Cross-sectional Profile Research Articles

Influence of the dimple cross-sectional profile on the behavior of gas parallel slider bearings

This paper studies the effect of the dimple cross-sectional profile on the behavior of gas parallel slider bearings using the numerical method. The numerical method is performed in MATLAB software. The influence of geometrical parameters of dimples on the dimensionless average pressure is studied for different dimple cross-sectional profiles. The geometrical parameters of dimples include dimple depth, dimple area density, transversal textured ratio, and longitudinal textured ratio. It is found that the hydrodynamic lubrication of dimple-textured gas parallel slider bearings is controlled by the dimple depth, dimple area density, transversal textured ratio, longitudinal textured ratio, and dimple cross-sectional profile. Furthermore, the impact of sliding speed on the hydrodynamic lubrication is studied for different dimple cross-sectional profiles. The results indicate that the optimum sliding speed for maximizing the hydrodynamic pressure is controlled by the dimple cross-sectional profile.

Electrochemical Weakening Material Strength for Accelerated Thinning of Silicon Carbide Substrates

This paper presents a novel approach to expedite the thinning of silicon carbide (SiC) substrates, a crucial step in enhancing material performance and extending chip longevity by reducing volume resistivity. The traditional methods of SiC substrate thinning, such as diamond wheel grinding and plasma etching, have inherent limitations, including the risk of wafer breakage and high processing costs. In response to these challenges, we propose an innovative technique involving the electrochemical etching attenuation of SiC strength, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution.In this study, we employed an electrochemical method to initially weaken the SiC substrate from the surface to a defined depth, followed by fine-tuning its thickness using a conventional diamond grinding wheel. Remarkably, our results demonstrate that SiC substrates subjected to electrochemical treatment exhibit well-structured lattices free from residual stresses. This novel approach not only reduces the risk of wafer breakage but also enhances the material's integrity (Figure 1).To gain deeper insights into the effects of electrochemistry on SiC material strength, advanced characterization techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, were employed. Our findings reveal that the electrochemically treated SiC surface exhibits a sponge-like morphology, with a cross-sectional profile showcasing prominent columnar structures (Figure 2). This sponge-like structure is attributed to the removal of silicon atoms during anodization, affirming the effectiveness of electrochemical methods in rapidly attenuating the material strength of SiC substrates, thereby facilitating their efficient thinning through grinding without compromising substrate integrity.In summary, this research highlights the potential of electrochemical methodologies for the initial weakening of SiC substrates, leading to accelerated and cost-effective thinning processes. This breakthrough not only expedites SiC substrate thinning but also contributes significantly to the advancement of SiC substrate thinning and grinding techniques, promising substantial benefits for future semiconductor device fabrication. Figure 1

Predicting the wear on the non-working side of the rail profile registration method and its validation

Abstract Rail cross-section profile detection can assess the wear and tear of measured rails, providing crucial references for railway maintenance and upkeep. It is challenging to use the conventional method to register only the profile of rail head detection accurately. After the rail edge adjustment in some conventional railways, it becomes difficult to determine the base point of rail profile registration. Due to the wear of non-working edge of rail, a rail profile registration method is proposed. Firstly, a wear prediction model based on the generalized regression neural network is constructed by optimizing smoothing parameters through ten-fold cross-validation to achieve the optimal values. This model predicts the wear values on the non-working rail edge, providing reliable coordinates for two wear points as alignment reference points. Secondly, an initial alignment between the measured profile and the target profile is achieved using the nearest point iterative algorithm, which ensures that both profiles are in the same region and oriented similarly. Thirdly, the weight is assigned to the wear measurement points based on their respective wear values. The predicted positions of wear points are applied for calculating the translation and rotation parameters. These parameters could align the measured profile and facilitate the final profile alignment. Lastly, the experimental profiles under rail adjustment conditions were registered, verifying the accuracy of the proposed method. The research results indicate that under rail adjustment conditions, the mean squared error (MSE) between the calculated and actual values of lateral wear is 0.094 mm2, which is lower than the MSE from manual measurements. The calculated lateral wear value for experimental profiles achieved high alignment and calculation accuracy. This method can be applied in practical projects, providing an effective solution for rail head profile alignment and serving as a reference for profile alignment on the non-working rail edge with incomplete measurement data.

