This study aims to develop a precision polishing system with high machining rate efficiency. The system is mainly composed of a loading mechanism, a work piece and a polishing pad with belt-shape. The loading mechanism is to generate a specific pressure distribution between the pad and the work surface.¡@Such a pressure distribution is to render the machining rate distribution, along the contact zone between pad and work surface, capable of compensating the work surface error.¡@With the capability of accurately removing the work surface error left by the previous machining method, this polishing system can improve the form precision of work and become an effective high precision machining tool. In this thesis, the relation between the applied loadings and the pressure distribution were established by the finite element method.¡@A linear model described this relation with the applied loading as the input and the desired pressure distribution as the output. The unknown coefficients of the model were then derived from the simulation data by the finite element method. When a desired pressure distribution was given, the applied loadings could be solved from the model by either the simultaneous equation method or the least squared error method.¡@A main issue to investigate in the study was to examine whether a pressure distribution with an arbitrary wavelength spectrum could be obtained by the proposed scheme. A detailed analysis about the effect of wavelength in pressure distribution on the precision of loading estimation was done. Four conclusions could be made from the study. 1.The proposed polishing system can be applied to a free surface with either concave or convex geometrical features 2.The proposed linear model can suggest proper loadings to generate desired pressure distribution with good precision if the wavelength of pressure distribution is large enough. 3.The Shannon sampling theorem can be used to give a qualitative description of the properness of the model in generating a desired pressure distribution. 4.The proposed polishing method has a high machining repeatability when the operating condition is well controlled.

Tire testing has been one of the important aspects of the tire industry because it helps identify the tire behavior which further helps in improving the design of tires. It also helps automotive manufacturers choose the best tire for their automobiles. Indoor tire testing helps in relating the data better because of greater repeatability of the testing setup as compared to outdoor testing. This study focusses on modifying a rolling resistance machine to make it capable of force and moment and cleat testing along with the standard rolling resistance test. Additionally, the design of a mechanical loading mechanism (used to apply normal force on the tire) in place of the previous one using dead weights is also discussed. This study also talks about the structural and vibrational finite element analysis of a tire testing machine. Since the machine was designed to conduct different tire tests, different structural requirements of the tire positioning mechanism pertaining to each test were taken into consideration, and the structure was analyzed for maximum forces and moments acting on the assembly. Cleat testing subjects the tire as well as the structure to an impulse force which calls for the vibrational analysis of the assembly to avoid the structure from resonating. The design was modified to get it easily manufactured and assembled. These design changes and the aspects taken into consideration have also been discussed. / Master of Science

In comminution machines, the product properties (particle size distribution, mineral liberation characteristics) and process consumables (energy for size reduction, wear) are affected by various parameters. On the one hand, understanding and optimizing these parameters can provide an energy efficient process and a specified product. On the other hand, a fundamental understanding of the breakage process can even be used for designing new or improved comminution machines. In this thesis, breakage fundamentals are analyzed and set against the principles of various comminution machines. The study of the breakage fundamentals is crucial for a better understanding of the effect of different comminution environments on ore types and their textures in order to achieve a desired product size and liberation. This work defines three main areas of breakage processes with breakage fundamentals, namely “loading mechanism”, “breakage mechanism” and “breakage mode”. The “loading mechanism” is defined as the physical action that is applied to a particle or several particles in order to introduce mechanical stress. The resulting pattern of the particle failure is named “breakage mechanism”. Finally, the “breakage mode” defines the particle breakage in terms of being random or non‐random. Non‐random breakage depends on the ore texture, which can be categorized as preferential breakage and phase boundary breakage. Promoting the breakage mode to the phase boundary breakage could help to increase the liberation degree. Various studies have assessed the effect of ore texture and operational parameters on mineral liberation. While ore texture is related to the particle inherent characteristics, operational conditions such as loading mechanism are related to the comminution environment. In all these investigations, little attempt has been made to explore the combined effects of loading mechanism and quantitative ore texture features on breakage mode and mineral liberation. In addition, a lack of fundamental understanding of the breakage process and mineral liberation can be seen. Accordingly, a more fundamental study of the causes behind the effects of loading mechanism and texture is required in order to optimize the comminution process in terms of mineral liberation. The objective of this work is, therefore, to investigate the effects of different loading mechanisms on particle breakage and breakage mode. In order to achieve this goal, work has started with using two methods including three‐dimensional deformation and two‐dimensional crack quantification. The former method involved X‐ray computed micro‐tomography (XCT) imaging and Digital Volume Correlation (DVC) measurements which determiners the breakage mode in terms of being random or non-random. Whereas the latter was done using an image processing code in MATLAB to quantify cracks in terms of random and non-random breakage (preferential or phase boundary) from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. In addition, XCT 3D imaging was used in order to track the propagated cracks in the third dimension. Moreover, phase boundary breakage in magnetite grains was studied qualitatively based on optical microscopy images in order to identify and characterize the propagated cracks.

This thesis deals with the conceptual solution of self-loading container on straw bales. It is the issue of these machines' distribution according to specified criteria at the beginning. Research part follows with describing the individual components cosequently included in the conceptual design. The third point is the design of the solution itself and its rationale. There are itemized individual structural components and visualization. The last part contains strength calculations for structural nodes.