Volume 50 Number 4 (2019.12)
Special Feature
Innovative Technologies for the Automotive Structure and Processing
Part I. Special Feature
Overview
Research Reports
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2. Modularization Method of Framed Structure in Conceptual Design Stage
(4585kB)pages 1-13
Hidekazu Nishigaki and Yasuo Asaga
A new modularization method is proposed with consideration of the modular design of structures and assembly order with less rework to shift to the low-volume production of a wide variety of products. The developed method creates an optimal structure layout and divides it into modules by hierarchical cluster analysis.
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pages 15-21
Jun Yaokawa, Yasushi Iwata, Naoaki Sugiura and Yuichi Furukawa
Moldless casting is an directional solidification technique that can be used to fabricate aluminum products with inner ribs and bent geometries. This article provides information regarding this technique, including equipment, a scientific basis to improve the thickness accuracy of products, the forming rate, and the mechanical properties and microstructure of 6000 series aluminum alloy. Automotive applications are also addressed.
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pages 23-31
Gaku Kitahara, Aya Tsuji, Takashi Asada and Tomohiro Suzuki
It is necessary to properly assess delayed fracture susceptibility caused by the intrusion of atmospheric hydrogen. We propose an evaluation technique for delayed fracture susceptibility and clarify the effects of applied stress and surface treatment on hydrogen absorption for a high tensile steel sheet.
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pages 33-42
Toshiki Sasayama, Masahide Inagaki and Norikazu Sato
This study proposes an efficient model for the simulation of fiber motion in viscous shear flow. The proposed model well captures the trend of fiber motion in simple shear flow and complicated flow during injection molding simulated by the conventional model. The proposed model is also applied to simulate fiber breakage.
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pages 43-52
Takashi Sasagawa, Masato Tanaka and Ryuji Omote
A computational method is proposed to enable efficient calculation of the material properties of short fiber composites based on computational homogenization. The key point of the proposed method is the virtual construction of a simplified periodic microstructure for the short fiber composites based on their power spectral density.
Part II.
Special Review
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pages 53-60
Tohru Shiga
This paper describes five novel phenomena that I encountered during my career in research. These are (1) the anisotropic swelling of ionic gels in dc electric fields, (2) the electrorheological effect in non-conducting gels, (3) the effect of tensile loading on the fluorescence lifetimes of soluble polymers, (4) the decomposition of magnesium oxide in iodine/dimethyl sulfoxide solutions and the applications of this behavior to provide a charging catalyst in secondary Mg-air batteries, and (5) the anomalously high redox potential of iodine species.