DesignsPub Date : 2024-07-26DOI: 10.3390/designs8040073
M. Magelli, Rosario Pagano, Nicolò Zampieri
{"title":"Design of an Innovative Twin-Disc Device for the Evaluation of Wheel and Rail Profile Wear","authors":"M. Magelli, Rosario Pagano, Nicolò Zampieri","doi":"10.3390/designs8040073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8040073","url":null,"abstract":"The tribological properties of steels used to realise railway wheels play a fundamental role in the performances of both vehicle and infrastructure. In particular, the wear process, caused by the wheel–rail interaction, modifies the shape of wheel and rail profiles, changing the performances of the vehicle. For this reason, research institutes and vehicle manufacturers have worked hard to develop predictive tools able to estimate the evolution of the wheel and rail profiles. The efficiency of these tools is strongly influenced by the tribological properties of the materials, i.e., the wear coefficients, which are used as input data. The characterisation of these properties requires specific tools and long-lasting experimental campaigns, which are usually performed under controlled operating conditions, using twin-disc test benches. These devices usually do not consider the real contact conditions in terms of normal load, contact geometry, and slip velocity, since they are equipped with small-size rollers. The paper proposes an innovative 1:5 scaled twin-disc, which allows the reproduction of the real wheel–rail contact conditions, thanks to Pascal’s scaling technique. The testing device allows the reproduction of a wide range of typical operating conditions of railway vehicles, thanks to high-power independent brushless motors, used to actuate the rollers, and an innovative loading system.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141798851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-07-26DOI: 10.3390/designs8040074
P. Renna, Michele Ambrico, Vito Romaniello, Thomas Russino
{"title":"An Approach for Predicting the Lifetime of Lead-Free Soldered Electronic Components: Hitachi Rail STS Case Study","authors":"P. Renna, Michele Ambrico, Vito Romaniello, Thomas Russino","doi":"10.3390/designs8040074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8040074","url":null,"abstract":"Throughout much of the 20th century, Sn–Pb solder dominated electronics. However, environmental and health concerns have driven the adoption of lead-free alternatives. Since 2006, legislation such as the European Union’s RoHS Directive has mandated lead-free solder in most electronic devices, prompting extensive research into high-performance substitutes. Lead-free solders offer advantages such as reduced environmental impact and improved reliability but replacing Sn–Pb presents challenges in areas like melting point and wetting ability. This transition is primarily motivated by a focus on protecting environmental and human health, while ensuring equal or even improved reliability. Research has explored lead-free solder’s mechanical properties, microstructure, wettability, and reliability. However, there is a notable lack of studies on its long-term performance and lifetime influence. To address this gap, mathematical models are used to predict intermetallic bond evolution from process conditions, validated with experimental tests. This study contributes by extending these models to predict bond evolution under typical operating conditions of devices and comparing the predictions with actual intermetallic thickness values found through metallographic sections.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141800903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-07-18DOI: 10.3390/designs8040072
Joseph Habib Dagher, A. Goupee, A. Viselli
{"title":"Optimized Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Substructure Design Trends for 10–30 MW Turbines in Low-, Medium-, and High-Severity Wave Environments","authors":"Joseph Habib Dagher, A. Goupee, A. Viselli","doi":"10.3390/designs8040072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8040072","url":null,"abstract":"Floating offshore wind is a promising renewable energy source, as 60% of the wind resources globally are found at depths requiring floating technologies, it minimizes construction at sea, and provides opportunities for industrialization given a lower site dependency. While floating offshore wind has numerous advantages, a current obstacle is its cost in comparison to more established energy sources. One cost-reduction approach for floating wind is increasing turbine capacities, which minimizes the amount of foundations, moorings, cables, and O&M equipment. This work presents trends in mass-optimized VolturnUS hull designs as turbine capacity increases for various wave environments. To do this, a novel rapid hull optimization framework is presented that employs frequency domain modeling, estimations of statistical extreme responses, industry constructability requirements, and genetic algorithm optimization to generate preliminary mass-optimal VolturnUS hull designs for a given turbine design and set of site conditions. Using this framework, mass-optimized VolturnUS hull designs were generated for 10–30 MW turbines for wave environments of varying severities. These design studies show that scaling up turbine capacities increases the mass efficiency of substructure designs, with decreasing returns, throughout the examined turbine capacity range. Additionally, increased wave environment severity is shown to increase the required mass of a given substructure design.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141824431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-05-24DOI: 10.3390/designs8030050
Paweł Turek, Wojciech Bezłada, Klaudia Cierpisz, Karol Dubiel, Adrian Frydrych, Jacek Misiura
