Mechanical Components Research Articles

Integrated Approaches Revealed the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Zuojin Pill Against Gastric Mucosa Injury in a Rat Model with Chronic Atrophic Gastritis.

The Zuojin Pill (ZJP) is widely used for treating chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in clinical practice, effectively ameliorating symptoms such as vomiting, pain, and abdominal distension in patients. However, the underlying mechanisms of ZJP in treating CAG has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to clarify the characteristic function of ZJP in the treatment of CAG and its potential mechanism. The CAG model was established by alternant administrations of ammonia solution and sodium deoxycholate, as well as an irregular diet. Therapeutic effects of ZJP on body weight, serum biochemical indexes and general condition were analyzed. HE staining and AB-PAS staining were analyzed to characterize the mucosal injury and the thickness of gastric mucosa. Furthermore, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict the regulatory mechanism and main active components of ZJP in CAG treatment. RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to measure the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, gastric mucosal barrier-associated proteins and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway proteins. The results demonstrated that ZJP significantly improved the general state of CAG rats, alleviated weight loss and gastric histological damage and reduced the serum biochemical indicators. Network pharmacology and molecular docking found that ZJP in treating CAG by inhibiting inflammation, suppressing apoptosis, and protecting the gastric mucosal barrier via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Further experiments confirmed that ZJP obviously modulated the expression of key proteins involved in gastric mucosal cell apoptosis, such as Bax, Bad, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, Cytochrome C, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xl. Moreover, ZJP significantly reversed the protein expression of Occludin, ZO-1, Claudin-4 and E-cadherin. Our study revealed that ZJP treats CAG by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This research provided a scientific basis for the rational use of ZJP in clinical practice.

The oxymoron of damage assessment in dynamics by static approach

The evaluation of fatigue damage of structural components within dynamic systems subjected to random loads is typically addressed using multibody models wherein one or more components are modeled as flexible using the modal approach. While incorporating flexible elements allows for consideration of their influence on the overall dynamic behavior of the system, certain components are intentionally designed to function as rigid bodies. Consequently, in this case the incorporation of flexible elements within multibody models merely leads to complex and time-consuming analysis. Hence, it would be more pragmatic to realize rigid body multibody models, with components characterized solely by their inertial properties, and subsequently extract the dynamic forces applied to the components to be verified. The assessment of stress can then be carried out by exploiting the principle of superposition of effects in the time domain. In this context, the objective of the present study is to develop this methodology in the frequency domain. This approach not only capitalizes on the simplicity of rigid multibody models but also harnesses the computational capabilities of the frequency-domain method for evaluating fatigue damage in components subjected to random loading conditions. This work, therefore, provides a rapid, effective, and robust method for verifying and designing rigid mechanical components integrated into dynamic systems subjected to random loads.

Smart design of a high-performance seat frame for a luxury car

The design of mechanical components in recent years has been experiencing a series of innovative processes which, in addition to the classic methodologies, also support topological and structural optimization considering the product life cycle (LCA). These innovative aspects make it possible to reduce the weight of the components and the impact on the environment, both during production and during operation. The purpose of this work is to create a tool for the “intelligent design” of automotive components through optimization algorithms called “Smart Design”. The final intent is to create a multidisciplinary methodology for mechanical design that combines topological optimization techniques and product life cycle analysis. The single studies, from the creation of the CAD and the finite element analysis, up to the topological optimization and the LCA analysis, are managed by a single code generated in the Matlab® environment. The work is carried out in collaboration with Ferrari S.p.a.

