In this study, we investigated characteristics and mechanical properties of SKD61 repaired using the direct energy deposition (DED) process. Mechanical properties of the repaired product can vary depending on the base material and powder used in the DED process. To prepare for DED repairing for a damaged part, we conducted experiments using two different powders (H13 and P21). Experimental results showed that both powders were deposited without defects in the surface or interface between the deposited zone and the substrate. Hardness measurements indicated that the repaired region of the Repaired-H13 sample exhibited higher hardness than the base material, while the Repaired-P21 sample showed a sharp increase in hardness in the heat-affected zone (HAZ). Additionally, tensile test results revealed that the Repaired-H13 sample had lower tensile strength and elongation than the base material, whereas the Repaired-P21 sample demonstrated higher tensile strength and yield strength with a higher elongation than the Repaired-H13 sample. In case of Repaired-H13, it was confirmed that interfacial crack occurred due to a high hardness difference between the repaired part and the substrate.

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) is a widely used material in far-infrared and near-infrared imaging systems due to its exceptional optical transmittance properties. Through a hot isostatic compression process, during manufacturing, ZnS undergoes crystal structure modifications, resulting in increased transmittance across the visible and infrared spectra. However, ZnS exhibits low fracture toughness and irregular crystal orientations, making it prone to brittle fracture during the conventional cutting processes. Such brittleness often leads to surface defects that scatter light, diminishing optical transmittance. Therefore, understanding the conditions conducive to ductile processing is critical and necessitates a thorough brittle fracture analysis. This study introduces a novel quantitative analysis method to determine the occurrence of ductile processing and brittle fracture in ZnS materials after the turning process. To validate the efficacy of this approach, experimental machining was conducted through diamond turning and magnetorheological fluid polishing processes. Subsequently, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of brittle fracture was performed. Additionally, the relationship between brittle fracture and optical transmittance was explored using the proposed analysis method.

A Continuous Ship Unloader (CSU) is a facility in which multiple buckets rotate to excavate cargo from a ship to land. It is typically designed to have a lifespan of 20 years. However, fatigue damage is likely to occur before the end of its designated lifespan. This study aims to examine the possibility of extending the component"s lifespan by evaluating the remaining useful life of L-holder, a part of CSU, that has been in use for 20 years. Fatigue load history was predicted by measuring the strain with or without strain at the L-holder part requiring periodic replacement. Through tensile and fatigue tests, the remaining life was evaluated when cracks were not present. In addition, the remaining life in the presence of cracks was evaluated through destructive toughness test and fatigue crack propagation test. Life prediction results based on test cycles were obtained. The proposed guidelines are expected to be helpful for preventing CSU accidents.

In this study, the fracture characteristics of structural adhesives were investigated according to the shape of a DCB and TDCB by using the FEM. First, to obtain the reliability of the finite element method, the experimental and FEM analyses were compared, and the reliability was secured. When the graph of reaction force to displacement on the TDCB test specimen was examined, it was found that the smaller the slope, the stronger the exhibited property sustaining the load to the end of the adhesive surface. Maximum reaction force occurred was just before the adhesive was removed. The shear stress of the specimen exhibited the same characteristics and an equivalent stress. Thus, the data of this study resulting in the fracture characteristics of the structural adhesives for each shape can be applied to the design with durability.

Safe pre-operative traction applied and maintained to the fractured site in fracture reduction surgery is crucial. However, existing traction techniques performed by clinicians or manual traction devices are not elaborate and have no traction force information considering differences in patients’ bodies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate joint loads of fractured sites as pre-operative traction forces considering body mass index (BMI) during fracture reduction surgeries using a robotassisted device. We developed a lower-extremity dummy model to measure joint loads at hip, knee, ankle, and fractured sites. In 240 cases, four BMI types, six traction forces and two fractured sites were used. Results showed that joint load on major joints decreased as BMI increased. Additionally, joint load increased proportionally in the fractured tibia, but showed inverse tendency in the fractured femur. Control errors of up to 20% in repetitive control and approximately 30% in random control were measured, in comparison to estimated joint loads. Control error increased as traction force decreased. It is possible that applicability of robot systems to safe and precise surgical assistance can be validated. More precise traction control and real-time traction load monitoring technology will enable replacement of traction techniques in the near future.

This study focuses on these issues and includes the static fracture experiments with two forms of specimens; aluminum foam DCB and TDCB bonded with the type of mode III, a simulation static analysis to verify this experiment, and analysis of fracture behavior of adhesive interface of structures attached with aluminum foam by shape and thickness. The thickness of DCB and TDCB specimens designed in this study are set as variable t, and each thickness is t = 35 mm, 45 mm, 55 mm. According to forced displacements, the maximum reaction forces of DCB specimens due to thickness were approximately 0.35 kN, 0.45 kN, 0.54 kN, and the maximum reaction force of TDCB were approximately 0.4 kN, 0.52 kN, and 0.63 kN respectively. We expect the data according to variables to be easily investigated without a separate testing process, and effective analysis of the mechanical characteristics of aluminum foam DCB and TDCB.

Recently, the use of stainless steels have been increased steadily as a sustainable structural material in infrastructures and thanks to its superior corrosion resistance, fire resistance and ductility compared with those of carbon steels. In this paper, block shear fracture behaviors in base metal of fillet-welded connection fabricated with austenitic stainless steel (STS304L) were investigated through monotonic tensile test. Main variables are weld lengths in the longitudinal and the transverse directions of applied force. Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) which is also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding was chosen to join two metals. As a result, test specimens failed by typical block shear fracture (the combination of tensile fracture and shear-out fracture) in base steel. With the increase of two weld lengths, the ultimate strengths of specimens tended to get higher. Block shear fracture strengths predicted by current design specifications and existing proposed equations for welded connections were compared with those of test results. It is found that the discrepancy of strength prediction resulted from the effect of stress triaxiality on welded connections and the difference of material properties with carbon steel. Therefore, modified block shear fracture equation was suggested in this paper.

Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and wear caused by rolling contact between the wheel and rail are inevitable problems in railway systems. An increase in axle load or the slip ratio causes excessive wear. However, RCF and wear do not act independently, but one influences the other. Wheel and rail materials and manufacturing quality have a considerable influence on the formation of RCF and the ensuing wear. Therefore, the mechanical properties of the wheel and rail are important factors for reducing RCF and wear on the contact surface. This paper presents a comparative evaluation of the wheel and rail used in the Korean industry for high speed trains and conventional rails with respect to their fatigue and fracture behavior. A series of tests such as uniaxial tensile tests, fracture toughness tests, and fatigue crack growth tests were carried out at both room temperature and low temperatures.

Seismic load induces a reverse cyclic load that alternately applies a tensile and a compressive load to a structure. For nuclear piping material, safety is assessed in terms of fracture toughness. However, test results using a quasi-static load can’t guarantee safety if there is a seismic load. In this paper, the fracture toughness of SA312 TP304 stainless steel, which is used as the safety injection pipe of a nuclear power plant, was estimated by using reverse cyclic loads with different ratios of tensile load to compressive load. The test results using a load ratio of -1 (compressive load / tensile load) show that fracture toughness decreases to approximately 10% against a load ratio of zero. These test results show that the reverse cyclic load must be considered in planning for the safety of nuclear power plants under seismic loads.