A novel efficient energy absorber with free inversion of a metal foam-filled circular tube

In this paper, a novel efficient energy absorber with free inversion of a metal foam-filled circular tube(MFFCT) is designed, and the axial compressive behavior of the MFFCT under free inversion is studied analytically and numerically. The theoretical analysis reveals that the energy is mainly dissipated through the radial bending of the metal circular tube, the circumferential expansion of the metal circular tube, and the metal filled-foam compression. The principle of energy conservation is used to derive the theoretical formula for the minimum compressive force of the MFFCT over free inversion under axial loading. Furthermore, the free inversion deformation characteristics of the MFFCT are analyzed numerically. The theoretical steady values are found to be in good agreement with the results of the finite element(FE) analysis. The effects of the average diameter of the metal tube, the wall thickness of the metal tube, and the filled-foam strength on the free inversion deformation of the MFFCT are considered. It is observed that in the steady deformation stage, the load-carrying and energy-absorbing capacities of the MFFCT increase with the increase in the average diameter of the metal tube, the wall thickness of the metal tube, or the filled-foam strength. The specific energy absorption(SEA) of free inversion of the MFFCT is significantly higher than that of the metal tube alone.

Chebyshev polynomial-based Ritz method for thermal buckling and free vibration behaviors of metal foam beams

This study presents the Chebyshev polynomials-based Ritz method to examine the thermal buckling and free vibration characteristics of metal foam beams.The analyses include three models for porosity distribution and two scenarios for thermal distribution.The material properties are assessed under two conditions,i.e.,temperature dependence and temperature independence.The theoretical framework for the beams is based on the higher-order shear deformation theory,which incorporates shear deformations with higher-order polynomials.The governing equations are established from the Lagrange equations,and the beam displacement fields are approximated by the Chebyshev polynomials.Numerical simulations are performed to evaluate the effects of thermal load,slenderness,boundary condition(BC),and porosity distribution on the buckling and vibration behaviors of metal foam beams.The findings highlight the significant influence of temperature-dependent(TD)material properties on metal foam beams'buckling and vibration responses.

Focused electron beam transport through a long narrow metal tube at elevated pressures in the forevacuum range

We present here our investigations of the features of focused electron beam transport in free space at elevated pressures of a few pascals.We have explored the effect of the beam accelerating voltage,operating gas pressure,and magnetic focusing upon the trajectory of beam electrons in the crossover region,in particular on the beam convergence and divergence angles.It is shown that for the forevacuum pressure range of 2-5 Pa explored,a distinctive feature of the propagation of a focused electron beam with a current of up to 20 mA at an accelerating voltage of 10-20 kV is the difference in the angles of convergence(before the focus)and divergence(after the focus).Whereas at a low pressure of 2 Pa the divergence angle is smaller than the convergence angle,as the pressure increases the divergence angle increases and for pressures greater than 5 Pa the divergence angle is greater than the convergence angle.The results obtained were used in experiments on electron beam transport through a long narrow metal tube with a diameter of 5.8-9.2 mm and length of 10-30 cm.We show that for a 30 cm long tube of 7.5 mm diameter,the focused beam transmission can exceed 70%.

Exact Solution of a Cylinder Tube Made of Metallic Foam Under Inner Pressure

Exact solution of the stress and velocity fields of a cylinder tube of metallic foams under inner pressure is given in which the Triantafillou and Gibson constitutive law （TG model） for the material is taken as a basis of the calculation. The nonlinear equation is turned linear equation by introducing a kinematics parameter. The differences between the full condensed materials and the effect of the relative density are also discussed.

Low-velocity impact of rectangular foam-filled fiber metal laminate tubes

Through theoretical analysis and finite element simulation,the low-velocity impact of rectangular foam-filled fiber metal laminate(FML)tubes is studied in this paper.According to the rigid-plastic material approximation with modifications,simple analytical solutions are obtained for the dynamic response of rectangular foam-filled FML tubes.The numerical calculations for low-velocity impact of rectangular foam-filled FML tubes are conducted.The accuracy of analytical solutions and numerical results is verified by each other.Finally,the effects of the metal volume fraction of FMLs,the number of the metal layers in FMLs,and the foam strength on the dynamic response of foam-filled tubes are discussed through the analytical model in details.It is shown that the force increases with the increase in the metal volume fraction in FMLs,the number of the metal layers in FML,and the foam strength for the given deflection.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloy cast by metal mould and lost foam casting

