Influence of radial forging process on strain inhomogeneity of hollow gear shaft using finite element method and orthogonal design

Due to the current trend towards lightweight design in automotive industry,hollow stepped gear shafts for automobile and its radial forging process are widely investigated.Utilizing coupled finite element thermo-mechanical model,radial forging process of a hollow stepped gear shaft for automobile was simulated.The optimal combination of three process parameters including initial temperature,rotation rate and radial reduction was also selected using orthogonal design method.To examine the strain inhomogeneity of the forging workpiece,the strain inhomogeneity factor was introduced.The results reveal that the maximum effective strain and the minimum effective strain appeared in the outermost and innermost zones of different cross sections for the hollow stepped gear shaft,respectively.Optimal forging parameters are determined as a combination of initial temperature of 780°C,rotation rate of 21°/stroke and radial reduction of 3 mm.

Enhanced energy-absorbing and sound-absorbing capability of functionally graded and helicoidal lattice structures with triply periodic minimal surfaces

Lattice structures have drawn much attention in engineering applications due to their lightweight and multi-functional properties.In this work,a mathematical design approach for functionally graded(FG)and helicoidal lattice structures with triply periodic minimal surfaces is proposed.Four types of lattice structures including uniform,helicoidal,FG,and combined FG and helicoidal are fabricated by the additive manufacturing technology.The deformation behaviors,mechanical properties,energy absorption,and acoustic properties of lattice samples are thoroughly investigated.The load-bearing capability of helicoidal lattice samples is gradually improved in the plateau stage,leading to the plateau stress and total energy absorption improved by over 26.9%and 21.2%compared to the uniform sample,respectively.This phenomenon was attributed to the helicoidal design reduces the gap in unit cells and enhances fracture resistance.For acoustic properties,the design of helicoidal reduces the resonance frequency and improves the peak of absorption coefficient,while the FG design mainly influences the peak of absorption coefficient.Across broad range of frequency from 1000 to 6300 Hz,the maximum value of absorption coefficient is improved by18.6%-30%,and the number of points higher than 0.6 increased by 55.2%-61.7%by combining the FG and helicoidal designs.This study provides a novel strategy to simultaneously improve energy absorption and sound absorption properties by controlling the internal architecture of lattice structures.

Hybrid post-processing effects of magnetic abrasive finishing and heat treatment on surface integrity and mechanical properties of additively manufactured Inconel 718 superalloys

Desired microstructure and surface integrity are critical to achieving the high performance of additively manufactured components.In the present work,the hybrid post-processes of magnetic abrasive finishing(MAF)and post-heat treatment(HT)were applied to the additively manufactured Inconel718 superalloys.Their hybrid effects and influencing mechanism on the surface quality and mechanical properties of the additively manufactured samples have been studied comparatively.The results show that the MAF process effectively reduces the surface roughness by more than an order of magnitude due to the flexibility and geometric consistency of the magnetic particles and abrasives with the finished surfaces.The proper sequence of MAF and HT obtains enhanced mechanical properties for the homogenized-MAF-aged sample with the yield strength of 1147 MPa,the ultimate tensile strength of 1334 MPa,and the elongation of 22.9%,which exceeds the standard wrought material.The surface integrity,compressive residual stress field,and grain refinement induced by the MAF and subsequent aging heat treatment increase the cracking resistance and delay the fracture failure,which significantly benefits the mechanical properties.The MAF process combined with proper post-heat treatment provides an effective pathway to improve the mechanical properties of additively manufactured materials.

Selective laser melting of magnesium alloys: Necessity, formability, performance, optimization and applications

Selective laser melting (SLM), as a rapid prototyping technology, has been widely used to manufacture high-performance metal components with complex structures, which vitally provides a broad platform for the development and application of magnesium alloys. However, the poor laser formability of magnesium alloys has deleterious consequences in the application of SLM processing. This paper discusses the defect formation mechanisms during the SLM process and summarizes characteristics in terms of mechanical properties, oxidation and corrosion resistance. Current optimization schemes are reviewed from both macro and micro perspectives. Firstly, the relationship between process parameters and formability and material properties is clarified, and advanced optimization methods of the design of experiments, physical models, and machine learning are evaluated. Secondly, the effects of alloying elements, composite reinforcement, and post-treatment on the microstructure and properties of the SLMed magnesium alloy are reviewed. Finally, the future application development prospects are envisaged based on the comprehensive review. This work is significantly helpful to a better scientific understanding of SLMed magnesium alloy and puts forward some meaningful guiding opinions for the future work of magnesium alloy manufacturing.