Inhibition and potentiation of the mechanoreflex following pharmacological modulation of TRPC6 in male rats

We determined the role played by the transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) in evoking the mechanical component of the exercise pressor reflex in male decerebrated Sprague-Dawley rats. Quadruple-labelled immunohistochemistry were used in dorsal root ganglion cells to identify the cells that innervate the triceps surae muscles (DiI), the cells that express TRPC6 and the cells that are (Nf200) or are not myelinated (peripherin) (n=4). In addition, static contraction of triceps surae muscles was evoked by electrically stimulating the left tibial nerve before and after injecting into the superficial epigastric artery the TRPC6 antagonists, BI-749327 (n = 11; 12μg.kg−1) or SAR7334 (n = 11; 7μg.kg−1), or the TRPC6 positive modulator, C20 (n = 11; 18μg.kg−1). Similar experiments were conducted while the triceps surae muscles were passively stretched (n = 8 to 12), a maneuver that isolates the mechanical component of the reflex. Blood pressure, tension, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and blood flow were recorded throughout the experiments. The neurons innervating the triceps-surae muscles were positive to TRPC6 antigen and co-expressed the neurofilament 200kDa. These cells were not positive for peripherin. While the TRPC6 blockers decreased the pressor response to static contraction (-32 to -42%; P < 0.05) and passive stretch (-35 to 52%; P < 0.05), the positive modulator increased both of these responses (55 to 65%; P < 0.05). In addition, BI-749327 decreased the peak and integrated RSNA responses to both static contraction (-39 to -43%; P < 0.05) and passive stretch (-56 to -62%; P < 0.05) whereas C20 increased these responses to stretch only (55 to 235%; P < 0.05). All of these results were not replicated when the drugs were injected intravenously or when the vehicle of the drug was injected into the superficial epigastric artery. Collectively, our results showed that TRPC6 play a key role in evoking the mechanical component of the exercise pressor reflex in male rats. Supported by NIH grants HL 161160, HL 156594 and HL 156513. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Aerodynamic Modeling and Design Optimization of a Variable-Camber Piezocomposite Rotor

Multirotor vehicles typically use either complex mechanisms to vary blade pitch angle or speed control to vary thrust and torque to attain stability and maneuverability. Alternatively, thrust and torque can be varied by morphing the blades without the use of complex mechanisms and without varying the rotor speed. This method could be faster to change thrust, more efficient, and it may require fewer mechanical components. This paper presents an experimentally validated aerodynamic model with an empirical static-aeroelastic correction to predict the thrust and torque coefficient of a mechanism-free rotor with Macro-Fiber Composite actuators. A variable-camber piezocomposite rotor prototype is experimentally tested on a static-thrust setup. The experiment is used to identify the so-called unknown coefficients of the model (e.g., related to the shape of the blade induced by the piezoelectric device) and to identify a correction to account for flow-induced deformations. Using the identified model, several parametric analyses are conducted to predict thrust and torque coefficients as a function of rotor speed and the electrical excitation of the piezocomposite actuators. In addition, the model is used for design optimization, leading to several optimal designs based on a limited parameter space. Three different objective functions are used: maximizing thrust, minimizing torque, and maximizing thrust-to-torque ratio. The operational aerodynamic characteristics of these designs are also presented.

Research on the optimization of tribological performance of wind power lubricating grease based on carbon emission

The manufacturing, installation, operation and dismantling of wind turbines can also have environmental impacts such as excessive carbon emissions and consume large amounts of resources. Optimisation of the tribological properties of wind power greases can reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of wind power systems, improve their operational efficiency and reliability, thereby slowing down climate change and improving environmental quality, which is not only important for individual wind power projects, but also has a positive impact on reducing carbon emissions, promoting clean energy development and combating climate change on a global scale. However, the higher the grease lubrication performance, the lower the wind turbine failure rate and the lower the carbon emissions. Good tribological properties can significantly reduce the coefficient of friction of mechanical components, reducing surface wear and heat generation, helping to extend the life of mechanical equipment, improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary repairs and replacements. Therefore, in this paper, Mobil SHC 461WT lithium composite grease was mixed with molybdenum dialkyl dithiocarbamate (RFM3000), nano-boronated rare-earth friction modifiers (SK3115), polysiloxane viscosity modifier (PV611), and zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP), and the comparative analysis of their tribological performances was carried out through the method of cross-experimentation. The results showed that the average coefficient of friction of Mobil added with the four antiwear additives was reduced by 74 %, 41 %, 54 % and 48 %, respectively, and the average diameter of wear spots was reduced by 64 %, 63 %, 69 % and 54 %.

