Open Access
A proposal of a constitutive description for aluminium alloys in both cold and hot working
(MDPI, 2016) León Iriarte, Javier; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
The most important difficulties when the behaviour of a part that is subjected to external mechanical forces is simulated deal with the determination of both the material thermo-mechanical properties and its boundary conditions. The accuracy of the results obtained from the simulation is directly related to the knowledge of the flow stress curve. Therefore, the determination of a material flow rule which is valid for both a wide temperature range and different initial deformation conditions in the starting material presents a great deal of interest when simulation results close to the experimental values are required to be obtained. In this present study, a novel flow stress curve is proposed that is able to accurately predict the behaviour of both materials with no previous accumulated strain and materials that have been previously subjected to severe plastic deformation processes. Moreover, it is possible to use it both for hot and cold working. The results are analysed in a wide test temperature range, which varies from room temperature to 300 °C, and from material previously processed by angular channel extrusion or with no previous strain accumulated. It is shown that the flow rule proposed is effective to model the material behaviour in a wide temperature range and it makes it possible to take the recrystallization phenomena that appear in previously deformed materials into account. In addition, the results obtained are compared with those predicted by other flow rules that exist in the prior literature. Furthermore, the study is complemented with finite element simulations and with a comparison between simulation and experimental results.
Open Access
Design, simulation and manufacturing of a connecting rod from ultra-fine grained material and isothermal forging
(Elsevier, 2016) Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; León Iriarte, Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
In this research work, a study on the mechanical properties of isothermal forging for connecting rods is made from previously ECAP (Equal Channel Angular Pressing)-processed AA1050 and AA5083 aluminium alloys. This severe plastic deformation (SPD) process is used in order to achieve a starting material with a submicrometric structure, thus improving the mechanical properties of the part. In this study, the design and the experimentation process is shown, where this involves the design stage by finite element simulations, the experimental tests and the use of metallographic techniques for the required properties to be analysed. Itis observed thatthere is an improvementin the mechanical properties when the starting material is ECAP-processed before carrying out the isothermal forging. This improvement consists in an increase of 20% in the hardness of the final connecting rod which also possesses a microstructure grain size of 500 nm. To come to these conclusions,the results obtained with the connecting rods manufactured by isothermal forging from previously ECAP-processed material are compared with those conventionally manufactured. Therefore,the feasibility and the advantages ofthe industrialmanufacturing ofmechanical components by isothermal forging from ECAP-processed material are demonstrated here as mechanical properties are achieved, as well as a better flow of the material and at a lower forging temperature. In the existing bibliography, there are no research works dealing with the manufacturing of connecting rods from ultra-fine grained material and that is the reason why this present study is considered to be of scientific and technological interest, and therefore, it may be considered to be at the frontline of current knowledge.
Open Access
Design and experimentation of a hydrokinetic turbine for electricity generation in closed pipes
(World Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society, 2024) Armañanzas Goñi, Javier; Alcalá, Marina; Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; León Iriarte, Javier; Torres Salcedo, Alexia; Gil Liberal, Miguel; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
In the present research work, a device for electrical energy generation to be used in water pipelines has been designed, simulated, and tested. To achieve this, a study of the most influential parameters involved in the experiment has been carried out and both, the turbine model and the geometry of the experimental test pipe, have been selected through CFD simulations. Next, the Design of Experiments (DOE) has been used to obtain the configuration with a higher energy extraction from running water. Finally, the turbine and the test pipe section have been manufactured by 3D printing and the experimental tests have been carried out with the optimal configuration to validate the results obtained in the CFD simulations. To simulate the exchange of energy between the water and the turbine, the CFD software SIMULIA XFlow has been used.
Open Access
Mechanical properties analysis of an Al-Mg alloy connecting rod with submicrometric structure
(MDPI, 2015) León Iriarte, Javier; Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; Murillo Crespo, Óscar; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
Over these last few years, there has been a growing interest in developing mechanical components from submicrometric materials due to the significant improvement that these materials present compared to their original state. This present research work deals with the study of the mechanical properties of a connecting rod isothermally forged from different starting materials. These materials are as follows: annealed aluminum alloy (AA) 5754, the same alloy previously deformed through equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and a third case where the previously ECAP-processed material is subjected to a recovery heat treatment. A comparison is made between finite volume (FV) simulations and experimental tests with respect to hardness, plastic strain and forging force. Furthermore, the improvement in the mechanical properties of the connecting rod forged from predeformed material is evaluated in comparison to the connecting rod forged with annealed material. The microstructure of both cases is also compared at the end of the manufacturing process.
Open Access
Design, optimization, and mechanical property analysis of a submicrometric aluminium alloy connecting rod
(Hindawi, 2015) Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; León Iriarte, Javier; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
Ultrafine grained materials have a great deal of both scientific and technological interest because they allow outstanding properties to be obtained. An improvement in the mechanical strength and in the ductility and a better fatigue behaviour are properties to be expected with these materials. However, in spite of the great number of scientific publications that deals with the mechanical property improvement, the number of practical applications of these materials is scant. In this present research work, equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) is used as a severe plastic deformation process (SPD) to obtain billets which are subsequently isothermally forged to obtain a connecting rod with submicrometric grain size. The optimization of the design process is shown as well as the die design. The objective variables to be fulfilled are the correct filling of the die and the required force to obtain the part. Moreover, a comparison is also included between the mechanical properties thus obtained and those obtained with traditional methods. Moreover, optical and SEM micrographs are also included in this research work.
