Sharif Digital Repository

The process capability indices are widely used to measure the capability of the process to manufacture objects within the required tolerance. Fit quality is mainly dominated by the distribution of fit dimensions, i.e., a gap dimension. As the fit dimensions are very difficult to be measured in mass production, they are not to be considered as a direct inspection objective. The quality inspection and evaluation relative to fit quality are focused on whether the processes of assembly requirements are conformed with their specification limits respectively. Fit quality specification can be indicated by the process capability indices of mating parts. In this paper, the statistical-based process... 

The process capability indices are widely used to measure the capability of the process to manufacture objects within the required tolerance. Fit quality is mainly dominated by the distribution of fit dimensions, i.e., a gap dimension. As the fit dimensions are very difficult to be measured in mass production, they are not to be considered as a direct inspection objective. The quality inspection and evaluation relative to fit quality are focused on whether the processes of assembly requirements are conformed with their specification limits respectively. Fit quality specification can be indicated by the process capability indices of mating parts. In this paper, the statistical-based process... 

The position accuracy of the robot end-effector is inherently affected by uncertainties. In order to design and manufacture robots with high accuracy, it is essential to know the effects of these uncertainties on the motion of robots. Uncertainty analysis is a useful method which can estimate deviations from desired path in robots caused by uncertainties. This paper presents an applied formulation for 3D statistical error analysis of open-loop mechanisms and robotic manipulators. In order to have an accurate analysis, uncertainty effects of both the link dimension deviation and the joint clearance in performance of the spatial open-loop mechanisms and the robots are considered. The maximum... 

Using mobile robots in disaster areas can reduce risks and the search time in urban search and rescue operations. Optimal path-planning for mobile robotics can play a key role in the reduction of the search time for rescuing victims. In order to minimize the search time, the shortest path to the target should be determined. In this paper, a new integrated Reinforcement Learning—based method is proposed to search and find a hidden target in an unknown environment in the minimum time. The proposed algorithm is developed in two main phases. Depending on whether or not the mobile robot receives the signal from the hidden target, phases I or II of the proposed algorithm can be carried out. Then,... 

Operational modal analysis based on power spectral density transmissibility (PSDT) functions is a useful tool to identify the modal parameters with low sensitivity to excitations. For pole extraction from the PSDT function, a proper parametric identification method such as the polyreference least squares complex frequency-domain method or poly-Max method can be used. Then, the poles are selected from a stabilization diagram (SD) with overestimating the system model order. Therefore, spurious modes can be identified that must be distinguished and removed from the system poles. To reach this aim, many techniques have been proposed and applied. In this paper, a new algorithm is proposed to... 

Using mobile robots in disaster areas can reduce risks and the search time in urban search and rescue operations. Optimal path-planning for mobile robotics can play a key role in the reduction of the search time for rescuing victims. In order to minimize the search time, the shortest path to the target should be determined. In this paper, a new integrated Reinforcement Learning—based method is proposed to search and find a hidden target in an unknown environment in the minimum time. The proposed algorithm is developed in two main phases. Depending on whether or not the mobile robot receives the signal from the hidden target, phases I or II of the proposed algorithm can be carried out. Then,... 

The desired milling process with high material removal rate (MRR) and low surface roughness of the product can be achieved only if machining chatter is absent. Incorporating chatter into the optimal selection of the machining parameters leads to a complex problem. Therefore, the approach of selecting conservative intervals for the machining parameters is usually employed instead. In this paper, a practical approach is proposed to specify the optimal machining parameters (depth of cut and spindle speed) in order to maximize MRR and minimize forced vibrations by considering machining chatter. Firstly, the worst-case scenario-based optimization problem in terms of the surface quality is solved... 

In additive manufacturing processes, the part build orientation (PBO) is one of the most important factors that can affect the characteristics of the quality product such as the amount of support structure and the surface roughness. In most previous methods, the optimal PBO cannot be determined with high precision and accuracy in 3D space. In this paper, to find the precise and accurate optimal PBO with a desired angular accuracy, a new Taguchi-based method, called the Zooming-Taguchi method, is proposed. The proposed simulation-based method can precisely find the optimal PBO in absence of the noise effects. In order to find the optimal PBO with the desired angular resolution, the zooming... 

Nature, as a rich source of solutions, can be an inspirational guide to answer scientific expectations. Seed dispersal mechanism as one of the most common reproduction method among the plants is a unique technique with millions of years of evolutionary history. In this paper, inspired by plants survival, a novel method of optimization is presented, which is called Fertile Field Algorithm. One of the main challenges of stochastic optimization methods is related to the efficiency of the searching process for finding the global optimal solution. Seeding procedure is the most common reproduction method among all the plants. In the proposed method, the searching process is carried out through a... 

Rolling-element bearing (REB) failure is one of the general damages in rotating machinery. In this manner, the correct prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) of REB is a crucial challenge to move forward the unwavering quality of the machines. One of the main difficulties in implementing data-driven methods for RUL prediction is to choose proper features that represent real damage progression. In this article, by using the outcomes of frequency analysis through the Envelope method, the initiated/existed defects on the ball bearings are identified. Also, new features based on developing faults of ball bearings is recommended to estimate RUL. Early-stage faults in ball bearings usually... 

