Material Selection Optimization Research Articles

Biochar Texture—A Parameter Influencing Physicochemical Properties, Morphology, and Agronomical Potential

Biochar represents a stable form of carbon-rich organic material produced by the pyrolysis of various biomass residues. It has the potential to stabilize organic carbon in the soil and improve soil fertility, water retention, and enhance plant growth. Despite its potential, there is limited information on the mutual relation of biochar texture with its physicochemical characteristics, morphology, and the content of organic matter. For these reasons, we studied three biochar samples with potential use in agriculture as soil supplements (NovoCarbo, Sonnenerde, Biouhel.cz). Our experimental approach performed on the individual sieved fraction of studied biochars (<0.5; 0.5–2.0; 2.0–4.0 and >4.0 mm) confirmed the importance of a selection of optimal source biomass material as the content of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, together with the conditions of pyrolysis (temperature of pyrolysis), play a crucial role in the managing of the properties of produced biochar. Agronomically more stable biochars containing a higher content of organic matter and organic carbon, with alkaline pH response and well-developed aromatic porous structure, could be produced from lignin-based biomass residues at higher pyrolysis temperatures, which is an important finding taking into account the possible utilization of biochar in soils as a soil conditioner.

Optimal Material Selection for Manufacturing Prosthetic Foot

The foot is an essential part of the components of the prosthesis. Therefore, the selected materials’ mechanical properties, cost, and weight must be considered when manufacturing the prosthetic foot. This study studied the mechanical properties of selected materials used for prosthetic feet. The material chosen is Carbon Fiber, Glass fiber, and hybrid composite material. This study aims to simulate chosen materials to find the optimal material selection for manufacturing prosthetic feet by assuming boundary conditions, reaction forces, design consideration, and application. The simulation was done by the finite element analysis ANSYS-14.5 program. The result of the force plate test shows the ground reaction force equal to 750N at heel strike,700N at mid-stance, and 650N at the toe-off stage. The finite element result shows the maximum Von-Misses stress equal to 119MPa at the toe-off stage, and the hybrid composite material has the maximum safety factor. Furthermore, the results showed that the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite materials are the best, as the yield stress is 560MPa, the ultimate stress is 678MPa, and the modulus of elasticity is 6.2GPa. The result shows that the Hybrid composite material has excellent improvement in mechanical properties such as lightweight, stiffness, high mechanical properties, and cost-efficiency. Hence by considering the body weight of the amputee, gait cycle, and analyzing the material properties, the hybrid composite material is the best suitable should be selected to manufacture foot prostheses.

A study on the optimal selection of similar materials for the physical simulation experiment based on rock mineral components

The physical model test can effectively solve the problems of great difficulty and the high cost of the field test. Similarity theory is an essential basis for model test design. Accurate and rapid selection, proportioning, and production of similar materials are of great significance in accurately simulating the project site's rock stratum geological situation. However, the existing preparation methods of similar materials have great blindness and a low success rate. Considering the critical influence of mineral composition on the physical and mechanical properties of rock, aiming at preparing rock sample materials in TBM tunneling simulation under high ground stress, this paper takes Sichuan white sandstone as the specific research object. We use mineral composition to guide similar materials' mix design and preparation. It is found that similar materials with the required geometric similarity ratio can be obtained by adjusting the water-cement ratio and cement content under the condition that the mineral composition is basically the same. The similar material sample of Sichuan white sandstone with a given geometric similarity ratio (a(a＞1.5)) can be designed with cement content (C) as C = 150a-1 and water cement ratio (Wrt) as Wrt = 0.072a + 0.108. We believe this method can also provide a reference for preparing similar materials for other rocks.

