No description available.

Understanding failure mechanics of mechanical equipment is one of the most important aspects of structural and aerospace engineering. Crack growth being one of the major forms of failure in structural components has been studied for several decades to achieve greater reliability and guarantee higher safety standards. Conventional approaches using the finite element framework provides accurate solutions, yet they require extremely complicated numerical approaches or highly fine mesh densities which is computationally expensive and yet suffers from several numerical instabilities such as element entanglement or overly soften element behavior. The eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) is a relatively recent concept developed for modeling geometric discontinuities and singularities by introducing the addition of new terms to the classical shape functions in order to allow the finite element formulation to remain the same. XFEM does not require the necessity of computationally expensive numerical schemes such as active remeshing and allows for easier crack representation. In this work, verifies the validity of this new concept for quasi-static crack growth in tension with Abaqus' XFEM is employed. In the course of the work, the effect of various parameters that are involved in the modelling of the crack are parametrically analyzed. The load-displacement data and crack growth were used as the comparison criterion. It was found that XFEM is unable to accurately represent crack growth in the models in the elastic region without direct manipulation of the material properties. The crack growth in the plastic region is found to be affected by certain parameters allowing us to tailor the model to a small degree. This thesis attempts to provide a greater understanding into the parametric dependencies of XFEM crack growth. / Master of Science

Packaging industries widely use Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) in manufacturing different types of containers to store the food products. They are difficult to model numerically in order to have similar experimental response. This research deals with the study of numerical material model parameters of continuum LDPE. It is carried out with the help of experiments along with the numerical simulation of LDPE. Study of stress-strain distribution at crack tip and elements close to the tip is carried out in the LDPE material with the pre-existing center crack with varying lengths. By implementing an optimization algorithm and automating the simulation with the help of python code, we obtain a set of parameters. This obtained data for the material can be used directly for numerical simulation in the future without carrying out additional experimental studies. After implementing the optimization algorithm is also validated, against the results that were close to the experimental response.

<div>Thin walled tubular structures are widely used in the automotive industry because of its weight to energy absorption advantage. A lot of research has been done in different cross sectional shapes and different tapered designs, with design for manufacturability in mind, to achieve high specific energy absorption. </div><div><br></div><div>In this study a novel type of tubular structure is proposed, in which predesigned origami initiators are introduced into conventional square tubes. The crease pattern is designed to achieve extensional collapse mode which results in decreasing the initial buckling forces and at the same time acts as a fold initiator, helping to achieve a extensional collapse mode. The influence of various design parameters of the origami pattern on the mechanical properties (crushing force and deceleration) are extensively investigated using finite element modelling. Thus, showing a predictable and stable collapse behavior. This pattern can be stamped out of a thin sheet of material. </div><div><br></div><div>The results showed that a properly designed origami pattern can consistently trigger a extensional collapse mode which can significantly lower the peak values of crushing forces and deceleration without compromising on the mean values. Also, a comparison has been made with the behavior of proposed origami pattern for extensional mode verses origami pattern with diamond fold.</div>

Phosphate is one of the essential minerals for all living organisms. It has to be supplied to the soil in order for plant growth. In Turkey, most of the soils lack phosphate mineral. Although this can be overcome by the use of phosphate fertilizers, in Turkey there are no phosphate mines being utilized / and this brings about the need to import phosphate rock and phosphate fertilizers. The estimated phosphate rock reserve of Turkey is around 300 million tons, but it cannot be utilized since no economical method of upgrading has been proved to work yet. The aim of this study has been two-fold / to determine the effects of several parameters on the cell flotation of Mardin-Mazidagi phosphate rock and to increase the grade of the product above 30% P2O5 content with a reasonable recovery rate, so that it could be used commercially. Phosphate rock upgrading was made by using flotation in a cell. There are many factors affecting the recovery and grade of the product such as, particle size, pulp pH, collector volume, acid and collector conditioning times and temperature. Phosphate rock samples used contained 14% P2O5, 43% CaCO3 and 1% SiO2 with a CaO/P2O5 ratio of 3.1. Due to the low silica content, one-stage flotation was made. In the experiments, effects of the important parameters were tested at constant pulp density (10% solids by weight). Particle sizes were between 53 m and 150 m, while the pH values were kept between 5,0 - 6,5 using amounts of acid within the range of 6 - 19 kg H3PO4/ton of rock. The collector (mixture of kerosene and oleic acid in 1:3 volumetric ratio) was used in the range of 0,6 ml (0,96 kg collector/ton rock) and 5,4 ml (8,64 kg collector/ton rock). Acid and collector conditioning times were changed between 10-110 s and 10-80 s, respectively. The temperature range was between 15-35 &deg / C. At the end of the parametric studies a grade of 36% P2O5 with a recovery of 93% could be obtained.