{"title":"Analysis of the Accuracy of CAD Modeling in Engineering and Medical Industries Based on Measurement Data Using Reverse Engineering Methods","authors":"Paweł Turek, Wojciech Bezłada, Klaudia Cierpisz, Karol Dubiel, Adrian Frydrych, Jacek Misiura","doi":"10.3390/designs8030050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030050","url":null,"abstract":"The reverse engineering (RE) process is often necessary in today’s engineering and medical industries. Expertise in measurement technology, data processing, and CAD modeling is required to ensure accurate reconstruction of an object’s geometry. However, errors are generated at every stage of geometric reconstruction, affecting the dimensional and geometric accuracy of the final 3D-CAD model. In this article, the geometry of reconstructed models was measured using contact and optical methods. The measurement data representing 2D profiles, 3D point clouds, and 2D images acquired in the reconstruction process were saved to a stereolithography (STL) model. The reconstructed models were then subjected to a CAD modeling process, and the accuracy of the parametric modeling was evaluated by comparing the 3D-CAD model to the 3D-STL model. Based on the results, the model used for clamping and positioning parts to perform the machining process and the connecting rod provided the most accurate mapping errors. These models represented deviations within ±0.02 mm and ±0.05 mm. The accuracy of CAD modeling for the turbine blade model and the pelvis part was comparable, presenting deviations within ±0.1 mm. However, the helical gear and the femur models showed the highest deviations of about ±0.2 mm. The procedures presented in the article specify the methods and resolution of the measurement systems and suggest CAD modeling strategies to minimize reconstruction errors. These results can be used as a starting point for further tests to optimize CAD modeling procedures based on the obtained measurement data.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141102336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-05-24DOI: 10.3390/designs8030049
Lazaros Firtikiadis, A. Manavis, P. Kyratsis, N. Efkolidis
{"title":"Product Design Trends within the Footwear Industry: A Review","authors":"Lazaros Firtikiadis, A. Manavis, P. Kyratsis, N. Efkolidis","doi":"10.3390/designs8030049","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030049","url":null,"abstract":"Computer technology influences the capability to enhance the functionality of manufacturing and product design technologies. Innovations in computational design and digital manufacturing empower designers and manufacturers to create novel representations and algorithms for designing, analyzing, and planning the production of highly complicated products achievable through state-of-the-art technology. Various principles, including computational physics, geometric reasoning, and automated spatial planning, enable engineers to generate entirely new categories of products in the footwear industry. This study aims to review the methods and tools that have been published in the literature for the last twenty years, and provide a better understanding of the parameters, tools, and controls that contribute to the design and manufacturing processes of shoes. The main focus is on highlighting the product design-related trends within the footwear industry. A structured framework becomes apparent in the literature through the grouping and presentation of information. This framework facilitates drawing conclusions about the trends and existing needs derived from in-depth research in the field of footwear. Additionally, it reveals the upcoming methods and tools that will contribute to the enhancement and development of this emerging and promising industry sector. In conclusion, the categorization limitation within the footwear industry could serve as the foundation for exploring key areas to be analyzed further in other industries, for instance, in furniture, clothing, and packaging.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141101615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-05-21DOI: 10.3390/designs8030048
Marvin Sperling, K. Furmans
{"title":"Energy Requirement Modeling for Automated Guided Vehicles Considering Material Flow and Layout Data","authors":"Marvin Sperling, K. Furmans","doi":"10.3390/designs8030048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030048","url":null,"abstract":"Saving energy and resources has become increasingly important for industrial applications. Foremost, this requires knowledge about the energy requirement. For this purpose, this paper presents a state-based energy requirement model for mobile robots, e.g., automated guided vehicles or autonomous mobile robots, that determines the energy requirement by integrating the linearized power requirement parameters within each system state of the vehicle. The model and their respective system states were verified using a qualitative process analysis of 25 mobile robots from different manufacturers and validated by comparing simulated data with experimental data. For this purpose, power consumption measurements over 461 operating hours were performed in experiments with two different industrial mobile robots. System components of a mobile robot, which require energy, were classified and their power consumptions were measured individually. The parameters in the study consist of vehicle speed, load-handling duration, load, utilization, material flow and layout data, and charging infrastructure system frequency, yet these varied throughout the experiments. Validation of the model through real experiments shows that, in a 99% confidence interval, the relative deviation in the modeled power requirement for a small-scale vehicle is [−1.86%,−1.14%], whereas, for a mid-scale vehicle, it is [−0.73%,−0.31%]. This sets a benchmark for modeling the energy requirement of mobile robots with multiple influencing factors, allowing for an accurate estimation of the energy requirement of mobile robots.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141118450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-05-17DOI: 10.3390/designs8030047
D. Cardoso, Paulo Oliveira Fael, P. Gaspar, António Espírito-Santo
