Ultrasonic Vibration-assisted Research Articles

Coupling CPFE-CA simulation for grain refinement in ultrasonic elliptical vibration diamond cutting of polycrystalline Cu

While microstructure evolution is commonly observed in severe plastic deformation of polycrystalline metals, modulating the cutting-induced grain refinement in subsurface of polycrystalline metals is promising for promoting the performance of machined surface. In this study, we demonstrate the effectiveness of applying ultrasonic vibration assistance (UVA) in effectively prompting grain refinement of polycrystalline Cu in ultra-precision diamond cutting by experiments and multiscale coupling simulations. Specifically, ordinary cutting (OC) and ultrasonic elliptical vibration-assisted cutting (UEVC) experiments of polycrystalline Cu are carried out, and subsequent cross-sectional characterizations of microstructure evolution in subsurface by metallurgical microscope and electron backscatter diffraction, as well as instrumented nanoindentation tests, are performed, which demonstrates significantly promoted grain refinement in subsurface and increased machined surface hardness by UVA, due to increased dislocation density that is beneficial for the nucleation and growth of dynamic recrystallization. In particular, the multi-scale coupling of crystal plasticity finite element (CPFE) simulation and Cellular Automata (CA) method is firstly established for exploring the microstructural evolution during UEVC and OC of polycrystalline Cu, which is capable of elucidating the underlying correlation of grain refinement behavior in subsurface with characteristics of stress and strain fields in cutting area. Furthermore, the influence of amplitude on the propensity of grain refinement is experimentally and theoretically evaluated, which suggests a critical amplitude of 4 μm that leads to a maximum reduction in grain size by 80.9% and a maximum increase in machined surface hardness by 55.8% in UEVC from that in OC, because of the most pronounced strain accumulation and dislocation activity. The findings reported in this study demonstrate the effectiveness of applying ultrasonic vibration assistance for modulating the grain refinement accompanying strengthening of machined surface in ultra-precision diamond cutting of polycrystalline metals.

Debonding Fiber Damage Mechanism Modeling for Machining Damage Inhibition During Rotary Ultrasonic Face Grinding SiO2f/SiO2

Abstract The debonding fiber defects on the grinding surface of SiO2f/SiO2 ceramic matrix composites deteriorate the service performance of related components. The low-damage process window is the key information to suppress machining damage by controlling grinding parameters. A mechanism model for debonding fiber damage on SiO2f/SiO2 surface was first proposed in this paper by the large deformation analysis for SiO2 fibers during rotary ultrasonic face grinding (RUFG). The established mechanism model built a bridge between grinding parameters and damage inhibition by integrating the ultrasonic stress effect, grinding force calculation, and critical fracture curvature cutting-off criterion of SiO2 fibers. The modeling mechanism for fiber deformation and fracture in grinding was validated by in situ observation of single abrasive grit scratching experiments. Besides, the low debonding damage process window predicted by the model was verified by experimental results and could be adopted to suppress the debonding fiber damage in grinding. The affected mechanism of fiber orientation, ultrasonic amplitude, and fiber-matrix interface strength on the low debonding damage process window was analyzed based on the theoretical and experimental results. The damage inhibition effect of the RUFG process was limited by the low fiber-matrix interface strength and axial cutter-relieving movement component. The ultrasonic-assisted vibration exerted its auxiliary effects through the ultrasonic stress effect and force reduction effect. The prerequisite for exerting the damage inhibition effect of RUFG was that the fiber-matrix interface strength was sufficient to resist the negative influence of the ultrasonic stress effect.

