A conformação em torno elétrico é um dos métodos utilizados na fabricação de peças cerâmicas, principalmente utilitários e decorações. Porém nem todas as massas cerâmicas possuem plasticidade adequada para serem torneadas. A porcelana fosfática é um desses exemplos devido à composição de 50 % de cinza de ossos bovinos, 25 % de caulim e 25 % de feldspato. Uma massa de porcelana comercial de alta temperatura, branca e com boa plasticidade foi a referência de massa propícia para se trabalhar no torno elétrico e foi feito a caracterização desse material como distribuição granulométrica, picnometria a gás, composição química por fluorescência de raio X (FRX) e difração de raio X (DRX). Os mesmos métodos de caracterização foram feitos na porcelana fosfática. O limite de Atterberg foi utilizado como técnica para medir os teores de água das massas e a reometria por squeeze flow foi o método de análise para diferenciar massas cerâmicas plásticas e não-plásticas. Testes no torno elétrico foram feitos para concluir sobre melhoria na plasticidade da porcelana fosfática através da adição de aditivo como bentonita e polímero à base de éter celulose (MHEC). Adição de 4 % de bentonita na porcelana fosfática aumentou o índice de plasticidade de Atterberg em cerca de 100 % e as curvas de squeeze flow ficaram próximos das curvas do material de referência, apresentando assim plasticidade suficiente para fabricar peças no torno elétrico. / Throwing on electric wheel is one of techniques used to forming ceramic wares as tableware and decorative. However, ceramic body needs to have enough plasticity for hands working on throwing wheel. The phosphatic porcelain composition is 50 % of bone ash, 25 % of kaolin and 25 % of feldspar and generally has low plasticity. A commercial porcelain for throwing on the electric wheel was used as default and compared with the phosphatic porcelain. Raw material characterization as particle size distribution analysis, gas pycnometry, chemical composition by x-ray fluorescence (XRF), zeta potential and x-ray diffraction (XRD) was doing to compare both porcelains. Atterberg limits were used to measure moisture content of ceramic body and rheometry was evaluated by squeeze flow technique to determine the viscosity difference between porcelain and phosphatic porcelain. Test on the throwing wheel were made to verify plasticity improvement by addition of bentonite or a polymer based on ether cellulose (MHEC). The 4 % of bentonite addition increased about 100 % the Atterberg limit and the consequent change in the squeeze flow curves demonstrate to be similar with reference and with enough plasticity to throwing on the electric wheel. Keyword: Phosphatic porcelain. Plasticity. Throwing wheel. Bentonite. Squeeze flow.

A conformação em torno elétrico é um dos métodos utilizados na fabricação de peças cerâmicas, principalmente utilitários e decorações. Porém nem todas as massas cerâmicas possuem plasticidade adequada para serem torneadas. A porcelana fosfática é um desses exemplos devido à composição de 50 % de cinza de ossos bovinos, 25 % de caulim e 25 % de feldspato. Uma massa de porcelana comercial de alta temperatura, branca e com boa plasticidade foi a referência de massa propícia para se trabalhar no torno elétrico e foi feito a caracterização desse material como distribuição granulométrica, picnometria a gás, composição química por fluorescência de raio X (FRX) e difração de raio X (DRX). Os mesmos métodos de caracterização foram feitos na porcelana fosfática. O limite de Atterberg foi utilizado como técnica para medir os teores de água das massas e a reometria por squeeze flow foi o método de análise para diferenciar massas cerâmicas plásticas e não-plásticas. Testes no torno elétrico foram feitos para concluir sobre melhoria na plasticidade da porcelana fosfática através da adição de aditivo como bentonita e polímero à base de éter celulose (MHEC). Adição de 4 % de bentonita na porcelana fosfática aumentou o índice de plasticidade de Atterberg em cerca de 100 % e as curvas de squeeze flow ficaram próximos das curvas do material de referência, apresentando assim plasticidade suficiente para fabricar peças no torno elétrico. / Throwing on electric wheel is one of techniques used to forming ceramic wares as tableware and decorative. However, ceramic body needs to have enough plasticity for hands working on throwing wheel. The phosphatic porcelain composition is 50 % of bone ash, 25 % of kaolin and 25 % of feldspar and generally has low plasticity. A commercial porcelain for throwing on the electric wheel was used as default and compared with the phosphatic porcelain. Raw material characterization as particle size distribution analysis, gas pycnometry, chemical composition by x-ray fluorescence (XRF), zeta potential and x-ray diffraction (XRD) was doing to compare both porcelains. Atterberg limits were used to measure moisture content of ceramic body and rheometry was evaluated by squeeze flow technique to determine the viscosity difference between porcelain and phosphatic porcelain. Test on the throwing wheel were made to verify plasticity improvement by addition of bentonite or a polymer based on ether cellulose (MHEC). The 4 % of bentonite addition increased about 100 % the Atterberg limit and the consequent change in the squeeze flow curves demonstrate to be similar with reference and with enough plasticity to throwing on the electric wheel. Keyword: Phosphatic porcelain. Plasticity. Throwing wheel. Bentonite. Squeeze flow.

