This article provides a comprehensive review of the advancements made in the diffusion bonding of titanium and its alloys to other advanced materials such as aluminium, stainless steel, and ...magnesium. This combination of advanced alloys has received considerable attention in different industries, including aerospace, petrochemical, and nuclear applications due to high specific strength, lightweight, corrosion resistance, and moderate to high mechanical properties. The mechanisms of bond formation are discussed based on the type of microstructures formed and the mechanical properties achieved. The scientific literature identifies various methods/processes for controlling the volume of intermetallic compounds formed within the joint regions, as well as ways of maximising the strength of the weld/joints. This paper discusses the relationship between weld/bond properties and bonding parameters such as time, temperature, surface roughness, pressures, interlayer composition, and thickness. The scientific literature also shows that the bonding mechanisms and microstructural evolution of the bond zone can be significantly affected by suitable optimization of the bonding parameters. Additionally, this is a method of maximising bond strength.
The semi-solid transient liquid-phase bonding (Semi-solid TLP bonding) of titanium alloy Ti–6Al–4V to magnesium alloy Mg–AZ31 was performed using a eutectic forming nickel foil. The process ...parameters were optimized to achieve higher shear strength. The effect of temperature and pressure on microstructure evolution and mechanical characteristics were examined for bonding time between 5 and 60 min. Three reaction layers L1, L2 at Ni/Mg–AZ31 interface and L3 along the Ni/Ti–6Al–4V interface were determined within joint zone at a bonding temperature of 515 °C. The L1 and L2 reaction layers continued to be seen when the bonding temperature increased to 540 °C. When the bonding pressure increases from 0.2 to 0.7 MPa, a new reaction layer L4, at the Ni/Ti–6Al–4V interface was observed. The results showed that as the bonding time increased up to 60 min, the width of the joint decreased due to isothermal solidification. Maximum shear strength of 39 MPa was obtained for 540 °C and 0.2 MPa with a holding time of 20 min. However, further increase in bonding time to 60 min resulted in a decrease in shear strength to 8 MPa, and this decrease in strength was attributed to the increase in intermetallics forming within the joint zone.
This paper introduces a condensed version of lean manufacturing implementation toward improving manufacturing processes in a small to midsize glass fabrication company in Jordan. While the company ...suffers from long manufacturing lead times and unbalanced production line, it is almost impossible to convince the traditional administration of this small to midsize manufacturing plant to adopt the completely revolutionizing, costly, and risky (at such level) lean manufacturing approach. Therefore, a much lower cost and verified scheme of enhancement is provided. The scheme starts with value stream mapping (VSM) to visualize the process flow as well as identify production status and any potential alerts. Then, the scheme employs a discrete event simulation model to accurately estimate the impact of these potential alerts. The results of the simulation is then used to identify all the possible primary and secondary bottlenecks using multiple approaches such as utilization method, waiting time method, and scenario-based method. An improving algorithm is then utilized to systematically suggest changes aiming to relieve the system and produce a better manufacturing lead time and/or increase its throughput taking into consideration feasibility. These changes are evaluated each time using a modified simulation model. Not only did the implementation of the prescribed scheme in the glass fabrication company revealed a hidden bottleneck, but also the suggested changes reduced the manufacturing lead time by 6 % and increased the performance of the primary bottleneck by 32 %. Finally, the computerized relative allocation of facilities technique (CRAFT) was used to identify the optimal layout of the expanded system.
•Ni electro-deposited coatings on Ti-6Al-4V were used as TLP bonding interlayers.•Eutectic phase formation (Mg2Ni and Mg3AlNi2) provided interfacial bonding and was detected at the fracture ...surface.•Joint strength of 61MPa was achieved at 520°C, 20min and 0.2MPa bonding pressure.
Transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding of Mg-AZ31 and Ti-6Al-4V alloys was performed using pure thin Ni electro-deposited coat interlayer (12μm). The effect of bonding temperature, time and pressure on microstructural developments and subsequent mechanical properties across joint interface was studied at a temperature range from 500 to 540°C, bonding time from 1 to 60min and bonding pressure from 0 to 0.8MPa. The mechanisms of bond formation varied across the joint region, with solid-state diffusion dominant at the Ti-6Al-4V interface and eutectic diffusion at the Mg-AZ31 interface. Joint microstructure was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to detect the formation of intermetallic phases at the fracture surface. The maximum joint shear strength of 61MPa was obtained at a temperature of 520°C, 20min and at a bonding pressure of 0.2MPa. This joint strength was three times the bond strength reported for joints made using adhesives and represents 50% of the Mg-AZ31 alloy shear strength.
The transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding of Ti-6Al-4V alloy to a Mg-AZ31 alloy was performed using an electrodeposited Ni coating containing a dispersion of Ni and Cu nanoparticles. Bond formation ...was attributed to two mechanisms; first, solid-state diffusion of Ni and Mg, followed by liquid eutectic formation at the Mg-AZ31 interface. Second, the solid-state diffusion of Ni and Ti at the Ti-6Al-4V interface resulted in a metallurgical joint. The joint interface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Microhardness and shear strength tests were used to investigate the mechanical properties of the bonds. The use of Cu nanoparticles as a dispersion produced the maximum joint shear strength of 69 MPa. This shear strength value corresponded to a 15 % enhancement in joint strength compared to TLP bonds made without the use of nanoparticles dispersion.