Experimental investigation and numerical study on evolution of surface roughness caused by ultrasonic shot peening of 2024 aluminum alloy sheet

Ultrasonic shot peening (USP) is widely used for materials surface strengthening and metal sheet forming as a novel mechanical surface treatment technology. The USP-caused surface roughness is usually viewed as an unfavorable factor influencing the service performance of the mechanical components treated by USP. Taking advantages of the experimental investigation, analytical calculation and finite element simulation, the correlation between the USP-caused surface roughness and the USP-induced metal sheet forming deformation is studied comprehensively. Firstly, the USP intensity was experimentally tested by USP of Almen strips. In accordance with the USP intensity, the experimental investigations on the evolutions of surface roughness caused by USP of 2024 aluminum alloy sheets with the thicknesses of 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm were carried out, respectively. An analytical calculation model (ACM) was then proposed to account for the effects of the USP-induced metal sheet forming deformation on the USP-caused surface roughness. The analytically-calculated results are in good agreement with the experimentally-measured surface roughness caused by USP of 2024 aluminum alloy sheets. Lastly, linking the finite element simulation of the USP-induced metal sheet forming with the analytical calculation model, an innovative FEM-ACM coupling approach was presented for predicting the evolutions of surface roughness caused by USP of metal sheets. It has been experimentally validated with USP of 2024 aluminum alloy sheets, and would be of great significance for the development and industrial application of USP technology.

Taguchi analysis on finite element results to identify the most influential parameters on stresses after impact-damage

Impact-damage can reduce the fatigue life of mechanical components as a consequence of premature crack growth due to the occurrence of high residual stresses. In this work, finite element analyses were conducted to evaluate the residual stresses in a 7075-T6 aluminium hourglass specimen for various impact cases. The Taguchi method was applied to the finite element results to identify which parameters most influence the residual stresses in the specimen. The outcomes showed that the impact speed is the most influential factor for axial stresses, followed by the material and the size of the impacting object. The factor that most affects the von Mises stresses is the object size followed by its material and the impact speed.

Optimization of reliability and sensitivity analysis for flange structures

The study delves into the reliability-driven optimization design of the flanges, drawing from reliability design theory, advanced optimization methodologies, and comprehensive sensitivity analysis. Flanges, integral to mechanical systems, demand precise design. Reliability design theory emphasizes consistent operation under diverse conditions. A novel approach to the flange-specific reliability sensitivity analysis method is central to this research. It promises to revolutionize flange design. By understanding the first two moments of core random parameters, we expedite reliability-driven optimization designs for mechanical connections. The programs enhance our approach, streamlining the pursuit of reliability-driven designs and providing rapid, accurate sensitivity analysis data for mechanical connections. This data offers critical insights into parameter influence, enabling targeted design adjustments. In summary, this research represents a significant advancement in mechanical engineering. By integrating reliability design theory with cutting-edge methodologies, it promises to enhance the quality and reliability of mechanical connections, meeting the rigorous demands of contemporary engineering applications. This holistic approach will play a pivotal role in the future of mechanical component design.

Pipe Inspection Robot

Abstract: A pipe inspection robot is device that is inserted into pipes to check for obstruction or damage. These robots are traditionally manufactured offshore, are extremely expensive, and are often not adequately supported in the event or malfunction. This had resulted in associated environmental services limited. A New Zealand utilize of this equipment, facing significant periods of down time as they wait for their robots to be the repaired. Recently, they were informing that several robots were no longer supported. This project was conceived to redesign the electronics control systems one of these PIR, utilizing the existing mechanical platform. Requirements for the robot were that it must operate reliably in confined, dark and wet environments and provides a human wear with a digital video feed of the internal status of the pipes. There robot should as much as possible incorporate off the shaft components, cheap, and potentially onsite repair. This project details the redesign and constructions of such robots. Its employees their electronic boards integrated with mechanical components and provides video feedback via custom graphical interface although at the prototypes state the electronics has been successful with cost of less than a length of the original robot purchase prize

