Browse Topic: Foams

Items (854)
ABSTRACT Flow fields in bipolar plates of Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells distribute fuel and oxidant over the reactive sites of the membrane electrode assembly. Bipolar plates are typically graphite with parallel or serpentine channels as flow fields. Drawbacks of graphite include weight, fabrication inaccuracy, cost, porosity, and brittleness. In this paper, open-cell metal foam is experimentally investigated as a flow field for a new bipolar plate design. Using experiments, the performance of the conventional bipolar plate/flow field was directly compared to that of the metal-foam designs at the same operational conditions. Results show that the cell current, voltage and power density were improved and temperature and pressure distribution on the membrane were even. As importantly, the conversion efficiency was higher for the metal-foam design, and the weight was reduced significantly. Citation: Nihad Dukhan, PhD, Yussef Awin, “Novel Metal-Foam Flow Fields for PEM Fuel Cells
Dukhan, NihadAwin, Yussef
ABSTRACT For this particular effort, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) Center for Systems Integration (CSI) was tasked to develop a buoyancy/survivability kit that would serve multiple functions. The underbody kit would meet or surpass current required protection levels. Plus the kit was to ensure that the LAV-25A2 (Light Armored Vehicle) continues to meet the swim requirement. However, the overarching objective is to meet the survivability, ground mobility, and water mobility requirements. Combining the accomplishments in the TARDEC & PM-LAV (Program Manager for the Light Armored Vehicle) survivability program in 2013-2014 with the TARDEC & PM-LAV buoyancy/survivability kit developed in 2015-2016, the overall weight is decreased, water mobility is improved, and survivability is significantly improved. This is a unique challenge as a combination of buoyancy, mine blast, and structural requirement on a ground military vehicle is novel
Capouellez, JamesVunnam, MadanKhatib-Shahidi, BijanTison, NathonLee, In-HoDunbar, PatrickHelsel, FloydKerr, SteveHarowitz, Jack
ABSTRACT The open-cell metal foams have an internal structure is a web of connected ligaments. Foams are made from pure or alloys of aluminum, nickel, steel, magnesium, titanium and copper. In addition to being light weight, the foams exhibit excellent stiffness-to-weight ratios. Some foams can be resilient materials in harsh environments and have high impact resistance. The foams have high conductivities and large surface area per unit volume. All of these attributes make metal foam an attractive core for heat exchange. For example, cooling of power electronics and for thermal management of ground vehicles can employ metal-foam designs. Numerical simulation of convection heat transfer due to airflow inside commercial aluminum foam is conducted in a commercial numerical package. For validation, actual air temperatures were locally measured inside heated commercial aluminum foam, and cooled by forced air flow using a specially-developed technique. Good agreement between the modeling and
Dukhan, NihadSULEIMAN, AHMED S.AL-RAMMAHI, MUNTADHER A.
Vehicle light-weighting constitutes a critical component in the automotive sector’s drive to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among the various options for lightweight materials, thermoplastic foams are distinguished by their durability, low weight, and environmental sustainability. This study explores the manufacturing of novel graphene-filled polypropylene (PP) foam, employing supercritical nitrogen as an eco-friendly substitute instead of conventional chemical foaming agents, and investigated the role of over-molding a solid skin over a foamed core on the flexural strength of the molded component. Our approach is broken down into four distinct investigations—Study I investigated the effect of different graphene content by weight percentage (wt.%), namely 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%, on flexural properties and foam morphology obtained for 15 wt.% reduction of the PP thermoplastic, thereby helping identify an optimum graphene loading wt.%. Study II broadened the wt
Pradeep, Sai AdityaDeshpande, Amit MakarandShah, BhavikKhan, SaidaFarahani, SaeedSternberg, JamesLi, GangPilla, Srikanth
One of the five major performances of vehicles, NVH(Noise, Vibration, Harshness), has recently emerged in electric vehicles, again. And, front loading NVH simulation is essential to respond nimbly to automotive industry these days. However, the two components of the simulation, mathematical sound absorption modeling equation, and the acoustic parameters, the input factor, is requiring improvement because of lack of robustness. In this study, we tried to strengthen, standardize, and refine the connectivity between micro (fine structure) and macro (acoustic parameter-related physical properties) characteristics, and improve the consistency with actual NVH performance. As a porous polymer material, polyurethane foam, which is widely used for the interior and exterior of automobiles, is treated as a target material. It is expected that further refining of the correlation between three-dimensional microstructure properties of foam such as pore, throat, strut, window, etc. and acoustic
Kim, Taeyoon