Visual inspection through image processing of welding and shot-peened surfaces is necessary to overcome equipment limitations, avoid measurement errors, and accelerate processing to gain certain ...surface properties such as surface roughness. Therefore, it is important to design an algorithm to quantify surface properties, which enables us to overcome the aforementioned limitations. In this study, a proposed systematic algorithm is utilized to generate and compare the surface roughness of Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welded aluminum 6061-T6 alloy treated by two levels of shot-peening, high-intensity and low-intensity. This project is industrial in nature, and the proposed solution was originally requested by local industry to overcome equipment capabilities and limitations. In particular, surface roughness measurements are usually only possible on flat surfaces but not on other areas treated by shot-peening after welding, as in the heat-affected zone and weld beads. Therefore, those critical areas are outside of the measurement limitations. Using the proposed technique, the surface roughness measurements were possible to obtain for weld beads, high-intensity and low-intensity shot-peened surfaces. In addition, a 3D surface topography was generated and dimple size distributions were calculated for the three tested scenarios: control sample (TIG-welded only), high-intensity shot-peened, and low-intensity shot-peened TIG-welded Al6065-T6 samples. Finally, cross-sectional hardness profiles were measured for the three scenarios; in all scenarios, lower hardness measurements were obtained compared to the base metal alloy in the heat-affected zone and in the weld beads even after shot-peening treatments.
The natural vibration behavior of axially functionally graded (AFG) double nanobeams is studied based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam and Eringen’s non-local elasticity theory. The double nanobeams are ...continuously connected by a layer of linear springs. The oscillatory differential equation of motion is established using the Hamilton’s principle and the constitutive relations. The Chebyshev spectral collocation method (CSCM) is used to transform the coupled governing differential equations of motion into algebraic equations. The discretized boundary conditions are used to modify the Chebyshev differentiation matrices, and the system of equations is put in the matrix-vector form. Then, the dimensionless transverse frequencies and the mode shapes are obtained by solving the standard eigenvalue problem. The effects of the coupling springs, Winkler stiffness, the shear stiffness parameter, the breadth and taper ratios, the small-scale parameter, and the boundary conditions on the natural transverse frequencies are carried out. Several numerical examples were conducted, and the authors believe that the results may be interesting in designing and analyzing double and multiple one-dimensional nano structures.
This study investigates the impact of a warehouse management system on supply chain performance that provides less resources effort, more efficient, and reliable inventory management system. The ...supply chain procedures carried out in the warehouse were reviewed before customizing a software that can handle the necessary transactions. The software was tested for enhancing the work flow and providing a timely and efficient handling. Data was collected from the warehouse of a leading telecommunications service provider in Jordan. Furthermore, the facility layout was studied and we introduced a production station within the warehouse, which resulted in better space optimization/utilization of the warehouse. The production station consists of three steps: bundling, labelling, and repackaging. The system handles three phases of product lifecycle: receiving, processing, and distribution of SIM and prepaid scratch cards. Each phase of the product lifecycle was discussed in detail and the process/procedure gaps were identified. This work can serve both as a practical guide and industrial example for some researchers to compare the software inventory management system with the traditional manual system in the telecommunications sector in Jordan. It also highlights the gap between theory and practice; to motivate researchers to develop and customize new systems for mitigating supply chain disruptions.
This paper studies manufacturing processes in a wooden furniture manufacturing company. The company suffers from long manufacturing lead times and an unbalanced production line. To identify sources ...of waste and delay value stream mapping (VSM) and a discrete event simulation model is implemented. VSM is used to visualize and analyze the major processes of the company and provide quantifiable KPIs; the manufacturing lead-time and then Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) settings. A discrete event simulation model is then built to analyze the company on a wider scale and provide the data required to identify bottlenecks. Building on the data gathered from the production lines and the simulation model, two-bottleneck detection methods are used, the utilization method, and the waiting time method. Then based on the comparison of the two methods a third bottleneck detection is utilized; the scenario-based method, to identify the primary and secondary bottlenecks. After the bottlenecks are identified, changes are then evaluated using the simulation model and radar charts were built based on the improved simulation model, which evaluates the effect of changes in the utilization and OEE results. This work managed to neutralize the effect of one of the main bottlenecks and minimize the effect of the other. The manufacturing utilization was increased by 15.8% for the main bottleneck resources followed by 2.4% for the second one. However, it is hard to convince the traditional administration of this small size manufacturing plant to adopt a completely revolutionizing, costly, and risky (at such level) lean manufacturing approach. This paper studies and provides a much lower in cost and verified scheme of enhancement.
The joining of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy to a Mg-AZ31 alloy was performed using Ni electroplated coatings during the TLP bonding process. In this work, different coating thicknesses were used ranging from 1 ...to 20 μm. The effect of the coat thickness on microstructural developments and mechanical properties was studied. The bonded specimens were examined by metallographic examination, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was observed that as the coat thickness increased from 1 to 12 μm, the joint shear strength increased from 9 to 47 MPa. A further increase in coat thickness had a detrimental effect on the bond strength, and a lower value of 11 MPa was recorded. The mechanism of joint formation includes three stages: solid-state diffusion, eutectic formation, and isothermal solidification.