Experimental and numerical study on rapid inflation process of air-launched balloon

The rapid inflation process is the most important stage in the whole working process of rapid deployment of aerostat. However, it is difficult to reveal its mechanical mechanism by existing experimental and numerical methods and reasonably explain the damage and helium leakage during the inflation process. An air-launched balloon for rapid deployment was designed and manufactured, and the related ground steady inflation experiment was carried out in this work. Then, the rapid inflation process of the folded balloon was studied by using the Simplified Arbitrary Lagrangian- Eulerian (SALE) method. Here, the folded balloon model was obtained by the reverse folding method. The structure and flow field were described by Lagrangian elements, and the coupling between them was obtained by a contact algorithm. The numerical results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The numerical method in this work could obtain abundant information on the structure and flow field which couldn’t be obtained by the experimental method. The change law of structure and flow field was obtained and the failure mechanism in the destructive experiment was explained. The numerical method proposed in this work could provide a reference for the material selection, gas source selection and structure optimization of the rapid deployment aerostat system.

Development of Models for Optimal Selection of Materials for Design of an Oil Palm Fruit Digester using Desirability and Utility Functions

Development of Models for Optimal Selection of Materials for Design of an Oil Palm Fruit Digester using Desirability and Utility Functions

Understanding Material Selection Challenges in Geothermal Well and Systematic Qualification Approach

Geothermal wells are usually operated under High Temperature High Pressure (HTHP) conditions where corrosion is the major threat to the well integrity. As a result, high operation cost and production time loss due to a short life span of steel casing reported in less than two years. This paper describes a study of the casing problems and failures observed in geothermal wells and a possible approach to optimize material selection and qualification of geothermal wellhead system materials.

Recycling Potential Comparison of Mass Timber Constructions and Concrete Buildings: A Case Study in China

The recycling potential (RP) indicates the ability of building materials to form a closed-loop material flow, that is, the material efficiency during its whole life cycle. Mass timber constructions and concrete buildings vary widely in RP, but the differences are difficult to calculate. This paper proposed a level-based scheme to compare the RP of mass timber and concrete buildings, and a BIM-Eco2soft-MS Excel workflow coupling Material Cycle Database and digital design tools were established to obtain information on building materials, resource consumption, and environmental impact for the RP calculation. Taking a residential building as an example, the difference in RP between mass timber and concrete at the material-level is firstly discussed. Then at the component-level, the RP of the wood structure component and concrete component is compared, and the optimization methods are proposed. Finally, the difference in RP between the mass timber building and reinforced concrete building at the building-level are illustrated. The results show that the RP of mass timber building is higher, and the disassembly ability is better. Within a 100-year service life, the RP of mass timber buildings is 73% and that of the reinforced concrete building is 34%. The total amount of material consumption and waste of the Variant CLT is 837,030 kg and 267,237 kg respectively, which is less than one-third of that of concrete buildings (3,458,488 kg; 958,145 kg). The Global Warming potential (GWP) of these two variants is −174.0 kgCO2/m2 and 221.0 kgCO2/m2 separately, indicating that the Variant CLT can realize negative carbon emissions and gain ecological benefits. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to explore the potential impacts of certain parameters on GWP and RP of buildings. The research can provide the reference for material selection, component design, and RP optimization of mass timber buildings. In addition, new ideas for assessing the potential of circularity as a design tool are proposed to support the transition towards a circular construction industry and to realize carbon neutrality.

Effect of ionic liquid on formation of copolyimide ultrafiltration membranes with improved rejection of La3+

Ultrafiltration (UF) as a widely used industrial separation method with optimal selection of membrane materials can be applied to extract rare earth metals from dilute solutions formed during the processing of electronic waste by hydrometallurgical methods. In the present work, promising UF copolyimide membranes were prepared using [hmim][TCB] ionic liquid (IL) co-solvent which can be considered as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional solvents. The membranes were characterized by ATR-FTIR, TGA, SEM and quantum chemical calculations. A significant difference in morphology of these membranes was revealed by SEM of membrane cross-sections; the P84 membrane has finger-like structure of porous substrate in contrast to spongy structure of substrate for the P84/IL membrane due to a higher dynamic viscosity of the casting solution. The transport parameters were determined in ultrafiltration tests with pure water and an aqueous solution of bovine serum albumin. The addition of ionic liquid to the P84 casting solution increases the performance of the membrane. The rejection capacity was evaluated with respect to La3+ in the form of a lanthanum alizarin complex (LAC) in aqueous acetone solution. The P84 membrane prepared using IL showed a high rejection (98.5%) with respect to LAC, as well as a significant productivity.