Due to the lack of biofidelity seen in GHBMC M50-O in rear-facing impact simulations involving interaction with the seat back in an OEM seat, it is important to explore how the boundary conditions might be affecting the biofidelity and potentially formulate methods to improve biofidelity of different occupant models in the future while also maintaining seat validity. This study investigated the influence of one such boundary condition, which is the seat back foam material properties, on the thorax and pelvis kinematics and injury outcomes of the GHBMC 50th M50-O model in a high-speed rear-facing frontal impact scenario, which involves severe occupant loading of the seat back. Two different seat back foam materials were used – a stiff foam with high densification and a soft foam with low densification. The peak magnitudes of the T-spine resultant accelerations of the GHBMC M50-O increased with the use of soft foam as compared to stiff foam. However, the change in the average biofidelity
Pradhan, VikramRamachandra, RakshitKang, Yun Seok
Recent experiments by a team from the West Virginia University focused on how a weightless microgravity environment affects 3D printing using titania foam, a material with potential applications ranging from UV blocking to water purification. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces published their findings
As we all know, automotive headliners are an essential component of any car’s interior as they cover all the internal components and provide a clean and finished look. Headliners not only increase the aesthetic appeal of a car’s interior, but also acts as an insulation and sound absorption source. As per the latest Government norms, Curtain Airbag (henceforth called as CAB) has been made mandatory and this change calls for the corresponding changes in the Headliner packaging of all passenger vehicles. In general, curtain air-bag deployment calls for a twist open of Headliner at lateral sides (a portion below Hinge-line) during the deployment. This enables the inflated airbag to flow inside the passenger cabin to protect the passenger from any injury. Conventionally no components are packaged below the hinge-line area of headliner to avoid obstruction for CAB deployment and any part fly-off concerns. For this reason, no foams/components are kept below the hinge-line region of the
D, GowthamL, DharshanBornare, HarshadRitesh, KakadeDeoli, ManishVadla, VilasKakani, Phani Kumar
Polyurethane (PU) foams are versatile in automotive applications for sound absorption, due to their superior acoustic-absorbing properties, vibration damping and robustness, and seat cushioning products due to their easiness of manufacturing process and cost-effectiveness. In recent studies, micro- and nano-particles were used to improve sound absorption efficiency, these fillers help to form interconnected pore structures in the foam matrix, and this interconnection of pores is advantageous in dissipating heat generated from wave friction with the air. Some of the micro- and nano-particles used are natural fibers (like cellulose, fir, palm), silica, clay, graphene and derivatives, zeolite, and others. This review is an overview of recent advances in the incorporation of fillers in PU foams and the influence they have on the sound absorption capacity of the foams. We used the systematic review methodology to compile recent studies in this area, using some search filters such as
Lazzari, Lídia K.Kerche, Eduardo F.Figueiredo, Fábio R.de Albuquerque, Ricardo F. C.Bortoli, BrunaPolkowski, Rodrigo D. O.
It is well known today that Biot parameters are the intrinsic material properties of porous media such as foams and fibers. They are to porous media what Young’s modulus is to steel panels. Once these Biot parameters are accurately known, one can trust that a predictive simulation model will yield the corresponding level of accuracy. But how accurate must these Biot parameters be to warrant a safe level of accuracy of the resulting simulation models? This paper analyzes various round-robin tests publications related to measurements of Biot parameters (acoustic and elastic) and uses the reproducibility of measured data from the numerous laboratories involved to evaluate the effect of the observed measured variability on simulation models accuracy when predicting transmission loss, surface absorption and actual sound pressure level (SPL) response inside a vehicle
Blanchet, Denis
Foaming materials such as 2C-PUR or expandable baffles are increasingly used in the car body acoustic package of modern passenger vehicles. Over the last several decades the primary function of foaming materials was the moisture sealing and airborne noise absorption / insulation in various areas of the car body such as pillars, door sills or other cavities. Recent developments also show an increasing application of expandable foams, functioning as structural dampers and reducing structure-borne noise transmission through frames and pillars. This paper summarizes the results of various studies that deal with the impact of expandable baffle materials on structure-borne noise in car bodies with special focus on mid and high frequencies which become more relevant in the acoustic optimization efforts of EV’s. Structural vibrations are evaluated experimentally on foamed generic frames and double sheet metal systems under free-free boundary conditions. The most promising candidate among
Unruh, OliverObst, Heike-UrsulaFuhrmann, BerndBautista, Jose
Oil migration has a great impact on vapor compression systems, especially for automobile air conditioning systems which require frequent on-off cycling without sufficient oil management inside the compressor. Excessive amounts of oil retained in the system and lack of oil returned to the compressor can cause low system efficiency and potential compressor failure. This paper explores and quantifies the transient effects in oil migration and property changes at the compressor suction and the discharge. Oil flow behavior and oil migration are quantified and analyzed by the high-speed camera recording and optical method at the compressor discharge and the liquid line under different compressor startup speeds and on-off frequencies. The flow under cold and warm startup conditions is studied and compared. The oil-refrigerant mixture flow at the suction and discharge during cold startup transitions from two-phase flow to vapor refrigerant flow and oil annular mist flow. Severe oil foaming