Research on ultrasonic-assisted vibration multi-cycle compaction method of flexible guided 3D weaving

The structure of three-dimensional (3D) preforms is the key to the performance of 3D reinforced composites. In order to improve the quality and efficiency of manufacturing, this paper originally proposes the ultrasonic vibration-assisted multi-cycle compaction method. Ultrasonic vibrations are applied, using a resonant 40 kHz compactor, to the compaction of 3D carbon fiber preform. Compared to the traditional method, the ultrasonic vibration-assisted multi-cycle compaction method can accelerate stress relaxation and reduce preform springback. The microstructure of preform is observed using x-ray computer tomography imaging. It elucidates the mechanism by which ultrasonic vibration promotes fiber slippage. The compaction forming experiment of preforms has proven that the ultrasonic vibration-assisted multi-cycle compaction method can reduce the compaction time, improving the forming quality. This can improve the technical support for the improvement of the manufacturing level of the 3D preform.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extrusion Compounding of Nano Clay/Polypropylene Nano Compounds.

The incorporation of nanoparticles can significantly enhance the properties of polymers. However, the industrial production of nanocomposites presents a technological challenge in achieving the proper dispersion of nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. In this work, a novel device is presented that can be seamlessly integrated with standard twin-screw extruders, enabling the application of ultrasonic vibration to molten polymeric material. The primary objective of this study is to experimentally validate the effectiveness of this technology in improving the dispersion of nanoparticles. To accomplish this, a comparative analysis was carried out between nanocomposites obtained through conventional compounding extrusion and those processed with the assistance of ultrasonic vibrations. The nanocomposites under investigation consist of a polypropylene (PP) matrix reinforced with nano clays (Cloisite 20A) at a target loading ratio of 5% by weight. To comprehensively evaluate the impact of the ultrasound-assisted compounding, various key properties were assessed, such as the melt flow index (MFI) to characterize the flow behavior, mechanical properties to evaluate the structural performance, oxygen barrier properties to assess potential gas permeability, and microstructure analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for detailed morphology characterization. The results suggested an improvement in nanoparticle dispersion when using the ultrasound device, particularly when the intensity was adjusted to 60%.

Ultrasonic vibration assisted directed energy deposition of titanium alloy: Microstructure control, strengthening mechanisms and fatigue crack behavior

Large-scale titanium alloy structural components fabricated using direct energy deposition (DED) technology have broad application prospects. However, the columnar grain structures and inhomogeneous microstructure due to the inherent characteristics of additive manufacturing seriously affects the mechanical properties of components. In this study, high-intensity ultrasound vibration was introduced into the wire-arc DED deposition of TC4-DT titanium alloy. The results showed that ultrasonic vibration assistance (UVA) significantly improves the grain structure (refine prior-β grain size and weaken α texture) of the as-deposited component, without introducing additional porosity. Compared to conventional wire-arc DED deposited components, the yield strength and tensile strength of UVA alloys increased by 22.23 % and 15.06 %, respectively. Furthermore, the difference in α grain structure caused by UVA results in different fatigue crack growth behaviors. The disorder orientation of the α laths enhanced the fatigue crack initiation resistance of the wire-arc DED component with UVA. This study shows the excellent mechanical properties of UVA DED fabricated TC4-DT alloy, paving the way for the design, fabrication, and application of large structural components of titanium alloys.

Non-contact ultrasonic vibration-assisted laser metal deposition manufacturing Fe-based powder: Numerical simulation and experimental investigation

Fe-based powder was manufactured on 42CrMoA steel substrate using non-contact ultrasonic vibration-assisted(UVA) laser metal deposition(LMD) process with different exciting distances(d), and the temperature field and stress field distribution, microstructure and mechanical properties of the deposited layers were investigated. The results show that the distribution of temperature field was more uniform, especially at the bottom of the molten pool, and the gradient of temperature field decreased. Compared with the condition without UVA, the residual stress peak value of the tensile stress area decreased significantly after UVA applied. When d=80 mm, the peak tensile stress and compressive stress were 90.5 MPa and 72.6 MPa, respectively, which were reduced by 45.6 % and 25.2 % compared with the condition without UVA. The length of the columnar crystals and the region of the columnar crystals decreased at the interface after UVA applied. The application of UVA can significantly improved the microhardness of deposition layer. With the reduction of the residual stress at the interface and the improvement of uniformity, the tensile properties of the deposit were also significantly improved. The highest tensile strength was 1281.3 MPa when d=80 mm, which was 30.12 % higher than that without UVA.

