Neural network modeling to evaluate the dynamic flow stress of high strength armor steels under high strain rate compression

An artificial neural network (ANN) constitutive model is developed for high strength armor steel tempered at 500 °C, 600 °C and 650 °C based on high strain rate data generated from split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experiments. A new neural network configuration consisting of both training and validation is effectively employed to predict flow stress. Tempering temperature, strain rate and strain are considered as inputs, whereas flow stress is taken as output of the neural network. A comparative study on Johnson–Cook (J–C) model and neural network model is performed. It was observed that the developed neural network model could predict flow stress under various strain rates and tempering temperatures. The experimental stress–strain data obtained from high strain rate compression tests using SHPB, over a range of tempering temperatures (500–650 °C), strains (0.05–0.2) and strain rates (1000–5500/s) are employed to formulate J–C model to predict the high strain rate deformation behavior of high strength armor steels. The J-C model and the back-propagation ANN model were developed to predict the high strain rate deformation behavior of high strength armor steel and their predictability is evaluated in terms of correlation coefficient (R) and average absolute relative error (AARE). R and AARE for the J–C model are found to be 0.7461 and 27.624%, respectively, while R and AARE for the ANN model are 0.9995 and 2.58%, respectively. It was observed that the predictions by ANN model are in consistence with the experimental data for all tempering temperatures.     

Low velocity impact studies of E-glass/epoxy composite laminates at different thicknesses and temperatures

Low velocity impact experiments were carried out on E-glass/epoxy composite laminates having varying thicknesses at sub zero and elevated temperatures using hemi spherical steel impactor of 16 mm diameter with impact energies in the rage of 50–150 J. The performance of the laminates was assessed in terms of energy absorption, maximum displacement, peak force and failure behaviour. Results indicated that the effect of temperature on energy absorption of the laminate is negligible although the laminates are embrittling at sub zero temperatures. However it has influence on failure behaviour and displacement. Peak force has increased linearly with increase in laminate thickness from 5 to 10 mm. However it got reduced by 25% when temperature was increased from −20 °C to 100 °C. Based on experimental results, laminate perforation energies were predicted using curve fitting equations. Statistical analysis was carried out using Taguchi method to identify the global effects of various parameters on laminate performance and confirmed that the laminate thickness has significant influence as compared to temperature, for the studied range.     

Experimental investigation of a cook-off temperature in a hot barrel

The experimental investigations of the effect of contact time/temperature on initiating the cook-off using 7.62 mm calibre cartridge cases (CC) were conducted previously. These cartridges were filled with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) double based (DB) propellant (Bulls Eye) and were loaded in a hot chamber. The thermal explosion temperature is of great significance to both weapon designers and safety inspectors as it provides the operational limit and safe operating temperature. For CC under test, it was found that the cook-off temperatures of this propellant were encountered with the heat transfer profile of the simulated gun barrel between 151.4 °C and 153.4 °C, with a reaction occurring in less than 300 s after the round was chambered. Usefully, each experiment was found to be consistent and repeatable.     

The properties of Sn–Zn–Al–La fusible alloy for mitigation devices of solid propellant rocket motors

The Al and La elements are added to the Sn9Zn alloy to obtain the fusible alloy for the mitigation devices of solid propellant rocket motors. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), metallographic analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), tensile testing and fracture analysis were used to study the effect of Al and La elements on the microstructure, melting characteristics, and mechanical properties of the Sn9Zn alloy. Whether the fusible diaphragm can effectively relieve pressure was investigated by the hydrostatic pressure at high-temperature test. Experimental results show that the melting point of the Sn9Zn-0.8Al0·2La and Sn9Zn–3Al0·2La fusible alloys can meet the predetermined working temperature of ventilation. The mechanical properties of those are more than 35% higher than that of the Sn9Zn alloy at −50 °C–70 °C, and the mechanical strength is reduced by 80% at 175 °C. It is proven by the hydrostatic pressure at high-temperature test that the fusible diaphragm can relieve pressure effectively and can be used for the design of the mitigation devices of solid propellant rocket motors.     