RESULTS OF ROBOTIC ASSISTED VS CONVENTIONAL TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY AT 1 YR FOLLOW UP

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a prevalent condition among older individuals, causing significant discomfort and impairments in quality of life. Conventional total knee arthroplasty (COTKA) is a common treatment, but issues such as inadequate soft tissue balance and prosthesis misalignment can impact outcomes. Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RATKA) has emerged as a potential solution, offering enhanced precision in prosthesis placement. While observational studies suggest benefits, comprehensive reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking. This study aims to fill this gap by evaluating the clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes of RATKA compared to COTKA in adult patients with primary knee OA. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a specialized orthopedic center, involving patients diagnosed with symptomatic knee OA eligible for total knee replacement (TKR). Patients were allocated to either conventional TKR (Group A) or robotic-assisted TKR (Group B). Outcome measures included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), patient satisfaction, and quality of life assessments. Radiological outcomes were assessed using standardized radiographs. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, group comparisons, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Baseline characteristics showed similar distributions between Group A (n=30) and Group B (n=30). Clinical outcomes demonstrated significant improvements over time in both groups, with Group B consistently outperforming Group A across all measures. Notably, Group B exhibited lower pain scores (VAS), higher functional scores (KSS), lower disability scores (WOMAC), higher patient satisfaction, and better quality of life assessments. Radiological outcomes also favored Group B, with improved mechanical axis deviation and component positioning. Conclusion: Robotic-assisted TKR demonstrated superior clinical, functional, and radiological outcomes compared to conventional TKR in patients with knee OA. These findings support the growing body of evidence favoring the use of robotic technology in TKR procedures, particularly for optimizing implant placement and alignment. Future research should focus on cost-effectiveness and long-term outcomes to further inform clinical practice and enhance patient care.

Development and Working Test of Microcontroller-based Automatic Seedling Tools for Hydroponic Systems

The purpose of this study is to design a tool that is able to monitor moisture and light automatically and knowing the performance of lettuce seeding tools that are able to monitor moisture and light automatically, this research is descriptive research using the type of Research and Development (R &; D) research with the Waterfall method. The variables controlled are light and moisture using soil moisture sensors and grow light. The automatic seedling tool modification process consists of 3 stages including making mechanical components, electronic comments, and functional checking and product testing. The data obtained from the sensor readings will be displayed through the LCD screen on the control box. The results showed that the seedling tool can monitor moisture when the moisture is below 60%, the pump will be on and when the moisture is above 60%, the pump will be off, and the light produced with grow light will turn on at 06.00 to 18.00 pm every day. Researchers recommend adding moisture to every shelf, growing lights or LED sensor lights, and fans for further research based on their findings. As a consideration and reference resource addressing the current science on the manufacture and performance test of seedling tools that are able to monitor moisture and light automatically. incorporating the most recent ideas and information on creating and evaluating seedling equipment with automatic light and moisture monitoring. It is anticipated that this researcher will serve as a seeding industry reference.

Development of a Ferrofluid-Based Attitude Control Actuator for Verification on the ISS

Ferrofluid-based systems provide an opportunity for increasing the durability and reliability of systems, where mechanical parts are prone to wear and tear. Conventional reaction control systems are based on mechanically mounted rotating disks. Due to inherent friction, they suffer from degradation, which may eventually lead to failure. This problem is further intensified due to the limited possibility for repair and maintenance. Ferrofluid-based systems aim to replace mechanical components by exploiting ferrofluidic suspended motion. Ferrofluids consist of magnetic nanoparticles suspended in a carrier fluid and can be manipulated by external magnetic fields. This paper describes the working principle, design, and integration of a working prototype of a ferrofluid-based attitude control system (ACS), called Ferrowheel. It is based on a stator of a brushless DC motor in combination with a rotor on a ferrofluidic bearing. The prototype will be verified in a microgravity environment on the International Space Station, as part of the Überflieger 2 student competition of the German Aerospace Center. First ground tests deliver positive results and confirm the practicability of such a system.