Acoustic cavitation-induced microstructure evolution in ultrasonically brazed Al/Cu joints using Zn-Al alloy fillers

Tailoring the phase constitutions of the interfacial reaction layers under the assistance of ultrasonic vibration is a convenient method to fabricate high-strength Al/Cu brazing joints. In this study, 1060-Al and T2-Cu dissimilar metals were ultrasonically brazed with Zn-3Al (wt. %) filler metals. Effects of ultrasonic brazing time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of joints were investigated. Results showed that the CuZn5 intermetallic compound (IMC) layer and Cu-based diffusion layer were created on the Cu substrate surface in the joint ultrasonically brazed at 400 ℃ for 2 s. However, the CuZn5 IMC layer was gradually transformed into a thin Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7 IMC layer by increasing the ultrasonic vibration time to 15 s. A well-matched coherent interface was formed between the Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7 ternary phase and the Cu-based diffusion layer. The phase transition of the Cu-side interfacial layer correlated closely with the acoustic cavitations induced super-saturation regions near the Cu substrate surface. The measured tensile strength of the Al/Zn-3Al/Cu joint ultrasonically brazed for 15 s was 89.3 MPa, which was approximately 2.5 times higher than that brazed for 2 s, and the tensile failure mainly occurred at the interface between the Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7 layer and the Cu-based diffusion layer.

Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Incremental Sheet Forming.

Implementing the ultrasonic vibration-assisted incremental sheet-forming (UISF) process has been proven to significantly reduce the forming force, improve the surface quality, and enhance the accuracy of the sheet-forming process. However, such effectiveness has primarily focused on easily deformable materials (such as AA1050 and AA1060 aluminum alloys) and small step-down sizes (from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm). To further enhance the process, it is crucial to study larger step-down sizes and harder materials. In this study, a series of UISF experiments were conducted, with step-down sizes ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and feed rates ranging from 200 mm/min to 1200 mm/min. The influence of ultrasonic vibration on the effectiveness of force reduction and the optimal operation parameters was experimentally tested. Forming aluminum alloy AA5052, a difficult-to-deform material with two thicknesses of 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm, indicates that the axial force Fz and the tool movement resistance force Fy tend to decrease significantly with ultrasonic vibration assistance. Optimal equations for force reduction Fz and Fy have been developed for plate thickness based on the step-down size and feed rate. The optimal results show that for 1.0 mm thickness, reductions in Fz and Fy can reach 58.73% and 69.17%, respectively, and that of 64.17% and 71.98%, respectively, for 0.5 mm thickness.

Ultrarapid soldering Cf/Al by inactive solder by ultrasonic assistance

Ultrasonic vibration was applied when soldering carbon fiber-reinforced aluminum composites (Cf/Al) in this work. The effects of ultrasonic action time on joint formation, carbon fiber distribution, and mechanical properties of the joints were studied. Results show that, with the assistance of ultrasonic vibration, inactive solder can wet the carbon fiber within dozens of seconds at low temperature (250 °C). Short ultrasonic action time leads to minor erosion of aluminum substrate, thereby restricting the movement of carbon fibers into joint. Extensive erosion of the aluminum occurs with prolonged ultrasonic action time. A uniform distribution of carbon fibers in joint is achieved at 60 s. Wetting of carbon fiber is characterized by amorphous-nanocrystalline oxides on its surface, which can be attributed to the elevated temperature and pressure induced by the cavitation of the solder. Extending ultrasonic time enhances the hardness and the shear strength of the joint. The failure cracks propagate through the substrate when ultrasonic time exceeds 15 s. This work provides referential value when soldering materials with low surface energies.