Multidisciplinary Optimization for Weight Saving in a Variable Tapered Span-Morphing Wing Using Composite Materials—Application to the UAS-S4

This paper is a follow-up to earlier work on applying multidisciplinary numerical optimization to develop a morphing variable span of a tapered wing (MVSTW) to reduce its weight by using composite materials. This study creates a numerical environment of multidisciplinary optimization by integrating material selection, structural sizing, and topological optimization following aerodynamic optimization results with the aim to assess whether morphing wing optimization is feasible. This sophisticated technology is suggested for developing MVSTWs. As a first step, a problem-specific optimization approach is described for specifying the weight-saving structure of wing components using composite materials. The optimization was performed using several approaches; for example, aerodynamic optimization was performed with CFD and XFLR5 codes, the material selection was conducted using MATLAB code, and sizing and topology optimization was carried out using Altair’s OptiStruct and SolidThinking Inspire solvers. The goal of this research is to achieve the MVSTW’s structural rigidity standards by minimizing wing components’ weight while maximizing stiffness. According to the results of this optimization, the weight of the MVSTW was reduced significantly to 5.5 kg in comparison to the original UAS-S4 wing weight of 6.5kg. The optimization and Finite Element Method results also indicate that the developedmorphing variable span of a tapered wing can complete specified flight missions perfectly and without any mechanical breakdown.

Optimal material selection based on finite element method for manufacturing hip implant

Abstract The objective of this study is to simulate material selection for fabricating hip joint prostheses from light-weight, low-cost materials which are also strong and durable. In this study, Co-Cr alloy CoCrWNi (F90), stainless steel ASIS 410, and titanium alloys (Ti6Al4V) material selection as the potential candidate for the suggested implant to manufacture a joint that is characterized by lightweight, low cost, does not react chemically with the human body and can bear the weight of the patient without mechanical failure. With this study, it was concluded the stainless steel ASIS 410 was selected as the best material selection since it passed engineering analysis, acceptable weight, and low cost compared to other proposed materials.

An MOORA and WASPAS Methods Application for Optimal Material Selection from Aluminum Graphene Nano Platelets Composites

Improved features include a high strength-to-weight ratio and good wear resistance, and so on, aluminium MMCs are favoured over other traditional materials in aerospace, automotive, and marine applications. Mechanical, electrical, electronic, and thermal properties of graphene make it an excellent metal composite reinforcement material. Stir casting, powder metallurgy, and other techniques were used to strengthen pure aluminium Graphene nano-platelets in a base matrix (pure Al) with various weight percentages to form aluminium metal matrix composites. The mechanical properties of the aluminium matrix are greatly improved by the uniform distribution of Graphene Nano platelets .

In-situ CLSM characterization of deformation and fracture behavior of (Cu, Cr) metal thin films on flexible substrates

Magnetron sputter deposited Cu thin films on an insulating polymer substrate such as polyimide are frequently used as flexible printed circuits. Understanding the tensile behavior of films deposited on polymer substrates is critical to optimize them for applications requiring flexibility. In this study, single layer copper, chromium (Cu, Cr) films, and Cu/Cr bilayer films were deposited on flexible polyimide substrates by magnetron sputtering. The mechanical behavior of these systems was investigated under tensile loading using the advanced in situ confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) technique. The results demonstrate that the buckled shapes, crack density and crack spacing are closely related to the film material and film thickness. The Cr interlayer greatly influences the cracking behavior of the overlying ductile Cu film. Moreover, the in situ tensile experiments indicate that the crack density of the film is obviously related to the loading rate. The findings in this work provide a qualitative guidance for the material selection and structural optimization of metal-based single layer and bilayer flexible electronics.