Exploratory factor analysis for machining error data of compressor blades based on dimensionality-reduced statistical analysis method

Abstract Various machining errors inevitably occur on aero-engine compressor blades, including leading-edge contour error, trailing-edge contour error, camber contour error, and more. The current complexity surrounding the numerous ma-chining error types and their obscure interrelationships imposes immense effort for aerodynamic analysis and hin-ders overall error control. Thus, elucidating error correlations to achieve error dimensionality reduction is imperative. This study pioneers a dimensionality reduction approach via factor analysis to conduct a comprehensive statistical analysis of 13 types of blade machining errors. The proposed technique can categorize the 13 errors into three groups, each dominated by a distinct common factor. To validate the accuracy of the extracted factors, the factor scores of the three identified latent factors are computed. Cluster analysis is then performed on the factor scores, and the clustering results are visualized by t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE). Furthermore, boot-strap resampling establishes the 95% confidence intervals for the factor scores. Capitalizing on the grouping struc-ture uncovered by factor analysis, multiple linear regression models are built for the errors within each group, and then, a preliminary conjecture is made about the potential key error types for each group of errors based on the re-gression coefficients. This hypothesis is then evidenced by the statistical analysis of cross-section profile error data of 28 blades. The present work can not only optimize machining processes but also relax tolerance requirements and diminish the effort of aerodynamic analysis.

Quality of life among borderline ovarian tumor survivors: A comparison with survivors of early-stage ovarian cancer and a cancer-free population: A cross-sectional population-based PROFILES study

ObjectiveThis study assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQo) of women surviving a borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) in comparison with early-stage ovarian cancer survivors treated surgically alone and with a matched cancer-free population. MethodsSurvivors of BOT and ovarian cancer were invited in two Dutch cross-sectional, population-based studies. Ovarian cancer survivors with tumor stage I who were treated surgically only were included. A random sample from the cancer-free population was matched on sex, age and education to the sample of BOT survivors. The EORTC QLQ-C30 (version 3.0) and the EORTC QLQ-OV28 were completed by the cancer-free population and the BOT and ovarian cancer survivors in study 1 and 2. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was only completed by the cancer-free population and the survivors of BOT and ovarian cancer in study 1. BOT survivors were compared to early-stage ovarian cancer survivors and the general population using linear regression analyses and effect sizes regarding clinical importance. Results83 BOT (42%), 88 early-stage ovarian cancer survivors (52%), and 82 women from the general population were included. In most HRQoL domains, BOT survivors were not significantly different from early-stage ovarian cancer survivors and the cancer-free population, except that BOT survivors reported significantly less insomnia than early-stage ovarian cancer survivors and more dyspnea than the cancer-free population (small clinical difference). ConclusionIn general, BOT survivors' HRQoL lies between the HRQoL of early-stage ovarian cancer survivors and of the cancer-free population, but clinical effect sizes between the groups were mostly only trivial.

Flexible roll forming of surface developable profiles from Dual Phase steel

Flexible Roll Forming (FRF) can roll-form variable cross-sectional profiles for Electric Vehicle (EV) production however, a major limitation exists due to flange wrinkling while forming high-strength steels. Flange wrinkling can be eliminated by reducing the required level of membrane deformation in the longitudinal direction. Although reducing the severity of the profile's transitions minimises the strains, the overall complexity of the parts is also lowered. Origami-based developable profiles can be created from curved creased folding without membrane stretching or compression. In FRF, such types of profiles can be formed by combining a variation in width and depth over the length of the part. This study presents, for the first time, the analyses of forming a developable shape in a FRF operation. Firstly, analytical equations are applied to calculate the strains and forming stability of each pass which is followed by experimental FRF trials on two high-strength Dual Phase steels. Finally, Finite Element Analysis is used to investigate the forming behaviour of the two types of developable profiles. The experimental results show that the forming of one type of developable profile improves the shape, while the numerical analyses showed that an additional top-hat forming is required for the second profile type.

