Search Results for performance modeling

This article provides an overview of integrated weld modeling and discusses the fundamentals of the underlying physics and methodologies involved in process modeling. It presents approaches for microstructure modeling that help to predict phase fractions as well as grain size in the heat-affected zone and weld metal region as a function of alloy composition and thermal cycles. The article discusses the uses of computational thermodynamic and kinetic tools. It describes the concept of performance modeling, whose goal relates to the prediction of weldability, geometrical distortion, and/or locked-in residual stress as a function of material, restraint, process, and process parameters as well as service temperature. Finally, the article presents a case study, evaluating the use of X-65 steels using the E-WeldPredictor tool.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is the process of joining materials to make parts from three-dimensional (3D) model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing and formative manufacturing methodologies. This article discusses various defects in AM components, such as porosity, inclusions, cracking, and residual stress, that can be avoided by using vendor recommended process parameters and approved materials. It describes the development of process-structure-property-performance modeling. The article explains the practical considerations in nondestructive evaluation for additively manufactured metallic parts. It also examines nondestructive testing (NDT) inspection and characterization methods for each of the manufacturing stages in their natural order. The article provides information on various inspection techniques for completed AM manufactured parts. The various electromagnetic and eddy current techniques that can be used to detect changes to nearsurface geometric anomalies or other defects are also discussed. These include ultrasonic techniques, radiographic techniques, and neutron imaging.

Integrated computational materials engineering refers to the use of computer simulations that integrate mathematical models of complex metallurgical processes with computer models used in component and process design. This article outlines an example of a computer-aided engineering tool, such as virtual aluminum castings (VAC), developed and implemented for quickly developing durable cast aluminum power train components. It describes the procedures for the model development of the VAC system. These procedures include linking the manufacturing process to microstructure, linking microstructures to mechanical properties, linking material properties to performance prediction, and model validation and integration into the engineering process. The article discusses the benefits of the VAC system in process selection, process optimization, and improving the component design criteria.

This article provides information on the development of finite element analysis (FEA) and describes the general-purpose applications of FEA software programs in structural and thermal, static and transient, and linear and nonlinear analyses. It discusses special-purpose finite element applications in piping and pressure vessel analysis, impact analysis, and microelectronics. The article describes the steps involved in the design process using the FEA. It concludes with two case histories that involve the use of FEA in failure analysis.

When complex designs, transient loadings, and nonlinear material behavior must be evaluated, computer-based techniques are used. This is where the finite-element analysis (FEA) is most applicable and provides considerable assistance in design analysis as well as failure analysis. This article provides a general view on the applicability of finite-element modeling in conducting analyses of failed components. It highlights the uses of finite-element modeling in the area of failure analysis and design, with emphasis on structural analysis. The discussion covers the general development and both general- and special-purpose applications of FEA. The special-purpose applications of FEA covered are piping and pressure vessel analysis, impact analysis, and microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems analysis. The article provides case histories that involved the use of FEA in failure analysis.

This article provides an overview of integrated weld modeling and presents strategic goals for the welding industry. It discusses the fundamentals of the underlying physics and the methodologies to solve the same. The article presents the pioneering work done to predict the heat-affected zone and weld metal microstructure in the early 1980s and 1990s. Applications of computational thermodynamics and kinetics tools to weld metal microstructure prediction for liquid-gas reactions and liquid-slag reactions that happen as a function of high-to-low temperature during fusion welding are discussed. The article also includes a brief discussion on weldability prediction, residual stress prediction, and distortion prediction. It concludes with information on the use of optimization methodologies.

Modeling will help reduce machining problems and thereby enable more rapid introduction of high-performance materials and components. This article discusses the technical needs of aircraft engine and airframe structural components and modeling of heat-treat-induced residual stress by finite-element residual-stress analysis. It describes the two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) procedures involved in finite-element residual-stress analysis. The article deals with the 2-D and 3-D machining distortion validation on engine-disk-type components. It describes methods for obtaining machining-induced residual stresses, including detailed finite-element analysis of the cutting process, the simple fast-acting mechanistic model, and the semi-empirical linear stress model. The article concludes with information on the modeling benefits and implementation of modeling in a production environment.

This article focuses on the general methods and approaches from the perspective of a reconstruction analyst and includes discussions relevant to materials failure analysts at the incident scene. The elements of accident reconstruction are described. These have conceptual similarity with the principles for failure analysis of material incidents that are less complex than a large-scale accident. The article provides a brief review of some general concepts on the use of modeling which can be a very powerful tool for information pertaining to the reconstruction of an accident where the model can be a physical, mathematical, or logical representation of a physical system or process.

Failure analysis is generally defined as the investigation and analysis of parts or structures that have failed or appeared to have failed to perform their intended duty. Methods of field inspection and initial examination are also critical factors for both reconstruction analysts and materials failure analysts. This article focuses on the general methods and approaches from the perspective of a reconstruction analyst. It describes the elements of accident reconstruction, which have conceptual similarity with the principles for failure analysis of material incidents that are less complex than a large-scale accident. The approach presented is that the analysis and reconstruction is based on the physical evidence. The article provides a brief review of some general concepts on the use and limitations of advanced data acquisition tools and computer modeling. Legal implications of destructive testing are discussed in detail.

