International Journal of Materials and Product Technology (10 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Fatigue life of aircraft structure in corrosion and pollution environment  
  by Ran Zhuo 
  Abstract: With the development of science and technology, the application of aircraft is more and more extensive, and corrosive pollution has caused great obstacles to the operation of aircraft. In this paper, a quasi-normal distribution model is proposed to calculate the corrosion pollution environment and aircraft structure damage, and three sets of experiments are carried out for static tension, conventional environment corrosion and accelerated corrosion. Because the normal distribution is a natural distribution and is not affected by human beings, and the atmospheric environment is a natural environment that can be more in line with the normal distribution, this paper proposes a tentative normal distribution model for corrosion prediction calculations. This paper can predict the fatigue life of aircraft structures in corrosive and polluted environments, with an accuracy rate of over 95%.
  Keywords: corrosion pollution environment; aircraft structure; LC4 aluminium alloy; fatigue life.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10053437
   
  
• The different electroplastic effects of cutting directions during the turning process of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy  
  by Huigang Yang, Zhenyu Wang 
  Abstract: Electroplastic assisted process is a new machining technology, which can reduce the tensile strength and spring back of materials and increase the formability and quality of the workpiece. Currently, this technology has been successfully applied in electroplastic-assisted rolling, drawing, and turning. However, most research in electroplastic-assisted turning is focused on reducing the cutting force and energy consumption and improving surface quality. The differences in cutting forces reduce caused by electroplastic in different directions have not been reported. In this paper, we compare the decrement of cutting forces in different directions during the electroplastic-assisted turning of titanium alloy (TC4). It is found that there is no obvious force reduction in the tangential direction compared to that in the feed direction. The possible explanation is that the electroplastic effect does not work in reducing compressive stress. This was validated by electroplastic-assisted cut-off turning and electroplastic-assisted compressing experiments. This work provides a deep insight into understanding the electroplastic mechanism and offers a guide for the application of electroplastic-assisted forming.
  Keywords: electroplastic; electroplastic assisted turning; cutting force; turning titanium alloy; force reduction.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10054045
   
  
• Tribological performance of various blends of commercial SAE 40 oil and novel apricot oil-based bio-lubricant using a four-ball tester tribometer  
  by Anshul Kumar, Rajiv Chaudhary, Ramesh Chandra Singh 
  Abstract: Conventional petroleum-based lubricants have numerous environmental and toxic issues related to their disposal. As a result, there is a growing interest in developing innovative environmentally friendly oils as lubricants. A novel apricot oil-based bio-lubricant was developed in the present research work. Its tribological performance was analysed using a four-ball tester compared with SAE 40 oil and blends of SAE 40 and developed bio-lubricant. A four-ball testing method (ASTM D4172) is a test for determining the wear-preventative features of a lubricant. It was observed that the optimum blend of SAE 40 and bio-lubricant had shown better extreme pressure performance than apricot oil-based bio-lubricant and SAE 40 alone.
  Keywords: bio-lubricant; apricot oil; four-ball tester.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10055010
   
  

Special Issue on: Thermal and Mechanical Reliability of Advanced Engineering Materials

• Optimisation of low-weight cargo UAV with real-time controller by CAD design, FEM simulation and dynamic modelling  
  by Mbadiwe S. Benyeogor, Oladayo O. Olakanmi, Kosisochukwu P. Nnoli, Kehinde O. Odeyemi, Eric J.J. Gratton 
  Abstract: In this article, we present a novel approach to designing and optimising unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry low-weight cargo. Various computational design techniques are involved, including the computer-aided design (CAD) of the aircraft's mechanical components and the simulation of its structural and material properties by finite elements methods (FEMs). Mathematical models were also used to describe and improve the rotor-dynamic stability, control, and weight-carrying capacity of the UAV. Based on these, an all-aluminum UAV with a real-time controller was prototyped and test-flown severally with payloads of different weights. Results show that our UAV system is optimal and aerodynamically efficient for low-weight cargo deployment. Additional testing demonstrates the energy-efficiency and suitability of our UAV for logistical, remote sensing, and agricultural applications.
  Keywords: aerodynamics; computer-aided design; CAD; finite element methods; gyrostability; rotordynamics; unmanned aerial vehicle; UAV.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10054941
   
  
• Bayesian-based durability life prediction method of nano-modified concrete  
  by Zhanzhan Zheng, Pu Miao, Lina Zheng 
  Abstract: Due to the low prediction accuracy of traditional concrete durability life prediction methods, a Bayesian-based durability life prediction method for nano-modified concrete is proposed. Firstly, the diffusion function of CO₂ in concrete is established through Fick's first law, and the carbonation depth of concrete is determined based on regression analysis. Then, according to the damage mechanics theory, the freeze-thaw cycle damage function of nano-modified concrete is established. Finally, according to the Bayesian theorem and the binary normal distribution relationship, combined with the prediction criteria, a Bayesian-based durability life prediction model of nano-modified concrete is established, and the determined concrete carbonation depth is input into the prediction model to output the prediction results. The experimental results show that the prediction accuracy of concrete durability life is high.
  Keywords: Bayesian theorem; nanometre modified concrete; durability life; damage mechanics theory; regression analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10055368
   