Geomorphological and morphometric characterization of subglacial channels on Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada

Subglacial channels are morphologically and morphometrically distinct in comparison to fluvial channels, yet their identification from remote sensing data is still problematic. To contribute to the current set of criteria used to identify such channels, we performed a detailed analysis of two subglacial channel networks on Devon Island, Nunavut, Canada. In planform, these channels are isolated, finger-like networks that drain into a main stem and have distinct cross-sectional and longitudinal profiles. Cross-sections are flat-bottomed with steep walls and longitudinal profiles are convex and exhibit undulations, typical of pressurized water flow (i.e., subglacial flow). To facilitate remote sensing identification, we interrogated how well-known scaling relationships capturing hydraulics and mass balance dynamics of fluvial systems differ in subglacial channels. Scaling relationships typically used to discern connections between discharge and channel and catchment size in fluvial systems were applied to both networks, yielding trends distinct from the fluvial literature. We suggest that the weakly correlated relationship we found between channel discharge and the size of the drainage area indicates a discrete point or line source of water, such as a moulin or crevasse.

Application of melt pool profiles for parameter calibration of Goldak’s heat source model

Goldak’s ellipsoidal heat source model is widely accepted in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process simulations. The model is dependent on three inherent flux distribution parameters and absorptivity which need to be calibrated before application. However, the uniqueness of the calibrated heat source parameters has not been established, which is crucial to accurately represent the energy density distribution in numerical studies. This paper proposed a novel parametric optimization method that can uniquely calibrate these four heat source parameters with high accuracy. Both the simulated cross-sectional (CS) profile and the mid-front (MF) profile of the melt pool were used during calibration. The differences between the experimental and simulated profiles formed the objective function of the parametric optimization problem, which was calculated by using the least power norm method on the deviations between melt pool boundary curves. A genetic algorithm (GA) with elitism selection approach was employed to optimize the heat source parameters by minimizing this single objective function value. To theoretically verify the applicability of the method, two theoretical case studies involving two distinct sets of heat source parameters were carried out. A unique solution of Goldak’s heat source parameters with less than 2 % error can be achieved within 50 generations of the optimization process. A single-track experiment was conducted to demonstrate the application of the proposed method in a real scenario. The CS and MF melt pool profiles were extracted and the calibration procedure was applied. The profiles from simulation with the calibrated heat source parameters exhibited a good agreement with experimental results. The calibrated parameters were used to simulate multi-track printing on a single layer for validation of the proposed method. The CS melt pool profiles obtained from the multi-track simulation and multi-track experiment agreed well, which validated the accuracy of the proposed calibration method and its utility in obtaining the key Goldak heat source parameters for LPBF simulation.

Individual quantification of ozone and reactive nitrogen species in mixtures by broadband UV–visible absorption spectra deconvolution

Ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play critical roles in atmospheric-pressure plasma applications. Although it is crucial to individually quantify these species to understand atmospheric-pressure plasmas and increase their effectiveness, the lack of reliable and cost-effective diagnostics makes this difficult for many researchers. To address this problem, we introduce a new deconvolution method of broadband ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra for the simultaneous measurement of eight species—O3, NO, NO2, NO3, N2O4, N2O5, HONO, and HNO3. Processing of broadband spectra enables deconvolution of similar cross-section profiles and measurement of high densities exceeding the instrumental limit. Novel correction processes enable accurate analysis despite incomplete cross-section data and utilize a priori chemical knowledge to ensure theoretically reasonable results. Two case studies test the efficacy of the method: NO2 and N2O4 equilibria, and reactive species produced by a surface dielectric barrier discharge. With an analysis time of 15–20 ms per spectrum, the measured densities agree well with other theoretical and experimental results, and detection limits on the order of ppmv were achieved with a short path length of 15 cm. This spectral analysis method will facilitate the real-time monitoring of O3, NO x , and RNS in many scientific research and industrial applications of atmospheric pressure plasmas.

