Hermann Pleteit

A Thermoelectric Energy Harvester Directly Embedded Into Casted Aluminum

A thermoelectric generator (TG) directly embedded in aluminum is described. The device has been realized using a new silicon thermocouple process with very high temperature stability. It is integrated by direct embedding in the liquid aluminum during casting. The TG generates up to 500 μW of external electric power. The new technology also opens the path to a new generation of sensors and microsystems embedded in metals during primary shaping.

AlSi7 metallic foams – aspects of material modelling for crash analysis

Metallic foam samples of matrix alloy AlSi7 have been produced and mechanically tested under quasi-static and dynamic load. Model parameters for the Deshpande–Fleck and the ABAQUS ‘crushable foam’ material model were determined covering a density of 0.3–0.8 g/cm3. Yield surface determination uses uniaxial hydrostatic compression test results, extended by tensile test results for the latter model. Strain hardening was described on the basis of uniaxial compression by fitting a Rusch model to the experimental data, deriving its parameters as function of density. The predictive capabilities of the parameterised models were evaluated using experimental data gathered for load cases characterised by superimposed uniaxial and hydrostatic compression. Analyses show good agreement between simulation and experiment. Further uniaxial compression tests performed at varying strain rates over 4 orders of magnitude revealed no significant strain rate dependency of material properties and thus qualify the material model parameters determined for crash simulation.

Casting production of coils for electrical machines

The presented method for casting production of coils for electrical machines offers significant advantages over conventional production methods in terms of achievable performance, torque density, and the production costs of electrical machines. Below, the outline of the procedure is presented in accordance with electrical and constructive conditions. Based on initial casting experiments, the principle feasibility of the method is demonstrated.

Simulation von Fertigungsverfahren im Internet

Kurzfassung Computersimulationen haben sich längst in allen Phasen der Produktentwicklung etabliert und bewährt. Für fast alle Anwendungsfälle gibt es fertige Programmsysteme oder geeignete Entwicklungstools. Trotzdem stehen insbesondere die KMU immer wieder vor dem Problem, dass sich der Aufwand zur Einführung nicht zu lohnen scheint, vorhandene Programme veraltet sind oder die Ausbildung geeigneter Mitarbeiter nicht erfolgt. Überall, wo Einsatz und Pflege umfangreicher Programmpakete unwirtschaftlich ist, sind leicht zugängliche, maßgeschneiderte Einzellösungen gefragt, die sich am besten durch moderne Internet-Technologien realisieren lassen. Der Zugang zur Simulation von Bauteilen oder Fertigungsverfahren wird hierdurch stark vereinfacht, und es lassen sich wesentliche Zeit- und Kosteneinsparungen erzielen.