层流冷却过程中基于自由能理论的相变本构方程的组织预报与分析

基于自由能理论的统一的相变本构方程可用来预测连续冷却过程中钢材的微观结构和转变体积分数。将该方程镶嵌在商业有限元软件MARC中,对DIN SAE 5140钢在层流冷却过程中的相变过程进行了分析。分析结果与试验数据相吻合。这表明该统一的相变本构方程为预测连续冷却过程中的材料的相变过程提供了一种新的有效方法。     

Design of infrared camouflage cloak for underground silos

The temperature difference between the exposed surface of an underground silo and the surrounding soil surface is significant, which means a silo can be easily found by infrared detection. We designed an infrared camouflage cloak consisting of an imitative layer and an insulation layer for the silos. The imitative layer is used to imitate the thermal response of the soil to the surrounding environment. The insulation layer is used to weaken the impact of the internal temperature field of the silo on the lower boundary of the imitative layer. A silo model including surrounding soil and a soil model without silo were established, and the influences of the material and thickness of each layer on the infrared camouflage effect were analyzed. The results show that when using a silicone rubber containing alumina powder with a volume fraction of 3.18% as the imitative material, its thermal inertia is in consistent with that of the soil. Meanwhile, it was found that the thickness of the imitative layer doesn’t need to be greater than its thermal penetration depth to achieve the infrared camouflage, and the absence of the insulation layer will cause hot spots on the silo surface in winter to weaken the camouflage effect. The optimized thicknesses of the imitative layer and the insulation layer are 22 cm and 4 cm respectively. The simulations indicate that with the application of the cloak, the maximum value of the absolute values of the temperature differences between the average temperatures of the silo surface and the surrounding soil surface temperatures drops from 1.59 °C to 0.31 °C in summer and from 1.92 °C to 0.21 °C in winter. This designed cloak can achieve an all-weather and full-time passive infrared camouflage.     

Phenomenological modelling of flow behaviour of 20MnMoNi55 reactor pressure vessel steel at cryogenic temperature with different strain rates

In the present study a phenomenological constitutive model is developed to describe the flow behaviour of 20MnMoNi55 low carbon reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel at sub-zero temperature under different strain rates. A set of uniaxial tensile tests is done with the variation of strain rates and temperature ranging from 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ to 10⁻¹ s⁻¹ and -80 °C to −140 °C respectively. From the experimental data, family of flow curves at different temperatures and strain rates are generated and fitted exponentially. The strain rate and temperature dependence of the coefficients of the exponential flow curves are extracted from these curves and characterised through a general phenomenological constitutive coupled equation. The coefficients of this coupled equation are optimised using genetic algorithm. Finite element simulation of tensile tests at different strain rates and temperatures are done using this coupled equation in material model of Abaqus FEA software and validated with experimental results. The novelties of proposed model are: (a) it can predict precisely the flow behaviour of tensile tests (b) it is a simple form of equation where fitting parameters are both function of strain rate ratio and temperature ratio, (c) it has ability to characterize flow behaviour with decreasing subzero temperatures and increasing strain rates.     

一种新型双转子发动机功率传输装置特性研究*

本文提出了一种基于摆盘和凸轮组合机构的双转子发动机功率传输装置。其结构简单、布置方式完全对称,平衡性好,能够通过凸轮控制转子的运动规律。为了分析和研究该机构的运行特性,建立了该机构的基本运动学模型,计算出了其运行轨迹,凸轮轮廓线等。分析了主要结构参数,如滚子轴线夹角和摆盘倾角,对其容积变化规律的影响。得出主要结论如下：滚子轴线夹角越靠近90°,气缸容积变化幅值越大。摆盘倾角与容积变化规律是成正比的,对于四叶片活塞转子而言,摆盘倾角最大可取值大约为65°。在实际中,滚子轴线夹角最好取90°,摆盘倾角要在留出足够叶片活塞厚度的前提下尽量去较大的值。     

Scale-up synthesis and characterization of 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide

2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (ANPZO), as an insensitive high explosive, with a high yield and excellent purity has been prepared at pilot plant scale by an improved method. The synthesized ANPZO is characterized by IR, laser granularity measurement, SEM and HPLC. The particle analysis revealed that the improved method could offer desired product with average particle size of 40 μm and high purity (>98.45%). The experimental parameters exhibited that the detonation velocity of the formulation based on ANPZO was higher than that of the corresponding TATB formulation. The DSC curve showed that the exothermic decomposition of the product occurred at the temperature between 300.5 °C and 360.4 °C. Furthermore, the sensitivity test suggests its safe nature towards mechanical stimulus.     

