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Abstract: This paper concerns the free vibrations of cylindrical shells with elastic boundary conditions. Based on the Flügge classical thin shell theory, the equations of motion for the cylindrical shells are solved by the method of wave propagations. The wave numbers are obtained by directly solving an eighth order equation. The elastic-support boundary conditions can be arbitrarily specified in terms of 8 independent sets of distributed springs. All the classical homogeneous boundary conditions can be considered as the special cases when the stiffness for each set of springs is equal to either infinity or zero. The present solutions are validated by the results previously given by other researchers and/or obtained using finite element models. The effects on the frequency parameters of elastic restraints are investigated for shells of different geometrical characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A coupled cell-based smoothed radial point interpolation method is presented by combining the cell-based smoothed radial point interpolation method (CSRPIM) and the modified Dirichlet to Neumann boundary condition (MDtN-BC) to effectively control the dispersion error in predicting acoustic scattering. In the coupled CSRPIM, the MDtN-BC is used to satisfy the Sommerfeld radiation condition approaching infinity, and a cell-based smoothing operation together with the radial point interpolation method (RPIM) is adopted to soften the acoustic stiffness of the numerical model. The condensed RPIM shape functions are created by using real and virtual nodes, and virtual node selection schemes are studied to appropriately soften the stiffness. A major advantage of the coupled CSRPIM is that it can achieve very close-to-exact stiffness of the original model without introducing extra degrees of freedom. The properties of the proposed method are numerically studied. Simulations indicate that the six-virtual-node selection scheme performs the best. The results reveal that the developed method can significantly reduce the dispersion error and has excellent computational performance. In addition, the developed method shows good potential for practical acoustic-scattering prediction in engineering applications. [Display omitted] • A coupled cell-based smoothed RPIM is developed to control the dispersion error. • The developed method is far superior in accuracy and computational performance than FEM. • This method can expand the frequency range without increasing degrees of freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A model coupling shaft torsional vibration and advanced injection angle is built to predict engine block vibration. • Formulas of block vibration excitation forces are analyzed and derived by taking in to account the coupling model. • An optimization method for block vibration mitigation by adjusting advanced injection angle is proved. Engine body vibration is an important safety concern for diesel engines as it can lead to severe engine damages and even catastrophic failures. Traditional methods for excitation computation assume that the rotational speed and the cylinder pressure remain stable under each working cycle, which makes it impossible to precisely predict vibration peaks at certain frequencies. But in practice, the existence of shafting torsional vibration will lead to the fluctuation of rotational speed and cylinder pressure. To predict engine block vibration more accurately, this paper proposes a novel method considering the instantaneous variations in rotational speed and cylinder pressure. It is implemented by two steps. Firstly, an innovative model considering the coupling effect between shaft torsional vibration and advanced injection angle is proposed, it particularly explains how the cylinder pressure and instantaneous rotational speed vary due to the coupling effects. Secondly, the excitation forces that cause block vibration are analyzed and their computational formulas are improved. This method also considers the offset of excitation loading position caused by torsional vibration. The coupling model is experimentally verified and the excitations are loaded into a finite element model of the diesel engine for vibration response prediction. The results reveal that the coupled model can predict vibration peaks at sideband frequencies and thus makes the frequency spectrum much richer than that of the traditional method. Furthermore, it shows that the acceleration results obtained by the coupled model have better prediction accuracy than those obtained from traditional methods, with the deviation percentage reducing from 6.31% and 8.41% to 0.64% and 0.32% in the X and Z direction. It indicates that the coupled model is more reliable in predicting the vibration response of the engine block. Finally, the effect of advanced injection angle on engine block vibration is investigated and the optimal value of the advanced injection angle is determined to be 29 CA, which makes the engine block vibration reduced by 3.60%, 2.72%, and 3.16% in the X, Y, and Z direction comparing to the original advanced injection angle. Overall, this study presents an improved approach for predicting engine block vibrations and offers valuable insights for the design of shafting structures and fuel injection parameters in marine diesel engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effects of microstructures on the FCP behavior of 42CrMo steel are investigated. • In the later stage of near-threshold and early stage of Paris-regime, FCP rate depends on the single coarse-microstructure. • Roughness-induced crack closure caused by coarse microstructures retards FCP under low ΔK conditions. • FCP behavior in the later stage of Paris-region depends on the microstructure group effects, or overall strength and fracture toughness of materials. Microstructural differences through the thickness have always been an attention focus for large-scale steel structures, since they could significantly influence fatigue crack propagation (FCP) characteristics. Here, the effects of microstructure in FCP behaviors of 42CrMo steel were analyzed with emphasis on two different tempered sorbite/bainite (TS/B) microstructures: (i) fine TS/B structures (M42); (ii) coarse TS/B structures (M52). The results show that the FCP rate is relatively slower for M52 than for M42 in the regime through the later stage of