PurposeDelamination is a common and crucial damage mode which occurs during manufacturing of layered composites or their service life. Its existence leads to degradation in mechanical properties or even structural failure of composites. Hence, the purpose of this article is to study the effect of induced delamination on flexural performance of CFRP composites.Design/methodology/approachIn this article, the flexural behaviors of intact and delaminated carbon/epoxy laminates were investigated under pure bending. A circular PTFE film was introduced during fabrication to create artificial delamination. Moreover, finite element models were developed for intact and delaminated composites using ANSYS. The created models were discretized using 3D structural eight node solid elements.FindingsThe delamination influenced considerably flexural properties of composite. The composite exhibited a linear elastic nature prior to the damage of top ply on the compression side. The flexural strength and stiffness of the composite reduced to 44.5% and 18.2% respectively due to the existence of artificial delamination. The results of four point bending experiments and finite element analysis agreed for both intact and delaminated composites within acceptable error. Finally for same composites, first ply failure analysis was carried out using Tsai-Hill, Tsai-Wu and Hashin failure criteria.Originality/valueIn pure bending, beam section of the middle portion is free from shear. It is not so in case of three-point bending. Hence, the effect of embedded artificial defect on bending performance of CFRP composite due to pure bending has been investigated.

PurposeMetal matrix composites (MMC) has been a section which gives an overview of composite materials and owing to those exceptional physical and mechanical properties, particulate-reinforced aluminum MMCs have gained increasing interest in particular engineering applications. Owing to the toughness and abrasive quality of reinforcement components such as silicon carbide (SiC) and titanium carbide (TiC), such materials are categorized as difficult materials for machining. The work aims to develop the model for evaluating the machinability of the materials via the response surface technique by machining three distinct types of hybrid MMCs.Design/methodology/approachThe combined effects of three machining parameters, namely “cutting speed” (s), “feed rate” (f) and “depth of cut” (d), together with three separate composite materials, were evaluated with the help of three performance characteristics, i.e. material removal rate (MRR), cutting force (CF) and surface roughness (SR). Response surface methodology and analysis of variance (ANOVA) both were initially used for analyzing the machining parameters results.FindingsThe contours were developed to observe the combined process parameters along with their correlations. The process variables were concurrently configured using grey relational analysis (GRA) and the composite desirability methodology. Both the GRA and composite desirability approach obtained similar results.Practical implicationsThe results obtained in the present paper will be helpful for decision-makers in manufacturing industries, who work on metal cutting area especially composites, to select the suitable solution by implementing the Grey Taguchi and modeling techniques.Originality/valueThe originality of this research is to identify the suitability of process parameters combination based on the obtained research results. The optimization of machining parameters in turning of hybrid metal matrix composites is carried out with two different methods such as Grey Taguchi and composite desirability approach.

