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The phenomenon of drop-wall interaction plays a crucial role in a wide range of industrial applications. When liquid droplets come into contact with a high-temperature surface, it can lead to thermal shock due to rapid temperature fluctuations. This abrupt temperature change can generate thermal stress within the solid wall material. If the thermal stress exceeds the material's strength in that specific stress mode, it can result in material failure. Therefore, it is imperative to delve into the evolving temperature patterns on high-temperature surfaces to optimize material durability. This study focuses on investigating drop-wall interactions within the context of engine environments. To achieve this, the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method is employed to simulate the impact of fuel droplets on a silicon nitride wall. The goal is to understand the heat transfer mechanisms, thermal penetration depths, and temperature distributions within the heated wall.

FMVSS No. 205, “Glazing Materials,” uses impact test methods specified in ANSI/SAE Z26.1-1996. NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and Test Center initiated research to evaluate a subset of test methods from ANSI Z26.1-1996 including the 227 gram ball and shot bag impact tests, and the fracture test. Additional research was completed to learn about potential changes to tempered glass strength due to the ceramic paint area (CPA), and to compare the performance of twelve by twelve inch flat samples and full-size production parts. Glass evaluated included tempered rear quarter, sunroof, and backlight glazing. Samples with a paint edge were compared to samples without paint, and to production parts with and without paint in equivalent impact tests. A modified shot bag with stiffened sidewalls was compared to the ANSI standard shot bag. The fracture test comparison included evaluating the ANSI Z26.1 impact location and ECE R43 impact location.

Magnesium and its alloys are promising engineering materials with broad potential applications in the automotive, aerospace, and biomedical fields. These materials are prized for their lightweight properties, impressive specific strength, and biocompatibility. However, their practical use is often hindered by their low wear and corrosion resistance. Despite their excellent mechanical properties, the high strength-to-weight ratio of magnesium alloys necessitates surface protection for many applications. In this particular study, we employed the plasma spraying technique to enhance the low corrosion resistance of the AZ91D magnesium alloy. We conducted a wear analysis on nine coated samples, each with a thickness of 6mm, to assess their tribological performance. To evaluate the surface morphology and microstructure of the dual-phase treated samples, we employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Aluminium composites are remarkably used in automotive, aerospace, and agricultural sectors because of their lightweight with definable mechanical properties. The stir casting route was followed to fabricate cylindrical samples with base aluminium alloy LM4, LM4/SiC, LM4/Al2O3, and LM4/SiC/Al2O3. The tensile strength, compressive strength, hardness, and micro-structural analysis were performed on samples and Finite element analysis (FEA) was adopted to predict the failure modes of composites. The composites experimental results were found to be in line with the FEA results, however, the LM4/SiC/Al2O3 revealed better results on the mechanical properties when compared with other composite configurations. The mechanical properties improvement like hardness 5%-11%, tensile strength 10.26%-20.67%, compressive strength 15.19% - 32.58% and 71.52 - 82.1% reduction in dimension have been achieved in LM4/SiC/Al2O3 composite comparing to base metal.

The requirement for lightweight, high-performance materials with higher wear resistance, which is critical in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and consumer-related sectors, has fueled the development of particle reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMCs). These materials are an appealing alternative for a broad variety of scientific and technological applications due to their remarkable mechanical qualities and low cost. The primary goal of developing metal matrix composite materials is to combine the favorable properties of metals and ceramics. This study included several experimental experiments to explore the behavior of stir-cast composites made of aluminum grade 6063 with varying amounts of SiC, Al2O3, and TiO2 reinforcements.

In pursuing enhanced bio-composite properties, filler materials play a pivotal role. This study delves into the impact of ceramic additives on the chemical resistance and moisture durability of flax fiber-reinforced polymers. Utilizing the hand lay-up technique, we developed polyester composites reinforced with flax fibers. Silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) were chosen as filler components. One batch of flax fibers underwent an alkaline treatment to enhance their properties further using a 5% NaOH solution. The resistance of composite samples to acetic acid and sodium hydroxide was then assessed. Additionally, the moisture absorption patterns of all models were investigated. A thorough comparative analysis was conducted among multiple composite batches. The results highlighted that integrating additives significantly bolstered the chemical and moisture resistance of the composites.

Magnesium alloy nanocomposite prepared with hard ceramic particles via conventional technique is a promising future material for automotive applications due to its unique characteristics like low density, high strength, castability, and good wear resistance. The present study is to enhance the tribo-mechanical properties of alumina nanoparticle (10wt %) reinforced magnesium alloy (Mg/Al) composite by incorporating 1wt%, 3wt%, and 5wt% zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles through stir casting method. The tensile strength, impact toughness, hardness, and wear rate of developed composites were compared with (10wt %) alumina nanoparticles reinforced magnesium alloy composite. The nanocomposite containing 3wt% ZrO2 shows maximum impact strength of 22.8 J/mm2. The maximum tensile strength (88.9MPa), hardness (124.5BHN), and wear resistance (9.802mm3/m at 20N) are obtained for 5wt% ZrO2 magnesium alloy nanocomposite.