Composites have been developed with great success by the use of fiber reinforcements in metallic materials. Fiber reinforced metal matrices possess great potential to be the next generation of advanced composites offering many advantages compared to fiber reinforced polymers. Specific advantages include high temperature capability, superior environmental stability, better transverse modulus, shear and fatigue properties. Although many Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) are attractive for use in different industrial applications, Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) are the most used in advanced applications because they combine acceptable strength, low density, durability, machinability, availability, effectiveness and cost. The present study focuses on the fabrication of aluminium matrix composite plates by squeeze casting using plain weave carbon fiber preform (AS4 Hexcel) as reinforcement and a matrix of wrought aluminium alloy 1235-H19. The objective is to investigate the process feasibility and resulting materials properties such as hardness at macro- and micro-scale, impact and bend strength. The properties obtained are compared with those of 6061/1235-H19 aluminium plates that were manufactured under the same fabrication conditions. The effect of fiber volume fraction on the properties is also investigated. Furthermore, the characterization of the microstructure is done using Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in order to establish relationships between the quality of the fiber/aluminium interface bond and mechanical properties of the composites. In conclusion, aluminium matrix composite laminate plates were successfully produced. The composites show a good chemical bond between the fiber and the aluminium matrix. This bond resulted from heterogeneous precipitation of aluminium carbides (Al4C3) at the interface between aluminium matrix and carbon fiber. The hardness at macro- and micro-scale of the composites increases by over 50% and the flexural modulus increases by about 55%. The toughness of the composite decreases due to the presence of brittle phases which can be improved by better oxidation prevention. Also, an optimal carbon volume fraction was observed that provides optimal properties including peak hardness, peak stiffness and peak toughness.

Tests are performed on a flexure-pivot-pad tilting-pad bearing with a series integral squeeze film damper in load-between-pads configuration, with both active and locked damper. The damper effects are negated when locked, resulting in a flexure-pivot-pad bearing only. Experimental tests provide static performance data and dynamic stiffnesses from which rotordynamic coefficients are extracted. The following two excitation schemes are implemented: (1) multi-frequency, single direction excitation and (2) single-frequency, rotating load excitation (or "circular excitation"). The XLTRC2 Rotordynamics Software Suite provides stiffness and damping coefficient, eccentricity, and power loss predictions for the locked damper bearing. Test conditions include the rotor-speed range of 4000-12000 rpm and the unit-load range of 0-862 kPa (0-125 psi). Dynamic tests utilizing the multi-frequency excitation for the locked and active damper bearing configurations both show that the real portion of the dynamic stiffness is well modeled by a quadratic curve fit, and the imaginary portion representing the damping is a linear function of excitation frequency. This means that frequency independent coefficients can be obtained when an added mass term is included. While stiffness coefficients are lower for the active damper bearing, damping coefficients remain almost constant between the locked and active damper configurations. A simulation shows that, although the damping coefficients do not change significantly, the reduced stiffness provided by the damper results in greater effective damping. Static performance tests for the locked and active damper bearing indicate low cross-coupling, as shown by the eccentricity and low attitude angle measurements. Pad metal temperature measurements show a smaller temperature differential along the pad arcs for the active damper bearing, than observed for the locked damper case. Frictional power loss is estimated based on lubricant temperature rise and does not differ significantly for the two bearing configurations.