Effects of bio-inspired infill design on the mechanical properties of ultrasonic vibration assisted 3D printed samples

This paper study the tensile strength and microstructure of the 3D bio-inspired printed samples by comparing the ultrasonic vibration assisted test samples with standard ABS and PLA samples with three different bio-inspired infill designs namely elephant trunk, bamboo and leaf. The test samples were printed with optimal printing process parameters and 0 kHz and 20 kHz frequency of ultrasonic vibration. SolidWorks software was used to design the bio-inspired infill designs and create the 3D-printed test samples. Tests to evaluate mechanical properties and microstructure were carried out after printing the test samples. The investigation primarily focuses on the impact of ultrasonic vibration assisted 3D bio-inspired printed samples of ABS and PLA materials. This research explores using ultrasonic vibration assistance to enhance the tensile strength of 3D-printed infills. The elephant trunk inspired infill design with ABS at 20 kHz achieved the best results, suggesting that ultrasonic vibration strengthens intermolecular bonding. The bamboo inspired infill performed poorly due to its design, while PLA deformed due to lower heat resistance. Overall, ultrasonic frequency improved layer bonding, especially for the elephant trunk infill, indicating potential for further optimization. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of bio-inspired infill solutions, mainly the ABS elephant trunks with ultrasonic 20 kHz of vibration.

Distortion analysis in axial ultrasonic assisted milling of Al 7075-T6

Dimensional distortion and instability in the milling process of aluminum alloy parts can significantly increase production costs and result in defective parts. Therefore, distortion mitigation has long been a central focus of aerospace industry researchers. This article aims to investigate the effect of axial ultrasonic-assisted milling on distortion. In this study, the machining parameters effect in conventional milling (CM) and ultrasonic assisted milling (UAM) were experimentally and statistically investigated on distortion and milling force, and the results were subjected to a comparative analysis. Experiments provided compelling evidence of the technical advantages offered by axial ultrasonic-assisted milling, demonstrating its efficacy in reducing both milling force and distortion when compared to conventional milling. Furthermore, our study established a direct relationship between milling force and distortion. Applying the axial ultrasonic-assisted vibration resulted in a notable 29% reduction in cutting force compared to conventional milling. Additionally, UAM exhibited a reduction in distortion by approximately 21%. These findings have significant implications, particularly in improving the flatness tolerance of the workpiece, thereby yielding components free from waves and warpages.

Research on Ultrasonic Vibration Assisted Grinding Technology of Quartz Fiber Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites

Ceramic matrix composites have good mechanical properties and high temperature resistance, but it is difficult to process. In order to solve the problems of fast tool wear and low machining efficiency in the dry grinding process, ultrasonic vibration assisted grinding technology of quartz fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites is adopted in this paper. Grinding force, machining efficiency, tool wear and surface roughness are analyzed through the comparison experiment between the conventional grinding and the ultrasonic vibration assisted grinding. The influence of the ultrasonic vibration assistance and process parameters on machining quality and tool life is further obtained. According to the findings, when compared to traditional grinding, ultrasonic vibration grinding can lower the grinding force by 25% to 58% and the surface roughness by up to 16%. The tool life and machining efficiency can be significantly increased with the help of ultrasonic vibration.

Machining characteristics in ultrasonic vibration-assisted powder-mixed electrical discharge machining of TiN ceramics

This study aims to investigate the application and machining characteristics of brittle conductive ceramics using ultrasonic vibration-assisted powder-mixed electrical discharge machining (UV-PMEDM) technology. Titanium nitride (TiN) ceramics are widely used in aerospace, biomedicine, and electronics due to their excellent properties. However, the conventional mechanical machining methods of these materials result in severe tool wear, high costs, and low efficiency. Although electrical discharge machining (EDM) can overcome some limitations, it typically exhibits a low material removal rate and poor surface quality. This study utilizes the UV-PMEDM technology to process TiN ceramics. Single-factor experiments are conducted to analyze the effects of processing parameters, including ultrasonic amplitude, powder concentration, pulse-on time, and pulse-off time, on the material removal rate, surface roughness, and relative electrode wear rate, which indicate the EDM processing performance. With the assistance of ultrasonic vibration and mixed powders, the material removal rate of TiN ceramics using UV-PMEDM reaches 0.50 mm3/min, while maintaining a relative electrode wear rate below 1 % and surface roughness lower than 4.2 μm. The synergistic combination of ultrasonic vibration and mixed powders significantly enhances the processing efficiency and reduces surface roughness of TiN ceramics. These findings contribute to a better understanding of machining strategies for brittle conductive ceramics.