Open Access
Design and optimization of the dies for the isothermal forging of a cam
(Elsevier, 2015) Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; León Iriarte, Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
In the present study, the design of the dies required for the isothermal forging of a cam is analysed by finite volume method. Specifically, cams are of great importance in automotive industry, where a lower weight and an improvement in the lubrication or in the materials to be in contact lead to a significant reduction in the fuel cost. The flow stress curves of one Al-Mg alloy were firstly determined by using compression tests. Once these flow stress curves were obtained, FV simulation was employed. In the forging process, the optimum die configuration has been selected. To this end, several aspects have been taken into account such as the force required for the forging, the correct die filling, the introduced plastic strain and the damage imparted to the billet.
Open Access
Manufacturing of nanostructured rings from previously ECAE-processed AA5083 alloy by isothermal forging
(Hindawi, 2013) Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; León Iriarte, Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
The manufacturing of a functional hollow mechanical element or ring of the AA5083 alloy previously equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) processed, which presents a submicrometric microstructure, is dealt with. For this purpose, the design of two isothermal forging dies (preform and final shape) is carried out using the design of experiments (DOE) methodology. Moreover, after manufacturing the dies and carrying out tests so as to achieve real rings, themechanical properties of these rings are analysed as well as their microstructure. Furthermore, a comparison between the different forged rings is made fromECAE-processedmaterial subjected to different heat treatments, previous to the forging stage. On the other hand, the ring forging process ismodelled through the use of finite element simulation in order to improve the die design and to study the force required for the isothermal forging, the damage value, and the strain thematerial predeformed by ECAE has undergone.With this present research work, it is intended to improve the knowledge about the mechanical properties of nanostructured material and the applicability of this material to industrial processes that allow the manufacturing of functional parts.
Open Access
Experimental and FEM analysis of wear behaviour in AA5083 ultrafine-grained cams
(MDPI, 2020) Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; León Iriarte, Javier; Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
Severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes have attracted a great deal of both scientific and technological interest over the last few years as a consequence of the improvements that are possible to obtain in the microstructure and mechanical properties of the materials manufactured through the use of these kind of processes. However, the practical applications of such materials to obtain mechanical components are significantly fewer. As a direct consequence, the same thing has been observed in the development of studies that show the in-service behaviour of the mechanical components developed in this way. Since one of the industrial objectives of these SPD processes is to obtain functional parts, it is necessary to carry out studies to fill this gap. Therefore, in this study, an analysis of the wear that cams undergo when manufactured from an AA5083 aluminium-magnesium alloy is carried out. The cams were isothermally-forged from materials with and without previous SPD processing by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). Subsequently, the wear behaviour of these cams was analysed by using specific equipment, which may have been considered to have a block-on-ring configuration, developed for testing in-service wear behaviour of mechanical parts. From this comparative wear study with cams, it is shown that previously-processed materials by ECAP have a better wear performance. Moreover, finite element modelling (FEM) simulations were also included to predict wear in the cams processed in this way. A good agreement between FEM and experimental results was obtained. It is this aspect of performing the wear tests on functional and real mechanical components, and not on laboratory samples, which makes this present research work novel.
Open Access
Development of nanostructured AA3103 by equal channel angular pressing and thermal treatments
(Hindawi, 2014) Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; León Iriarte, Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; Pérez Ruiz, Iván; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua, Project EUROINNOVA NANOCONS-IIM10784.RI1
This work presents a study related to the achievement of a nanometric structure in AA3103, employing severe plastic deformation processes (SPD), in this case equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). The changes in the mechanical properties and in the microstructure of AA3103 were studied after being processed by ECAP. Subsequently, scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the evolution of the microstructure after different thermal treatments on the material processed by this severe plastic deformation process. Furthermore, a more profound knowledge of the changes in the mechanical properties of this aluminium alloy was obtained. It was demonstrated that with different appropriate combinations of thermal treatments and ECAP processing, it is possible to significantly improve the mechanical properties through obtaining submicrometric grain size structures.
Open Access
Analysis on the manufacturing of an AA5083 straight blade previously ECAE processed
(Hindawi, 2013) Salcedo Pérez, Daniel; Luis Pérez, Carmelo Javier; Puertas Arbizu, Ignacio; León Iriarte, Javier; Fuertes Bonel, Juan Pablo; Luri Irigoyen, Rodrigo; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
Over these past few years, there have been a large number of technical papers published related to the problem of improving the mechanical properties of materials obtained through severe plastic deformation. Nevertheless, the number of technical papers dealing with improvement in the mechanical properties of mechanical components manufactured from submicrometric grain size material has not been so proficient. Therefore, in this present research work, a straight blade has been manufactured starting from AA-5083 previously processed by ECAE twice (N2) with route C.This material will be manipulated so as to be isothermally forged at different temperature values.This present research work shows the results that are inherent in an improvement in themechanical properties and the microstructure achieved in the thus obtained components, compared with the starting material. In addition, the optimum forging temperature to achieve these components will be determined. As shown in this research work, it is possible to obtain submicrometric grain size mechanical components with a higher mechanical strength than those obtained in nonultrafine grained materials. The originality of this research work lies in the manufacturing of actual mechanical components from ECAE processed material and the analysis of their properties.