Squeeze Film Dampers (SFDs) are employed in high-speed Turbomachinery, particularly aircraft jet engines, to provide external damping. Despite numerous successful applications, it is widely acknowledged that the theoretical models used for SFD design are either overly simplified or incapable of taking into account all the features such as cavitation, air entrainment etc., affecting the performance of a SFD. On the other hand, experimental investigation of flow field and dynamic performance of SFDs can be expensive and time consuming. The current work simulates the flow field inside the dynamically deforming annular gap of a SFD using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Fluent and compares the results to the experimental data of San Andrés and Delgado. The dynamic mesh capability of Fluent and a User Defined Function (UDF) was used to replicate the deforming gap and motion of the rotor respectively. Two dimensional simulations were first performed with different combinations of rotor whirl speed, operating pressures and with and without incorporating the cavitation model. The fluid used in the simulations was ISO VG 2 Mobil Velocite no. 3. After the successful use of the cavitation model in the 2D case, a 3D model with the same dimensions as the experimental setup was built and meshed. The simulations were run for a whirl speed of 50 Hz and an orbit amplitude of 74 μm with no through flow and an inlet pressure of 31kPa (gauge). The resulting pressures at the mid-span of the SFD land were obtained. They closely agreed with those obtained experimentally by San Andrés and Delgado.

This study proposes a navel method for continuously particle sorting utilizing cascade squeeze jumping effect under microfluidic configuration. Microparticles with different sizes can be successfully separated at different stages of squeezing sheath flow. The method is based on that particles can not flow stably within a flow stream with the smaller stream width than their sizes. Big particles will jump from their original flow stream into the wider neighboring sheath flow. In this study, we have successfully designed and fabricated two kinds of particles/cells sorters using MEMS (Micro-electro-mechanical Systems) technology. The proposed microchip device includes a multi-stage sheath flow particles/cells sorter and an improved design of a cascade squeezed flow scheme. In the study, theoretical formulations, computer simulations and experimental operations are used to analyze the flow field in the microchip and evaluate the sorting performance of the devices. Results show the good sorting performance with cell recovery rate of 87.7% and yield rate of 94.1% can be obtained using the proposed micro particles/cells sorter. Furthermore, it is also important to continiously prepare reagents for in-column bio-chemical reactions. Therefore, this study presents a sheath-flow based microfluidic device for concentration fraction delivery of liquid samples. The simple and novel structure proposed in this study is able to prepare reagent with different concentration and is also easy to be integrated with other multifunctional microfluidic device. In order to demonstrate the feasibility and performance of the proposed concentration fraction delivery device, this study designs an integrated microchip device for in-line preparation of lysin reagent for cell lysis and an integrated T-form microfluidic mixer for demonstration of RBC lysis in the same microchip. Reagents for cell lysis are firstly prepared by the concentration faction delivery part of the chip. The prepared reagent is mixed with RBC sample downstream in the reaction channel using the T-form mixer. Results show a high RBC lysing rate of upto 100% in 10 mm downstream the T-junction can be achieved utilizing the proposed chip. In this study, we have successfully demonstrated three kinds of microfluidic device including a micro particles/cells sorter, a concentration fraction delivery device and a cell lysis reactor. Numerical analysis and experimental investigation confirm the proposed concepts and performance of the microfluidic devices. The contributions of the study are highly potential for developing a low-cost bioreactor system in the

Weighted polynomial regression of degree d with weight function Exp(£\ x) on an interval is considered. The D-optimal designs £i_d^* are completely characterized via three differential equations. Some invariant properties of £i_d^* under affine transformation are derived. The design £i_d^* as d goes to 1, is shown to converge weakly to the arcsin distribution. Comparisons of £i_d^* with the arcsin distribution are also made.

