Kamarul Azhar Kamarudin

Effect of Rotating Mold Speed on Microstructure of Al LM6 Hollow Cylinder Fabricated Using Centrifugal Method

Al LM6 hollow cylinder is fabricated using horizontal centrifugal casting which produce a very fine grain on the outer surface of the structure. In this study, the effect of motor speed and pouring temperature on the microstructure of Al LM6 hollow cylinder is determined. The speed of the motor used during casting are 1300rpm, 1500rpm and 1700rpm and the pouring temperature are 690°C, 710°C and 725°C. The Al LM6 hollow cylinder is produced by pouring the molten Al LM6 into a cylindrical casting mold which is connected with a shaft and it is rotated by motor until it is solidified. Then, the cross-section is observed using OM and SEM/EDS. From the microstructure observation, the distributions of Si are more concentrated at the inner parts and the size of Si is bigger at the inner parts. The result shows that the Si particles at the inner part which is fabricated at the highest motor speed (1700rpm) have the most Si particles compared with the Si particles that are casted with other motor speeds.

Periodic Boundary Condition Technique on Carbon Fibre Composites

A three-dimensional finite element model of carbon fibre reinforced has been investigated numerically using periodic boundary condition method. This method was used to predict the elastic mechanical behaviour of a unit cell of such composites. Periodic boundary condition was used due to its capability to represent a single unit cell similar to the neighbouring unit cells with continuous physical elements. It is assumed that the paired nodes displaced continuously without separating or interrupting other nodes during the deformation step. From the study, it was revealed that the elastic modulus agreed well with the experimental results, indicating that the present model could be used effectively.

Modelling Dynamic Behaviour and Spall Failure of Aluminium Alloy AA7010

A finite strain constitutive model to predict the dynamic deformation behaviour of Aluminium Alloy 7010 including shockwaves and spall failure is developed in this work. The important feature of this newly hyperelastic-plastic constitutive formulation is a new Mandel stress tensor formulated using new generalized orthotropic pressure. This tensor is combined with a shock equation of state (EOS) and Grady spall failure. The Hills yield criterion is adopted to characterize plastic orthotropy by means of the evolving structural tensors that is defined in the isoclinic configuration. This material model was developed and integration into elastic and plastic parts. The elastic anisotropy is taken into account through the newly stress tensor decomposition of a generalized orthotropic pressure. Plastic anisotropy is considered through yield surface and an isotropic hardening defined in a unique alignment of deviatoric plane within the stress space. To test its ability to describe shockwave propagation and spall failure, the new material model was implemented into the LLNL-DYNA3D code of UTHMs. The capability of this newly constitutive model were compared against published experimental data of Plate Impact Test at 234m/s, 450m/s and 895m/s impact velocities. A good agreement is obtained between experimental and simulation in each test.

Effect of High Velocity Ballistic Impact on Pretensioned Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) Plates

This work describes an experimental investigation of the pretensioned thin plates made of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) struck by hemispherical and blunt projectiles at various impact velocities. The experiments were done using a gas gun with combination of pretension equipment positioned at the end of gun barrel near the nozzle. Measurements of the initial and residual velocities were taken, and the ballistic limit velocity were calculated for each procedures. The pretension target results in reduction of ballistic limit compared to non-pretension target for both flat and hemispherical projectiles. Target impacted by hemispherical projectile experience split at earlier impact velocity compared to target by flat projectile. C-Scan images analysis technique was used to show target impact damaged by hemispherical and flat projectiles. The damage area was shown biggest at ballistic limit velocity and target splitting occurred most for pretention plate.

Deflection of elastic beam with SMA wires eccentrically inserted

This research is intended to investigate the ability of shape memory alloys (SMA), through its activation, in generating loads to control beam deflection. An elastic beam is formed by sandwiching eccentrically SMA wires between two elastic plates. SMA wires are activated by electrical current from the power supply. Laser displacement meter (LDM) is used to measures deflection of sample. Results show that the deflection of the beam is dependent on the temperature change. The temperature-deflection response also shows the existence of hysteresis.

