Optimization of Fixture Number in Large Thin-Walled Parts Assembly Based on IPSO

There are lots of researches on fixture layout optimization for large thin-walled parts.Current researches focus on the positioning problem,i.e.,optimizing the positions of a constant number of fixtures.However,how to determine the number of fixtures is ignored.In most cases,the number of fixtures located on large thin-walled parts is determined based on engineering experience,which leads to huge fixture number and extra waste.Therefore,this paper constructs an optimization model to minimize the number of fixtures.The constraints are set in the optimization model to ensure that the part deformation is within the surface profile tolerance.In addition,the assembly gap between two parts is also controlled.To conduct the optimization,this paper develops an improved particle swarm optimization(IPSO)algorithm by integrating the shrinkage factor and adaptive inertia weight.In the algorithm,particles are encoded according to the fixture position.Each dimension of the particle is assigned to a sub-region by constraining the optional position range of each fixture to improve the optimization efficiency.Finally,a case study on ship curved panel assembly is provided to prove that our method can optimize the number of fixtures while meeting the assembly quality requirements.This research proposes a method to optimize the number of fixtures,which can reduce the number of fixtures and achieve deformation control at the same time.

Development of Fixture Layout Optimization for Thin-Walled Parts:A Review

An increasing number of researchers have researched fixture layout optimization for thin-walled part assembly during the past decades.However,few papers systematically review these researches.By analyzing existing literature,this paper summarizes the process of fixture layout optimization and the methods applied.The process of optimization is made up of optimization objective setting,assembly variation/deformation modeling,and fixture layout optimization.This paper makes a review of the fixture layout for thin-walled parts according to these three steps.First,two different kinds of optimization objectives are introduced.Researchers usually consider in-plane variations or out-of-plane deformations when designing objectives.Then,modeling methods for assembly variation and deformation are divided into two categories:Mechanism-based and data-based methods.Several common methods are discussed respectively.After that,optimization algorithms are reviewed systematically.There are two kinds of optimization algorithms:Traditional nonlinear programming and heuristic algorithms.Finally,discussions on the current situation are provided.The research direction of fixture layout optimization in the future is discussed from three aspects:Objective setting,improving modeling accuracy and optimization algorithms.Also,a new research point for fixture layout optimization is discussed.This paper systematically reviews the research on fixture layout optimization for thin-walled parts,and provides a reference for future research in this field.

Machining Deformation Prediction of Thin-Walled Part Based on Finite Element Analysis

For the problems of machining distortion and the low accepted product during milling process of aluminum alloy thin-walled part,this paper starts from the analysis of initial stress state in material preparation process,the change process of residual stress within aluminum alloy pre-stretching plate is researched,and the distribution law of residual stress is indirectly obtained by delamination measurement methods,so the effect of internal residual stress on machining distortion is considered before finite element simulation. Considering the coupling effects of residual stress,dynamic milling force and clamping force on machining distortion,a threedimensional dynamic finite element simulation model is established,and the whole cutting process is simulated from the blank material to finished product,a novel prediction method is proposed,which can availably predict the machining distortion accurately. The machining distortion state of the thin-walled part is achieved at different processing steps,the machining distortion of the thin-walled part is detected with three coordinate measuring machine tools,show that the simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data.

Optimization of material removal strategy in milling of thin-walled parts

The optimal material removal strategy can improve a geometric accuracy and surface quality of thin-walled parts such as turbine blades and blisks in high-speed ball end milling.The dominant conception in the material removal represents the persistence of the workpiece cutting stiffness in operation to advance the machining accuracy and machining efficiency.On the basis of theoretical models of cutting stiffness and deformation,finite element method (FEM) is applied to calculate the virtual displacements of the thin-walled part under given virtual loads at the nodes of the discrete surface.With the reference of deformation distribution of the thin-walled part,the milling material removal strategy is optimized to make the best of bracing ability of still uncut material.This material removal method is summarized as the lower stiffness region removed firstly and the higher stiffness region removed next.Analytical and experimental results show the availability,which has been verified by the blade machining test in this work,for thin-walled parts to reduce cutting deformation and meliorate machining quality.

Mapping relationship analysis of welding assembly properties for thin-walled parts with finite element and machine learning algorithm

The finite element(FE)-based simulation of welding characteristics was carried out to explore the relationship among welding assembly properties for the parallel T-shaped thin-walled parts of an antenna structure.The effects of welding direction,clamping,fixture release time,fixed constraints,and welding sequences on these properties were analyzed,and the mapping relationship among welding characteristics was thoroughly examined.Different machine learning algorithms,including the generalized regression neural network(GRNN),wavelet neural network(WNN),and fuzzy neural network(FNN),are used to predict the multiple welding properties of thin-walled parts to mirror their variation trend and verify the correctness of the mapping relationship.Compared with those from GRNN and WNN,the maximum mean relative errors for the predicted values of deformation,temperature,and residual stress with FNN were less than 4.8%,1.4%,and 4.4%,respectively.These results indicate that FNN generated the best predicted welding characteristics.Analysis under various welding conditions also shows a mapping relationship among welding deformation,temperature,and residual stress over a period of time.This finding further provides a paramount basis for the control of welding assembly errors of an antenna structure in the future.