This paper presents modified relations for worst-case and root-sum-square (RSS) tolerance accumulation models for tolerance analysis of mechanical assemblies with asymmetric tolerances. The common models do not consider the sign of the sensitivity factors and thus are applicable to symmetric tolerances only. Using the new models, the accumulation of asymmetric tolerances results in asymmetric assembly tolerances. New relationships for estimation of percent contributions of individual tolerances are also introduced which yield percent contributions of upper and lower bounds of independent variables (manufacturing dimensions) on the upper and lower bounds of dependent variables (assembly... 

The production with high quality at the lowest production time can be a key means to success in the competitive environment of manufacturing companies. Therefore, in recent years, the need for extra precise and high-speed machine tools has been impressively increased in manufacturing applications. One of the main sources of errors in the motion of high-speed spindles is the occurrence of non-repetitive runouts (NRRO) in the bearing. The NRRO can be caused by some factors such as the form of balls, the waviness of rings, the number of balls, and the permutation of one or two balls in the ball bearing. In this paper, a Taguchi-based approach is proposed for the optimal design of high-speed... 

Tolerances significantly affect the assemblability of components, the product's performance, and manufacturing cost in mechanical assemblies. Despite the importance of product reliability assessment, the reliability-based tolerance design of mechanical assemblies has not been previously considered in the literature. In this paper, a novel method based on Bayesian modeling is proposed for the tolerance-reliability analysis and allocation of complex assemblies where the explicit assembly functions are difficult or impossible to extract. To reach this aim, a Bayesian model is developed for tolerance-reliability analysis. Then, a multi-objective optimization formulation is proposed for obtaining... 

Rolling element bearing (REB) failure is one of the general damages in rotating machinery. In this manner, the correct prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) of REB is a crucial challenge to move forward the unwavering quality of the machines. One of the main difficulties in implementing data-driven methods for RUL prediction is to choose proper features that represent real damage progression. In this article, by using the outcomes of frequency analysis through the envelope method, the initiated/existed defects on the ball bearings are identified. Also, new features based on developing faults of ball bearings are recommended to estimate RUL. Early-stage faults in ball bearings usually... 

Uncertainties can be divided into two general categories: aleatory and epistemic. Conventional reliability-based robust design optimization approaches, which disregard epistemic uncertainties due to lack of knowledge about the physical nature of systems, have previously been developed. To overcome this weakness, unlike previous methods, a Bayesian reliability-based robust design optimization method is proposed in the presence of both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. The proposed formulation is presented as a multi-objective optimization problem. The univariate dimension reduction method is used to approximate the mean and variance of the design function. The non-dominated sorting... 

Rapidly exploring random trees (RRT) are sampling-based approaches being widely applied for path planning of mobile robots. Since the output of these algorithms usually is a stream of discrete lines involving discontinuity at the linking points, kinematic constraints restrict the robot's movements. Consequently, robots may not pass discrete points in the path correctly. Hence, the using CAGD (Computer-Aided Geometry Design) curves can run simultaneously alongside those algorithms or may run after that to make a smooth path and that's the way in which non-holonomic constraints can be considered perfect and robots can be droved autonomously across them about the collision detection method... 

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing is a novel technology used for fabricating high-resolution part features from a wide range of materials. Due to the multiphysics dynamics and the multiphase nature of the microdroplet formation in the EHD printers, modeling of this phenomenon is complicated. In this paper, the formation of a droplet in an EHD printer—under a pulsed electrical field—is simulated using a new numerical model which couples the fluid flow, the electric field distribution and the movement of the electric charges under dynamic and transient conditions. The level-set method is applied to the entire multiphysics domain in order to study the formation of the droplet. The presented... 

The process of laser assisted machining (LAM) of metal matrix composites (MMC) is experimentally studied. The effects of process parameters (cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut), laser parameters (laser power, laser frequency and laser beam angle), and the percentage of reinforcing particles on the tool wear and the surface roughness are investigated. Furthermore, the effects of the mentioned parameters on the built-up edge (BUE), chip shape, and workpiece temperature are explored. The experiments were performed using uncoated tungsten carbide and PCD tools under dry conditions. In order to analyze the sensitivity of the process parameters, the Plackett-Burman method was used for... 

In the selective laser sintering (SLS) method, layers of powder are scanned by a laser beam and sintered. The thermal gradients created by laser heating and the subsequent cooling of the sintered sections results in thermal stresses and part warping in the final part. Thermal gradients are dependent on the scanning algorithm, in particular, the scan vector length. In this work, an efficient scanning algorithm for the SLS process is presented with the aim to minimise the part warping in the final part due to thermally induced residual stresses, while maintaining the production time at a minimum. The proposed algorithm is implemented in a finite element simulation and scanning parameters... 

The electrohydrodynamic (EHD) 3D printing technology is an Additive Manufacturing (AM) method that can be used in the manufacture of submicron-size structures. In this process, which is based on the formation of Taylor jet from a metallic ink, the investigation of particles reaction and aggregate formation in ink during printing is of great importance. In this paper, a new Finite Element model based on particle tracing in fluids is presented that couples the different physics that govern an EHD phenomenon. Vortex flow caused by boundary shear stress was observed in the ink jet; which was more like the Marangoni phenomenon in a stationary drop. By experimentally validating the presented model...