UAV Mapping for Flood Routing in Steep and Densely Vegetated Areas: Insights from the Contok River Basin, Garang Watershed, Indonesia

This research utilizes photogrammetry to assess flood routing dynamics in the Contok river basin, a sub-watershed with a challenging landscape characterized by steep slopes, dense vegetation, and meandering patterns. The objectives are to assess Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping accuracy, evaluate the river's capacity for design flood volumes, quantify the impact of land cover changes on surface runoff, and provide insights for early warning systems and watershed conservation strategies. The study area, encompassing the Contok River Basin, a sub-watershed of the Garang Watershed, covers 7,413 km² and includes a stream length of 5,274 meters in Semarang City, Central Java, Indonesia. This research employed image processing of aerial photographs and satellite imagery. Aerial photos captured using UAV data were utilized to derive elevation data and cross-sectional profiles of the Contok River, essential for understanding channel morphology and hydraulic characteristics. Concurrently, satellite imagery was used for land cover analysis, identifying vegetation and built-up areas that influence surface runoff dynamics. Hydrological analysis was performed to quantify discharge magnitudes, simulated against river cross-sections to evaluate flood behavior under varying scenarios. Our proposed UAV mapping provides adequate accuracy for small and local areas. Furthermore, it remains reliable for flood routing analysis. We discovered that the capacity of the Contok River channel in the downstream area allows it to convey design flood discharges up to a 50-year return period, contrary to the upstream area, it overflows. Notably, the shift from vegetated to built-up and agricultural areas significantly contributes to the 10.6% increase in surface runoff. This research highlights the role of UAV-based photogrammetry in assessing and mitigating flood hazards amidst evolving land cover patterns. It also enhances the understanding of flood dynamics and thus provides insights that will serve as a reference for flood early warning systems, flood management practices, and watershed conservation.

Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport Modeling at Lower Citarum and Cibeet River Confluence West Java

Flooding and changes in riverbed morphology often become issues near river confluences, as observed at the confluence of Citarum Hilir and Cibeet Rivers. This study aims to analyze the cross-sectional capacity and riverbed changes around the confluence of Citarum Hilir and Cibeet Rivers. This study utilizes 1D numerical modeling MIKE 11 with Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport Modules. The hydrodynamic modeling inputs are river network and cross-sectional profiles. Hydrographs with return periods of 2, 5, 10, and 25 years are used as upstream boundaries, and a discharge curve is used as the downstream boundary of the model. The model is calibrated using water surface elevation measurements taken from September 13-16, 2021. The hydrodynamic modeling results indicate that Citarum Hilir and Cibeet Rivers cannot convey flood discharges with a 2-year return period. The sediment transport modeling results show no significant changes in the riverbed of Citarum Hilir before the confluence, but degradation of approximately 0.38 – 0.46 meters occurs after the confluence. Degradation happens in zones of maximum velocity where flow turbulence and shear stress increase, causing erosion of the Citarum Hilir riverbed. Degradation also occurs near the Cibeet River confluence due to flow acceleration at the outer bend of the river. Flooding and sediment transport are natural factors that can alter the morphology of river confluences, such as the confluence of Citarum Hilir and Cibeet Rivers.Keywords: Citarum river, Cibeet river, river confluence, hydrodinamic modeling, sedimen transport modeling

Megaripple stripes in the Qaidam Basin, China: Morphology, grain size and sedimentary characteristics

Megaripple stripes (MRS) are enigmatic aeolian bedform patterns which are composed of crosswind alternating, wind-parallel megaripple corridors (MRCs) and smaller bedform corridors (SBCs). Compared to SBCs, MRCs have taller bedforms, longer wavelengths, and coarser surface sediments. However, their morphology, grain size, and internal structure are poorly understood. Numerous MRS have been identified in the central-southern edge of the Qaidam Basin. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images and 3D cloud point data were used to explore the morphological properties of MRS, and sediment samples were collected for grain size analysis. The sedimentary characteristics were analyzed through sections of MRC, transition zone between MRC and SBC, and SBC. The results show that the downwind and crosswind wavelengths of MRCs, along with the downwind wavelength of SBCs, decrease in the downwind direction. Conversely, the crosswind wavelength of SBCs displays an increasing trend. The crestline of MRS becomes progressively curved along the downwind direction. The average wavelength of MRCs is 8.51 m, with a height of 0.46 m. The average wavelength and height of SBCs are 1.69 m and 0.07 m, respectively. SBCs are smaller and more densely distributed than MRCs. Most values of the Ripple Index (RI) of MRS clustered between 11 and 60. MRCs exhibit a relatively symmetrical cross-sectional profile, while SBCs exhibit comparatively poor symmetry. MRCs are mainly composed of gravel and very fine sand, with accounting for 63.67 % of content in total. In SBCs, the prevalent grain sizes are very coarse sand and fine sand, accounting for 48.42 % of content in total. MRS display poor sorting, presenting a predominantly positive skewness and wide to very wide peaks. The thickness and inclination of laminae in middle layer 1 gradually decrease from MRCs to SBCs. The sedimentary structure of MRS provides insights into the grain migration in downwind and crosswind directions during their formation.

