Small-Scale Morphological Features on a Solid Surface Processed by High-Pressure Abrasive Water Jet
Being subjected to a high-pressure abrasive water jet, solid samples will experience an essential variation of both internal stress and physical characteristics, which is closely associated with the kinetic energy attached to the abrasive particles involved in the jet stream. Here, experiments were performed, with particular emphasis being placed on the kinetic energy attenuation and turbulent features in the jet stream. At jet pressure of 260 MPa, mean velocity and root-mean-square (RMS) velocity on two jet-stream sections were acquired by utilizing the phase Doppler anemometry (PDA) technique. A jet-cutting experiment was then carried out with Al-Mg alloy samples being cut by an abrasive water jet. Morphological features and roughness on the cut surface were quantitatively examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical profiling techniques. The results indicate that the high-pressure water jet is characterized by remarkably high mean flow velocities and distinct velocity fluctuations. Those irregular pits and grooves on the cut surfaces indicate both the energy attenuation and the development of radial velocity components in the jet stream. When the sample is positioned with different distances from the nozzle outlet, the obtained quantitative surface roughness varies accordingly. A descriptive model highlighting the behaviors of abrasive particles in jet-cutting process is established in light of the experimental results and correlation analysis.
Impingement capability of high-pressure submerged water jet: Numerical prediction and experimental verification
At jet pressures ranging from 80 to 120 MPa, submerged water jets are investigated by numerical simulation and experiment. Numerical simulation enables a systematic analysis of major flow parameters such as jet velocity, turbulent kinetic energy as well as void fraction of cavitation. Experiments facilitate an objective assessment of surface morphology, micro hardness and surface roughness of the impinged samples. A comparison is implemented between submerged and non-submerged water jets. The results show that submerged water jet is characterized by low velocity magnitudes relative to non-submerged water jet at the same jet pressure. Shear effect serves as a key factor underlying the inception of cavitation in submerged water jet stream. Predicted annular shape of cavity zone is substantiated by local height distributions associated with experimentally obtained footprints. As jet pressure increases, joint contribution of jet kinetic energy and cavitation is demonstrated. While for non-submerged water jet, impingement force stems exclusively from flow velocity.
Evaluation of buckling load and dynamic performance of steel shear wall retrofitted with strips made of shape memory alloy
One of the most imperfections of the steel shear wall is out of plane displacements that cause severe damage in both structural and non-structural elements. In this paper, the effects of shape-memory alloys on steel shear walls are investigated. First, a numerical analysis using the finite element method in ABAQUS software has been carried out according to an experimental test. The results of the numerical analysis have been verified with experimental results. Next, shape-memory alloy fibers have been added vertically and horizontally to various parts of the steel shear wall. The results show that retrofitting with the shape-memory alloy reduces the out-of-plane displacement of the steel shear wall under both cyclic and seismic loadings. Besides, the buckling load in the steel shear wall increases when it is retrofitted with the shape-memory alloy. Also, the total out-of-plane movement (accumulated absolute displacements) of the steel shear wall and non-structural damage are controlled by the characteristic of a shape-memory alloy material called “super-elastic”.