Initial residual stress experiment and simulation of thin-walled parts for layer removal method

Thin-walled parts have low stiffness characteristic. Initial residual stress of thin-walled blanks is an important influence factor on machining stability. The present work is to verify the feasibility of an initial residual stress measurement of layer removal method. According to initial residual stress experiment for casting ZL205 A aluminum alloy tapered thin-walled blank by a common method,namely hole-drilling method,three finite element models with initial residual stress are established to simulate the layer removal method in ABAQUS and ANSYS software. By analyzing the results of simulation and experiments,the cutting residual stress inlayer removal process has a significant effect on measurement results. Reducing cutting residual stress is helpful to improve accuracy of layer removal method.

An electromagnetic semi-active dynamic vibration absorber for thin-walled workpiece vibration suppression in mirror milling

As critical components of aircraft skins and rocket fuel storage tank shells,large thin-walled workpieces are susceptible to vibration and deformation during machining due to their weak local stiffness.To address these challenges,we propose a novel tunable electromagnetic semi-active dynamic vibration absorber(ESADVA),which integrates with a magnetic suction follower to form a followed ESADVA(follow-ESADVA)for mirror milling.This system combines a tunable magnet oscillator with a follower,enabling real-time vibration absorption and condition feedback throughout the milling process.Additionally,the device supports self-sensing and frequency adjustment by providing feedback to a linear actuator,which alters the distance between magnets.This resolves the traditional issue of being unable to directly monitor vibration at the machining point due to space constraints and tool interference.The frequency shift characteristics and vibration absorption performance are comprehensively investigated.Theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that the prototyped follow-ESADVA achieves frequency synchronization with the milling tool,resulting in a vibration suppression rate of approximately 47.57%.Moreover,the roughness of the machined surface decreases by18.95%,significantly enhancing the surface quality.The results of this work pave the way for higher-quality machined surfaces and a more stable mirror milling process.

Meter-Scale Thin-Walled Structure with Lattice Infill for Fuel Tank Supporting Component of Satellite:Multiscale Design and Experimental Verification

Lightweight thin-walled structures with lattice infill are widely desired in satellite for their high stiffness-to-weight ratio and superior buckling strength resulting fromthe sandwich effect.Such structures can be fabricated bymetallic additive manufacturing technique,such as selective laser melting(SLM).However,the maximum dimensions of actual structures are usually in a sub-meter scale,which results in restrictions on their appliance in aerospace and other fields.In this work,a meter-scale thin-walled structure with lattice infill is designed for the fuel tank supporting component of the satellite by integrating a self-supporting lattice into the thickness optimization of the thin-wall.The designed structure is fabricated by SLM of AlSi10Mg and cold metal transfer welding technique.Quasi-static mechanical tests and vibration tests are both conducted to verify the mechanical strength of the designed large-scale lattice thin-walled structure.The experimental results indicate that themeter-scale thin-walled structure with lattice infill could meet the dimension and lightweight requirements of most spacecrafts.

Numerical Analysis of Cold-Formed Thin-Walled Steel Short Columns with Pitting Corrosion during Bridge Construction

Pitting corrosion is harmful during bridge construction,which will lead to uneven roughness of steel surfaces and reduce the thickness of steel.Hence,the effect of pitting corrosion on the mechanical properties of cold-formed thin-walled steel stub columns is studied,and the empirical formulas are established through regression fitting to predict the ultimate load of web and flange under pitting corrosion.In detail,the failure modes and load-displacement curves of specimens with different locations,area ratios,and depths are obtained through a large number of non-linear finite element analysis.As for the specimens with pitting corrosion on the web,all the specimens are subject to local buckling failure,and the failure mode will not change with pitting corrosion,but the failure location will change with pitting corrosion location;the size,location,and area ratio of pitting corrosion have little influence on the ultimate load of cold-formed thin-walled steel short columns,but the loss rate of pitting corrosion section area has a greater impact on the ultimate bearing capacity.As for the specimen with flange pitting corrosion,the location and area ratio of pitting corrosion have less influence on the ultimate load of cold-formed thin-walled steel short columns,and the section area loss rate has greater influence on the ultimate bearing capacity;the impact of web pitting corrosion on the ultimate load is greater than that of flange pitting corrosion under the same condition of pitting corrosion section area.The prediction formulas of limit load which are suitable for pitting corrosion of web and flange are established,which can provide a reference for performance evaluation of corroded cold-formed thin-walled steel.

