Laser sintering (LS) is an additive manufacturing process which uses laser surface heating to induce consolidation of powdered materials. This work investigates some of the process-structure-property relationships for LS of viscoelastic polymers. A one-dimensional closed-form analytical solution for heating of a semi-infinite body, with a convective boundary condition, by a moving surface heat flux was developed. This solution approximates the shape of the Gaussian energy distribution of the laser beam more accurately than previous solutions in the literature. A sintering model that combines the effects of viscoelastic deformation driven by attractive surface forces and viscous flow driven by curvature-based forces was developed. The powder-bed temperature was approximated using the thermal model developed herein. The effect of the enthalpy of melting for semi-crystalline polymers was accounted for using a temperature recovery approach. Time-temperature superposition was used to account for the temperature dependence of the tensile creep compliance. The results of the combined-mechanism sintering model will be compared to the classic Mackenzie-Shuttleworth sintering model. A lab-scale LS unit was constructed to fabricate test specimens for model validation and to test the applicability of materials to LS. In this work, sintering four materials, polycarbonate (PC) and three molecular weights of polyethylene-oxide (PEO) was predicted using the aforementioned thermal and sintering models. Samples were fabricated using the lab-scale LS unit and the sintered microstructures were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The rheologic, thermal and physical properties of the materials were characterized using standard methods and the relevant properties were used in the models. The choice of an amorphous polymer, PC, and a semi-crystalline polymer, PEO, affords comparison of the effects of the two material forms on contact growth during LS. The three molecular weights of PEO exhibit significantly different tensile creep compliances, however, the thermal and physical properties are essentially the same, and therefore the effect of molecular weight and subsequently the rheologic characteristics on contact growth during LS will be investigated. The effects of particle size, laser power, and bed temperature were also investigated. / Ph. D.

The work presented in this thesis is devoted to the study of mechanism of tyre force generation and its influence on handling dynamics of ground vehicles. The main part of the work involves the development of tyre models for use under steady-state and transient operating conditions. The general capability of these models is assessedin a full vehicle simulation environment. The interaction between tyre and vehicle dynamics is critically evaluated and the observed vehicle behaviour is related to the inherent characteristics of different tyre models. In the field of steady-state tyre modelling, two versions of a numerical tyre model are developed. The modelling procedure is carried out in accordance with the viscoelastic properties of rubber, which influence the mechanical properties of the tyre structure and play a significant role in the determination of friction in the tyre contact patch. Whilst the initial simple version of the tyre model assumes a parabolic pressure distribution along the contact, a later more elaborate model employs a numerical method for the calculation of the actual normal pressure distribution. The changes in the pressure distribution as a result of variations in the rolling velocity and normal load influence mainly the levels of self-aligning moment, whilst the force characteristics remain practically unaffected. The adoption of a velocity dependent friction law explains the force generating behaviour of tyres at high sliding velocities. The analysis is extended to the area of transient tyre behaviour with the development of a tyre model appropriate for the study of transient friction force generation within the contact patch. The model incorporates viscoelasticity and inertial contributions, and incorporates a numerical stick-slip law. These characteristics are combined together for the successful simulation of transient friction force generation. The methodologies developed for the modelling of transient friction and steady-state tyre force generation are combined and further extended in order to create a generic transient tyre model. This final model incorporates a discretised flexible viscoelastic belt with inertia and a separate fully-dynamic discretised tread, also with inertia and damping, for the simulation of actual prevailing conditions in the contact patch. The generic tyre model appears to be capable of performing under a variety of operating conditions, including periodic excitations and transient inputs which extend to the non-linear range of tyre behaviour. For the evaluation of the influence of the aforementioned tyre models on the handling responses of a vehicle, a comprehensive vehicle model is developed, appropriate for use in handling simulations. The two versions of the steady-state models and the generic transient model are interfaced with the vehicle model, and the response of the vehicle to a step-steer manoeuvre is compared with that obtained using the Magic Formula tyre model. The comparison between the responses is facilitated by the definition of a new measure, defined as the non-dimensional yaw impulse. It is found that the transience involved in tyre behaviour may largely affect the response of a vehicle to a prescribed input.

Le secteur des transports représente 50% de la consommation mondiale en produits pétroliers. Une part significative de l'énergie est dissipée par le fonctionnement de la suspension et par la déformation du pneu. La texture de surface de chaussée et son interaction avec le pneu jouent un rôle certain dans cette dissipation d'énergie. Le travail présenté dans ce mémoire est consacré à la modélisation du contact entre un pneu et une chaussée en conditions de roulement dans le but d'évaluer la résistance au roulement. Le choc d'une sphère sur un demi-espace viscoélastique est d'abord étudié. Ensuite, le contact viscoélastique d'un objet roulant sur une surface lisse est modélisé avec une suspension attachant l'objet roulant à une masse qu'il supporte. Enfin, une méthode multipoint linéarisée est proposée pour l'étude du roulement sur une surface rugueuse sans suspension dans un premier temps, et avec suspension dans un second temps. La condition de roulement est introduite. Les surfaces rugueuses sont soit des surfaces composées d'aspérités sphériques, soit des surfaces de chaussées réelles. Les résultats numériques font apparaître une dissymétrie dans la distribution de pression de contact dans la direction du roulement. La force de résistance au roulement, définie comme le couple par rapport à l'axe de l'essieu divisé par le rayon de la roue, est calculée à partir de la distribution de pression. L'influence de différents paramètres sur cette force tels que la vitesse de roulement, la taille des aspérités ainsi que la raideur de la suspension est analysée / The transport accounts for about 50 percent of the fuel consumption. A significant proportion of energy is lost by the suspension and the deformation of the tyre. One of the important factors in the energy loss is the texture of the road and its interaction with the tyre. The present work deals with the numerical modelling of the contact between a tyre and a road in rolling conditions in order to evaluate the rolling resistance. First, the collision of a sphere and a viscoelastic halfspace is studied. Then the viscoelastic contact of a body rolling on an smooth surface is investigated with a suspension between a mass and the rolling body. Finally a linearised multipoint method is proposed for the study of the rolling contact on a rough surface first without suspension and then with a suspension. The rolling condition is introduced in the model. The rough surfaces are surfaces composed of spherical asperities or real road surfaces. Numerical results reveal an asymmetry in the distribution of the contact pressure in the rolling direction. The rolling resistance force, classically defined as the momentum opposing the rolling divided by the radius of the tyre, is calculated using the distribution of the contact pressure. The effects of different parameters on the rolling resistance force such as the rolling speed, the size of the asperities and the stiffness of the suspension are analysed