Brazilian Emissions Regulations are getting tighter in the coming years. With PROCONVE L7 in Jan-2023 and PROCONVE L8 in 2025, regulated emissions limits will significantly decrease, such as, the NMOG + NOx standard from 130 mg/km (PL6) to 50 mg/km (PL8). This challenge will necessitate better aftertreatment performance, with expected increases the catalytic converter PGM content, and consequently higher system cost. It is understood that approximately 75% of an engine’s gaseous pollutants occur during the first few seconds after a cold start, thus it is crucial to promote the emissions conversion performance during that period. One approach is to decrease the heat capacity of the catalytic system, which can be done by utilizing cordierite substrates with thinner walls or an increased material porosity. CORNING has developed an innovative technology to substantially raise the porosity of conventional ultra-thin wall substrates from 35% to 55%, while maintaining their strength.

In recent years, bearing electrical failures have been a significant concern in electric cars, restricting electric engine life. This work aims to introduce a coating approach for preventing electrical erosion on 52100 alloy steel samples, the most common material used on manufacturing bearings. This paper discusses the causes of shaft voltage and bearing currents, and summarizes standard electrical bearing failure mechanisms, such as morphological damages and lubrication failures. Alumina coatings are suitable for insulating the 52100 alloy steel samples because alumina coatings provide excellent insulation, hardness, and corrosion resistance, among other characteristics. The common method to coat an insulated alumina coating on the bearing is thermal spraying, but overspray can cause environmental issues, and the coating procedures are costly and time-consuming.

In sheet metal testing, in-situ crack detection is either performed manually by purely visual inspection by the machine operator or automatically by a crack detection system. The automatic crack detection method, commonly integrated in sheet metal testing machines, evaluates the drawing force during forming. However, friction, vibration, and machine noise prevent reliable crack detection in thin sheets and foils. The same disturbance variables also prevent robust crack identification in thin sheets and foils by systems that analyze structure-borne sound. Crack detection systems that use reflected light methods, on the other hand, necessitate homogeneous illumination and are interfered by highly reflective as well as inhomogeneous sheet surfaces. In order to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages of the currently existing crack detection methods, a procedure based on transmission-illumination was developed.

In the last six decades, due to the continuous improvement in environmental legislations and depletion of fossil fuels in the world, IC engine researchers have been vigorously exploring various possibilities of reducing petroleum fuel dependency and emissions of internal combustion (IC) engines. Operating IC engines in low heat rejection (LHR) mode by providing thermal barrier coating (TBC) to some of the engine components is one of the methods to improve thermal efficiency and reduce some of the tailpipe emissions. Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is a commonly used TBC material in IC engines due to its thermal characteristics. On the other hand, running an engine in a dual-fuel operation by a gaseous fuel gives better and more efficient combustion. In this research work, an attempt was made to study the combined effects of running a compression ignition (CI) engine in dual-fuel operation with LHR mode on its performance, and emissions were investigated.

In recent years, electrically heated catalysts (EHCs) have been developed to achieve lower emissions. In several EHC heating methods, the direct heating method, which an electric current is applied directly to the catalyst substrate, can easily activate the catalyst before engine start-up. The research results reported on the use of the direct heating EHC to achieve significant exhaust gas purification during cold start-up [1]. From the perspective of catalyst loading, ceramics is considered to be a better material for the substrate than metal due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the catalyst and the substrate, but the EHC made of ceramics has difficulties such as controllability of the current distribution, durability and reliability of the connection between the substrate and the electrodes.

The need to develop genuine ceramic composites for PV applications arose to overcome the challenges associated with traditional semi-metallic pads. The main focus is to achieve better performance, low noise, better pad and rotor wear, and low dust compared to semi- metallic pads. In general, brake pads convert kinetic energy to thermal energy through friction, and operating temperature in semi-metallic brake pads is higher due to the presence of steel having high thermal conductivity. Over the last decade, the customer preference has moved over to ceramic pads due to light coloured pad surface, low rotor and pad wear and low dust compared to semi-metallic pads. The traditional steel has been replaced by Aramid, engineered ceramic fibre, potassium titanate (TISMO D), lapinus fibre (RB 250) to impart similar/better performance. The current work investigates the characterisation of genuine ceramic and semi-metallic composites.