Sensitivity of springback and section deformation to process parameters in rotary draw bending of thin-walled rectangular H96 brass tube

In order to study the effects of the process parameters on springback and section deformation, a sensitivity analysis model was established based on the combination use of the multi-parameter sensitivity analysis method and the springback/section deformation prediction finite element model, and by using this model the sensitivities of the springback and the section deformation to process parameters were analyzed and compared. The results show that the most sensitive process conditions for springback angle are the boost speed and the pressure of pressure die, and the most sensitive process condition for section deformation is the number of cores. When the clamp force, the boost speed and the pressure of pressure die are utilized to control section deformation, the effect of these process parameters on springback should be considered. When the process parameters are mainly used to control springback, the effect of these process parameters on the section deformation should be always considered.

VIBRATION IN HIGH-SPEED MILLING OF THIN-WALLED COMPONENTS

To investigate the vibration principle in machining thin-walled components, a dynamic model for end milling of flexible structures is built based on considering the variations in the dynamic chip thickness and the differences between up-milling and down-milling. Two milling experiments verify the model. Experimental results show that the model can predict the milling force and displacements simultaneously in the dynamic milling process.

Plastic wrinkling prediction in thin-walled part forming process: A review

The precision forming of thin-walled components has been urgently needed in aviation and aerospace field. However, the wrinkling induced by the compressive instability is one of the major defects in thin-walled part forming. The initiation and growth of the wrinkles are interac- tively affected by many factors such as stress states, mechanical properties of the material, geometry of the workpiece and boundary conditions. Especially when the forming process involves compli- cated boundary conditions such as multi-dies constrains, the perturbation of clearances between workpiece and dies and the contact conditions changing in time and space, etc., the predication of the wrinkling is further complicated. In this paper, the cu.rent prediction methods were summa- rized including the static equilibrium method, the energy method, the initial imperfection method, the eigenvalue buckling analysis method, the static-implicit finite element method and the dynamic- explicit finite element method. Then, a systematical comparison and summary of these methods in terms of their advantages and limitations are presented. By using a combination of explicit FE method, initial imperfection and energy conservation, a hybrid method is recommended to predict plastic wrinkling in thin-walled part forming. Finally, considering the urgent requirements of com- plex thin-walled structures＇ part in aviation and aerospace field, the trends and challenges in wrin- kling prediction under complicated boundary conditions are presented.

Fixturing technology and system for thin-walled parts machining:a review

During the overall processing of thin-walled parts(TWPs),the guaranteed capability of the machining process and quality is determined by fixtures.Therefore,reliable fixtures suitable for the structure and machining process of TWP are essential.In this review,the key role of fixtures in the manufacturing system is initially discussed.The main problems in machining and workholding due to the characteristics of TWP are then analyzed in detail.Afterward,the definition of TWP fixtures is reinterpreted from narrow and broad perspectives.Fixture functions corresponding to the issues of machining and workholding are then clearly stated.Fixture categories are classified systematically according to previous research achievements,and the operation mode,functional characteristics,and structure of each fixture are comprehensively described.The function and execution mode of TWP fixtures are then systematically summarized and analyzed,and the functions of various TWP fixtures are evaluated.Some directions for future research on TWP fixtures technology are also proposed.The main purpose of this review is to provide some reference and guidance for scholars to examine TWP fixtures.

Warm bending mechanism of extrados and intrados of large diameter thin-walled CP-Ti tubes

In order to develop the warming bending technology of the large diameter thin-walled（LDTW） commercial pure titanium alloy CP-Ti tubes, the warm bending mechanism of the extrados and intrados of LDTW CP-Ti tubes was researched. By EBSD analysis and Vickers hardness test, the changes of microstructure and strength of the tubes at different bending temperatures of 293, 423 and 573 K, were analyzed. The results show： 1） The extrados of the bent tube deforms mainly by slip, along with few twinning, and the preferred orientation is similar to that of the initial tube; the intrados of the bent tube experiences compression deformation mainly by {1 012} tensile twinning, and the twinning makes the preferred orientation of wall materials change sharply. 2） The Vickers hardness values of both the extrados and intrados of the samples after bending increase greatly; the Vickers hardness values of the intrados are much higher than those of the extrados, and Vickers hardness values of the RD-TD planes are always higher than those of the RD-LD planes, which are related to the different deformation mechanisms.