  
• Research on characteristics and micro defects of ceramic dielectric energy storage  
  by Zhengdong Wan, Liangzheng Wu, Yan Huang 
  Abstract: In order to fully understand the dielectric energy storage characteristics and micro defects of ceramic materials, the research methods of dielectric energy storage characteristics and micro defects of ceramics were proposed. Firstly, ceramic sample materials according to the preparation process of ceramic materials are prepared. Secondly, the relationship between relative dielectric constant, dielectric loss and temperature curve is analysed, and the dielectric energy storage characteristics of ceramic materials are analysed. Finally, the micro defects of ceramic materials were characterised at different reaction temperatures and sintering temperatures. The results show that when the temperature is 120°C, the energy storage density of ceramic materials with mole fractions of 5%, 6% and 7% are 1.24 J/cm³, 1.26 J/cm³ and 1.20 J/cm³ respectively, and the energy storage efficiency is 86.99%, 91.399% and 94.08% respectively. At the sintering temperature of 1,250°C, there are basically no obvious micro defects.
  Keywords: ceramic dielectric energy storage characteristics; micro defects; casting method; agglomeration process.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10055369
   
  
• Study on properties of polyurethane concrete based on BP neural network  
  by Xiaolian Gai, Dongpo He 
  Abstract: In order to improve the research accuracy of fatigue properties of polyurethane concrete and shorten the research time, a new research method of fatigue properties of polyurethane concrete based on BP neural network is proposed in this paper. Firstly, polyurethane materials and aggregates are selected to prepare polyurethane concrete. Secondly, the characteristic parameters of polyurethane concrete are calculated, including age, damage degree, tensile recovery, compressive elastic recovery, compressive strength and stiffness modulus. Finally, the calculated characteristic parameters are input into the BP neural network, and the final fatigue properties of polyurethane concrete are calculated iteratively after the correction of weight and threshold. The experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately analyse the fatigue properties of polyurethane concrete, and the average analysis accuracy of fatigue life reaches 94.281%. The research time of the proposed method is short, and the longest time is not more than ten minutes.
  Keywords: BP neural network; polyurethane concrete; fatigue properties of concrete; compressive strength; stiffness modulus.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10056385
   
  
• Fracture toughness analysis of nano steel fibre reinforced concrete based on improved locust algorithm  
  by Yanmin Chen, Lina Zheng, Pu Miao 
  Abstract: A fracture toughness analysis method of nano steel fibre reinforced concrete based on improved locust algorithm was proposed in this paper. Firstly, P-CMOD curve is introduced to analyse the fracture mechanism of nano steel fibre reinforced concrete. Then, the minimum CART tree is trained by CART algorithm, and the objective function of fracture toughness is obtained by iterative training. Finally, the improved locust algorithm is introduced to calculate the fracture energy coefficient of nano steel fibre reinforced concrete, and the softening curve is modified by this algorithm to achieve the fracture toughness analysis of nano steel fibre reinforced concrete. The experimental results show that the concrete fracture toughness of this method is 0.56 Mpa·m^-1/2, and the critical crack opening displacement is 0.240 mm. The analytical values are consistent with the actual values. This method improves the analysis effect of fracture toughness and critical crack opening displacement of nano steel fibre reinforced concrete.
  Keywords: improved locust algorithm; machine learning; fracture toughness; softening curve; CART algorithm.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10055370
   
  
• A patch discrete material optimisation method for ply layout of wind turbine blades based on stiffness matrix material interpolation  
  by Jinshun Yan, Pengwen Sun, Penghui Wu, Lanting Zhang, Weifei Hu 
  Abstract: A patch discrete material optimisation (PDMO) approach is proposed interpolated by stiffness matrix material for wind turbine blade (WTB) ply layout. Unlike the usual methods, the stiffness matrix is applied to replace the constitutive matrix for material interpolation in this research. The elemental stiffness matrix can be derived directly from the finite element analysis (FEA). It is possible to alleviate the programming work by numerically integrating the constitutive matrix. Moreover, the patch strategy may reduce the number of design variables and effectively satisfy the practical design requirements. The numerical example of a thin plate verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the PDMO method. In the case study, a patch optimisation of the ply parameter for a 1.5 MW blade is conducted. Results indicate that the maximum displacement reduction of the optimised blade is from 4.1% to 17.5% compared to the blade displacement of the blade utilising the original ply scheme.
  Keywords: patch discrete material optimisation; PDMO; material interpolation; stiffness matrix; ply layout; wind turbine blade; WTB.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2022.10051463
   
  

Special Issue on: Advanced Smart Materials II

• Environmental protection evaluation of new inorganic non-metallic building materials based on principal component analysis  
  by Lina Zheng, Zhanzhan Zheng, Yanmin Chen, Aina Qi 
  Abstract: In order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the environmental protection evaluation results of building materials, a new environmental protection evaluation method of inorganic non-metallic building materials based on principal component analysis was proposed. Firstly, knowledge atlas and collaborative filtering algorithm are used to mine evaluation indicators. Then, the evaluation index system is constructed, and the judgment matrix is established to calculate and sort the weight of the evaluation index. Finally, the principal component analysis method is introduced to evaluate the environmental protection performance, and the original evaluation index is standardised to obtain the comprehensive score of the environmental protection performance of building materials, so as to realise the environmental protection performance evaluation. The experimental results show that the evaluation accuracy of the proposed method is high and the time consumption is short, indicating that the evaluation results are reliable.
  Keywords: principal component analysis; standardised treatment; judgment matrix; knowledge map; collaborative filtering algorithm.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2023.10055367