A problem has been observed by many researchers regarding the cracks caused mainly by moisture variation in timber structures. However, this effect has been neglected over the past decades. In addition, many design codes do not have a room for a realistic formulation of the moisture diffusion and its effect in causing internal stress, deformation, and cracks. Moreover, if this effect occurs in connection areas, usually the weakest structural section, it has and also had shown a devastating effect on the service life of many wooden structures. In the current work, a Fickian moisture diffusion model is implemented by use of finite element simulation with the help of the commercial software ABAQUS for a dowelled beam column connection. The results of such moisture diffusion were used to analyse the stress situation inside the timber section. Moreover, an extended finite element method was applied in ABAQUS to investigate how moisture induced crack develops into the timber section. Furthermore, a parametric study was performed by using Python scripting to investigate the effect of dowel spacing (horizontal and vertical) and critical energy release rate on the development of the moisture-induced crack. The results obtained revealed that for the same material property when the dowel spacing increases (either horizontal or vertical) the crack length increases significantly. Likewise, the crack length increases when the critical energy release rate requirement of the timber is decreasing.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Thin walled tubular structures are widely used in the automotive industry because of its weight to energy absorption advantage. A lot of research has been done in different cross sectional shapes and different tapered designs, with design for manufacturability in mind, to achieve high specific energy absorption. In this study a novel type of tubular structure is proposed, in which predesigned origami initiators are introduced into conventional square tubes. The crease pattern is designed to achieve extensional collapse mode which results in decreasing the initial buckling forces and at the same time acts as a fold initiator, helping to achieve a extensional collapse mode. The influence of various design parameters of the origami pattern on the mechanical properties (crushing force and deceleration) are extensively investigated using finite element modelling. Thus, showing a predictable and stable collapse behavior. This pattern can be stamped out of a thin sheet of material. The results showed that a properly designed origami pattern can consistently trigger a extensional collapse mode which can significantly lower the peak values of crushing forces and deceleration without compromising on the mean values. Also, a comparison has been made with the behavior of proposed origami pattern for extensional mode verses origami pattern with diamond fold.

The hotspot temperature of disc windings has a close relation with the transformer age. In oil immersed transformers, oil guides are applied generally to enhance the cooling effects for disc windings. In some cases disc windings without oil guides are used. However, the lack of oil guides is expected to result in a more complicated thermal behavior of the windings, making it more difficult to predict the location and strength of the hotspot temperature (i.e. the hottest temperature in the winding). To get an improved understanding of the thermal behavior, a CFD study has been performed.  This article describes the implementation of CFD simulation for 2D axisymmetry models without oil guides, and then analyzes the results of a series of parametric studies to see the sensitive factors influencing the cooling effects. These parameters include radial disc width, inlet mass flow rate, horizontal duct height, vertical duct width and the inlet/outlet configurations. Three main characteristics, the hotspot temperature, the location of the hotspot and the number of oil flow patterns are detected to describe the thermal performance.