Wave velocity characteristic for Kenaf natural fibre under impact damage

This paper aims to determining the wave velocity characteristics for kenaf fibre reinforced composite (KFC) and it includes both experimental and simulation results. Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) sensor were proposed to be positioned to corresponding locations on the panel. In order to demonstrate the wave velocity, an impacts was introduced onto the panel. It is based on a classical sensor triangulation methodology, combines with experimental strain wave velocity analysis. Then the simulation was designed to replicate panel used in the experimental impacts test. This simulation was carried out using ABAQUS. It was shown that the wave velocity propagates faster in the finite element simulation. Although the experimental strain wave velocity and finite element simulation results do not match exactly, the shape of both waves is similar.

Fracture toughness of woven kenaf fibre reinforced composites

This paper presents the role of fibre orientations on the woven-type kenaf fibre reinforced composites. According to literature survey, lack of information regarding to the fracture toughness of woven kenaf fibre reinforced composites. Fracture toughness tests were performed using ASTM D5045. Four fibre orientations were used such as 0/15/0/-15/0, 0/30/0/-30/0, 0/45/0/-45/0 and 0/90/0/-90/0 and on the other hand virgin polyester and unidirectional fibre reinforced composites were also used for comparisons. Based on the experimental works, woven-typed composites produced lower fracture toughness compared with the unidirectional fiber composite. Fracture toughness obtained from different fibre orientations composites are almost identical however 0/30/0/-30/0 and 0/90/0/-90/0 produced higher toughness relative with others. Fracture mechanisms revealed that as expected the fibres aligned along the stress direction capable to sustain better mechanical deformation and therefore producing higher fracture toughness.

Implementation of Finite Strain-Based Constitutive Formulation in LLLNL-DYNA3D to Predict Shockwave Propagation in Commercial Aluminum Alloys AA7010

The constitutive models adopted to represent dynamic plastic behaviour are of great importance in the current design and analysis of forming processes. Many have studied this topic, leading to results in various technologies involving analytical, experimental and computational methods. Despite of this current status, it is generally agreed that there is still a need for improved constitutive models. There are still many issues relating to algorithm implementation of the proposed constitutive model in the selected code to represent the proposed formulation. Using this motivation, the implementation of a new constitutive model into the LLNL-DYNA3D code to predict the deformation behaviour of commercial aluminium alloys is discussed concisely in this paper. The paper initially explains the background and the basic structure of the LLNL-DYNA3D code. This is followed by a discussion on the constitutive models that have been chosen as the starting point for this work. The initial stage of this implementation work is then discussed in order to allow all the required material data and the deformation gradient tensor F to be read and initialised for the main analysis. Later, the key section of this implementation is discussed, which mainly relates to subroutine f3dm93 including equation of state (EOS) implementation. The implementation of the elastic-plastic part with isotropic plastic hardening, which establishes the relationship between stress and strain with respect to the isoclinic configuration Ω i in the new deviatoric plane, is then presented before the implemented algorithm is validated against Plate Impact test data of the Aluminium Alloy 7010. A good agreement is obtained in each test.

Prediction of Elastic Properties for Unidirectional Carbon Composites: Periodic Boundary Condition Approach

A three-dimensional finite element model of unidirectional fibre reinforced composites has been investigated numerically using periodic boundary condition method. This method was used to predict the elastic mechanical behaviour of a unit cell of such composites. Periodic boundary condition was used due to its capability to represent a single unit cell similar to the neighbouring unit cells with continuous physical elements. It is assumed that the paired nodes displaced continuously without separating or interrupting other nodes during the deformation step. From the study, it was revealed that the elastic modulus agreed well with the experimental results, indicating that the present model could be used effectively.

Modelling High Velocity Impact on Aluminium Alloy 7075-T6 under Axial Pretension

This paper explains the utilisation of finite element model to analyse the ballistic limit of aluminium alloy 7075-T6 impacted by 8.33 g with 12.5 mm radius rigid spherical projectiles. This numerical study was compared with the results obtained experimentally. During impact, the targets were subjected to either non- or uniaxial- pretension and the projectile travelled horizontally to the target. It was observed that pretensioned targets were more vulnerable, which reduced the ballistic limit. The existence of harmful failures owing to pretension impact was ascertained and compared with the non-pretension targets.