Relation between viscoplastic flow, periodic feature and Joule heat validity for electrically assisted friction stir welding

Electrically assisted friction stir welding is a promising way to improve liquidity of viscoplastic metal. However, this local heat source only can take into effect in a certain contact interface status. Semi-analytical model and FEM are adopted to analyze materials flow in electrically assisted FSW. Semi-analysis results show that Joule heating is validity with rotation speed 1 400 r/min and travel speed 400 mm/min. The maximum flow velocity is 0.033 m/s when travel speed is 400 mm/min, and it increases to 0.043 m/s with current assistant. Visco-plasticizing efficiency is a key factor to decide whether Joule heat is significant, and viscoplastic flow can periodically make circuit short. Periodic torque, axial force and onion rings surface show dynamic flow process, which can be used to illustrate the dynamic contact resistance feature and correct the calculation equation of Joule heat. This paper is aim to point out the potential relation between viscoplastic flow, periodic torque and Joule heating validity.

Electrical power assisted steering for EVs and HEVs

Electrical power assisted steering (EPAS) is one of the key components, especially for electrical vehicle. It has attracted much attention for their advantages with respect to improved fuel economy and has been widely adopted as automotive power-steering equipment in recent years. EPS (electrical power steering) controllers contain MCU (microprocessor control unit) to implement the complex control algorithms. EPS control strategy development is the core technology of the whole system. To achieve the better performance of driving, both mechanical structures and electrical structures are totally designed as a whole. Model-based development is recommended to software design. There are several trends about EPS’ future, such as high power EPS development, high voltage EPS development and steering-by-wire technology.

An Improved Torque Sensorless Speed Control Method for Electric Assisted Bicycle With Consideration of Coordinate Conversion

In this paper,we propose an improved torque sensorless speed control method for electric assisted bicycle,this method considers the coordinate conversion.A low-pass filter is designed in disturbance observer to estimate and compensate the variable disturbance during cycling.A DC motor provides assisted power driving,the assistance method is based on the realtime wheel angular velocity and coordinate system transformation.The effect of observer is proved,and the proposed method guarantees stability under disturbances.It is also compared to the existing methods and their performances are illustrated through simulations.The proposed method improves the performance both in rapidity and stability.

Intermetallic Evolution of Al–Si-Coated Hot Stamping Steel During Modified Electrically Assisted Rapid Heating

Modified electrically assisted(EA) rapid heating of Al–Si-coated hot stamping steel is suggested, and the intermetallic evolution in the coating during heating is experimentally investigated. In the modified EA rapid heating, a continuous electric current for a suitable duration is applied to a specimen to heat it to a temperature slightly below the melting temperature of the coating. The temperature of the specimen is then kept constant for a specified dwell time. The result of the microstructural analysis shows that the modified EA rapid heating could effectively increase the thickness of the intermetallic layer between the coating and steel substrate much faster than conventional furnace heating and induction heating. The effectiveness of EA rapid heating may be due to the athermal effect of the electric current on the mobility of atoms, in addition to the well-known resistance heating effect. EA rapid heating also provides a technical advantage in that partial austenization can be easily achieved by properly placing the electrodes, as demonstrated in the present study.

Influence of direct electric current on wetting behavior during brazing

The wetting behavior of liquid metals is of great importance for many processes. For brazing, however, a targeted modification beyond the adjustment of conventional process parameters or the actual set-up was not possible in the past. Therefore, the effect of direct electric current along the surface of a steel substrate on the wetting behavior and the formation of the spreading pattern of an industrial nickel-based filler metal was investigated at a temperature above T = 1000 °C in a vacuum brazing furnace. By applying direct current up to I = 60 A the wetted surface area could be increased and the spreading of the molten filler metal could be controlled in dependence of the polarity of the electric current. The electric component of the Lorentz force is supposed to be feasible reasons for the observed dependence of the electrical polarity on the filler metal spreading direction. To evaluate the influence of the electric current on the phase formation subsequent selective electron microscope analyses of the spreading pattern were carried out.