Inkjet-printed waveguide-coupled passive wedge-shaped microdisk resonator with refractive index tunability

We incorporate a passive wedge-shaped organic microdisk supporting spatially separated whispering gallery modes into an SU-8 photonic integrated circuit (PIC) by using direct inkjet printing. This innovative method allows the mixing of multiple organic materials, enabling tunability of the refractive index of microdisks, thereby overcoming limitations of single-material resonators from conventional lithography. In this study, the microdisk resonator, with a refractive index matching that of SU-8 by mixing hyperbranched polymers, is mounted horizontally to an optical waveguide, achieving directional coupling between the microdisk and PIC at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Geometrical conditions for successful coupling were obtained by measuring the cross-sectional profile of the fabricated structure’s surface via atomic force microscopy, determining ways to adjust the coupling efficiency.

Silver-promoted ceramic conversion treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy and its mechanical performance

In this paper, the Ti6Al4V alloy surface was modified via ceramic conversion treatment (CCT) with or without a pre-deposited silver layer. After characterizing the surface morphologies, microstructure and phase constituents of the ceramic oxide layer formed at 620 °C, we investigated the surface hardness and the cross-sectional nano-hardness profile under the oxide layer. The static load-bearing capacity of the oxide layers was examined by applying discrete loads via a Vickers indenter and observing the indentations. A scratch test was used to evaluate the load-bearing capacity and the adhesion/cohesion of the oxide layers. The wettability of the surface changed due to the incorporation of silver and the change of surface morphology. Reciprocating friction and wear test was used to assess the tribological properties. Small and dispersed silver nanoparticles and clusters were found in the oxide layer of the Ag pre-deposited Ti6Al4V samples, and they had much better tribological properties in terms of reduced coefficient of friction and wear volume. With the assistance of silver, the efficiency of the CCT was significantly improved.

Manufacture and structural performance of modular hybrid FRP–timber thin-walled beams

Developed to fulfil the rising societal demand for sustainable constructions, Modular Hybrid Fibre-reinforced polymer-Timber (MHFT) thin-walled sections are lightweight timber-based composite structures manufactured through a modular assembly method. Motivated by prior research on MHFT columns characterized by efficient load-carrying capacity, this paper conducted a thorough investigation into the manufacture and structural performance of MHFT beams. Experimental, analytical and numerical studies were conducted for beams subjected to four-point bending load, with parametric analyses of four distinct beam types to investigate design parameter influence on flexural performance. The experimental study demonstrated the structural efficacy of MHFT beams, as evidenced by increased moment of inertia and enhanced resistance to edge split failures, as compared to previously studied folded HFT beams. MHFT beams also exhibited a comparable strength-to-weight ratio compared to their structural steel counterparts. Both numerical and analytical methods provided acceptable predictions for flexural strength and material failure modes of MHFT beams, with strength predictions varying by less than 22% compared to experimental averages. The numerical method reliably predicted flexural stiffness and load–displacement responses, with discrepancies within 12%. The parametric analyses further revealed that the thickness of glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) layers and cross-sectional geometric profile were most strongly influenced beam parameters. Specifically, the use of 3-layer GFRP material resulted in a strength increase of over 17% and a stiffness increase of over 19% compared to 1-layer material, effectively mitigating the occurrence of local buckling and edge split failures.