Ultrasonic Assisted Electrochemical Trepanning of Rectangular Groove with Inner Cylindrical Structure

In the process of Electrochemical Machining (ECM), the electrolyte renewal is likely to be poor as the machining gap is too narrow, so that the machining accuracy and surface quality are influenced, especially in the electrochemical trepanning of special structures, such as the rectangular groove with inner cylinder. As the flow field in the machining gap is difficult to be uniform, the machining quality is low and the cylindrical taper angle is large. Based on the abovementioned difficulties in ECM process, this study used ECM with mask and ECM with tool sinking, as well as the methods with and without ultrasonic vibration assisted sidewall-insulated electrodes, to conduct a comparative experiment on the electrochemical trepanning of rectangular groove with inner cylindrical structure for SUS304 stainless steel cylindrical workpieces. This study also discussed the effects of different ECM trepanning processing methods on the quality characteristics, such as cylindrical taper angle and surface morphology. The research results showed that in comparison to the ECM with mask, ECM with tool sinking had a smaller cylindrical taper angle and better surface morphology. When the ultrasonic vibration assistance was used for ECM with tool sinking, the uniformity of the flow field was improved. The electrolyte pressure changed rapidly in the processing area with the ultrasonic vibration assistance, resulting in pumping effect and cavitation effect, both of which disturbed the electrolyte, and promoted the renewal of the electrolyte in the machining gap. As a result, the resistance within the machining area is reduced, a smaller cylindrical taper angle was obtained, and the flow marks at the bottom of the rectangular groove were significantly reduced. Moreover, the surface morphology and surface roughness of the rectangular groove with inner cylinder after processing were better.

Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration on Tensile Mechanical Properties of Mg-Zn-Y Alloy

Ultrasonic vibration assisted (UVA) plastic forming technology has proven to be a highly effective processing method, particularly for materials that are challenging to deform. In this research, UVA tensile tests were carried out on Mg98.5Zn0.5Y1 alloy at different vibration frequencies and amplitudes. The experimental results indicate that, compared with conventional tensile tests, the yield strength and tensile strength of Mg98.5Zn0.5Y1 alloy exhibit a decrease. Furthermore, the application of ultrasonic vibration demonstrates an ability to enhance the material’s elongation and plasticity. In order to further predict the stress-strain relationship in the metal tensile process, a hybrid constitutive model coupling the frequency and amplitude of ultrasonic vibration was developed based on the modified Johnson Cook model. The calculated results of the constitutive equation are in good agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the established constitutive equation can accurately predict the trend of alloy stress change at different amplitudes and frequencies. It establishes a theoretical foundation for scrutinizing the deformation mechanisms of the alloy under ultrasonic vibration. Furthermore, Abaqus finite element analysis software was employed to simulate and analyze the UVA tensile process, elucidating the impact of ultrasonic vibration on stress distribution, strain patterns, and material flow in the tensile behavior of Mg98.5Zn0.5Y1 alloys.