The aim of this study was to produce partially reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite components by insertion casting technique and to determine the effects of silicon content, fiber vol% and infiltration temperature on the mechanical properties of inserts, which were the local reinforcement parts of the components. Silicon content of alloys was selected as 7 wt% and 10 wt%. The reinforcement material, i.e. Saffil fiber preforms, had three different fiber vol% of 20, 25 and 30 vol% respectively. The infiltration temperatures of composite specimens were fixed as 750 &deg / C and 800 &deg / C. In the first part of the thesis, physical and mechanical properties of composite specimens were determined according to the parameters of silicon content of the matrix alloy, infiltration temperature and vol% of the reinforcement phase. X-ray diffraction examination of fibers resulted as the fibers mainly composed of deltaalumina fibers and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that fibers had planar isotropic condition for infiltration. Microstructural examination of composite specimens showed that appropriate fiber/matrix interface was created together with small amount of micro-porosities. Bending tests of the composites showed that as fiber vol% increases flexural strength of the composite increases. The highest strength obtained was 880.52 MPa from AlSi10Mg0.8 matrix alloy reinforced with 30 vol% Saffil fibers and infiltrated at 750 &deg / C. Hardness values were also increased by addition of Saffil fibers and the highest value was obtained as 191 HB from vertical to the fiber orientation of AlSi10Mg0.8 matrix alloy reinforced with 30 vol% Saffil fibers. Density measurement revealed that microporosities existed in the microstructure and the highest difference between the theoretical values and experimental values were observed in the composites of 30 vol% Saffil fiber reinforced ones for both AlSi7Mg0.8 and AlSi10Mg0.8 matrix alloys. In the second part of the experiments, insertion casting operation was performed. At casting temperature of 750 &deg / C, a good interface/component interface was obtained. Image analyses were also showed that there had been no significant fiber damage between the insert and the component.

Abstract ¡@¡@The motion when two parting in machine into contact can combine squeeze and sliding motion. This situation does occur for example in the meshing of gear teeth and in heavily loaded rolling elements bearing etc. In this study, the experiment is used to investigate the microscopic mechanism of the oil film under the combined squeeze and sliding motion. ¡@¡@The laser optical system is employed in the starting friction tester to measure the film thickness accurately by the principle of optical interferometry. High-speed video camera with the microscope records the dynamic characteristics of lubrication in the diminutive contact region. ¡@¡@Results show that the dimple becomes deeper with increasing squeeze velocity. When sliding velocity increases, the duration of dimple becomes shorter, but when the squeeze load increases, the dimple can keep longer. Furthermore, the dimple diameter increases with increasing the curvature radius of steel ball at the same experiment condition.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein neuer mikromechanischer Drehratensensor nach dem Stimmgabelprinzip vorgestellt. Die mechanische Sensorstruktur wird mit Hilfe der Bulkmikromechanik hergestellt und arbeitet nach dem elektrostatischen Wirkprinzip. Um große Amplituden zu erreichen, werden mechanische Koppelschwingungen ausgenutzt. In der Arbeit wird allgemein auf Entwurfsprozeß, Modellierung und Simulation mikromechanischer Strukturen eingegangen. Es wird die gemeinsame Lösung gekoppelter Felder mit Hilfe der Netzwerkmethode (PSpice) und die partitionierte Lösung mittels Online-Simulatorkopplung (ANSYS–PSpice) vorgestellt. Ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Arbeit ist die Untersuchung der viskosen Luftdämpfung mikromechanischer Elemente mit engen Bewegungsspalten. Es werden verschiedene Möglichkeiten der vereinfachten Berechnung gezeigt.