Vibrations caused due to aerodynamic excitation may cause severe limitation to the performance of turbomachines. The force resulting from the non-uniform pressure distribution within the labyrinth cavity is identified as a major source of this excitation. In order to perform rotor dynamic evaluation of rotor-bearing-seal system, accurate prediction of this force is essential. A visual basic based front-end, for a labyrinth seal analysis program, has been designed herein. In order to accurately predict the excitation force, proper modeling of labyrinth leak path is important. Thus, the front-end developed herein incorporates a leak-path geometric diagram for visual analysis of labyrinth leak path and tooth location. Furthermore, to investigate influence of various operating conditions and gas properties on excitation force (effective cross-coupling stiffness), a parametric study is performed on both the eye seal and the balance piston labyrinth seal. / Master of Science

A escolha do propulsor é uma etapa-chave no projeto de um navio. Muito do que se espera qualitativamente do desempenho de uma embarcação implica em economia de energia, em condições de operação e habitabilidade adequadas à tripulação, e em baixo custo de manutenção dos elementos estruturais e dos equipamentos. Essas questões estão diretamente relacionadas ao aproveitamento de combustível pelo sistema propulsivo e à propagação de vibração, cabendo ao propulsor um papel significativo para a performance do navio em ambos os aspectos. Por esta razão, a dissertação propõe a avaliação de propulsores navais com respeito à excitação de vibração e à eficiência, quando atuando em esteira não uniforme. A dissertação inicia-se com uma abordagem resumida especificamente sobre os estudos já realizados sobre indução de vibração pelo propulsor focados nas chamadas forças de mancal. Em seguida, revisam-se os assuntos pertinentes ao projeto de propulsor, isto é, definição de sua geometria, de seus coeficientes de operação, e dos métodos teóricos e computacionais utilizados para estudar seu comportamento hidrodinâmico. A metodologia do trabalho fundamenta-se no estudo paramétrico da geometria do hélice, objetivando identificar a influência de cada um dos parâmetros de projeto do propulsor nos dois aspectos destacados no início. As diversas configurações geométricas são submetidas a campos de velocidades advindos de diferentes navios, que representam três grupos de embarcações (navios série 60, porta-containers e navios-tanque), com o intuito de verificar as diferentes tendências de comportamento possíveis. Para a execução computacional, elabora-se uma rotina encarregada de sistematizar o processo de alterações geométricas, encaminhar os numerosos casos à análise hidrodinâmica, realizar o processo de integração casco-hélice e o pós-processamento dos resultados. A análise hidrodinâmica citada é feita através do uso de um software comercial, que, baseado na teoria do escoamento potencial, aplica o método dos painéis para a resolução do escoamento ao redor do propulsor. Os esforços excitados pelo hélice são traduzidos em critérios objetivos, baseados na transmissão de vibração através do eixo, que, associados ao critério de eficiência propulsora e à restrição relativa à ocorrência de cavitação, avaliam os casos e identificam-se o comportamento dos parâmetros de projeto. Obtém-se, como conclusão, uma metodologia de avaliação aplicável em outros casos de propulsores e navios. / The propeller choice is a key-step of the ship design. The high quality of the vessel performance requires energy economy, appropriated operating and environmental conditions for the crew, and low maintenance costs of structural elements and equipment. These questions consider directly fuel consumption by the propulsion system and the transmitted vibration, regarding the propeller an important role in the ships performance about both attributes. For this reason, the evaluation of marine propellers, regarding the induced vibration and the propulsive efficiency under a non-uniform inflow, is proposed. The study begins with a briefly state of the art about the propeller induced vibration focused in bearing forces. Then, a propeller design overview is made about subjects such as geometry definition, operation coefficients, and theoretical and computed methods for studying its hydrodynamic behavior. The methodology is based on a parametric study of the propeller geometry, in order to identify the influence of each of the propeller design parameters in both aspects highlighted in beginning. The several geometric configurations are submitted to the wake fields from different ships, that represent three groups of vessels (60 series, containers and tankers), then different tendencies of behavior can be expected. For computational execution, a routine is in charge of systematizing the process of geometrical parameterization, send the cases to the hydrodynamic analysis, make the hull-propeller integration and post process the data. The hydrodynamic analysis is compelled by a HSVA® software, which applies the panel method in the propeller flow, based on potential flow theory. The propeller induced bearing forces are converted in objective criteria, based on vibration transmission through the shaft, which, combined with the propulsive efficiency criteria and the cavitation restriction, evaluate the propeller geometric configurations. As a conclusion, a propeller evaluation methodology applicable to another kind of propeller series and wake fields is obtained.