PurposeThe purpose of the experimental investigation was to optimize the process parameters of the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique. The optimization of the process was performed to identify the relationship between the chosen factors and the tensile strength of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and carbon fiber polylactic acid (PLA) thermoplastic material, FDM printed specimens. The relationship was demonstrated by using the linear experimental model analysis, and a prediction expression was established. The developed prediction expression can be used for the prediction of tensile strength of selected thermoplastic materials at a 95% confidence level.Design/methodology/approachThe Taguchi L9 experimental methodology was used to plan the total number of experiments to be performed. The process parameters were chosen as three at three working levels. The working range of chosen factors was the printing speed (60, 80 and 100mm/min), 40%, 60% and 80% as the infill density and 0.1mm, 0.2mm and 0.3mm as the layer thickness. The fused deposition modeling process parameters were optimized to get the maximum tensile strength in FDM printed ABS and carbon fiber PLA thermoplastic material specimens.FindingsThe optimum condition was achieved by the process optimization, and the desired results were obtained. The maximum desirability was achieved as 0.98 (98%) for the factors, printing speed 100mm/min, infill density 60mm and layer thickness 0.3mm. The strength of the ABS specimen was predicted to be 23.83MPa. The observed strength value was 23.66MPa. The maximum desirability was obtained as 1 (100%) for the factors, printing speed 100mm/min, infill density 60mm and layer thickness 0.2mm. The strength of the carbon fiber PLA specimen was predicted to be 26.23MPa, and the obtained value was 26.49MPa.Research limitations/implicationsThe research shows the useful process parameters and their suitable working conditions to print the tensile specimens of the ABS and carbon fiber PLA thermoplastics by using the fused deposition modeling technique. The process was optimized to identify the most influential factor, and the desired optimum condition was achieved at which the maximum tensile strength was reported. The produced prediction expression can be used to predict the tensile strength of ABS and carbon fiber PLA filaments.Practical implicationsThe results obtained from the experimental investigation are useful to get an insight into the FDM process and working limits to print the parts by using the ABS and carbon fiber PLA material for various industrial and structural applications.Social implicationsThe results will be useful in choosing the suitable thermoplastic filament for the various prototyping and structural applications. The products that require freedom in design and are difficult to produce by most of the conventional techniques can be produced at low cost and in less time by the fused deposition modeling technique.Originality/valueThe process optimization shows the practical exposures to state an optimum working condition to print the ABS and carbon fiber PLA tensile specimens by using the FDM technique. The carbon fiber PLA shows better strength than ABS thermoplastic material.

Purpose Electron-beam welding has been widely used in industry to join different titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V) components. During welding production defects, such as porosity, lack of penetration or thinning are often observed. High-cycle fatigue (HCF) tests have been performed on welded specimens to understand the effect of weld defects on fatigue capabilities. The fatigue life of different types of “defective” welds has been compared against a non-welded reference specimen. Design/methodology/approach The results of the experimental campaign have been correlated with finite elements models. Findings It is concluded the geometry produced by the weld process, e.g. toe radius and under-bead shape, and the related stress raisers play a relevant role on fatigue capabilities of welds. This conclusion is valid only for a Ti-6Al-4V T-joint weld and only for flaw initiation. Knock down in materials properties has not been considered. Originality/value There is a lack of HCF fatigue data for welds of this geometry and material in the open literature. The paper is of relevance for industrial application and practical interest, although a lot more validation tests are required to draw a final conclusion.

Purpose The main challenge in preparing body armor is achieving a high protection level by using lightweight materials with minimum cost. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a three-hybrid multilayered armor system is prepared for protection against a ballistic impact wave. These armor systems consist of glass or ceramic tile as a front layer followed by three intermediate layers made of woven fiber reinforced polymer composites and a back layer made of either aluminum or polypropylene. Findings All armor systems were successful in impeding the projectile from perforating, that is materials selection played an important role in stopping the ballistic impact wave. Almost an identical ballistic behavior was recorded between the experimental and numerical simulation by using ANSYS AUTODYN which means that the simulation could be used in advance to reduce the time required for practical experiments and the cost of using materials in experimental tests will be lessened. The effect of projectile geometry also had been studied, and it showed a noticeable role in changing ballistic behavior. Originality/value The originality of this research is in using carbon and glass fiber which are woven together in addition to adding polypropylene layers in armor preparation.

