Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 591

Abstract: Glass filled nylon composites (GFN) and hybrid graphene oxide reinforced glass filled Nylon nanocomposites (GO-GFN) are prepared by blending the required base materials in injection molding machine at processing temperature of 275°C. The specimens prepared are subjected to various mechanical property tests to reveal their hardness, tensile strength and flexural strength. The wear discs of GFN and GO-GFN composites as per ASTM standard are injection molded to analyze the tribological properties using pin on disc tribometer. The pin used is EN 8 Tool steel. The Coefficient of friction for the GFN composites for the wear load of 10 N is 0.28. Addition of 0.003 wt% GO to the GFN system has decreased the coefficient of friction significantly to the value of 0.12. The decrease in C.O.F was correlated with the adhesion film formation in the pin surface. This work confirms the improvement in wear resistance of GO-GFN system which is attributed by the presence of graphene oxide only.

Abstract: In this paper, attempts have been made to model and optimize process parameters in Abrasive assisted Electro-Chemical Machining (AECM) of Aluminium-Boron carbide-Graphite composite using cylindrical copper tool electrodes with SiC abrasive medium. Optimization of process parameters is based on the statistical techniques with four independent input parameters such as voltage, current, reinforcement and feed rate were used to assess the AECM process performance in terms of material removal rate. The obtained results are compared with without abrasive assisted electro chemical machining of Aluminium-Boron carbide-Graphite composite. Abrasive assisted ECM process exhibited higher material removal rate from composite material when compared with without abrasive assisted ECM.

Abstract: . Variant Configuration is one of the advanced functions of the System Application and Product in data processing (SAP) business process solutions. Many enterprises, particularly from the complex production industry, can be benefited from the use of Variant Configuration. This paper demonstrates on how a product configuration is performed for a complex variable product using SAP variant configuration. The automotive pump manufacturing was as complex configurable product that involves different variants of the product. This artifact also explains on how we leverage the SAP Variant configuration functionality and achieving complex variant pump configuration with simplified solution.

Abstract: In sodium cooled fast breeder reactors, the high operating temperature necessitates hard facing of grid plate to avoid galling and to reduce the wear loss of the base material . Nickel-base cobalt-free alloy called Colmonoy-5 has been chosen as the hard facing material for the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) grid plate. The grid plate (GP) which is a critical component made of 316 LN SS that holds the core subassemblies are hard faced, to prevent galling and also to minimize wear caused by subassembly insertion/removal and erosion due to high sodium velocity at 670 K. Thermal cycling of hard faced circular grid plate made by Plasma Transferred Arc Welding (PTAW) generates residual stresses due to differential shrinkage of the molten deposit and difference in coefficients of thermal expansion between the deposit and substrate material. In this project the effect of thermal cycling of a nickel-base hardfacing alloy deposited on an austenitic stainless steel grid plate was studied. Finite element analysis of hard faced circular grid plate is performed for obtaining residual stress which includes elasto-plastic analysis. Coupled thermo-mechanical analysis is done for thermal cycling of hardfaced circular gridplate to quantitatively estimate the residual stress.

Abstract: This paper presents the study of the tensile, compressive, flexural, impact energy and water absorption characteristics of the luffa fiber reinforced expoxy polymer composites. Luffa fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composites have been developed by hand lay-up technique with varying process parameters such as fiber condition (treated and untreated), chopped randomly oriented and different volume fraction (30%, 40% and 50%). Tensile strength varies from 9 MPa to 20 MPa, compressive strength varies from 75 MPa to 105 MPa, flexural strength varies from 15 MPa to 140 MPa and impact energy varies from 0.25 Joules to 1.45 Joules, as a function of fiber volume fraction. The optimum mechanical properties were obtained at 40% of fiber volume fraction of treated fiber composites. Fracture surface of the composite shows that pull out and de-bonding of fiber is occurred.

Abstract: EN24 steel is widely used in many engineering applications such as shaft, axle and fasteners due to high tensile strength and low cost. Friction welding is generally used to join the similar and dissimilar materials. The present work investigates on the mechanical properties of friction welded EN 24 steel joints. The effects of the four main parameters: friction duration, forging time, friction pressure and forging pressure on the mechanical properties of the weld such as hardness and axial shortening are studied experimentally and analyzed using ANOVA statistics.

Abstract: Recent trends shows powder metallurgy composites are most familiar due to its wide applications in the areas like defense, aircraft, automobile, sports etc. Powder metal mixtures are prepared for surface coating in the areas where high corrosive and heat resistance are required. Carbon Nanotubes are widely used in the field of engineering with its remarkable mechanical, electrical properties and very good reinforcement in composite preparation. In this research, multi wall Carbon Nanotube along with Aluminum and Silicon powder were mixed thoroughly by ball milling process. The powder mixture (AlSiCNT) reveals that Carbon Nanotube are well dispersed uniformly with Aluminum and Silicon which promotes toughening mechanism with good reinforcement. The AlSiCNT mixture is then coated over the surface of Aluminum alloy 6061 and Stainless steel 304 L by plasma spraying technique. Tensile test, micro hardness tests with micro structural study were carried out over the composite. Coated composite reveal better mechanical properties than the base metals.

Abstract: The Natural fiber composites form a combination of plant derived fibers with plastic binders (Polymer matrices). The fibers form the fillers or reinforcements of the composite and the matrix is the continuous phase. In general, fibers are principal load carrying members while the surrounding matrix keeps them in the desired position, acts as a load transfer medium between them. So fibers with good strength and modulus and having good bonding with matrix should be used to a produce a good quality composite material [1-3]. The mechanical efficiency of a fiber composite depends on the adhesion between the matrix and the reinforcement [4-7]. This paper is to evaluate impact and compression properties of pineapple fiber based reinforced composite with epoxy resin as matrix.

Abstract: Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) are one allotropic form of carbon, which have some unique characteristics that make them a suitable reinforcing agent in various types of composites. CNT reinforced composites are gaining more attention in recent days. Reinforcing with CNT leads to increase in strength without considerable increase in weight. Many metal matrix composites (MMCs) with base metals like aluminium, magnesium, copper, nickel etc., and polymer matrix composites (PMCs) have been fabricated and experimented with CNT as one of their reinforcing agents and corresponding results have been recorded. This paper reviews a few of these recordings on Al and Mg MMCs and also some future development in this field.

Abstract: In this paper, mechanical properties of notched weft-knitted glass fiber stiffness and strength of knitted composite plates were determined. The knitted fabric composite plates was fabricated for various thickness by using 360 grams per m² glass fiber woven mat with the 10: 1 ratio of LY 556 epoxy resin and HY 951 hardener. Thickness of plates 7, 12 and 13.5mm consists of 22, 41 and 49 layers. However, to date, no comparative study has been made to evaluate the suitability of different modeling schemes to predict the stiffness and strength properties of knitted fabric composites. Further, a comparative study of tensile and compression test is carried out based on a plain weft knitted glass fiber reinforced composites. The compression test having the ultimate stress of maximum at 12 mm thick plate and tensile test the ultimate stress was maximum at 13.5 mm thick plate. Specimens were prepared for two configurations CWC and WCW. The stiffness and strength data is plotted with respect to load v_s. displacement curves. Mechanical properties of variable thickness glass fiber composites stiffness and strength depends on the material size as well as thickness of the plate. The test result in stiffness and strength is predicted by using the experimental data.