Tuning the reactivity of Al–Ni by fine coating of halogen-containing energetic composites

In this paper, various core-shell structured Al–Ni@ECs composites have been prepared by a spray-drying technique. The involved ECs refer to the energetic composites (ECs) of ammonium perchlorate/nitrocellulose (AP/NC, NA) and polyvinylidene fluoride/hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (PVDF/CL-20, PC). Two Al–Ni mixtures were prepared at atomic ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 and named as Al/Ni and Al/3Ni, respectively. The thermal reactivity and combustion behaviors of Al–Ni@ECs composites have been comprehensively investigated. Results showed that the reactivity and combustion performance of Al–Ni could be enhanced by introducing both NA and PC energetic composites. Among which the Al/Ni@NA composite exhibited higher reactivity and improved combustion performance. The measured flame propagation rate (v = 20.6 mm/s), average combustion wave temperature (T_max = 1567.0 °C) and maximum temperature rise rate (γ_t = 1633.6 °C/s) of Al/Ni@NA are higher than that of the Al/Ni (v = 15.8 mm/s, T_max = 858.0 °C, and γ_t = 143.5 °C/s). The enhancement in combustion properties could be due to presence of the acidic gaseous products from ECs, which could etch the Al₂O₃ shell on the surface of Al particles, and make the inner active Al to be easier transported, so that an intimate and faster intermetallic reaction between Al and Ni would be realized. Furthermore, the morphologies and chemical compositions of the condensed combustion products (CCPs) of Al–Ni@ECs composites were found to be different depending on the types of ECs. The compositions of CCPs are dominated with the Al–Ni intermetallics, combining with a trace amount of Al₅O₆N and Al₂O₃.     

弯矩作用下热塑性复合材料悬臂梁弹塑性分析

基于Timoshenko梁理论和Tsai-Hill屈服准则,建立了自由端弯曲载荷作用下悬臂梁弹塑性问题分析的数学模型,并得到了梁应力和位移的精确解.通过与相关文献和有限元计算结果进行对比,验证了该方法的正确性,并在此基础上,进一步分析了纤维方向角、弯矩、跨高比以及纤维体积分数对梁弹塑性应力和位移的影响规律.相关成果可为...     

Kevlar fabric reinforced polybenzoxazine composites filled with silane treated microcrystalline cellulose in the interlayers: The next generation of multi-layered armor panels

The design of astonishing combinations of benzoxazine resins with various fillers is nowadays of great interest for high quality products, especially in ballistic armors. The objective of this study is to investigate a new hybrid material prepared as multi-layered composite plate by hand lay-up technique. Different composites were manufactured from Kevlar fabrics reinforced polybenzoxazine, which was filled with silane treated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC Si) at various amounts in the interlayers. The developed materials were tested for their flexural, dynamic mechanical and ballistic performance. The aim was to highlight the effect of adding different amounts of MCC Si on the behavior of the different plates. Compared to the baseline, the dynamic mechanical and bending tests revealed an obvious decrease of the glass transition of 21 °C and a notable increase in storage modulus and flexural strength of about 180 %and17%, respectively, upon adding 1% MMC Si as filler. Similarly, the ballistic test exhibited an enhancement in kinetic energy absorption for which the composite supplemented with 1% MCC Si had the maximal energy absorption of 166.60 J. These results indicated that the developed panels, with interesting mechanical and ballistic features, are suitable to be employed as raw materials to produce body armor.     