An anisotropic ceramic matrix composite (CMC), which consists of a silicon carbide (SiC) based ceramic matrix reinforced with carbon (C) fibers, is considered as a metal-free friction material replacement in brake and clutch applications. The fibers are assumed to have a circular cross-section, arranged unidirectionally and packed in a rectangular array without the presence of voids. The rule of mixture showed the C-SiC composite to be transversely isotropic with the circumferential plane as the plane of isotropy. A set of parametric studies have been performed to computationally investigate the dominant parameters that affect thermal-mechanical instabilities. It is found that the chance of thermal buckling in the friction disc can be minimized by reducing the elastic moduli in the radial and circumferential directions, or by reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion in the same directions.

Gray cast iron brake rotor experiences substantial wear during braking and contributes largely to the wear debris emissions. Surface coating on the gray cast iron rotor represents a trending approach dealing with the problems. In this research, a new plasma electrolytic aluminating (PEA) process was used for preparing an alumina-based ceramic coating with metallurgical bonding to the gray cast iron. Three different types of brake pads (ceramic, semi-metallic and non asbestos organic (NAO)) were used for tribotests. Performances of PEA coatings vs. different brake pad materials were comparatively investigated with respect to their coefficients of friction (COFs) and wear. The PEA-coated brake rotor has a dimple-like surface which promotes the formation of a thin transferred film to protect the rotor from wear. The transferred film materials come from the wear debris of the pads. The secondary plateaus are regenerated on the brake pads through compacting wear debris of the pads.

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology, also known as 3D printing, has transitioned from concepts and prototypes to part-for-part substitution and the creation of unique AM-specific part geometries. These applications are increasingly present in demanding, mission-critical fields such as medicine and aerospace, which require materials with certain thermal, stiffness, corrosion, and static loading properties. To advance in these arenas, metallic, ceramic, and polymer composite AM parts need to be free from discontinuities. The manufacturing processes have to be stable, robust, and repeatable. And the nondestructive testing (NDT) technology and inspection methods will need to be sufficiently capable and reliable to ensure that discontinuities will be detected to prevent the components from being accepted for use. As the second installment of a six-part series of SAE EDGE™ Research Reports on AM, this one discusses the need, challenges, technologies, and opportunities for NDT in AM.

The forged connecting rod and pin experience a large amount of stresses due to cyclic load for a long period of time induced by the reciprocating movement of the piston. The proposed work focused to produce lightweight composites with high strength using waste flyash and simple manufacturing process. In this context, the proposed experimental work was formulated to develop aluminium alloy hybrid metal matrix composite of A356 alloy with silicon carbide and flyash processed through stir cum squeeze casting process under optimal parametric condition. The samples were subjected to varying flyash content of 0, 5, 10wt.% and SiC of 5wt.% kept constant. Responses like metallography, hardness, impact strength, flexural strength, fatigue strength were observed for the manufactured hybrid composites. There was a significant improvement in the properties with a higher weight percentage addition of 10wt.% flyash and 5wt.% SiC with A356 hybrid composites.

In this study, an experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of Iron Oxide Nanofluids on the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of Low Heat Rejection (LHR) diesel engine operated with methyl esters of Waste Cooking Oil (WCOME). In the first phase of the work, single-cylinder, direct injection diesel engine test rig was developed and tested for its baseline readings with diesel at different power outputs. In the second phase of the work, the test engine was operated with WCOME and tested for its characteristics.

The fuel consumption and performance of the Internal Combustion (IC) engine is improved by adopting concepts of an adiabatic engine. An experimental investigation for different load conditions is carried out on a water-cooled, constant-speed, twin-cylinder diesel engine. This research is intended to emphasize energy balance and emission characteristic for standard uncoated base engine and adiabatic engine. The inner walls of diesel engine combustion chamber are thermally insulated by a top coat of Metco 204NS yttria-stabilized zirconia (Y2O3ZrO2) powder (YSZ) of a thickness of 350 mm using plasma spray coating technology. The same combustion chamber is also coated with thermal barrier coating (TBC) bond coats of AMDRY 962 Nickle chromium aluminum yttria of thickness of 150 mm. The NiCrAlY powder specially designed to produce coating’s resistance to hot corrosion.

In this modern era of rapid growth of technology and need of economical machining processes and materials, there is an increasing demand for new materials for different mechanical applications. Composites with fly ash as reinforcement are likely to overcome the cost barrier for wide spread applications in automotive and small engine applications. To improve wettability, elements such as Mg and Si are added into Al melt to incorporate the ceramic particles. The chemical composition and engineering properties of fly ash, its physical and chemical properties make it an ideal raw material for producing various application based composites. The main objective is to fabricate an Aluminium- Flyash composite material suitable for parts like engine connecting rod which demand high strength and temperature sustainability at comparatively less weight. The composite will be made using casting process and Engine connecting rod will be designed in AutoCAD software.