Fundamentals and Processes of Fluid Pressure Forming Technology for Complex Thin-Walled Components

A new generation of fluid pressure forming technology has been developed for the three typical structures of tubes,sheets,and shells,and hard-to-deform material components that are urgently needed for aerospace,aircraft,automobile,and high-speed train industries.in this paper,an over all review is introduced on the state of the art in fundamentals and processes for lower-pressure hydroforming of tubular components,double-sided pressure hydroforming of sheet components,die-less hydroforming of ellipsoidai shells,and dual hardening hot medium forming af hard-to-deform materiais Particular attention is paid to deformation behavior,stress state adjustment,defect prevention,and typical applications.In addition,future development directions of fluid pressure forming technology are discussed,including hyper lower-loading forming for ultra-large non-uniform components,precision for ming for intermetallic compound and high-entropy alloy components,intelligent process and equipment,and precise finite element simulation of inhomogeneous and strong anisotropic thin shells.

Significance-based optimization of processing parameters for thin-walled aluminum alloy tube NC bending with small bending radius

Thin-walled aluminum alloy tube numerical control （NC） bending with small bending radius is a complex process with multi-factor coupling effects and multi-die constraints. A significance-based optimization method of the parameters was proposed based on the finite element （FE） simulation, and the significance analysis of the processing parameters on the forming quality in terms of the maximum wall thinning ratio and the maximum cross section distortion degree was implemented using the fractional factorial design. The optimum value of the significant parameter, the clearance between the tube and the wiper die, was obtained, and the values of the other parameters, including the friction coefficients and the clearances between the tube and the dies, the mandrel extension length and the boost velocity were estimated. The results are applied to aluminum alloy tube NC bending d50 mm×1 mm×75 mm and d70 mm×1.5 mm×105 mm （initial tube outside diameter D0 × initial tube wall thickness t0 × bending radius R）, and qualified tubes are produced.

Closed-form solution to thin-walled box girders considering effects of shear deformation and shear lag

Considering three longitudinal displacement functions and uniform axial displacement functions for shear lag effect and uniform axial deformation of thin-walled box girder with varying depths,a simple and efficient method with high precision to analyze the shear lag effect of thin-walled box girders was proposed.The governing differential equations and boundary conditions of the box girder under lateral loading were derived based on the energy-variational method,and closed-form solutions to stress and deflection corresponding to lateral loading were obtained.Analysis and calculations were carried out with respect to a trapezoidal box girder under concentrated loading or uniform loading and a rectangular box girder under concentrated loading.The analytical results were compared with numerical solutions derived according to the high order finite strip element method and the experimental results.The investigation shows that the closed-form solution is in good agreement with the numerical solutions derived according to the high order finite strip method and the experimental results,and has good stability.Because of the shear lag effect,the stress in cross-section centroid is no longer zero,thus it is not reasonable enough to assume that the strain in cross-section centroid is zero without considering uniform axial deformation.

Recent progress in flexible supporting technology for aerospace thin-walled parts:A review

Thin-walled parts are widely used in the aerospace industry owing to their light weight and high specific strength.However,due to the low rigidity of thin-walled parts,elastic deformation and chatter easily occur,which seriously affect the machining accuracy and workpiece surface quality.To solve this problem,several supporting technologies have been reported in recent years.This paper reviews the recent research progress of flexible supporting technologies in the aerospace field by classifying them based on different principles and characteristics.The principle,progress,advantages,and limitations of the technologies are expounded by systematic comparison and summarized.Finally,the challenges and future development trends of flexible supporting technology,which will provide guidelines for further research,are discussed.

GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR FINITE ELEMENT MODEL OF SPATIAL THIN-WALLED BEAMS WITH GENERAL OPEN CROSS SECTION

Based on the theory of Timoshenko and thin-walled beams, a new finite element model of spatial thin-walled beams with general open cross sections is presented in the paper, in which several factors are included such as lateral shear deformation, warp generated by nonuni- form torsion and second-order shear stress, coupling of flexure and torsion, and large displacement with small strain. With an additional internal node in the element, the element stiffness matrix is deduced by incremental virtual work in updated Lagrangian （UL） formulation. Numerical examples demonstrate that the presented model well describes the geometrically nonlinear property of spatial thin-walled beams.

Cross-sectional distortion behaviors of thin-walled rectangular tube in rotary-draw bending process

The cross-sectional distortion usually appears during rotary-draw bending process of thin-walled rectangular tube with small bending radius.To study the cross-sectional distortion of the tube,a three-dimensional finite-element model of the process was developed based on ABAQUS/Explicit code and its reliability was validated by experiment.Then,the cross-sectional distortion behaviors of the tube were investigated.The results show that a zone of larger circumferential stress appears on the tube when bending angle reaches 30°.And in the larger circumferential stress zone,the sagging phenomenon is produced obviously.The maximum cross-sectional distortion is located in the larger circumferential stress zone and the angle between the plane of maximum cross-sectional distortion and the bending reference plane is about 50°.The position of the maximum cross-sectional distortion keeps almost unchanged with the variation of the clearances between dies and tube.