Insensitive energetic microspheres DAAF/RDX fabricated by facile molecular self-assembly

Insensitive energetic materials are promising in the defense weapons field. However, energetic materials still suffer from great challenges and the concern about their safety limits their utilization. In this work, insensitive energetic explosive 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-azoxyfurazan/hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (DAAF/RDX) microspheres were fabricated by self-assembly method. Rod-like DAAF/RDX was prepared by mechanical ball milling for comparison. DAAF/RDX composites with different mass ratios (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) were obtained. The morphologies and structures of as-obtained DAAF/RDX composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that DAAF/RDX microspheres exhibited regular shaped microspheres with sizes from 0.5 to 1.2 μm. There was no crystal transition during the modification process. The thermal properties of as-obtained materials were then evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and materials studio software. DAAF/RDX microspheres showed an advanced decomposition peak temperature compared with rod-like DAAF/RDX. The binding energy and peak temperature values at zero β_i (T_P0) of DAAF/RDX (90:10) increased by 36.77 kJ/mol, 1.6 °C, and 58.11 kJ/mol, 12.3 °C compared to DAAF/RDX (80:20) and DAAF/RDX (70:30), indicating the better thermal stability of DAAF/RDX (90:10). The characteristic drop height (H₅₀) of DAAF/RDX (higher than 100 cm) composites was higher than that of raw RDX (25 cm), suggesting significant improvements in mechanical safety. The preparation of DAAF/RDX microspheres is promising for the desensitization of RDX and useful for the formation of other materials and future wide applications.     

The non-isothermal gravimetric method for study the thermal decomposition kinetic of HNBB and HNS explosives

The hexanitrostilben (HNS) is a thermally stable explosive that can be prepared from hexanitrobibenzyl (HNBB). Therefore, the investigation of thermal stability of HNBB can be important in the yield of preparation of HNS. The decomposition kinetic of HNBB and HNS are studied by non-isothermal gravimetric method. The TG/DTG curves in non-isothermal method are obtained in range of 25°C–400 °C at heating rates of 3 °C/min, 5 °C/min, 8 °C/min, 10 °C/min and 12 °C/min. The data of weight-temperature are used for calculation of activation energy (E_a) of thermal decomposition reactions by methods of Ozawa, Kissinger, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW) and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) as model-free methods and Strink's equation as model-fitting method. The compensation effect is used for prediction of mechanism and determination of pre-exponential factor (lnA) of the decomposition reaction. A reduction 60 kj/mol for the average of activation energy of thermal decomposition reaction of HNBB is obtained versus HNS. This result shows the lower thermal stability of HNBB in comparison to HNS. The Avrami equation (A_3/2) with function f(α) = 3/2(1-α)[-ln(1-α)]^1/3 indicates the predicted mechanism for thermal decomposition reaction both explosives.     

Cell-type continuous electromagnetic radiation system generating millimeter waves for active denial system applications

The cell-type continuous electromagnetic radiation system is a demonstration device capable of generating high-power millimeter electromagnetic waves of a specific wavelength and observing their effects on living organisms. It irradiates a biological sample placed in a 30 × 30 × 50 cm³ cell with electromagnetic waves in the 3.15-mm-wavelength region (with an output of ≥1 W) and analyzes the temperature change of the sample. A vacuum electronic device-based coupled-cavity backward-wave oscillator converts the electron energy of the electron beam into radiofrequency (RF) energy and radiates it to the target through an antenna, increasing the temperature through the absorption of RF energy in the skin. The system causes pain and ultimately reduces combat power. A cell-type continuous electromagnetic radiation system consisting of four parts—an electromagnetic-wave generator, a high-voltage power supply, a test cell, and a system controller—generates an RF signal of ≥1 W in a continuous waveform at a 95-GHz center frequency, as well as a chemical solution with a dielectric constant similar to that of the skin of a living organism. An increase of 5 °C lasting approximately 10 s was confirmed through an experiment.     

Aerodynamics analysis of a hypersonic electromagnetic gun launched projectile

A hypersonic aerodynamics analysis of an electromagnetic gun (EM gun) launched projectile configuration is undertaken in order to ameliorate the basic aerodynamic characteristics in comparison with the regular projectile layout. Static margin and pendulum motion analysis models have been applied to evaluate the flight stability of a new airframe configuration. With a steady state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, the basic density, pressure and velocity contours of the EM gun projectile flow field at Mach number 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 (angle of attack = 0°) have been analyzed. Furthermore, the static margin values are enhanced dramatically for the EM gun projectile with configuration optimization. Drag, lift and pitch property variations are all illustrated with the changes of Mach number and angle of attack. A particle ballistic calculation was completed for the pendulum analysis. The results show that the configuration optimized projectile, launched from the EM gun at Mach number 5.0 to 7.0, acts in a much more stable way than the projectiles with regular aerodynamic layout.     