Selective Cu growth on fine structures using a Cu-iodide precursor

Selective Cu deposition by CVD using copper(I)-iodide (CuI) as the precursor is applied on 0.5 μm- and 1.0 μm-pitch Cu-lines/SiO2 -spaces (L/S) at 370 °C. A confocal laser microscope suggests that the Cu is selectively deposited on the Cu line, not on the space. The average Cu height provided by the cross-sectional profile across the 1.0 μm-pitch L/S, which is linearly increased with total CuI supply, evaluates that the dissociation efficiency of CuI is about 23%. Surface scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy clearly show the selective deposition of Cu, but surface roughness on the deposited Cu is increases with the Cu-height. The feature of surface roughness is discussed on the coalescent Cu line at the deposition temperature and the rate-limiting step in the CVD. The selective Cu deposition is also performed on 0.5 μm-pitch L/S, in which the deposition rate is similar but the surface is rougher than on the 1.0 μm-wide line.

Study on velocity profile of gas–liquid two-phase stratified flow in pipelines based on transfer component analysis-back propagation neural network

The measurement of cross-sectional velocity profile is a challenge in the field of two-phase flow. In this paper, the stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) technique is employed to obtain the cross-sectional velocity profile of gas and liquid phase in stratified flow. Interface velocity profile is obtained through numerical simulation. By leveraging the concept of transfer learning, we propose to construct a transfer component analysis-back propagation network using stereo particle image velocimetry and numerical simulation and to predict the velocity profile of the gas–liquid interface in stratified flow. The research indicates that the cross-sectional velocity profile of the gas–liquid stratified flow is similar to the “mushroom” shape. The velocity profile of the gas–liquid interface changes from an M-type to the N-type, and the gas–liquid velocity slip affects the transformation process. With the increase in the gas-phase velocity, the distance between the two peaks of the M-type velocity profile increases and the gap between gas–liquid velocity peaks increases accordingly.

Electron beam profile measurement using enhanced dual-techniques in high heat flux test facility at Institute for Plasma Research.

During operation of an ITER-like plasma fusion device, Plasma Facing Components (PFCs) of a divertor are subjected to steady-state and transient heat loads of up to 20 MW/m2. At High Heat Flux Test Facility (HHFTF) at Institute for Plasma Research, PFCs are subjected to such heat flux scenarios using 200 kW electron beam (EB). A heat flux distribution on PFCs is significantly influenced by the EB profile and scanning technique. A novel dual-technique approach is used to measure EB cross-sectional profiles in HHFTF. A single setup is designed, fabricated, and installed in HHFTF consisting of (1) the knife-edge technique involving graphite and tungsten rectangular tiles bonded on a copper block adjacent to each other to form a sharp edge and (2) the wire scanner technique wherein tungsten wires are placed at equal distances. Current collected by the setup is measured as EB is rastered across the wire and tile boundaries. Current measured as a function of EB position is used to calculate the EB profile using a customized LabVIEW software application. Experiments are conducted by varying EB power from 28 to 200 kW and correspondingly the full width at half maximum of the EB profile grows from 5.30 to 16.04mm, as observed by both these techniques. The COMSOL Multiphysics simulation of the wire scanner technique is performed to verify the experimental results. X-ray and infra-red imaging diagnostics of HHFTF are also used to measure the EB profile in a unique and first-of-its-kind way, and they are found to agree well with the dual-technique measurements.

Evaluating the role of the perforation cross-section profile on the gas exchange through microperforated packages

Evaluating the role of the perforation cross-section profile on the gas exchange through microperforated packages

Research on the significance of coupling effects of multiple process parameters in 3D printing based on orthogonal experimental method

Abstract For the semi-cylindrical model, orthogonal experiments and range analysis methods are used to explore the effects of four process parameters, namely layer thickness, printing speed, nozzle temperature, and bottom plate temperature, on the cross-sectional profile error and height error of FDM type 3D printing. This paper summarizes the optimal process plan for various errors and the significance of their impact, providing a certain reference for the coupling mechanism and significance research of process parameters.