Project Topics for Mechanical Engineering

Due to the changing face of warfare, there is an ever-growing need to protect the underside of combat vehicles from mine blasts. This research effort presents a new method to better characterize the pressure profiles experienced by a plate as the blast develops. The explosive deformation of a small-scale plate was recorded using synchronized high-speed digital cameras and then analyzed using 3D Digital Image Correlation software. Time-varying pressure profiles were input into an axisymmetric FEM simulation by fitting curves to data obtained from tests using Kolsky bars to measure pressures. These were then modified to find possible profiles that produce the measured deformations. It was discovered that the final deformation cannot be determined from only total impulse or peak pressures, it is very sensitive to the time and spatial decay of the pressures, and a deforming plate travels with greater initial velocity than a nondeforming plate of equal mass.

Two U-bolts hold on each PVC pump assembly. The pump assembly essentially acts as a piston: Water flows in through a one-way valve in the up stroke and flows out the other one-way valve on the down stroke. The piston itself is a circle of plywood with felt covered in petroleum jelly on either side. This creates a very effective seal. The rods on the piston assembly and the axle were welded.

The Automobile Dictionary tells about the complete technical terms used in AUTOMOBILE Engg. It totally accesses the accurate meanings, simple and understandable definitions, easy mode of explanations, with video and audio feedbacks, simultaneously with the photographs, and related technical tools usage. It is easy and automatically gives us all the above-said details in a detailed description. This dictionary does the job of a search engine.

The function of the loader arm of the high-speed pneumatic loader is to load the workpiece from the conveyor belt into the die machine and vice-versa. The purpose of the work was to develop a Finite Element Model of the loader arm by using ANSYS Software. And with the help of the FEA model, the loader arm is optimized from stress and minimum deflection point of view. The knowledge of FEA and optimization is required to achieve the desired optimization in the existing structure.

Static and dynamic characteristics of a Space Frame were determined by using the Finite Element Method. Also, experimental measurements were done on the manufactured frame resulting in the dynamic characteristics of the structure. Results from this Experimental Modal Analysis were compared with the results from FEM-calculations. Correlation between the models was obtained showing very good agreement between the FE-model and the manufactured Space Frame. Further, the FE-model was used to modify the manufactured frame so that the predetermined target values were fulfilled.

Smoke Flow Visualization has played an important role in understanding the theories and principles of Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer, and aerodynamics in general. There have been many developments, and new technologies used to visualize the flow of air in and around objects. This project focuses on the design and development of a smoke-wire flow visualization wind tunnel. Smoke lines are produced in the wind tunnel by the vaporization of mineral oil on a small diameter wire which is placed upstream of the test object. Different test objects can be placed in the wind tunnel to view a variety of flows. Lighting and photographing techniques have been optimized to produce quality images of the flow field. Images of the flow around a cylinder and an airfoil will be presented and discussed.

This invention concerns the monitoring of a diesel engine operation and more particularly a monitor for monitoring the engine exhaust temperature for each cylinder in the engine. To monitor the operation of a diesel or gas engine it is desirable to monitor the exhaust temperature of each cylinder. The exhaust temperature on a diesel engine will indicate the overloading or under loading of an individual cylinder by causing a high temperature or a low temperature respectively; however, an abnormal operating temperature may also indicate such other faults as inadequate engine cooling, excessive friction in the cylinder, partial piston seizures or an inadequate air supply to the cylinder.

Measurement of diesel and spark ignition engine particulate emissions is of wide interest due to current research demonstrating that inhalation of nanoparticles may cause serious health problems. Both experimental and computational methods were used to investigate fluid and particle flows through a miniature dilution tunnel similar to those commonly used to sample particulate emissions from engines to help explain observed variabilities and bias, and to improve the repeatability of results. Laser Doppler Velocimetry, flow visualization, and a commercial CFD code were used to measure the flow field inside the apparatus. Slugs of NOx calibration gas and a high speed.

The development of centimeter to millimeter scale engines and power supplies have created a need for micro-scale combustion diagnostics. Fuel concentrations, product concentrations, and temperature are useful measurements in determining combustion behavior, chemical efficiency, and flame structures. However, to the present, there have been few efforts to develop non-intrusive diagnostic techniques appropriate for application in such small engines. Non-intrusive measurements in these engines are complicated by short path length and lack of optical access. In this thesis in situ FTIR spectroscopy is used to measure temperature and concentrations of fuel, and carbon dioxide in a micro-combustor. The measurements are made through silicon walls spaced a few millimeters apart. This is possible because silicon is transmissive in the infrared. Experimental issues, including the optical setup, limitations associated with etaloning, calibration, and interpretation of the resulting spectra.

Vehicle handling, stability, and bifurcation of equilibrium conditions were studied using a state vector approach. The research provided a framework for an improved method of vehicle handling assessment that included non-linear regions of performance and transient behavior. Vehicle models under pure lateral slip, constant velocity, and constant front steer were developed. Four-wheel, two-axle vehicle models were evolved from simpler models and were extended to include vehicle roll dynamics and lateral load transfer effects. Nonlinearities stem from tire force characteristics that include for tire force saturation.

With the global transition to lead-free electronics, the electronic component market has seen an increase in the selection of pure tin and tin-rich alloys as lead-free component finishes. The adoption of tin-rich finishes has enhanced a reliability issue associated with the formation of electrically conductive whiskers, emanating from the tin finished surface. A spontaneous growth of whisker may bridge adjacent conductors, leading to current leakage or electrical shorts. Whiskers tend to grow over many months. However, due to a lack of the factors accelerating whisker growth, prediction of whisker formation is extremely difficult. Therefore, the effective mitigation strategies are necessary, particularly for high-reliability applications, which require a long product operational life. The objective of this study is to investigate a method for characterizing whisker growth, which can further enable measuring the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. To achieve this objective, a set.