near-threshold (I-L) to the early stage of Paris-regime (Ⅱ-E) with low ΔK, but is fairly similar for the two cases in the other ΔK regimes. Under relatively low ΔK, the FCP path of M52 is more tortuous with numerous micro-cracks in B and larger-sized crack deflections at the carbides and boundaries compared to M42, especially in the I-L where fatigue micro-cracks can deflect at the single coarse carbide, thereby resulting in roughness-induced crack closure and crack retardation behavior. Theoretical analysis shows that FCP behaviors are closely related to the cyclic plastic region size (Δr p) at the crack-tip. In the early stage of near-threshold region, Δr p is restricted within a grain-size scale for both steels, thus leading to a similar FCP rate. However, from the I-L to the Ⅱ-E, coarse B/ferrite-grains in M52 are always larger than the Δr p of fatigue crack-tip, and thereby lead to numerous micro-cracks formation and crack deflections at the carbides and B boundaries, inducing crack closure. In the later stage of Paris region, B/ferrite-grains in the two cases are much smaller than Δr p , so that FCP behaviors depend on the microstructure group effects, or overall strength and fracture toughness of materials, which cause the close FCP rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, polyacrylic acid (PAA) was used as a growth modifier to control micron-sized barium sulfate particles via a simple precipitation reaction between sodium sulfate and barium chloride at ambient temperature. The barium sulfate particles were exhibited various morphologies, such as monodisperse spheres, ellipsoids, rose-like aggregates, etc. To better understand the formation mechanisms of the various morphologies of these particles, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed. It was found that the PAA concentration, pH, and Ba 2+ and SO 4 2− ions concentrations were the most important parameters controlling the morphology of the BaSO 4 particles. These parameters affected the BaSO 4 morphology by influencing the interactions between the PAA carboxyl groups and inorganic ions and the conformation change of the PAA molecular chains. Moreover, this work attempts to provide a preliminary understanding of the formation of the spherical BaSO 4 particles with the randomly coiled conformation of the polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The eccentric impeller deteriorates the hydraulic performance of the pump. • The clocking position cannot be negligible for hydrodynamic characteristics. • The eccentric impeller affects the flow-induced force at shaft frequency. • The pulsation amplitude is proportional to the eccentricity ratio to some extent. • The shaft orbit of the impeller is closely related to the flow-induced force. In this paper, the effect of impeller eccentricity caused by parallel misalignment of the coupling is considered, and the impact of the impeller eccentricity on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a centrifugal pump is numerically investigated. The finite volume method is adopted to simulate the dynamic process. The results show that the eccentric impeller will deteriorate the hydraulic performance of the pump, nonetheless the influence is limited. However, it significantly affects the amplitude of the flow-induced force at shaft frequency, and the amplitude is proportional to the eccentricity ratio to some extent. The influence of impeller eccentricity on pressure pulsation can be evaluated by the shaft orbit. The crest factor of the impeller trajectory is positively correlated with the pressure pulsation intensity. The minimum value of the impeller trajectory has a negative relationship with the average radial force of the impeller. The clocking position of the eccentric impeller primarily affects the phase relationship between the shaft frequency and the blade passing frequency. A function is proposed to characterize the fluctuating pressure distribution with a spatially periodic pattern around the volute under eccentric conditions. This research can provide an essential reference for fault diagnosis and vibration control of the centrifugal pump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A mixed-lubrication model has been developed to study tribological characteristics of a marine stern tube bearing. The finite difference method is employed to obtain numerical solutions of the Reynolds equation using combined Newton–Raphson and iterative relaxation methods. The differential equation of deflection curve of the propeller shaft is used to describe the bending deformation of propeller shaft. The displacement superposition method is used to solve the differential equation of deflection. The influences of cavitation and different boundary conditions, the Reynolds boundary condition and Jacobsson–Floberg and Olsson (JFO) boundary condition, as well as the bending deformation of shaft, on the Stribeck Curves are discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A fracture failure of a marine diesel engine timing gear is investigated in detail. • Both experimental and numerical investigations are performed. • Influence of associated structures is considered while analyzing the fracture. • Two models, one is with inclusion and the other is non-inclusion, are constructed. • Results indicate the fracture is a fatigue fracture and is caused by the inclusion. In this paper, a fracture failure of a marine diesel engine timing gear in a chemical tanker was investigated in detail using both experimental analysis and numerical analysis. The experimental analysis includes macroscopical inspection, Scanning Electron Microscope analysis, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis, metallographic investigation and mechanical property investigation. The numerical analysis includes torsional vibration analysis and finite element method (FEM) simulations. In the torsional vibration analysis, the coupling influence of the associated structures on the timing gear system was taken into account, not only analyzing the fault gear itself. In the FEM simulations, two models, one is with inclusion and the other is non-inclusion, were constructed. Both investigations indicate that the fracture is a fatigue fracture and the initial cracks are caused by the inclusion. Further investigation should pay attention to finding a way to overcome the problem of fatigue fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]