Power metallurgy (PM) is a process of shaping metal powders into near-net or net shape parts combined with densification or consolidation processes for the development of final material and design properties. This article introduces the general considerations, models, and applications in the modeling of PM processes. It describes the PM process in terms of powder compaction and sintering. The article schematically illustrates powder injection molding for the production of plastic parts and describes PM process models such as discrete-element model (DEM), linear continuum model, and nonlinear continuum model. It concludes with information on the application of press and sinter modeling to practical problems in PM.

The success of a reliable non-destructive evaluation (NDE) application depends greatly on the expertise and thoroughness of the NDE engineering that is performed. This article discusses the general considerations of NDE in terms of NDE response and NDE system management and schedule. It describes the NDE engineering and NDE process control, along with some case studies related to the applications of NDE. The article reviews various models for predicting NDE reliability, such as ultrasonic inspection model, eddy current inspection model, and radiographic inspection model. It concludes with an example that illustrates the integration of an ultrasonic reliability model with a CAD system.

This article presents an overview of the use of mechanism analysis (kinematics and dynamics) and simulation. It provides indications of the directions in which mechanism simulation is growing and how it is integrated in the evolving computer aided design and computer aided engineering (CAD/CAE) fields. Mechanism simulation is best used as part of a concurrent CAD/CAE approach to design. The article discusses the state, evolution, and direction of application for these techniques in a variety of fields.

Probability of detection (POD) assesses the performance of a non-destructive evaluation (NDE)-based inspection, which is a method used to determine the capability of an inspection as a function of defect type and defect size. This article provides an overview of the concept of POD, why it is needed, the history behind the development of POD, how POD assessments are performed, and how modeling and simulation can be integrated into the execution of a POD assessment. It describes the methods by which POD is determined. This includes detail on the experimental process to acquire the needed data, the mathematical methods to obtain a POD curve, and techniques to assess uncertainty in the POD curve as it is obtained from a limited data set. The concept of model-assisted POD (MAPOD) is introduced, with additional details and representative examples of MAPOD.

This article presents an approach to manage the uncertainty present in materials design. It describes inductive and deductive approaches to deal with uncertainty. The article focuses on providing an understanding of the opportunities for managing uncertainty and the decisions that influence the accuracy of the results. A design of experiments (DOE) represents a sequence of experiments to be performed, expressed in terms of factors set at specified levels. The article discusses the two types of DOEs: the full factorial design and the fractional factorial design. It explains the factors to be considered when selecting a procedure for propagating uncertainty. The article lists the categories of the popular types of uncertainty propagation methods, including simulation-based methods, local expansion methods, and numerical integration-based methods.

The process of optimization involves choosing the best solution from a pool of potential candidate solutions. This article provides a description of some classes of problems and the optimization methods that solve them. These problems include the deterministic single-objective problem, the deterministic multiobjective problem, and the nondeterministic, stochastic optimization problem. The article presents several complementary approaches to solve a wide variety of single-objective and multiobjective mechanical engineering applications. Multiobjective optimization study and stochastic optimization studies are also discussed.

This article discusses the requirements that are typically considered in designing a steel casting. It describes the materials selection that forms a part of process of meeting the design criteria. The article provides information on the material selection guide for five major design applications. It examines the attributes that are specific to the manufacturing of steel castings. The article concludes with information on the various nondestructive examination methods available for ensuring manufacturing quality and part performance in steel castings.

Affordability is the key issue facing design engineers and manufacturers of composite components for current and next-generation aircraft, spacecraft, propulsion systems, and other advanced applications. This article describes the software tools available for modeling and analyzing costs associated with design and manufacturing options for advanced composites programs. It presents an example of a composite exhaust nozzle shroud where the design and manufacture options were analyzed and adjusted, based on the use of cost analysis tools. The article also lists some of the attributes found in various cost modeling software and the potential cost benefits.

The qualification of additive manufacturing (AM) processes and the certification of AM parts is recognized as a significant impediment to the rapid, low-cost deployment of AM manufacturing. The challenges are multifaceted; however, it is an attempt to apply conventional qualification approaches to an inherently different process that has caused the most difficulty. This article examines the conventional qualification methodology and explores how the unique characteristics of AM pose a set of qualification challenges. The extant approach to the qualification of AM processes is described, followed by a discussion on a possible future state.

The misorientation of a boundary of a growing grain is defined not only by its crystallography but also by the crystallography of the grain into which it is growing. This article focuses on the Monte Carlo Potts model that is typically used to model grain growth, Zener-Smith pinning, abnormal grain growth, and recrystallization. It introduces the basics of the model, providing details of the dynamics, simulation variables, boundary energy, boundary mobility, pinning systems, and stored energy. The article explains how to incorporate experimental parameters and how to validate the model by comparing the observed behavior quantitatively with theory. The industrial applications of the model are also discussed. The article also provides a wide selection of the algorithms for implementing the Potts model, such as boundary-site models, n -fold way models, and parallel models, which are needed to simulate large-scale industrial applications.