workpiece were also conducted. Results showed that vegetable oil performed much more effectively than mineral oil in most experiments. The DC was shown to be the most efficient cutting parameter after applying ANOVA analysis based on the parameters that were evaluated. Additionally, models for cutting temperature, machine vibration, and surface roughness values have been developed with accuracy between 69.73 % and 99.05 %. The hardness of the workpiece increases with an increase in diameter, which was attributed to the increase in the steel rod (workpiece) cross-sectional area and the likelihood of a more uniform stress distribution. Moreover, finer grain sizes were observed at 70 mm diameter, with the predominant presence of pearlites. These characteristics were reportedly beneficial to the material's toughness and strength