Dental resin composites: A review on materials to product realizations

Dental resin composites have revolutionized dental care and enabled minimally invasive dentistry to preserve healthy tooth structure and provide natural-appearing esthetic results; these materials are now good alternatives to metal and amalgam restorations. Nevertheless, dental composites are being further developed to enhance their long-term clinical performance and longevity. With a complete understanding of the various material characteristics and design strategies of dental composite systems, frontiers of dental restoration research can aim towards creating novel materials that can produce very similar properties, functionalities, and internal structures as hard dental tissues. In this review article, the authors present an overview of the synthesis of the advanced dental composite systems with the recent research and development fields over the last 5 years. This review also explores how to control and optimize the required properties of the composites, ideally to increase the longevity/durability of restorations preventing recurrent caries. Research studies and commercial products are introduced to forecast the demands and trends of resin-based dental composites, in order to assist clinicians and researchers in optimal selection of materials to fulfill mechanical, physical, biological, and functional requirements.

Optimal Material Selection for Polymer–Polymer Prosthetic Implants by Tribological Criteria

Optimal Material Selection for Polymer–Polymer Prosthetic Implants by Tribological Criteria

Observation and rationalization of nitrogen oxidation enabled only by coupled plasma and catalyst

Heterogeneous catalysts coupled with non-thermal plasmas (NTP) are known to achieve reaction yields that exceed the contributions of the individual components. Rationalization of the enhancing potential of catalysts, however, remains challenging because the background contributions from NTP or catalysts are often non-negligible. Here, we first demonstrate platinum (Pt)-catalyzed nitrogen (N2) oxidation in a radio frequency plasma afterglow at conditions at which neither catalyst nor plasma alone produces significant concentrations of nitric oxide (NO). We then develop reactor models based on reduced NTP- and surface-microkinetic mechanisms to identify the features of each that lead to the synergy between NTP and Pt. At experimental conditions, NTP and thermal catalytic NO production are suppressed by radical reactions and high N2 dissociation barrier, respectively. Pt catalyzes NTP-generated radicals and vibrationally excited molecules to produce NO. The model construction further illustrates that the optimization of productivity and energy efficiency involves tuning of plasma species, catalysts properties, and the reactor configurations to couple plasma and catalysts. These results provide unambiguous evidence of synergism between plasma and catalyst, the origins of that synergy for N2 oxidation, and a modeling approach to guide material selection and system optimization.

Optimal thermochemical material selection for a hybrid thermal energy storage system for low temperature applications using multi criteria optimization technique

Thermochemical energy storage is one of the viable solutions for the increasing energy demand because of its high energy density and less heat loss during the storage phase comparing to the other methods. The selection of proper thermochemical material (TCM) is then become important in this type of thermal energy storage. This paper describes the use of Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques to select the optimum thermochemical material from the alternatives to be used for low temperature (<150 °C) energy storage. The best thermochemical material is selected using different MCDM techniques like simple additive method, weighted product model, Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution, Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution, Multi-Objective Optimization on The Basis of Ratio Analysis, Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation, and VIKOR. The criteria weights for optimization are evaluated by different methods such as mean weight method, standard deviation method, analytic hierarchy process, Entropy method, criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation and Compromised weight method. In all MCDM-Weighting method combinations MgCl2·6H2O ranked first (optimum material) and Na2S·9H2O ranked last. The ranking obtained from various MCDM-weighting method combination are compared with each other using average Spearman rank correlation coefficient and found that Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS), Multi-Objective Optimization on The Basis of Ratio Analysis (MOORA), Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE II) and VIKOR with AHP weighting method have the highest correlation coefficient (rs = 0.9857) and CRITIC-VIKOR method (rs = 0.5143) has the lowest correlation coefficient.