{"title":"An Innovative Mechanical Approach to Mitigating Torque Fluctuations in IC Engines during Idle Operation","authors":"D. Cardoso, Paulo Oliveira Fael, P. Gaspar, António Espírito-Santo","doi":"10.3390/designs8030047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030047","url":null,"abstract":"Internal combustion engines have been a major contributor to air pollution. Replacing these engines with electric propulsion systems presents significant challenges due to different countries’ needs and limitations. An active, purely mechanical solution to the problem of irregular torque production in an alternative internal combustion engine is proposed. This solution uses an actuator built on a camshaft and a spring, which stores and returns energy during the engine operating cycle, allowing torque production to be normalized, avoiding heavy flywheels. Designed for control throughout the engine’s duty cycle, this system incorporates a cam profile and a spring mechanism. The spring captures energy during the expansion stroke, which is then released to the engine during the intake and compression strokes. Simple, lightweight, and efficient, this system ensures smoother and more consistent engine operations. It presents a viable alternative to the heavy and problematic dual-mass flywheels that were introduced in the 1980s and are still in use. This innovative approach could significantly enhance the performance and reliability of alternative internal combustion engines without notable energy losses.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140963513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-05-17DOI: 10.3390/designs8030046
J. Pérez-Valcárcel, M. Muñoz-Vidal, Isaac R. López-César, M. Freire-Tellado, F. Suárez-Riestra
{"title":"Analysis of Deployable Cylindrical Space Bar Structures of Reciprocal Linkages with Frustoconical Ends","authors":"J. Pérez-Valcárcel, M. Muñoz-Vidal, Isaac R. López-César, M. Freire-Tellado, F. Suárez-Riestra","doi":"10.3390/designs8030046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030046","url":null,"abstract":"In this article, deployable cylindrical vaults of reciprocal linkages with frustoconical ends are analysed. Deployable cylindrical vaults with quadrangular scissors modules have low stiffness in the longitudinal direction, which requires the use of stiffening bars after deployment. The truncated cone-shaped ends improve their stiffness but do not prevent bracing. However, if reciprocal knots are used, the mesh performance improves considerably. This article studies the design conditions of these vaults and their resistance to gravity, wind suction and wind loads in the transverse and longitudinal directions. We also study the different resistance behaviour of the mesh, depending on whether the roof is supported on the upper or lower joints. In all cases, model tests are carried out to check the validity of the proposed solutions. Both theoretical calculations and experimental tests demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of this type of structure.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140965678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-05-15DOI: 10.3390/designs8030044
Alberto Vergnano, Claudio Giorgianni, Francesco Leali
{"title":"Monitoring the Center of Gravity of a Vehicle Seat to Detect the Occupant Position","authors":"Alberto Vergnano, Claudio Giorgianni, Francesco Leali","doi":"10.3390/designs8030044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030044","url":null,"abstract":"Deploying an airbag when a vehicle occupant is too close to it can cause injury. An adaptive Airbag Control Unit (ACU) would improve the effectiveness of the safety system, provided it is aware of the actual position of the occupants once the crash is going to occur. Occupants can be monitored with vision-based and radar-based sensing in the vehicle, but the research question is whether other reliable devices exist. In this research, a real seat is equipped with four sensors in the supports from the floor, as well as an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a microcontroller. The device is capable of identifying correct position or different Out of Position (OP) conditions and inform an adaptive ACU. The paper presents the seat layout in detail and its testing in extensive driving experiments with multiple participants. Depending on the position of the driver, the identification is correct 45–100% of the time. Monitoring the occupant position by a sensorized seat is feasible and can improve the reliability of the onboard safety system when integrated with other occupant monitoring devices.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140974364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
DesignsPub Date : 2024-05-15DOI: 10.3390/designs8030045
M. Obeidi, Paul Healy, Hasan Alobaidi, Declan Bourke, D. Brabazon
{"title":"Towards a Sustainable Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process via the Characterisation of Additively Manufactured Nitinol Parts","authors":"M. Obeidi, Paul Healy, Hasan Alobaidi, Declan Bourke, D. Brabazon","doi":"10.3390/designs8030045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030045","url":null,"abstract":"Is additive manufacturing (AM) a sustainable process? Can the process be optimised to produce sustainable AM parts and production techniques? Additive manufacturing offers the production of parts made of different types of materials in addition to the complex geometry that is difficult or impossible to produce by using the traditional subtractive methods. This study is focused on the optimisation of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), one of the most common technologies used in additive manufacturing and 3D printing. This research was carried out by modulating the build layer thickness of the deposited metal powder and the input volumetric energy density. The aim of the proposed strategy is to save the build time by maximizing the applied layer thickness of nitinol powder while retrieving the different AM part properties. The saving in the process time has a direct effect on the total cost of the produced part as a result of several components like electric energy, inert gas consumption, and labour. Nickel-rich nitinol (52.39 Ni at.%) was selected for investigation in this study due to its extremely high superplastic and shape memory properties in addition to the wide application in various industries like aerospace, biomedical, and automotive. The results obtained show that significant energy and material consumption can be found by producing near full dens AM parts with limited or no alteration in chemical and mechanical properties.","PeriodicalId":504821,"journal":{"name":"Designs","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140972240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}