Mechatronics challenge for the higher education world

Mechatronics engineering courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as vocational training courses are rapidly increasing across the world. Philosophy and structure of such courses divert from the classical single-discipline engineering programmes and induce a challenge for the higher education institutions. Different institutions in various countries are reacting differently to this challenge but, all aiming at educating mechatronics engineers. This paper reviews the mechatronics education at various centres in the world. It also analyses the structure and contents of a number of selected mechatronics programmes in various higher education institutions. Furthermore, it proposes a list of features that a sound mechatronics engineering programme should contain

Factors governing the choice of feeder yarns suitable for air-jet texturing

Factors governing the choice of feeder yarns suitable for air-jet texturin

Modelling the pattern creation process for the optimum design of a circular warp-knitting machine using a conical needle-bed

A circular warp-knitting machine was designed using a novel approach that uses a conical needle-bed. This machine was built and successfully tested. The interaction between the patterning and knitting mechanisms of a warp-knitting machine is critical for the performance of the machine. In a circular warp-knitting machine, geometric parameters such as the diameter of the patterning rings and the distance between the patterning rings and the needles can significantly affect the patterning capability of the machine. This paper describes an approach to modelling the yarn and needle paths in a novel circular warp knitting machine with a conical needle-bed and patterning rings, using equations that govern the relationship between the different geometric parameters in order to calculate the amplitude of the shogging movements and optimise machine performance. A set of mathematical equations governing the geometric relationship that determines the limits of the motion of the patterning rings is presented. The algorithms have been created and successfully tested using a case study. A mathematical model and appropriate algorithms are developed that prove useful design tools for the designer of the circular warp knitting machines using conical needle-bed

Textile composites from hydro-entangled non-woven fabrics

Production of nonwoven fabrics and composite technology are not new areas. However it seems very little has been done to look at the potential of hydro-entangled nonwovens as reinforcements in structural composites. A preliminary investigation is reported of the suitability of hydro-entangled nonwoven fabrics as fibre reinforcements in producing structural composites. Work reported involved producing various composite materials by impregnating hydro-entangled fibrous structure with a suitable polymer and evaluating the composite properties via a number of tests, such as tensile strength and impact resistance. Preliminary results show that there is good potential for producing composite structures from hydro-entangled nonwovens

Design concepts for an integrated whiplash mitigating head restraint and seat

This paper presents design of a concept for an integrated head restraint and car seat system to mitigate whiplash in rear-end vehicle collisions. The main emphasis is on a concept, which combines a reactive head restraint with a reactive seat. The chosen concept is developed in the form of mechanical linkages using linkage analysis software, SAM 6.1. A human model positioned in a ‘good’ driving posture is used to show how the head restraint and seat would operate using a typical crash pulse used for dynamic sled testing of automotive seats. The head restraint system is capable of translating into an optimal position of 40 mm forwards and 60 mm upwards in 12 ms, before whiplash-induced injuries start to take place. The reactive seat is also capable of reclining 15 degrees. The combination of reducing the backset and reclining the seat to reduce the relative motion between the head and torso has the potential to reduce the whiplash-effect-related injuries in rear-end collisions

Viscoelastic finite element analysis of the cervical intervertebral discs in conjunction with a multi-body dynamic model of the human head and neck

This article presents the effects of the frontal and rear-end impact loadings on the cervical spine components by using a multi-body dynamic model of the head and neck, and a viscoelastic finite element (FE) model of the six cervical intervertebral discs. A three-dimensional multi-body model of the human head and neck is used to simulate 15g frontal and 8.5g rear-end impacts. The load history at each intervertebral joint from the predictions of the multi-body model is used as dynamic loading boundary conditions for the FE model of the intervertebral discs. The results from the multi-body model simulations, such as the intervertebral disc loadings in the form of compressive, tensile, and shear forces and moments, and from the FE analysis such as the von Mises stresses in the intervertebral discs are analysed. This study shows that the proposed approach that uses dynamic loading conditions from the multi-body model as input to the FE model has the potential to investigate the kinetics and the kinematics of the cervical spine and its components together with the biomechanical response of the intervertebral discs under the complex dynamic loading history

Optimising cam motion using piecewise polynomials

The paper presents a method of synthesising cam profiles based on the use of piecewise polynomials together with an optimisation technique. Special cases and limitations are discussed and illustrated, making the procedure complete and systematic for any design requirements. Using piecewise polynomials, the complete cam profile can be designed as a combined linear system. The optimisation technique described goes even further, manipulating the variables in the linear system to select the ideal combination. In addition, a means to prove the validity of the results is explained

An analysis of the air-jet yarn texturing process. Reply

An analysis of the air-jet yarn texturing process. Repl

The effect of including a fetus in the uterus model on the risk of fetus mortality through drop test and frontal crash simulations

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Computational modelling is an effective way of estimating the risk of injuries and fatalities in road traffic accidents. Computational pregnant occupant modelling has an additional important role in the investigation of the risk of fetus mortality in crash test simulations. In this paper, the effect of including the fetus in the uterus of the pregnant occupant model is investigated. First, isolated drop test simulations with the uterus of the computational pregnant occupant model, ‘Expecting’, with and without a fetus are used to show the effect of the presence of fetus in the uterus model. Then ‘Expecting’ with and without the fetus is used with varying levels of restraint system use, such as fully restrained, ‘seatbelt only’, ‘airbag only’ and ‘no restraint’, in frontal crash simulations, representing five levels of impacts. Maximum strains developed in the uteroplacental interface with and without a fetus are compared in every case. Both simulations predict higher risks of placental abruption when the fetus is included in the model. Simulations with and without a fetus model show that inclusion of a 38-week fetus model causes higher strains in the placental region of uterus

An analysis of the air-jet yarn texturing process. Part 1, A brief history of developments in the process

After a brief description of the air-jet texturing process, the historical development of industrial texturing nozzles is summarized, and a critical review is given of previous investigations that have been directed to an understanding of the texturing process. It is argued that many of the previous hypotheses were based on a technology that used pre-twisted supply yarns and that they are invalid for current zero-twist texturing processes