Wang, XinHaider, Syed AngkanElbel, Stefan
Researchers at the University of Bath working in collaboration with industrial partner, Integrated Graphene, have developed a new sensing technique based on graphene foam for the detection of glucose levels in the blood. Since it is a chemical sensor instead of being enzyme-based, the new technology is robust, has a long shelf-life and can be tuned to detect lower glucose concentrations than current systems
This specification covers the material and process requirements for fabricating sandwich radomes having hot-melt, addition-reaction polyimide-resin-impregnated quartz cloth shells and polyimide-resin syntactic foam cores
AMS P17 Polymer Matrix Composites Committee
This specification covers the material and process requirements for fabricating sandwich radomes having polyimide-resin-impregnated quartz cloth shells and polyimide-resin syntactic foam cores
AMS P17 Polymer Matrix Composites Committee
This specification covers expanded honeycomb core made from glass fabric impregnated with phenolic resin and oriented so the fabric weave is on the 45-degree bias with the ribbon direction and supplied in the form of blocks, slices, and ordered shapes
AMS P17 Polymer Matrix Composites Committee
Polyurethane foam (PU foam) is widely used in automotive noise reduction palliatives. As a decoupling insulator its acoustic performance depends on intrinsic properties, called “Biot” parameters. An important decoupling parameter is the apparent stiffness of the PU foam cell structure, as this controls the transportation of vibrational energy, with “softer PU foam” being the preferred option. However, some areas of application, for example in automotive carpet design, requires stiffer PU foam in order to accommodate under foot comfort. For a comprehensive approach to automotive component design, it is necessary to calculate the appropriate spatial PU foam properties ideally without the need for series of prototypes. This paper describes the methods and processes used when compiling and validating a material database capable of predicting the acoustic performance of flat sample or spatially complex 3D component with minimal prototype manufacture
Hoang, Minh TanDejaeger, LudovicPrunet, Jean-Baptiste
Recycling channels for foam materials, especially mattress foams, are set up. The foams are generally crushed into flakes and then assembled resulting in heterogeneous materials. These materials are more valuable if their properties are controlled. This work focuses on their acoustical properties. First, the properties of initial foams have to be estimated and the assembling process has to be analyzed in order to model the acoustic behavior of the reconstructed heterogeneous materials. The foams flakes are assembled with a binder and compressed during the manufacturing process. This work presents the methodology set up to predict the sound absorption of such heterogeneous materials based on recycled foams, from the estimation of the raw material properties to the final assembly. First, a large number of foams were measured in order to distinguish categories of materials. The data is stored in a database management software in order to perform some statistical analysis. Some typical raw
Chevillotte, FabienGontier, MathieuRomeyns, BarbaraMarchetti, Fabien
This recommended practice describes the materials, related equipment, and particular processing techniques utilized in process science curing of composite hardware where pressure is imparted specifically to the resin of curing composites. Included as Appendix "A" to this ARP is a discussion of the particular techniques developed for a processing science philosophy which has consistently produced void and porosity-free, large area, thick composite structures
AMS P17 Polymer Matrix Composites Committee
Light weighting in modern automotive powertrains call for use of plastics (PP, PA66GF35) for cam covers, intake manifolds and style covers, and noise encapsulation covers. Conventionally, in early stage of design these components are evaluated for static assembly loads & gasket compression loads at component level. However, engine dynamic excitations which are random in nature make it challenging to evaluate these components for required fatigue life. In this paper, robust methodology to evaluate the fatigue life of engine style cover assembly for random vibration excitations is presented. The investigation is carried out in a high power-density 4-cylinder in-line diesel engine. The engine style cover (with Polyurethane foam) is mounted on cam cover and the intake manifold using steel studs and rubber isolators to suppress the radiated noise. The style cover mounting ribs experience higher dynamic bending stresses due to the overhang of the mounting bosses from cam cover and intake
Soundarajan, AravamuthanYadav, VivekK, Karthikeyan