Effect of Ultrasonic Vibration Assistance on Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties in Laser-Welded AZ31B Magnesium Alloy

Given the susceptibility to weld porosity and poor weld formability in laser beam welding (LBW), this study delves into an examination of the impact of ultrasonic vibrations on microstructural morphologies and mechanical properties in AZ31B magnesium (Mg) alloy. A comparative analysis was conducted between ultrasonic vibration-assisted LBW and conventional LBW. The results established that the effective elimination of weld porosity, an outcome attributed to the combined effects of cavitation and acoustic streaming, resulted in a weld characterized by a visually seamless and structurally robust appearance. Furthermore, the incorporation of ultrasonic vibration assistance in the welding process yielded a finer microstructure as compared to the conventional LBW. Moreover, the lamellar structures of β-Mg17Al12 were transformed into particles and evenly distributed throughout the α-Mg matrix. In addition, the incorporation of 50% ultrasonic vibration assistance yielded notable improvements in tensile strength (259.6 MPa) and elongation (11.1%). These values represented enhancements of 4.8% and 35.4% as compared to joints fabricated by using conventional LBW.

Modelling of tribological behavior and wear for micro-textured surfaces of Ti2AlNb intermetallic compounds machined with multi-dimensional ultrasonic vibration assistance

Employing multi-dimensional ultrasonic vibration machining (MDUVM), Ti2AlNb intermetallic compounds were processed to generate highly consistent and uniformly arranged micro-texture surfaces. Compared to conventional machining (CM) surfaces, MDUVM surfaces exhibited a noticeable 10.9 % increase in hardness. Sphere-on-disk friction wear tests indicated a noteworthy 15 % reduction in both friction force and coefficient on MDUVM surfaces. The MDUVM surfaces improved contact pressure distribution, reduced oxidation, and facilitated smoother wear debris transition within the wear zone. As a result, the spread of wear into deeper layers was effectively inhibited. An Archard-based predictive model was developed to quantitatively predict wear behavior by incorporating surface micro-texture, confirming the significant influence of surface morphology on frictional wear, which was consistent with experimental findings.

Material removal mechanism of UD-C/C composites in ultrasonic-assisted vibration orthogonal cutting

Material removal mechanism of UD-C/C composites in ultrasonic-assisted vibration orthogonal cutting

Ultrasonic Vibration-assisted Electrochemical Discharge Machining of Quartz Wafer Micro-Hole Arrays

The micro-hole machining of quartz wafers depends on photolithography techniques akin to those used in semiconductor fabrication. These methods present challenges due to high equipment setup costs, large space requirements, and environmental pollution risks. This research applies ultrasonic vibration assistance in electrochemical discharge machining to create an array of micro-holes on quartz wafers. In the experiments, a self-prepared tungsten carbide micro-electrode array served as the tool electrode. This electrode was a 2 × 2 square array, with needles measuring 30 × 30 μm. A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of various machining parameters, including working voltage, feed rate, duration time, duty factor, and ultrasonic power level, on the characteristics of the micro-hole array. The characteristics included average hole diameter and through-hole surface morphology. The experimental objective was to achieve a through-hole diameter of 80 μm with an accuracy of ±8 μm. During the electrochemical discharge machining, suitable ultrasonic vibrations can thin the insulating gas film coating on the electrode surface, resulting in a more uniform gas film. As the insulating gas film’s thickness decreased, so did the critical voltage needed for the electrochemical discharge machining, reducing the hole’s diameter expansion. The ultrasonic vibration assistance can enable the satisfaction of the dimensional accuracy requirement. The experimental results indicate that ultrasonic vibration assistance can effectively improve the processing capacity and reduce sample fragmentation. A working voltage of 44 V, feed rate of 1 μm/6 s, duration time of 30 μs, duty factor of 30%, and ultrasonic power level of 1 resulted in better inlet and outlet surface morphology without outlet fragmentation. Moreover, the average diameters of the inlet and outlet were roughly 80 μm while meeting the through-hole diameter of 80 μm with accuracy of ±8 μm.

Study of longitudinal-torsional ultrasonic-assisted vibration on micro-hole drilling Zr-based metallic glass

Study of longitudinal-torsional ultrasonic-assisted vibration on micro-hole drilling Zr-based metallic glass