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-10.1Gd-3.74Y-0.25Zr （mass fraction, %） alloy （GW104 alloy） cast by metal mould casting （MMC） and lost foam casting （LFC） were evaluated, respectively. It is revealed that different forming modes do not influence the phase composition of as-cast alloy. In the as-cast specimens, the microstructures are similar and composed of α-Mg solid solution, eutectic compound of α-Mg＋Mg 24 （Gd, Y） 5 and cuboid-shaped Mg 5 （Gd, Y） phase; whereas the average grain size of the alloy produced by metal mould casting is smaller than that by lost foam casting. The eutectic compound of the alloy is completely dissolved after solution treatment at 525 ℃for 6 h, while the Mg 5 （Gd, Y） phase still exists after solution treatment. After peak-ageing, the lost foam cast alloy exhibits the maximum ultimate tensile strength of 285 MPa, and metal mould cast specimen 325 MPa at room temperature, while the tensile yield strengths of them are comparable. It can be concluded that GW104 alloy cast by lost foam casting possesses similar microstructure and evidently lower mechanical strength compared with metal mould cast alloy, due to slow solidification rate and proneness to form shrinkage porosities during lost foam casting process.

Indentation of sandwich beams with metal foam core

The quasi-static indentation behavior of sandwich beams with a metal foam core was investigated. An analytical model was developed to predict the large deflections of indention of the sandwich beams with a metal foam core subjected to a concentrated loading. The interaction of plastic bending and stretching in the local deformation regions of the face sheet was considered in the analytical model. Moreover, the effects of the shear strength of the foam core on the indentation behavior were discussed in detail. The finite element simulations were preformed to validate the theoretical model. Comparisons between the analytical predictions and finite element results were conducted and good agreement was achieved. The results show that the membrane force dominates indentation behavior of the sandwich beams when the maximum deflection exceeds the thickness of the face sheet.

Comparison of decompression tubes with metallic stents for the management of right-sided malignant colonic obstruction

BACKGROUND Emergency surgical resection is a standard treatment for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction; however, the procedure is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Although a bridge to surgery can be created to obviate the need for emergency surgery, its effects on long-term outcomes and the most practical management strategies for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction remain unclear.AIM To determine the appropriate management approach for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction.METHODS Forty patients with right-sided malignant colonic obstruction who underwent curative resection from January 2007 to April 2017 were included in the study.We compared the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients who received bridges to surgery established using decompression tubes and those created using self-expandable metallic stents(SEMS). The primary outcome was the overall survival duration(OS) and the secondary endpoints were the diseasefree survival(DFS) duration and the preoperative and postoperative morbidity rates. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis.RESULTS There were 21 patients in the decompression tube group and 19 in the SEMS group. There were no significant differences in the perioperative morbidity rates of the two groups. The OS rate was significantly higher in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group(5-year OS rate; decompression tube 79.5%,SEMS 32%, P = 0.043). Multivariate analysis revealed that the bridge to surgery using a decompression tube was significantly associated with the OS(hazard ratio, 17.41; P = 0.004). The 3-year DFS rate was significantly higher in thedecompression tube group than in the SEMS group(68.9% vs 45.9%; log-rank test,P = 0.032). A propensity score–adjusted analysis also demonstrated that the prognosis was significantly better in the decompression tube group than in the SEMS group.CONCLUSION The bridge to surgery using trans-nasal and trans-anal decompression tubes for right-sided malignant colonic obstruction is safe and may improve long-term outcomes.

A plastic indentation model for sandwich beams with metallic foam cores

Light weight high performance sandwich composite structures have been used extensively in various load bearing applications.Experiments have shown that the indentation significantly reduces the load bearing capacity of sandwiched beams.In this paper,the indentation behavior of foam core sandwich beams without considering the globally axial and flexural deformation was analyzed using the principle of virtual velocities.A concisely theoretical solution of loading capacity and denting profile was presented.The denting load was found to be proportional to the square root of the denting depth.A finite element model was established to verify the prediction of the model.The load-indentation curves and the profiles of the dented zone predicted by theoretical model and numerical simulation are in good agreement.