High pressure EGR provides NOx emission reduction even at low exhaust temperatures. To maintain a safe EGR system operation over a required lifetime, the EGR cooler fouling must not exceed an allowable level, even if the engine is operated under worst-case conditions. A reliable fouling simulation model represents a valuable tool in the engine development process, which validates operating and calibration strategies regarding fouling tendency, helping to avoid fouling issues in a late development phase close to series production. Long-chained hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas essentially impact the fouling layer formation. Therefore, a simulation model requires reliable input data especially regarding mass flow of long-chained hydrocarbons transported into the cooler. There is a huge number of different hydrocarbon species in the exhaust gas, but their individual concentration typically is very low, close to the detection limit of standard in-situ measurement equipment like GC-MS
Liebsch, StephanLeesch, MirkoZumpf, PhilippJacob, JörgMehnert, RonnyMartin, PeterKneisel, Max
The stair phase coding method is an important phase unwrapping method, but needs to project and capture many fringe patterns. Therefore, to reduce the number of fringe patterns, we propose a stair phase coding method based on arc cosine with only four patterns. We project and capture a set of three-step phase-shift sinusoidal fringe patterns and a cosine pattern encoding stair phase, and then we compute the wrapped phase and background light from the three-step phase-shift sinusoidal fringe patterns, normalized cosine pattern can be estimated via background light, and the cosine pattern encoding stair phase. Arc cosine calculation is applied to the normalized cosine pattern to obtain the stair phase, then the fringe order is determined from the stair phase. A semi-periodic fringe order correction algorithm based on the dilation image processing technique is proposed to ensure the accuracy of fringe order. The continuous phase is obtained from the wrapped phase and the fringe order
Ding, YanpingZhou, CanlinQi, XingyangWang, Yixiao
Weight reduction in automotive applications have led to the processing of thermoplastic polymers by foam injection molding. The density of the foamed polymer can be reduced up to 20%. Whilst, work has been reported on the weight reduction of the foamed polymer by using different types of blowing agent technologies, there has been limited studies in the areas of the sound transmission loss and sound attenuation properties of these materials. The present study is intended to understand the effect of chemical blowing agent (CBA) on the properties of polypropylene. The molded specimens were characterized using density, Differential scanning colorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and sound transmission loss (STL) measurements. Specimens were also tested for tensile properties, flexural properties, Izod impact strength and Heat deflection temperature (HDT) as per standard test protocol. Cell structures were observed using stereo
Shukla, Sandeep KumarBalaji, K V
Electrification is one of the megatrends across the industries, like electric vehicles, electric aircraft, etc. which needs advancement in power electronics component technology. As technology advances in miniaturization of power electronics, thermal-management issues threaten to limit the performance of these devices. These may force designers to derate the device performance and ultimately these compromise in design may increase the size & weight of the application. One of the technologies capable of accomplishing these goals employs a class of materials know as metal foam. Metal foams are lightweight cellular materials inspired by nature. The main application of metal foams can be grouped into structural and functional and are based on several excellent properties of the material. Structural applications take advantage of the light-weight and specific mechanical properties of metal foam. Functional applications are based on a special functionality, i.e. a large open area in
Makhe, SunilDandekar PhD, Chinmaya
This SAE Recommended Practice is applicable for determining the cold characteristics of flexible plastic materials, as applicable. It consists of three different methods for determining low-temperature properties of materials depending on type of material and end use. The method used shall be as specified by the contractual parties
Textile and Flexible Plastics Committee
The open-cell polyurethane foam has a significant influence on the dynamic response of the Seat-occupant Coupling System (SoCS). Hardness, as an important property of foam, significantly impacts the compliance of human body support. Therefore, it is necessary to study the effects of varying foam hardness on the vibration transmitted to the human body. In this study, the effects are investigated by combining the test and simulation. In the test, the vibration transmission characteristic is measured and analyzed using Transmissibility, Seat Effective Amplitude Transmissibility (SEAT) value, and Weighted Root-Mean-Square value (W-RMS). In addition, the properties o dynamic stiffness and damping are also discussed. In the simulation, combined with the test results of dynamic stiffness/damping, a three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) model of SoCS is established. Meanwhile, by introducing goodness of fit, the consistency of simulation and test results is evaluated and quantified. The results
Chen, LiangsongSong, JunNiu, XiyuanQiu, YiWang, Zunming
The properties of a polyurethane foam are greatly influenced by the addition of graphite particles during the manufacturing process, initially used as a fire retardant. These thin solid particles perturbate the nucleation process by generating bubbles in their immediate vicinity. A large body of work has focused on foams that are reasonably homogeneous. In this work, we propose a modeling approach for inhomogeneous foams that includes membrane effects and allows pore size distributions to be accounted for. The cellular structure of the foam is obtained through a random Laguerre tessellation optimized from experimental properties. The structure of real foam samples is analyzed using X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy, followed by image processing, to create three-dimensional, digital models of the samples. The corresponding effective material parameters, including the permeability, the tortuosity and the viscous characteristic length, are subsequently computed by