Novel aluminum-based fuel: Facile preparation to improve thermal reactions

To improve the thermal properties of aluminum (Al) in the energetic system, a coated structure with ammonium perchlorate (AP) was prepared by a facile approach. And N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) was chosen as an ideal solvent based on heterogeneous nucleation theory and molecular dynamics simulation. This coated structure could enlarge the contact area and improve the reaction environment to enhance the thermal properties. The addition of AP could accelerate oxidation temperature of Al with around 17.5 °C. And the heat release of 85@15 composition rises to 26.13 kJ/g and the reaction degree is 97.6% with higher peak pressure (254.6 kPa) and rise rate (1.397 MPa/s). An ideal ratio with 15 wt% AP was probed primarily. The high energy laser-induced shockwave experiment was utilized to simulate the reaction behavior in hot field. And the larger activated mixture of coated powder could release more energy to promote the growth of shockwave with higher speed up to 518.7 ± 55.9 m/s. In conclusion, 85@15 composition is expected to be applied in energetic system as a novel metal fuel.     

Effect of Drying on Particle Size and Sensitivities of Nano hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine

Nano hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was prepared using a bi-directional rotation mill and dried under different conditions (liquid, temperature and drying). It shows that the samples cake seriously and the particles grow up obviously by ordinary drying in different liquids at 70 °C, which occurs again after vacuum drying. With the increase of temperature, the degrees of caking and aggregation are enhanced. Well dispersed sample maintaining constant particle size is extracted by supercritical drying, especially freeze drying. Furthermore, the mechanical sensitivities of I-RDX, O-RDX and F-RDX, of which the average sizes are 88.03 μm, 15.32 μm and 0.16 μm, respectively, are evaluated. Compared with I-RDX, the friction, impact and shock sensitivities of O-RDX are slightly lower. However, the friction, impact and shock sensitivities of F-RDX are reduced by 30%, 99.0% and 59.9%, respectively.     

气囊辅助RTM制备复合材料承力筒内腔尺寸控制技术

根据气囊充压压力与复合材料承力筒内径之间的变化关系,给出了成型复合材料承力筒内表面的气囊尺寸计算方程。分析了气囊充压压力增大对承力筒的壁厚、纤维含量和弯曲性能的影响。采用气囊辅助RTM工艺整体制备出复合材料承力筒。试验结果表明,气囊充压压力使复合材料承力筒的壁厚减薄,纤维体积含量增加,弯曲性能提高;选择适当的气囊充压压力可以制备出满足设计要求的复合材料承力筒。     

Development of multi-physics numerical simulation model to investigate thermo-mechanical fatigue crack propagation in an autofrettaged gun barrel

In this research, a detailed multi-physics study has been carried out by numerically simulating a solid fractured gun barrel for 20 thermo-mechanical cycles. The numerical model is based on thermal effects, mechanical stress fields and fatigue crack mechanics. Elastic-plastic material data of modified AISI 4340 at temperatures ranging from 25 to 1200 °C and at strain rates of 4, 16, 32 and 48 s⁻¹ was acquired from high-temperature compression tests. This was used as material property data in the simulation model. The boundary conditions applied are kept similar to the working gun barrel during continuous firing. A methodology has been provided to define thermo-mechanically active surface-to-surface type interface between the crack faces for a better approximation of stresses at the crack tip. Comparison of results from non-autofrettaged and autofrettaged simulation models provide useful information about the evolution of strains and stresses in the barrel at different points under combined thermo-mechanical loading cycles in both cases. The effect of thermal fatigue under already induced compressive yield due to autofrettage and the progressive degradation of the accumulated stresses due to thermo-mechanical cyclic loads on the internal surface of the gun barrel (mimicking the continuous firing scenario) has been analyzed. Comparison between energy release rate at tips of varying crack lengths due to cyclic thermo-mechanical loading in the non-autofrettaged and autofrettaged gun has been carried out.