High rate and cycling stable Li metal anodes enabled with aluminum-zinc oxides modified copper foam

Metallic Li is a promising anode material for high energy density batteries but it suffers from poor stability and formation of unsafe dendrites. Previous studies demonstrated that 3 D metal foams are able to improve the stability of Li metal but the properties of these foams are inherently limited. Here we report a facile surface modification approach via magnetron sputtering of mixed oxides that effectively modulate the properties of Cu foams for supporting Li metal with remarkable stability. We discovered that hybrid Li anodes with Li metal thermally infused to aluminum-zinc oxides(AZO) coated Cu foams have significantly improved stability and reactivity compared with pristine Li foils and Li infused to unmodified Cu foams. Full cells assembled with a Li Fe PO4 cathode and a hybrid anode maintained low and stable charge-transfer resistance(<50) during 500 cycles in carbonate electrolytes, and exhibited superior rate capability(~100 m Ah g-1 at 20 C) along with better electrochemical reversibility and surface stability. The AZO modified Cu foams had superior mechanical strength and afforded the hybrid anodes with minimized volume change without the formation of dendrites during battery cycling. The rational construction of surface architecture to precisely control Li plating and stripping may have great implications for the practical applications of Li metal batteries.

Mechanical Property of Foamed Metal

A comprehensive study on the mechanical behavior of foamed metals was demonstrated.The relationship among their mechanical properties,preparation method,porosity and the structure was briefly studied as well.

Study on buffering performance of thin-walled metal tube with different angles

High frequency shock load is often generated during pyrotechnic device working, which is detrimental to spacecraft structures and electric devices. Therefore, it is valuable to reduce the shock load in pyrotechnic device design. Actually, there are several ways to decrease pyroshock loads, such as reduction of powder,installation of buffering structure, insulation of damageable devices, and so on. Considered assuring the function of pyrotechnic device and minimum of structure modification, shock absorbing structure is more propitious to be introduced in pyrotechnic device. In this paper, based on the method of thinwalled metal tube diameter-expanding, a thin-walled tube shock buffering structure was designed on a separate bolt. Built on the simplified structure of a separate bolt, the model of cone piston impacting thin-walled tube absorber was established, and the thin-walled tube shock absorbing characteristics and the relation between cone angles and absorber performance were analyzed. The results showed that the change of buffering force of thin-walled tube could be divided into four phases, and each phase was correspondent to the cone piston structure. In addition, as the cone angle increases, the max shock acceleration changes in the style of decrease-increase-decrease-increase, which is the result of coupled effects of cone piston max enter depth, buffering force and energy loss. In short, these results could establish the relationships between thin-walled tube absorbing performance and its structure, which is of significance to develop low-shock pyrotechnic device.

Enhanced CO2 decomposition via metallic foamed electrode packed in self-cooling DBD plasma device

A self-cooling dielectric barrier discharge reactor, packed with foamed Cu and Ni mesh and operated at ambient conditions, was used for the composition of CO2 into CO and O2.The influences of power, frequency, and other discharge characteristics were investigated in order to have a better understanding of the effect of the packing materials on CO2 decomposition.It is found that porous foamed Cu and Ni not only played a role as the carrier of energy transformation and electrode distributed in discharge gaps but also promoted the equilibrium shifting toward the product side to yield more CO by consuming some part of O2 and O radicals generated from the decomposition of CO2.The maximum CO2 decomposition rates of 48.6%and 49.2% and the maximum energy efficiency of 9.71% and 10.18% were obtained in the foamed Ni and Cu mesh, respectively.

Effect of cyclotron resonance on ‘hot’ dispersion in a staggered double metallic grating sheet beam travelling wave tube

Based on the beam wave synchronous interaction in transverse and longitudinal directions at the same time and starting from Maxwell’s equation and linear Vlasov equation, the beam–wave interaction ‘hot’ dispersion equation considering both cyclotron resonance and Cherenkov resonance in a staggered double metallic grating traveling wave tube is deduced.Through the reasonable selection for geometric and electrical parameters, the numerical calculation and analysis of the ‘hot’ dispersion equation shows that the beam–wave interaction gain and frequency band with the cyclotron resonance enhancement effect are higher than those with only Cherenkov resonance radiation.

The effects of relative density of metal foams on the stresses and deformation of beam under bending

The exact analytic solution of the pure bending beam of metallic foams is given. The effects of relative density of the material on stresses and deformation are revealed with the Triantafillou and Gibson constitutive law （TG model） taken as the analysis basis. Several examples for individual foams are discussed, showing the importance of compressibility of the cellular materials. One of the objects of this study is to generalize Hill＇s solution for incompressible plasticity to the case of compressible plasticity, and a kinematics parameter is brought into the analysis so that the velocity field can be determined.

