Materials Science Forum Vols. 505-507

Abstract: This paper presents a novel parallel hybrid transmission for motorcycles. This transmission incorporates a mechanical type rubber V-belt continuously variable transmission and chain drives to combine the power of the two power sources, an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. By using the mechanical type clutches used in the proposed transmission, it can provide a parallel hybrid that can be grouped into four modes of operation: electric motor mode, engine mode, engine/charging mode, and power mode. A design example is built and tested.

Abstract: Nano-imprint lithography (NIL) is one of the most promising technologies for the massproduction of nano-meter patterns. A commercial hydraulic press and a pair of hot plates were used as the NIL system reported so far. It is, however, large and heavy. In this paper, therefore, a new moving-coil actuator is proposed and is intended to be used as the driving power for a compact NIL system. Compared to the commercial hydraulic NIL system, two advantages of the new NIL system using the moving-coil actuator are the ease of precise control as well as the compact dimensions. Thus, it is suitable for the fabrication and replication of small-sized nano-meter patterns. To develop such a new moving-coil actuator, the electromagnetic finite element method (FEM) is utilized. In addition, a simple but effective state-space model is also established to describe the dynamic behavior of the moving-coil actuator. Finally, a series of simulations and experiments are carried out and the results show that the positioning accuracy of the developed moving-coil actuator is 1µm.

Abstract: Coating technologies are widely used in manufacturing processes, to prevent products from deterioration due to the actions of water, air, or an acid, to improve the artistic functions of product. In advance of nano-technologies, the geometry of coating particles will be fabricated as designed. Therefore, the effects of the geometry of materials on the coating quality should be considered in manufacturing processes. Surface roughness is one of the major indicators of coating quality. The correlation of geometry of coating materials and surface roughness on the performance of coated electrodes is presented in this paper. Three types of geometries are analyzed which are spherical particles, uniformly distributed columns, and random types. Besides the geometry of coating materials, the impact force resulting from spray jet will alter the surface roughness and is one of the important factors to coating quality. Therefore, the stability of coating jet is also studied. The findings show that high frequency waves can be added into the flow to get neutrally stable condition which will improve the stability of impact force.

Abstract: The new repetitive learning for the control of the periodic motion has already been developed. The structure and parameters of the dynamic system don’t need to be known exactly by using this controller, in advance. And it will be shown the new repetitive learning controller is more efficiency than the traditional controller. In this study, it will be proved the system using new repetitive learning controller is global asymptotic stability under the ideal condition. It will be also shown the system is robust stability under the nonideal condition. Lastly, the noncircular cutting system that will be illustrated to show the efficiency of stability for the repetitive learning controller is conducted.

Abstract: The slider geometry has a great influence on tribological behaviors for nanoscale sliding systems. The present study employs the finite element method (FEM) atomic approach to investigate the friction behaviors for rectangular slider and triangular slider on slab. The current investigation chooses diamond-like carbon as the hard material, and copper as the soft material. The atomic configurations following sliding under non-interactive, attractive, and repulsive force field are observed for sliding system. The relationships between the normal force, the friction force, and the sliding distance are discussed. The present results are in good agreement with those of previous studies using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.

Abstract: This study is aimed at investigating the deformation characteristics and mechanisms of wood and its deformation characteristics using long distance microscope and CCD-camera. The structures of actual wood can be treated as micro cell structure and layer one. Several deformation characteristics were obtained in compression process. Characteristics of the deformation were investigated experimentally. The following results were obtained for the deformation of wood. (1) The deformation modes of cell structures and the locations where deformation is generated were clarified. (2) The characteristics of the compression of layered structures were clarified. (3) The deformation of wood was largely affected by structural features such as the grain, distribution of tree rings, and compression direction. The results obtained are useful in carrying out effective compaction of wood.

Abstract: This study developed a square-like pressure wave generator as an excitation source to test dynamic characteristics of pressure sensors. The developed generator can generate a square-like pressure wave of as high as 2 kHz and can achieve high-frequency switching by utilizing the differential principle through a series of mechanical rotations between the revolving spindle and revolving ring. The square-like pressure wave generated is input into the hydraulic system while the output voltage signals given by the pressure sensor can be analyzed by spectrum analysis to obtain dynamic characteristics of the pressure sensor

Abstract: Rapid Prototyping (RP) Technology is capable of fabricating 3D freeform solid models from CAD models and has been widely used in communicating design concepts. Due to its distinctive characteristics, RP is very suitable in aiding surgery planning. Typical medical software used to display cardiac images can delineate both inner and outer structure but its images are virtual. Therefore, solid cardiac models made by RP technology provide a touchable reality to compensate for this deficiency. In this research, RP technology is utilized to assist cardiac surgery planning. CT-scanned image data were first processed to obtain RP-acceptable STL file format, and then solid cardiac models were constructed by Objet QuadraTempo, a commercial RP system made in Israel. These models proved extremely helpful in cardiac surgery planning. In addition, several commercial RP systems are compared by their process capabilities for cardiac surgery planning application.

Abstract: This study explains a design of the microfabricated planar methanol sensor and conducts a series of methods to achieve a real device. By utilizing the microfabrication technology, it is possible to develop the miniature planar methanol sensor to integrate with direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The electrochemically reactive area can be adjusted effectively to obtain adequate strength of the methanol oxidation current. The innovation of the methanol sensor design is on a matrix detecting area with the in-line monitoring functions. Each detecting holes in matrix has been connected together by a serpentine channel to conduct electrochemical reaction at the surface of electrodes. In front side of wafer, the interdigitate electrode design provides a flexible adjustment in the reactive area for modulating the strength of methanol oxidation current. A compatible fabrication of methanol sensor and DMFC has also been proposed in this work. The serpentine channel and detecting holes of methanol sensor are anticipated to be made in opposite side of DMFC fuel channels. Also, the through holes have to be formed by the combination of front-side and backside Deep RIE etching. Both of them require a precise double-side alignment. At the end, a simple planar methanol sensor has been made for verifying electrochemical characteristics and the integration solution with micro DMFC has been discussed to benefit the micro DMFC system development.

Abstract: In this study, the surfaces of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were treated by acrylic acid. The acid-treated MWNTs were functionalized and were characterized by Infrared spectroscopy. The MWNTs were opened at their ends by ultrasonic treating and UV irradiating. Different adding amounts of the opened MWNTs were filled to the epoxy resin, and their mechanical properties and thermal properties were measured by Instron, impact and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), etc. The optimum adding amount of MWNTs to the epoxy resin is 2.0%, which is according to the parameters obtained from mechanical testing and Tg. The activation energy of the epoxy resin during curing can be calculated from infrared spectra according to the change of the epoxide band. The electrical conductivity of the MWNTs-filled composites was increased with proper (12.87%) amount of MWNTs adding, this is due to the networks constructed between MWNTs completely.