Purpose The purpose of the study is to show an improvement in resistance (permeability) and durability (residual strength) of modified wood compared to natural wood. Design/methodology/approach A relevance way to increase the durability and resistance of wood is processing with polymers. Novosibirsk State Technical University, Novosibirsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (Sibstrin) and the Norilsk State Industrial Institute researched the resistance of elements of mine treatment plants made of wood modified with synthetic polymers. The study was carried out according to V.A. Kucherenko. Modification of such species as birch and pine can significantly increase wood resources by extending its service life and improving its physical and mechanical properties. Latex-organosilicon modifier was used as a modifier. Findings Latex clogs the capillaries of wood, preventing the penetration of aggressive solutions into it, and potassium methyl silicate interacts with hydrophilic OH groups, increasing the water-repellent properties of the surface of cells and wood capillaries. Originality/value The results of long-term and predictive tests of modified wood in aggressive environments of treatment facilities are presented. As a result, diffusion of aggressive media into the wood becomes more difficult and its resistance and durability increase.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to realize an effective hybrid modeling (empirical-geometric) in order to describe the real behavior of the average roughness variation of the workpiece surface in turning with an elementary operation of superfinishing, using different analytic methodologies. The previous works are limited to describe the roughness for the usual elementary operations, citing the roughing and the semi-finishing, while this analysis builds technical rails for the industrialists in order to well conduct the operation of superfinishing in turning, by choosing the cutting parameters from the proposed model.Design/methodology/approachA statistical analysis of the average roughness measurements capability study, by the statistical process control method SPC and the ANN artificial neuron network, Levenberg–Marquardt's methods modified Monte Carlo SRM response surface.FindingsThe objective of this work was to describe the average roughness generated by the penetration of the cutting tool into a part in superfinishing turning. First, the authors used artificial colony analysis to determine optimal cutting conditions in order to have an average roughness lower than 0.8 µm. The cutting conditions selected: (1) the feed rate f ϵ [0.05; 0.2] mm/rev; (2) the pass depth ap ϵ [0.25; 1] mm; (3) the corner radius re = 0.2 mm and (4) cutting speed Vc ϵ [75; 100] m/min.Originality/valueThis work consists to realize an effective hybrid modeling (empirical-geometric) in order to describe the real behavior of the average roughness variation of the workpiece surface in turning with an elementary operation of superfinishing, using different analytic methodologies. The previous works are limited to describe the roughness for the usual elementary operations, citing the roughing and the semi-finishing, while this analysis builds technical rails for the industrialists in order to well conduct the operation of superfinishing in turning, by choosing the cutting parameters from the proposed model.

PurposeIt is seen that little amount of work on optimization of mechanical properties taking into consideration the combined effect of design variables such as stacking angle, stacking sequence, different resins and thickness of composite laminates has been carried out. The focus of this research work is on the optimization of the design variables like stacking angle, stacking sequence, different resins and thickness of composite laminates which affect the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. For this purpose, the Taguchi technique and the method of gray relational analysis (GRA) are used to identify the optimum combination of design variables. In this case, the effect of the abovementioned design variables, particularly of the newly developed resin (NDR) on mechanical properties of hybrid composites has been investigated.Design/methodology/approachThe Taguchi method is used for design of experiments and with gray relational grade (GRG) approach, the optimization is done.FindingsFrom the experimental analysis and optimization study, it was seen that the NDR gives excellent bonding strength of fibers resulting in enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid composite laminates. With the GRA method, the initial setting (A3B2C4D2) was having GRG 0.866. It was increased by using a new optimum combination (A2B2C4D1) to 0.878. It means that there is an increment in the grade by 1.366%. Therefore, using the GRA approach of analysis, design variables have been successfully optimized to achieve enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid composite laminates.Originality/valueThis is an original research work.

PurposeElectrical discharge machining (EDM) of hard materials like NiTi 60 alloys is important as it finds application in different sectors of engineering such as automobile, aircraft, biomedical, oil industries, etc.Design/methodology/approachThe first target of this investigation is to determine the effect of process parameters such as current, voltage, pulse on time and pulse off time on the material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (SR) and white layer formation (WLT) for NiTi 60 smart material alloy. The secondary aim is to identify the presence of surface integrity parameters such as cracks, WLT, microvoids, globules and debris formation by using the scanning electron microscopy technique and with the use of ImageJ software for die sink EDM machining of NiTi 60 alloy.FindingsThe results reveal that current is significant for MRR, voltage and current influence SR, and for WLT, voltage is a significant factor. The experimentation study also shows the generation of oxide and carbide layers on the machined surface, which were evident with the use of the X-ray diffraction technique. The presence of these oxide and carbide layers causes to form WLT on the machined surface and thereby increases the hardness of the machined surface.Originality/valueHardness test was performed with Vickers hardness tester, which gives evidence for the increase in hardness of machined surface due to the generation of WLT.