Compression properties of cost-efficient porous expanded clay reinforced AA7075 syntactic foams fabricated by industrial-oriented die casting technology

In today’s manufacturing industries,hard competition between rival firms makes it compulsory for researchers to design lighter and cheaper machine components due to the megatrends of cost-effectiveness and anti-pollution.At this point,aluminum syntactic foams(ASFs)are new-generation engineering composites and come into the upfront as a problem-solver.Owing to their features like low density,sufficient elongation,and perfect energy absorption ability,these advanced foams have been considerably seductive for many industrial sectors nowadays.In this study,an industrial-oriented automatic die casting technology was used for the first time to manufacture the combination of AA7075/porous expanded clay(PEC).Micro evaluations(optical and FESEM)reveal that there is a homogenous particle distribution in the foam samples,and inspections are compatible with the other ASF studies.Additionally,T6 aging heat treatment was operated on one half of the produced foams to explore the probable impact of aging on the compressive responses.Attained results show that PEC particles can be an alternative to expensive hollow spheres used in the previous works.Besides,a favorable relationship is ascertained between the aging treatment and mechanical properties such as compression strength and plateau strength.

Preparation of open-cell metal foams by investment cast

Metal foams are a new kind of materials with low densities and novel physical, mechanical, thermal, electrical and acoustic properties. They can be divided into closed and open cell structures. In this paper the open cell structures, called sponges, were treated. A new technique to manufacture sponges by plaster investment casting was described. Experimental results show that it is essential to make a sound plaster mould by casting plaster slurry into the polyurethane foams and infiltrate the open channels of the baked plaster mold by molten metal. The optimal processes include plaster slurry preparation, plaster mold baking, and molten metal infiltration. The sponge sample with porosity of 97% is presented.

Fabrication of Near Net Shape Metallic Foam via Plaster Mould

Fabrication characteristics are unstable in direct foaming method. Therefore, most of near net-shape metallic foams are produced, and investigated by powder metallurgy. Direct foaming method, however, has many benefits （i.e. reduce the unit cost of goods and fabrication process etc.） to fabrication of metallic foams. In this article, the fabrication characteristic of near net-shape metallic foams by direct foaming method was evaluated. Al and Plaster was used for base material and mould material respectively. Ca and TiH2 were added to molten Al as thickening and blowing agent for stable condition of bubbles. Thickening time was about 10 min with a stirring speed of 600 r/min. Foaming time was 30-120 s for evaluation of the optimum foaming condition. Amount of agent was selected by pre-experimental data. Porosity of near net-shape goods was measured by Archimedes method. On the other hand, it seems that increasing poring time and thickening agent make the poor porosity

Radiation Efficiency of Surface Burning on a Foam Metal Matrix with Ceramic Coating

The modified empirical two-temperature model of surface burning on a foam metal matrix was proposed. The comparative experimental studies of radiation properties of both matrices without and with ceramic coating (alumina) were carried out. Measurement was conducted in different spectral ranges. The experimental results were compared with theoretical calculations. It was shown that the integral radiation efficiency of the matrix with ceramic coating was comparable with radiation efficiency of the matrix without any coating in the wide range of the firing rate and surpassed it on 30% - 40% at firing rate above 50 W/cm2.

Constructing nanoporous Ni foam current collectors for stable lithium metal anodes

Lithium metal,as the most ideal anode material for high energy density batteries,has been researched for several decades.However,the dendrite formation and large volume change during repetitive lithium plating/stripping lead to a serious safety issue and impede the practical application of lithium metal anode.Herein,a nanoporous Ni foam current collector with high surface area and surface flaws is constructed via a facile oxidation-reduction method.The inherent macropore structure of Ni foam can partly accommodate the volume variation during Li plating/stripping.The well-distributed nanopores on the skeleton of Ni foam can effectively reduce the local current density,regulate the uniform lithium nucleation and deposition with homogenous distribution of Li^(+) flux.Moreover,the surface flaws induce the formation of ring Li structures at initial nucleation/deposition processes and concave Li metal spontaneously formed based on the ring Li structures during cycling,which can direct the even Li plating/stripping.Therefore,highly stable Coulombic efficiency is achieved at 1 mA cm^(-2) for 200 cycles.The symmetrical cell,based on the nanoporous Ni foam current collector,presents long lifespans of 1200 and 700 h respectively at different current densities of 0.5 and 1 mA cm^(-2) without short circuit.In addition,the LiFePO4 full cell,with the Li metal anode based on the nanoporous Ni foam current collector,shows excellent cycling performance at 1 C for 300 cycles and rate performance.