Test blanket modules piping systems calculation method according to RCC-MRx code

The ITER Test Blanket Modules (TBMs) are installed and operated inside the vacuum vessel (VV) at equatorial ports located within port plugs (PP). The Pipe Forest (PF) is a network of pipes connecting the Ancillary Equipment Unit (AEU) to the TBMs. Depending of the TBM, the Pipe Forest includes various piping system such as Water Coolant (350°, 188 bars), Helium Coolant (500°, 100 bars) Lithium Lead and Tritium Extraction System. During operating states, the Pipe Forest main function is to withstand loads in normal, incidental and accidental situations according to RCC-MRx code criteria (including design rules for mechanical components for fusion installations). It includes severe thermomechanical loadings due to the thermal expansion added to seismic and vertical displacements events. In addition, the PF layout must satisfy constructability in constraint environments and maximize the space available for man access, which constitutes a real challenge for design.Since no existing RCC-MRx post-processing tool exists off the shelves, a specific methodology for pipe stress analysis is being developed by ITER, CEA and ASSYSTEM. This methodology starts with a post-processing calculation tool of stresses and reaction forces for looping back into the structural calculation. Moreover, a specific extraction module from 3D model to processing tool allows the conversion of CAD data to calculation entry files. Finally, a feedback loop is also re-integrated into the core CAD model through an import module, enabling the tracking of displacements and evaluate the impact of incorporating pipe movements into the analysis.This paper describes the pipe stress analysis methodology and its application for Pipe Forest system design life cycle. It covers the historical evolution of the routing including introduction of expansion loops. More recently, it incorporates the integrated calculation of the entire port cell, spanning from the back of the TBM sets, up to the connection pipes of the vertical shaft.

Image Recognition System for Mechanical Parts Based on SSD and YOLOv5

With the development of industrial automation, the importance of mechanical parts in the production process is becoming increasingly important. In recent years, deep learning technology has made breakthrough progress in fields such as image recognition and object detection. Deep learning models can learn a large amount of data through multiple epochs, automatically extract features from it, and achieve image recognition and object detection. This provides potent technical assistance for the design of mechanical component recognition systems. In industrial production, there are a wide variety of mechanical parts with complex shapes, and the differences between different models are often very small, making it difficult to identify them manually. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a system that can automatically identify mechanical parts to improve production efficiency and quality. This article takes mechanical parts as the research object and studies the recognition technology of mechanical parts based on deep learning and image recognition. The main content of the article includes the following aspects. Research was conducted on image quality enhancement methods for images with different characteristics, and different image preprocessing methods were applied to different images. YOLOv5 and SSD (Single Shot MultiBox Detector) algorithms are used to perform deep learning and recognition detection on the processed images, respectively. By comprehensively comparing the differences between the two algorithms, YOLOv5 was selected as the focus of this design, and based on this, deep training was conducted, and the code was imported into the embedded system.

Evaluating the lifetime distribution parameters and reliability of products using successive approximation method

AbstractThe Weibull distribution is an extensively used statistical model for analyzing the reliability of mechanical and electrical components. Due to the complexity of the nonlinear equations and the scarcity of failure data, the common method may not provide satisfactory results of the reliability. In this case, a new approach for Weibull parameter estimation and reliability analysis, based on successive approximation schemes, is presented. The shape and scale parameters are estimated by maximizing the likelihood functions, and the location parameter is obtained by constructing an approximate correction model between it and the failure data. In order to show the performance of the proposed method, an extensive Monte‐Carlo simulation study is conducted. Simulation results show that the proposed method provides better estimates and efficient confidence intervals for Weibull parameters. In addition, the proposed method works well in presence of small sample sizes. Finally, two real examples are analyzed to illustrate the application of the proposed method.

