Investigation on topology-optimized compressor piston by metal additive manufacturing technique: Analytical and numeric computational modeling using finite element analysis in ANSYS

Air compressors are widely used in factories to power automation systems and store energy. Several studies have been conducted on the performance of reciprocating and screw compressors. Advancements in design and manufacturing techniques, such as generative design and topology optimization, are leading to improved performance and turbomachinery growth. This work presents a methodology to design and manufacture air compressor pistons using topology optimization and metal additive manufacturing. The existing piston is converted to 3D CAD data and topology optimization is conducted to reduce material in stress concentration regions. Thermal and mechanical loads are considered in boundary conditions. The results show reduced material and improved efficiency, which is validated using ANSYS fluent. The optimized 3D model of the piston is too complex for conventional subtractive manufacturing, so laser sintering 3D printing is proposed. Honeycomb pattern infill patterns are used in 3D printing. This investigation is a step toward researching similar methods in other reciprocating compressor components such as cylinder, cylinder head, piston pins, crankshaft, and connecting rods, which will ultimately lead to improved compressor efficiency. © 2023 the author(s), published by De Gruyter.Khon Kaen University, KKU: R.G.P.1/349/43; Deanship of Scientific Research, King Khalid UniversityFunding information: This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University (KKU) through the Research Group Program Under the Grant Number: (R.G.P.1/349/43).The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University (KKU) for funding this research through the Research Group Program Under the Grant Number: (R.G.P.1/349/43)

Doing What we Know we Should: Engaged scholarship and community development

In Australia, engaged scholarship oriented towards community development objectives has yet to be recognised in funding regimes as being inherently beneficial in terms of scholarly excellence and university rankings. While the civic role of universities is acknowledged by individual universities, higher education management and at the Federal policy level, they are most often framed as funding problems related to ‘community service’ rather than as research opportunities which can raise the university’s profile by providing the basis for excellent research outputs and community enrichment. Community engagement has become a familiar term in the Australian higher education lexicon in recent years but there is still little institutional infrastructure that directly embodies the principles and sentiment of community engagement evident in current Australian universities. In this paper, the inaugural Director and Research Manager of the University of Queensland’s Community Service and Research Centre reflect on their five years leading a Centre that was/has been privileged to enjoy significant institutional support and the lessons learnt in forging into unknown territories. The reflections focus on the Centre’s seminal project, the Goodna Service Integration Project