The fusion approach – applications for understanding local government and European integration

The article explores the theoretical capabilities of the fusion approach as a conceptual ‘kit’ to explain the ‘bigger picture’ of European integration from a local government perspective. Fusion addresses the rationales and methods facilitating the transfer of policy-making competences to the European level. It understands European integration as a merging of public resources and policy instruments from multiple levels of government, whereby accountability and responsibilities for policy outcomes become blurred. The article argues that the fusion approach is useful to explain the systemic linkages between macro-trajectories and the corresponding change at the local level; the fusion dynamics of the local and European levels in a common policy-cycle; and the attitudes of local actors towards the EU. Although the article concludes that local government is rather modestly ‘fused’ into the EU, fusion approaches allow examining the extent to which the local level has become integrated into the European governance system

Strength-ductility behaviour of Al-Si-Cu-Mg casting alloys in T6 temper

A comparative study of the mechanical properties of 20 experimental alloys has been carried out. The effect of different contents of Si, Cu, Mg, Fe and Mn, as well as solidification rate, has been assessed using a strength-ductility chart and a quality index-strength chart developed for the alloys. The charts show that the strength generally increases and the ductility decreases with an increasing content of Cu and Mg. Increased Fe (at Fe/Mn ratio 0.5) dramatically lowers the ductility and strength of low Si alloys. Increased Si content generally increases the strength and the ductility. The increase in ductility with increased Si is particularly significant when the Fe content is high. The charts are used to show that the cracking of second phase particles imposes a limit to the maximum achievable strength by limiting the ductility of strong alloys. The (Cu + Mg) content (at.%), which determines the precipitation strengthening and the volume fraction of Cu-rich and Mg-rich intermetallics, can be used to select the alloys for given strength and ductility, provided the Fe content stays below the Si-dependent critical level for the formation of pre-eutectic alpha-phase particles or beta-phase plates

Evaluation of polychromatic x-ray radiography defect detection limits in a sample fabricated from Hastelloy x by selective laser melting

Selective laser melting is a rapidly maturing additive manufacturing technology ideally suited to the net-shape fabrication of high value metallic components with complex shapes. However, if the processing conditions are poorly controlled, internal defects such as cracks or pores filled with metal powder may be present and impair the properties. As a result, a non-destructive defect detection method needs to be found that is suited to this application. In this work, a staircase sample was designed and fabricated from Hastelloy X by selective laser melting with step thicknesses ranging from 0.8 mm to 10 mm and with each step containing the same series of custom-made spherical, rod-shaped and coin-shaped defects arranged in different orientations and ranging from 0.2 mm up to 2 mm in size. The sample was exposed to various X-ray radiography testing and analysis methods. In particular, a theoretical and experimental evaluation of defect detection limits by polychromatic X-ray absorption radiography was performed based on the measurable contrast, which depends on both defect size and shape and slab thickness. The experimental data suggest that the minimum detectable contrast is about 1-2% when using X-rays with a very broad spectrum. This equates to a minimum detectable defect size of about 0.2 mm for a Hastelloy X slab thickness of <2 mm. The experimental findings are in good agreement with theoretical expectations. The theoretical framework provides a criterion for estimating contrast, which is useful for optimising the experimental conditions. Polychromatic X-ray absorption radiography represents a simple and effective non-destructive investigation technique. Methods for further improving the defect detection limits are also discussed and examples relative to computed tomography are reported

Modelling dissolution of MgzSi and homogenisation in Al-Si-Mg casting alloys

Dissolution of MgSi particles and homogenisation in aluminium foundry alloys A356 and A357 have been simulated by a simple numerical diffusion model. The model predicts that dissolution and homogenisation are complete after solution treatment times of less than one hour at 540°C for both alloys. Model predictions have been verified by metallography

Mass balance characterisation of Al-7Si-Mg alloy microstructures as a function of solution treatment time

Mass balance calculations were performed to model the effect of solution treatment time on A356 and A357 alloy microstructures. Image analysis and electron probe microanalysis were used to characterise microstructures and confirm model predictions. In as-cast microstructures, up to 8 times more Mg is tied up in the pi-phase than in Mg2Si. The dissolution of pi is accompanied by a corresponding increase in the amount of beta-phase. This causes the rate of pi dissolution to be limited by the rate of beta formation. It is predicted that solution treatments of the order of tens of minutes at 540degreesC produce near-maximum T6 yield strengths, and that Mg contents in excess of 0.52 wt% have no advantage