A color 3D reconstruction method for waste mechanical parts based on improved SGM

In order to improve the remanufacturing efficiency of scrap mechanical parts and comprehensively detect their surface fault status, this paper proposes a color three-dimensional reconstruction method of scrap mechanical parts based on an improved semi-global matching (SGM) algorithm. In experiments, this method demonstrated significant performance advantages in dealing with complex mechanical component structures and large illumination interference environments. Experimental results show that the three-dimensional color model reconstructed by this method has clear texture and small dimensional error, and is suitable for online analysis of surface fault information of scrap mechanical parts in actual production lines. Through quantitative analysis, compared with the traditional SGM method, the method in this paper improves the structural similarity index (SSIM) by an average of 19.8% and reduces the mean square error (MSE) by an average of 33.1%.

The Use of Generative Design Methods to Reduce the Parameters of an Actuator Used in the Positioning System of a Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) Device

This paper presents the results of a computer optimising a multibody system using Generative Design methods to select a lower-cost actuator that meets process requirements with its parameters. Optimisation was performed to reduce the mass of the motion apparatus components of the author’s CPM device, used for the rehabilitation of patients after knee arthroscopy and total or partial knee replacement. An analysis of the kinematics and dynamics of the multibody mechanism, based on a virtual model, was carried out to identify the requirements for selecting an actuator. The main components of the motion apparatus mechanism were subjected to a series of numerical analyses using selected CAD/CAE tools, with the assumed criterion of varying material and component shapes to ensure that the required strength and accuracy of the mechanism links were maintained, assuming the same functionality. The results of the numerical analyses will be the basis for the selection of the optimum solution, for which a new, lower-cost actuator will be selected.

Comparison of microstructure, damping capacity, and mechanical properties of cast and deformation processed Fe17Mn alloys

There were few works on cast FeMn damping alloys although many studies have been conducted on deformation processed (DP) counterparts. In this study, we investigated the differences in damping and mechanical properties of as-cast and as-DP Fe17Mn alloys and the effect of solution treatment at 1050℃ (ST) on their properties. The as-cast Fe17Mn alloy demonstrated a higher damping capacity but lower strength than the as-DP Fe17Mn counterpart. As much as 18 % of the BCC phase was distributed as dendrite in the Mn-depleted region of the as-cast Fe17Mn alloy. The DP Fe17Mn alloy inherited some BCC phase with less than 1 % content formed during the casting. The ST further improved the damping capacity and plasticity but decreased the strength in both the cast and DP Fe17Mn alloys. After the ST, the cast Fe17Mn alloy also showed good mechanical properties, with tensile strength up to 645 MPa and fracture up to 40 %. Our results shed light on the potential application of cast Fe17Mn alloy in mechanical components.

Design and implementation of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for image capture in enterprise farming

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also known as drone is one of the most interesting emerging technologies with a wide range of applications including agriculture, surveillance, security, search and rescue, mapping, farmland surveying, and wildlife conservation, among others. In Nigeria, UAV is gaining popularity in applications such as in social functions for taking both moving and static pictures, military and security, mapping and agriculture. In this work, an UAV was designed, some components produced by 3D printing, coupled and tested with certain level of local content in view. The UAV is a quadcopter equipped with a camera for real-time image capture of farmlands and it can perform autonomous missions by using global positioning system (GPS) waypoints. The weight of the quadcopter was approximately calculated and hence the electrical and mechanical components selected using a standard empirical design table. The thrust to weight ratio was set at 2:1. Autodesk Maya and Inventor software were used to design the frame in two parts: the frame arms on which the propellers are mounted and the central connecting part that links the four arms. The arms are made up of aluminum square pipes while the central connecting part for the arms was printed with a 3D printer (200 x 200 x 200 Wanhao duplicator i3) using PolyEthylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) Filament material of 1.75mm standard gauge. Material selection was based on material strength, cost and availability. NCH Debut video and image capture software was used to record live feeds from the UAV onboard camera. Functionality tests for lift, stability, yaw, roll, pitch, loiter, auto landing, return to launch, flight time, altitude/signal, auto mission using GPS waypoints were carried out with the completed UAV on a less windy day to avoid the influence of wind. It was generally observed that the UAV successfully took off the ground, gained stability, flew to over 100m height, captured aerial photographs of the land below it while on flight at the required height and landed safely. Cost saving advantage of 45.28% was achieved when compared to imported equivalent types.