Exploiting the Design Freedom of RM

This paper details how Rapid Manufacturing (RM) can overcome the restrictions imposed by the inherent process limitations of conventional manufacturing techniques and become the enabling technology in fabricating optimal products. A new design methodology capable of exploiting RM’s increased design freedom is therefore needed. Inspired by natural world structures of trees and bones, a multi-objective, genetic algorithm based topology optimisation approach is presented. This combines multiple unit cell structures and varying volume fractions to create a heterogeneous part structure which exhibits a uniform stress distribution.Mechanical Engineerin

Statistical physics of cerebral embolization leading to stroke

We discuss the physics of embolic stroke using a minimal model of emboli moving through the cerebral arteries. Our model of the blood flow network consists of a bifurcating tree, into which we introduce particles (emboli) that halt flow on reaching a node of similar size. Flow is weighted away from blocked arteries, inducing an effective interaction between emboli. We justify the form of the flow weighting using a steady flow (Poiseuille) analysis and a more complicated nonlinear analysis. We discuss free flowing and heavily congested limits and examine the transition from free flow to congestion using numerics. The correlation time is found to increase significantly at a critical value, and a finite size scaling is carried out. An order parameter for non-equilibrium critical behavior is identified as the overlap of blockages' flow shadows. Our work shows embolic stroke to be a feature of the cerebral blood flow network on the verge of a phase transition.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures. Major rewrite including improved justification of the model and a finite size scalin

<i>d</i>-wave superconductivity from electron-phonon interactions

I examine electron-phonon mediated superconductivity in the intermediate coupling and phonon frequency regime of the quasi-two-dimensional Holstein model. I use an extended Migdal-Eliashberg theory that includes vertex corrections and spatial fluctuations. I find a d-wave superconducting state that is unique close to half filling. The order parameter undergoes a transition to s-wave superconductivity on increasing filling. I explain how the inclusion of both vertex corrections and spatial fluctuations is essential for the prediction of a d-wave order parameter. I then discuss the effects of a large Coulomb pseudopotential on the superconductivity (such as is found in contemporary superconducting materials like the cuprates), which results in the destruction of the s-wave states, while leaving the d-wave states unmodified

Rapid Manufactured Textiles

Rapid Manufacturing (RM) is increasingly becoming a viable manufacturing process due to dramatic advantages that are achievable in the area of design complexity. Through the exploration of the design freedom, this paper introduces the concept of manufacturing textiles for potential smart and high performance textile applications. This paper discusses the current limitations associated with the manufacture of textiles through RM and presents a novel methodology for the generation of 3D conformal RM textile articles. The paper concludes that through RM it is entirely possible to manufacture a structure that incorporates drape and free movement properties directly comparable to conventional textiles.Mechanical Engineerin

Impact Absorbent Rapid Manufactured Structures (IARMS)

Rapid Manufacturing (RM) is increasingly becoming a viable manufacturing process due to dramatic advantages that it facilitates in the area of design complexity. Through the exploration of the design freedom afforded by RM, this paper introduces the concept and initial research surrounding Impact Absorbent Rapid Manufactured Structures (IARMS), with an application in sports personal protective equipment (PPE). Designs are based on the cellular structure of foams; the inherent advantages of the cellular structure are used as a basis to create IARMS that have the potential to be optimised for a specific impact absorbent response. The paper provides some initial results from compression testingMechanical Engineerin

Analysis of Droplet Train/Moving Substrate Interactions in Ink-Jetting Processes

Ink-jetting technology has been applied to several processes in solid free-form fabrication (SFF) wherein droplets impinge onto a substrate to deposit the build material. Droplet impact behaviour on a surface has been the interest of many researchers; however, few studies have been undertaken to investigate the interaction of droplets with the moving substrate. This paper reports the impact behaviour of the droplets jetted at different frequencies onto a substrate moving over a range of velocities. The phenomena associated with the interaction were classified into three main regimes.Mechanical Engineerin

High Viscosity Jetting of Conductive and Dielectric Pastes for Printed Electronics

Ink-jet printing of multiple materials in 3 dimensions is a promising alternative to traditional patterning methods due to its flexibility, scalability and accuracy. However, the printability of the inks is strongly restricted by material properties such as surface tension and viscosity. Dispensing high viscosity fluids on a drop-on-demand approach is a potential solution that can facilitate the incorporation of new materials to the jetting catalogue. Consequently, in this study 2 micro-dispensing valves are used in combination with a mechanical stage to deposit conductive and dielectric pastes with viscosities of 15.3 ± 0.2 and 0.638 ± 0.005 Pa·s (at 25°C and 10 s-1 shear rate) respectively. Crucial printing parameters such as pressure, temperature, pulse shape and drop spacing are studied in order to optimise the process. Additionally, post-printing characteristics such as contact angle of different materials and cured layer profiles are also measured and taken into account during the designing of the 3D patterns to minimise the negative effects of the thickness miss-match of different materials. Finally, the manufacturing capability of the set-up is demonstrated by the fabrication of a functional device using a combination of “pick-and-place” components and high viscosity jetting.Mechanical Engineerin