Influence of Mandrel s Surface on the Mechanical Properties of Joints Produced by Electromagnetic Compression

Electromagnetic compression of tubular profiles with high electrical conductivity is an innovative joining process for the manufacturing of lightweight structures. Taking conventional interference fits into account, the contact area s influence on the joint s quality seems to be of significance, as e.g. the contact area and the friction coefficient between the joining partners determine an allowed axial load or torsional momentum proportionally. Therefore, different contact area surfaces were prepared by shot peening and different machining operations and strategies. The mandrel s surfaces were prepared by shot peening with glass beads and Al2O3 particles. Alternatively, preparation was done using simultaneous five axis milling, because potential joining partners in lightweight frame structures within the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre SFB/TR10 would be manufactured similarly. After that, the manufactured surfaces were characterized by measuring the surface roughness and using confocal whitelight microscopy. After joining by electromagnetic compression, the influence of different mandrel s surface conditions on the joint s mechanical properties were analyzed by tensile tests. Finally, conclusions and design rules for the manufacturing of joints by electromagnetic compression are given

Liver resection or combined chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation improve survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/ Aims: To evaluate the long-term outcome of surgical and non-surgical local treatments of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We stratified a cohort of 278 HCC patients using six independent predictors of survival according to the Vienna survival model for HCC (VISUM- HCC). Results: Prior to therapy, 224 HCC patients presented with VISUM stage 1 (median survival 18 months) while 29 patients were classified as VISUM stage 2 (median survival 4 months) and 25 patients as VISUM stage 3 (median survival 3 months). A highly significant (p < 0.001) improved survival time was observed in VISUM stage 1 patients treated with liver resection ( n = 52; median survival 37 months) or chemoembolization (TACE) and subsequent radiofrequency ablation ( RFA) ( n = 44; median survival 45 months) as compared to patients receiving chemoembolization alone (n = 107; median survival 13 months) or patients treated by tamoxifen only (n = 21; median survival 6 months). Chemoembolization alone significantly (p <= 0.004) improved survival time in VISUM stage 1 - 2 patients but not (p = 0.341) in VISUM stage 3 patients in comparison to those treated by tamoxifen. Conclusion: Both liver resection or combined chemoembolization and RFA improve markedly the survival of patients with HCC

Lifetime of Cast AlSi6Cu6 under Superimposed Thermal-mechanical Fatigue and High-Cycle Fatigue Loading

Out-of-phase thermal-mechanical fatigue (TMF) tests with superimposed high-cycle fatigue (HCF) loading were performed at the cylinder-head alloy AlSi6Cu4. For continuously superimposed HCF loading during TMF cycles with maximum temperatures of 250 and 300 degrees C a threshold of the amplitude of the superimposed HCF loading exists below which the number of TMF cycles to failure is not significantly affected. Above this threshold the TMF life shows a strong decrease with increasing HCF loading. This characteristic lifetime behaviour is also found in the case that HCF loading is only superimposed while tensile stresses are induced in the specimen during the TMF cycle. However, in the case that the HCF loading is superimposed only during the compressive phase of the TMF cycle, the number of TMF cycles to failure is not significantly affected. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Simulation of stresses, residual stresses, and distortion in stepped cylinders of AISI 4140 due to martensitical hardening by immersion cooling

Heat treatment improves mechanical properties of steel parts, but also causes residual stresses and distortion. Stresses and deformation occurring during heat treatment can not be measured in-situ with appropriate temporal and spatial resolution. In order to evaluate the processes occurring in the workpiece during quenching as well as the residual stresses and distortions, numerical methods have to be used. Heat conduction, phase transformations, and mechanical behaviour of the material as well as the couplings between the processes such as transformation plasticity have to be modeled for the simulation of steel hardening. Temperature and phase dependent properties (including TTT-data) have to incorporated into calculations. One of the major factors determining the evolution of stress and deformation is the heat-transfer coefficient between component and quenching medium. For vapourizing liquids, heat transfer depends on temperature and location. But heat transfer is not only influenced by the quenchant but also by part geometry and size. Stepped cylinders of AISI 4140 steel were quenched in water and oil. Both experimental measurements and numerical calculations were carried out. The variation of dive-in direction strongly influences the rewetting of the specimen surface and therefore the cooling behaviour, stress and deformation evolution, and resultant residual stresses and distortion. Excellent agreement is obtained between calculated and experimental results