Aleksandar Vencl

Tribological properties of A356 Al-Si alloy composites under dry sliding conditions

Purpose – Aluminium alloys are frequently applied in automotive and other industries, since they provide mass reduction. Besides positive effects, aluminium alloys have their shortcomings reflected, first of all, in inappropriate tribological properties of these materials. The aim of this research was to enable the production of cheap aluminium alloy matrix composite with favourable combination of structural, mechanical and tribological properties, focusing on the tribological behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – The A356 Al-Si alloy was used as a matrix for producing metal matrix composites in compocasting process. Three different materials, in form of particles, were added to the matrix (Al2O3, SiC and graphite). Hardness and tribological properties (wear, friction and wear mechanism) of heat-treated (T6) samples were examined and compared. Tribological tests were carried out on ball-on-block tribometer under dry sliding conditions. Sliding was linear (reciprocating). Counter body was alumina ball. ...

Tribological Behavior of Ferrous-Based APS Coatings Under Dry Sliding Conditions

The use of Al-alloys for engine blocks production, instead of e.g., gray cast iron, results with weight savings and lower fuel consumption and therefore, reduces pollution. Possible solution for overcoming poor tribological properties of Al-alloys is the application of thermal spray coatings. In this paper, the tribological properties of two ferrous-based coatings were analyzed and compared with gray cast iron as a standard material for engine blocks. The process used for coating deposition on an Al-Si alloy substrate was atmospheric plasma spraying. In order to investigate the tribological behavior of these coatings under dominant adhesive and abrasive wear regime, two tests were applied with different test equipments and conditions. Both tribological tests showed that, for the investigated conditions, both coatings had improved wear resistance and lower coefficient of friction compared with gray cast iron.

Influence of plasma spraying parameters on properties of thermal barrier coatings

Abstract The aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of plasma spay deposition parameters on various properties of two standard thermal barrier coating (TBC) systems deposited on the steel substrate. Two TBC systems were investigated: NiCr–Al–Co–Y2O3/ZrO2–Y2O3 and NiCr–Al–Co–Y2O3/ZrO2–CeO2–Y2O3. Powders were deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) with two variable parameters. The first variable was substrate temperature (21–23 and 160–180°C), and the second variable was transverse speed of the spraying gun (250 and 500 mm s−1), i.e. coating thickness per one pass of the spraying gun. The quality assessments of TBC systems were made on the base of their microstructure, microhardness, tensile bond strength and thermal cyclic behaviour (thermal insulation properties and thermal cycling fatigue). Analysis of the results showed great influence of plasma spray deposition parameters on the quality of obtained TBCs.

Exploring wear at the nanoscale with circular mode atomic force microscopy

The development of atomic force microscopy (AFM) has allowed wear mechanisms to be investigated at the nanometer scale by means of a single asperity contact generated by an AFM tip and an interacting surface. However, the low wear rate at the nanoscale and the thermal drift require fastidious quantitative measurements of the wear volume for determining wear laws. In this paper, we describe a new, effective, experimental methodology based on circular mode AFM, which generates high frequency, circular displacements of the contact. Under such conditions, the wear rate is significant and the drift of the piezoelectric actuator is limited. As a result, well-defined wear tracks are generated and an accurate computation of the wear volume is possible. Finally, we describe the advantages of this method and we report a relevant application example addressing a Cu/Al2O3 nanocomposite material used in industrial applications.

Artificial aging of thixocast ZA27 alloy and particulate ZA27/SiCp composites

Abstract Thixocast ZA27 alloy and particulate ZA27/SiCp composites were subjected to artificial aging at 80, 120 and 160°C (T5 regime). Composites with 5 and 10 vol.% SiC particles were produced via the compocasting method. The influence of the aging was investigated using different techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry was performed to reveal the presence of phases created in the thixocast ZA27 alloy and the composites. Microstructures and fracture behavior were examined by means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Aging processes in the matrix alloy and composites were followed using hardness measurements. A decrease in the hardness values was noticed with the increase in the aging temperature. At higher temperatures diffusion of zinc atoms from supersaturated phases in the matrix alloy was enhanced, which resulted in faster changes in the hardness. Aging processes in the composites were significantly accelerated compared to the matrix alloy, due to the presence of particulate reinforcements. The maximum in hardness was achieved for shorter time in the ZA27/SiCp composite with higher volume fraction of SiC particles.

Defining the functional and physical compatibility of a modernized tramway rolling stock with a newly planned LRT system: a case study of Belgrade

According to the Belgrade Master Plan for 2021, the public transportation system for the city and its region will include three rail modes: a modernized existing tramway, regional rail, and a new light rail transit (LRT) mode. In the coming years all three rail modes should be developed simultaneously and in a coordinated manner. The introduction of LRT is to be realized in several phases, and its first line will partially follow the alignment of an existing tramway line. As the present tramway vehicles are obsolete, new rolling stock must be designed and purchased to be compatible with many of the elements of the LRT. Ways to adjust the new tramways to the LRT rolling stock represent the central topic of this paper. The basic technical and operating characteristics of the new tramway are defined with respect to their required compatibility with the LRT stock and infrastructure.

Fault tree analysis of most common rolling bearing tribological failures

Wear as a tribological process has a major influence on the reliability and life of rolling bearings. Field examinations of bearing failures due to wear indicate possible causes and point to the necessary measurements for wear reduction or elimination. Wear itself is a very complex process initiated by the action of different mechanisms, and can be manifested by different wear types which are often related. However, the dominant type of wear can be approximately determined. The paper presents the classification of most common bearing damages according to the dominant wear type, i.e. abrasive wear, adhesive wear, surface fatigue wear, erosive wear, fretting wear and corrosive wear. The wear types are correlated with the terms used in ISO 15243 standard. Each wear type is illustrated with an appropriate photograph, and for each wear type, appropriate description of causes and manifestations is presented. Possible causes of rolling bearing failure are used for the fault tree analysis (FTA). It was performed to determine the root causes for bearing failures. The constructed fault tree diagram for rolling bearing failure can be useful tool for maintenance engineers.