In the superplastic sheet forming process, the uniformity of the sheet's final thickness distribution is vital for ensuring the good mechanical quality of the formed components. The influences of the component shape and the contact friction on the final thickness distribution were investigated in this work by using finite element method on a series of axisymmetric models. It was concluded that shape optimization and friction elimination are required to get uniform thickness distribution, and eventually to improve the mechanical quality of the formed components. The constitutive equation of the Ti-6A1-4V superplastic material was also determined on the basis of experimental data.
The paper deals with a new model of linear induction motor (LIM) to improve the reliability of the system. Based on the normal equation circuit of LIM considering the dynamic end effect, an equivalent circuit model with compensation of large end effect is constructed when the end effect force at synchronism is of braking character. The equivalent circuit model is used for secondary-flux oriented control of LIM. Single neuron network PI unit for LIM servo-drive is also discussed. The effectiveness of mathematical model for drive control is verified by simulations.
In this paper, a modified transient finite element (FE) algorithm for the performance analysis of magnetically levitated vehicles of electromagnetic type is presented. The algorithm incorporates the external power system and vehicle’s movement equations into FE model of transient magnetic field computation directly. Sliding interface between stationary and moving region is used during the transient analysis. The periodic boundaries are implemented in an easy way to reduce the computation scale. It is proved that this method can be used for both electro-motional static and dynamic cases. The test of a transformer and an EMS-Maglev system reveals that the method generates reasonable results at very low computational costs comparing with the transient FE analysis.
A new electromagnetic suspension model using a combination of high temperature superconductors (HTS) and copper conductors is proposed in this paper. A feasibility study showed that the magnets of our model can generate the 250 kg vertical suspension force. Three dimensional FEM and Design Sensitivity Analysis using the levitation gap length and cross sectional dimensions of the HTS magnets as design parameters were conducted to obtain the optimal shape of the cross section and the configuration of the HTS magnet. It was found that the gap length when optimized HTS magnet was used was much larger than that when copper conductor magnet was used, while the HTS coil volume was minimum, and the perpendicular field along the outer surface of the HTS coil was less than 0.12 T.
In general, every system is in one of the three states： normal, abnormal, or failure state. When the system is diagnosed as abnormal state, it needs predictive maintenance, lfthe system fails, an identical new one will replace it. The predictive maintenance cannot make the system ＂as good as new＂. Under these assumptions, the reliability index and the inspection-replacement policy of a system were studied. The explicit expression of the reliability index and the average income rate （i.e., the long-run average income per unit time） are derived by using probability analysis and vector Markov process method. The criterion of feasibility for the optimal inspection-replacement policy under the maximum average income rate is obtained. The numerical example shows the optimal inspection-replacement policy can raise the average income rate when the optimal inspection-replacement policy is feasible.
LIU Bao-youFANG You-tongWEI Jin-xiangWANG Yong-liang
