Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Localised Galvanic Corrosion Processes In Thermal Spray Coated/Cast Aluminium Alloy Systems, David Culliton, Tony Betts, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

Cast Aluminium Alloys, because of the propensity of aluminium to react with impurities and alloying elements, are prone to developing IM impurities during the solidification process. These IM phases can act, in some fluids, as initiation sites for localised corrosion processes, resulting in degradation phenomena, such as pitting. Whilst Thermal Spray coatings can improve the wear resistance of Cast Aluminium Alloys, their corrosion performance may be hampered by the presence of through porosity within the coating.

The present work details some preliminary studies of the localised corrosion processes occurring at the interface area between a Thermal Spray coating and a …

International Energy Agency Bestest For Ground Coupled Heat Transfer, Joel Neymark, Ron Judkoff, Michael Crowley

Reports

The objective of this project is to assess the accuracy of building energy analysis tools that have incorporated detailed models for predicting ground-coupled heat transfer related to floor slab and basement constructions. An executive summary is to be found in the main report.

Exploitation Of Surface Engineering Technology Research, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

Surface engineering refers to a wide range of technologies that design and modify the surface properties and characteristics of components. The applications are very broad from macro to nano and from extremely hard materials to polymeric coatings. The uses are found in many engineering, energy, gas and oil, transport, medical, cosmetic, optical, chemical and sports industries. Research in this technology is ongoing and the benefits that can be derived are enormous. The design, wear and tribological properties of components for instance have been greatly enhanced by surface engineering and the economic benefits to industries far outweigh the cost and use …

The Effect Of Vibratory Milling On The Powder Properties Of Zinc Oxide Varistors, Maura Kelleher, M.S.J. Hashmi

Articles

The formation of powders from multi-elemental oxides for the subsequent formation of a green and sintered compact body is a major processing operation in the manufacture of ZnO varistors. The physical and chemical properties of the metal oxides are crucial not only for the formation of a varistor component with optimum microstructure and thus electrical characteristics but also for avoiding the introduction of flaws and reduced yield during subsequent manufacturing stages. The effect of vibratory milling using cylindrical zirconia media on the physical and chemical properties of the mixed multi-elemental oxide additives of a commercial ZnO varistor formulation was studied. …

An Analysis Of The Performance Of Foams Used In Hurling Helmets, Keith Norris, Stephen Tiernan

Conference Papers

Abstract Head injuries can occur in most sporting activities. The seriousness of these injuries can vary greatly depending on the sport. Many sports such as American football, cricket, baseball and hurling try to reduce this risk by designing helmets that are suitable to be worn by the players. The National Standard Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has recently made great strides in this area with the introduction of the first comprehensive standard adopted for the sport I.S. 355:2006, which sets out new testing procedures that all new helmets must meet. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) has also stated its intention to …

Robots Assist In Treatment Of Stroke Patients, Philip Deering, David Kennedy, James Conlon

Articles

Robotic rehabilitation is a field of biomedical engineering which combines precise mechanical design with control technology through the interaction of medical and engineering professionalss to produce a new tool in medical rehabilitation. This article provides an overview of an interactive robot for the medical rehabilitation of stroke victims.

Numerical Prediction Of Primary And Secondary Flows In A Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube, Ronan Oliver

Masters

The primary aim of this project is to obtain a fundamental understanding of the fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of the primary and secondary flows in a Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube (RHVT). These flows are highly complex and are three dimensional, compressible and viscous in nature. To obtain an understanding of these, a state of the art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software package is applied for flow prediction with advanced turbulence models, and is employed to predict the primary and secondary flows in a RHVT. The models that are used include : the k-e model, the SST model by Menter, and the …

Force Measurement And Evaluation For Surgical Cutting Applications: Development Of An Effective Characterisation Testbed, Dean Callaghan

Conference Papers

Sensorized instruments that cater for accurate measurement of the interaction forces (between biological tissue and instrument end-effector) during surgical procedures offer surgeons a greater sense of immersion during minimally invasive robotic surgery (MIRS). There is much ongoing research into force measurement/evaluation involving surgical graspers. However, comparatively little corresponding effort has been expended in the measurement and subsequent evaluation of forces between scissor blades and tissue. This paper presents the design and development of a force/strain measurement test apparatus, which will ultimately serve as an effective sensor characterisation and evaluation platform. Data acquired from the testing platform can be used to …

Preparation And Accreditation Of Level 7 Engineering Programmes, Mark Mcgrath

Conference Papers

Accreditation of 3^rd level educational programmes by a suitably recognised professional body is of particular relevance in relation to engineering. The completion of a sequence of modules which leads to the attainment of this professionally recognised award is viewed as integral to the undertaking. The engineering technology fields are developing and expanding rapidly and the third level sector must keep abreast of these changes. This is essential if the third level institutions wish to continue delivering programmes which produce graduates who can successfully complete the transition from 3rd. Level to the various engineering sectors.

This paper outlines various aspects …

Time And Pitch Scale Modification: A Real-Time Framework And Tutorial, Dan Barry, David Dorran, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

A framework is presented which is designed to address the issues related to the real-time implementation of time-scale and pitch scale modification algorithms. This framework can be used as the basis for the developments of applications which allow for a seamless real-time transition between continually varying time scale and pitch-scale parameters which arise as a result of manual or automatic intervention.

Design Issues For Therapeutic Ultrasound Angioplasty Waveguides, Declan Noone, Graham Gavin, Garrett Mcguinness

Conference Papers

Therapeutic ultrasound angioplasty is a new minimally invasive cardiovascular procedure for disrupting atherosclerotic lesions. Mechanical energy is transmitted in the form of ultrasound waves via long, flexible wire waveguides navigated to the lesion site through the vascular system. The underpinning principle of this technology is that plaque may be disrupted through a combination of direct contact ablation, pressure waves, cavitation and acoustic streaming, which all depend on the amplitude and frequency of displacements at the distal tip of the wire waveguide. This study identifies a number of key design issues for clinical devices of this type, and describes testing procedures …

Simulation Of A Circulating Fluidised Bed Biomass Gasifier Using Aspen Plus: A Performance Analysis, Wayne Doherty, Anthony Reynolds, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

In the near future biomass gasification is likely to play an important role in energy production and conversion. Its application has great potential in the context of climate change mitigation, increasing efficiency and energy security. Atmospheric circulating fluidised bed (CFB) technology was selected for the current study. An original computer simulation model of a CFB biomass gasifier was developed using ASPEN Plus (Advanced System for Process ENgineering Plus). It is based on Gibbs free energy minimisation and the restricted equilibrium method was used to calibrate it against experimental data. This was achieved by specifying the temperature approach for the gasification …

Mechanical Engineering Education In Irish Context: On Route To Becoming A Chartered Engineer, David Kennedy, Richard Good

Conference Papers

Engineering Education in Ireland and throughout Europe has changed dramatically over the last few years and the pace of change is ensuring that we, the educators are constantly keeping abreast of new developments and benchmarks. Programmes that were based on inputs from learners are now outcomes based and the onus is on the educators and facilitators to provide evidence that graduates are capable of conducting specific tasks, commonly termed as Programme Outcomes. Similarly, greater onus is now placed on the learner to take greater responsibility for their educational development. The new and current process of meeting the educational requirements of …