NGUYEN, Cong TrucGuilleminot, JohannDetrez, FabriceLanglois, VincentBORNERT, MichelDuval, ArnaudPerrot, Camille
Developing and producing resonators for the charged-air side of combustion engines requires a profound knowledge base in the areas of designing, simulating, and producing these parts in different materials (aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and technical plastic). As combustion engines are constantly being discussed, this existing knowledge base should be used for other applications within and outside the automotive industry. It became apparent very quickly that new challenges often require completely new solutions, designs, and materials to meet the requirements of flow noise reducing parts. For example, mufflers based on “specially treated foams” and “meta-materials” can be introduced for clean air application. These materials offer new opportunities for adjusting the frequency range and allow for improved broadband flow noise attenuation. Such parts are called “Resabtors”, taking into account the different flow noise attenuation principles of resonation and absorption. Since
Buck, RalfKrebs, Ingo
Integration of acoustic material concepts into vehicle design process is an important part of full vehicle design. The ability to assess the acoustic performance of a particular sound package component early in the design process allows designers to test various design concepts before selecting a final solution and long before a design freeze. This paper describes an innovative acoustic material concept which is easily integrated in a design process through the use of vibro-acoustic simulation and a database of intrinsic properties of acoustic materials: The Biot Parameters. Biot parameters are widely used in simulation in many industries (and used the most in the automotive industry) to describe the physical interactions between the acoustic waves travelling through foams, fibers or homogeneous metamaterials and the solid and fluid phase of these poro-elastic materials. Therefore, the surface absorption, the insertion loss and the added damping provided by the acoustic treatments on
Blanchet, DenisFeist-Muench, Michael
There are many opportunities for lightweighting with ductile iron castings. Current research shows ductile iron castings free of massive carbides can be achieved at under 2 mm (0.080”) through alloying or process changes which means that significant weight reductions are possible. In fact, for aluminum components over 4 mm thick, ductile iron may provide lightweighting opportunities at a cost savings. However, the conventional guidelines for casting design are inadequate when using ductile iron at dimensions less than the typical machine stock. This paper will discuss the current research on thin walled ductile iron, when it is superior to aluminum, design considerations, and current DOE SBIR funded research efforts to address these inadequacies. Research results on efforts to quantify and improve surface roughness in expanded polystyrene for lost foam casting are also discussed
Jordan, SarahDeBruin, MarkBrown, ChristopherGasvoda, Hudson
During the vehicle design state, vehicle noise and vibration are taken into consideration. The tire is a large contributor to the noise and vibration experienced inside the vehicle cabin. Any unevenness or asperities in the road cause the tire structure to vibrate, which in turn causes components in the vehicle to vibrate and generate noise. It is common in the industry to use foam inserts inside the tire air cavity that reduces the noise generated. This foam is typically intended to reduce a specific resonance in the tire-the resonance due to the air cavity. Recently, there is interest in using foam as a structural damper to reduce structural resonances in the tire. A new analytical tire model for determining the effect that structural damping foam has on the noise and vibration characteristics of the tire has been developed. The theoretical formulation of this model is presented, as well as comparison with experiments and a parametric analysis of the model. The model shows good
Sams, Thomas
From the microstructure point of view, the relationship of car seat comforts, including the static and dynamic comfort, and the polyurethane foam performance of its cushion has been analyzed. In this paper, polyurethane cushion performances associated with the seat static comfort have been mainly discussed. And their quantizing relation is obtained. How to apply the pressure gradient, one of body pressure distribution parameters, to optimize automobile seat comfort has been analyzed in detail. The findings suggest maximum and mean values of body pressures increase by 0.09 KPa and 0.04 KPa with the cushion foam hardness (Ph) increasing 1 KPa, respectively. The pressure gradient is little dependent on the cushion foam hardness within the range of Ph=4 ~ 5 KPa. Furthermore, the foam thickness under the hip should be greater 80 mm in order to reduce subcutaneous stresses under conditions of Ph= 6.2 KPa
Wang, YanfeiXing, Li-FengHuang, Yu-Qiang
This recommended practice provides a guideline for qualifying automotive aftermarket, two-component structural foams, and defines a classification system for such foams
Motor Vehicle Council
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