Biomass of roots in the top 6 inches of soil profile was measured . This weight was then used in a stepwise multiple regression to test correlations between root biomass and above ground merisurational parameters. Total biomass of all roots was 9822 ± 2810 pounds per acre oven dry. Spruce roots weighed 4417 ± 997 pounds per acre; of this spruce roots less than 0.125 inch diameter weighed 2023 ± 347 pounds per acre and biomass of spruce roots greater than 0.125 inch diameter was 2394 ± 8S3 pounds per acre. Total fir roots weighed Sl56 ± 2687 pounds per acre; of this roots less than 0.125 inch totaled 869 ± 181 pounds per acre and biomass of fir roots greater than 0.125 inch diameter was 4287 ± 2653 pounds per acre. Low r2 (0.11 to 0 .17) values were found and the parameters which showed the greatest predictive value were (dbh)2, dbh, basal area, (basal area)2, and height. The sampling design involved the pairing of trees over 4 inches diameter. Point density expressed as basal area was not useful in relating to root biomass with this sampling design.

Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse visent à améliorer la compréhension des phénomènes physiques induits lors d'une opération de brochage. L'objectif final est le développement d'une méthode robuste pour la conception de broches en carbure de tungstène. Pour cela, un état de l'art détaillant les pratiques technologiques ainsi que les analyses scientifiques de ce procédé est réalisé. Une étude élémentaire de la coupe d' Udimet 720 est mise en œuvre avec des conditions expérimentales testées sur un vaste domaine de manière à définir leur influence sur l'évolution des sollicitations d'usinage, de l'usure de l'outil et de la qualité de la matière produite. Une méthodologie de conception adaptée au brochage d'alvéoles pied de sapin par des broches en carbure de tungstène est développée. En s'appuyant sur des modèles empiriques dérivés des campagnes expérimentales et sur un logiciel interne, cet usinage peut être simulé. L'exploitation des résultats permet d'estimer la durée de vie du jeu de broches, de vérifier son dimensionnement et de calculer sa rentabilité. La nouvelle méthode est appliquée sur deux cas industriels : le premier proche des contraintes de production et le second débridé afin d'exprimer le potentiel maximal de cette technologie. Au final, les gains réalisables sur le coût par pièce en développant le brochage avec des outils en carbure de tungstène sont estimés entre 60 et 80 % / The work presented in this thesis aims to improve the understanding of the physical phenomena induced by a broaching operation. The end goal is the development a robust method for designing tungsten carbide broaches. For this purpose, a state of the art detailing the technological practices as well as the scientific analyses of this process is realized. An elementary study of the Udimet 720 cut is carried out with experimental conditions varied over a wide range in order to define their influence on the evolution of the machining stresses, the wear of the tool and the quality of the material produced. A design methodology adapted to the broaching of fir tree slots by tungsten carbide broaches is developed. Based on empirical models derived from experimental campaigns and an internal software, this machining can be simulated. The exploitation of the results makes it possible to estimate the lifetime of the broaches, to verify its dimensioning and to calculate its profitability. The new method is carried out on two industrial cases: the first close to the production constraints and the second unbridled in order to express the maximum potential of this technology. In the end, the achievable gains on the cost per piece by developing the broaching with tungsten carbide tools are estimated between 60 and 80 %.

Le procédé de brochage est aujourd’hui, et depuis plus de cinquante ans, le procédé le plus utilisé par les motoristes aéronautiques pour usiner les alvéoles pied de sapin des disques de turbine. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse visent à améliorer la compréhension du procédé de brochage dans le but d’améliorer la performance de ce procédé. Ils sont décomposés en quatre étapes, une étude sur la coupe de l’Udimet 720®, la modélisation des broches pied de sapin et des efforts de coupe, une étude expérimentale du brochage des alvéoles pied de sapin et finalement une proposition de surveillance de ce procédé. Une étude de la coupe en brochage de l’Udimet 720® est réalisée pour pallier le manque d’études actuel sur ce superalliage et développer des lois de coupe pour la simulation des efforts. La simulation permet d’associer à chaque partie discrétisée de chaque dent de la broche des efforts spécifiques en fonction des différents paramètres d’usinage. Les essais de brochage d’alvéole pied de sapin instrumentés ont servi à vérifier la pertinence de la simulation et à proposer, à partir de cette dernière, des choix de conception visant à améliorer la performance du procédé. La surveillance en usinage propose une stratégie visant à détecter différentes anomalies d’usinage pour limiter le risque de rebut de pièces à fortes valeurs ajoutées. / From more than fifty years ago, the broaching process is what the aeronautic engine manufacturers use the most to machine turbine disc fir-tree slots. The aim of this thesis is to improve the understanding of the broaching process in order to optimize the efficiency of this process. This study is divided into four steps: a study of Udimet 720® machinability, the modelization of fir-tree slot broaches and of cutting forces, an experimental study of fir-tree slots broaching and finally, a proposed method of process monitoring. A study of Udimet 720® machinability is made to fill the lack of current studies about this superalloy and to develop cutting forces model for the modelization of the broaching process. Modelization allows the association of specific forces to each discretized broach tooth according to various machining parameters. Fir tree slots broaching trials were used to check the accuracy of modelization and to suggest, according to the latter, conception choices aiming at improving the efficiency of the process. Process monitoring, in the broaching field, offers a strategy which purpose is to detect various machining disturbances and to limit the risk of rejected parts with high added value.

Fir tree root forms are one way to retain turbine blades in turbine disks. These features are ruled surfaces that span the entire thickness of the disk and are usually machined by broaching. With increasing use of new heat resistant and difficult-to-machine materials, mechanical machining methods exhibit severe problems with tool wear and surface integrity. To mitigate these problems, thermal material removal processes such as Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM) are being considered in the aerospace industry. Developments in turbine design have led to a root form geometry in the form of an arc across the thickness of the disk in order to decrease the contact stress by increasing the contact area between blade and disk. A curved surface such as this cannot be produced by conventional WEDM as it is not a ruled surface. A novel WEDM process is being developed where an arc shaped curve is formed from an axially moving wire to allow for the production of such curved surfaces. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Turbine blades are attached to turbine disks with specially shaped, straight slots called Fir Tree Root Forms (FTRF) that can be cut with broaching tools. Broaches wear out quickly because the disk is made of very difficult to cut material and the aerospace industry is starting to use Wire Electric Discharge Machining (WEDM), instead of broaching, to cut these slots since it can easily cut the material used. New turbine disk designs have curved slots, which can not be cut with a straight broach or wire, and a new process is therefore being developed which uses an arc-shaped wire to cut the desired curved shapes.