Integral methodology of materials and dimensional optimization adapted to product design

This paper describes the development of an integral methodology for the material selection and dimensional optimization adapted to product design. The methodology proposes the use of genetic algorithms in order to approach the optimization of materials and dimensions in multi-material structures. Three innovative aspects are included in this methodology: pre-treatment of the material data and its clustering, definition of objectives and post-processing of the results obtained on the possible solutions in order to select the best one according to additional opinions imposed by the designer. The methodology has been implemented on a specific case study: the base of an elevator cab. In order to achieve this goal, a parametric model of the structure was built and several load cases were included. With these models, an optimization problem was created, subjected to goals and restrictions. The results obtained show the validity of the methodology proposed

Оптимальный выбор материалов для полимерполимерных эндопротезов по трибологическим критериям

Оптимальный выбор материалов для полимерполимерных эндопротезов по трибологическим критериям

Design of shear thickening fluid/polyurethane foam skeleton sandwich composite based on non-Newtonian fluid solid interaction under low-velocity impact

The shear thickening fluid (STF) with unique rheology is generally combined with polyurethane (PU) skeleton to manufacture flexible sandwich composites which is widely applied in impact resistence field. In this work, experiments and numerical simulations were comparatively analyzed to investigate the non-Newtonian fluid–solid interaction (NFSI) between STF and PU skeleton during low-velocity impact. Optimization of materials selection is proposed to achieve a higher impact resistance performance. It has been found that the synchronous gradient thickening and flow of STF facilitate the load-bearing and stress diffusion performance. In contrast to Newtonian fluids, the internal STF displays both shear resistence of high-viscosity fluid and easy flow characteristic of low-viscosity fluid, creating areas of low stress in composites and improve the impact resistance performance. The fluid-optimized STF-2 sandwich composite exhibits an up to 154.7% lower peak load and 118.82% higher energy absorption. In terms of the skeleton, a lower modulus of PU foam is conductive to a stronger NFSI, which facilitates the energy exchange between STF and skeleton and further improve the impact resistance performance. As a result, the skeleton-optimized composite containing PU-1 exhibits a 20.10% lower peak load and 17.41% higher energy absorption. The NFSI mechanism and material selection optimization between non-Newtonian fluid and large deformation materials proposed in this work provide an analysis idea and design method for flexible buffering composites.

Study of quality criteria for two-phase iron-based composite coatings formed by plasma spraying

The increasing relevance in the field of repair and restoration of machines and mechanisms is acquiring gas-thermal methods of applying functional coatings to the working surfaces of parts of machine assemblies. The purpose of gas-thermal coating methods is to provide and obtain special physical and mechanical properties of the surface of the part, as well as to restore worn-out components and mechanisms after their long-term and intensive operation. Plasma spraying of composite coatings is an effective method of gas-thermal treatment of the surface of a part. In this paper, a study was conducted on the optimal selection of material for plasma spraying of a part, taking into account its operational features and types of wear of working surfaces. In particular, the operating conditions of the screw of the conveying conveyor are analyzed. The technological features of the application of composite materials by plasma spraying technology are considered. The theoretical selection of a two-phase dispersed-filled composite for application to the working surfaces of the screw in order to restore and harden it has been carried out. Studies and analysis of one of the main indicators of the quality of the formed coating after plasma spraying – the magnitude of the resulting residual stresses (stretching and compression) have been carried out. Taking as a basis the kinematic modes and geometry features of the working surfaces of the screw, as well as the criteria for the formation of the thickness of the sprayed layer, the calculation equations for determining the residual stresses arising on the screw and cylindrical surfaces of the screw of the conveying conveyor are obtained. It is concluded that in order to achieve the required physical and mechanical properties of the coating, the volume fraction of the filler in the matrix of the PG-SR4 composite powder should be in the range of 20–25%. Therefore, it is possible to use in practice a particulate-filled composite of the NiСrВSiFе type with 20–25% reinforcing TiC filler particles in order to restore parts of machines and mechanisms.