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Ti_49.4Ni_50.6 (at. %) shape memory alloy (SMA) is a unique class of smart materials because of unbeatable property which given a wide variety of their applications across a broad range of fields including an orthopedic implant. It plays a very important role in the constructions of novel orthopedic implants application (like dynamic compression plate) because of lower Young’s modulus compared to other biomedical implant materials, high mechanical strength, excellent corrosion resistance and unique property like shape memory effect. Conventional machining of Ti-Ni yields poor surface finish and low dimensional accuracy of the machined components. Hence, wire electro-discharge machining (WDEM) of Ti-Ni has been performed. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of variation of five process parameters, namely, a pulse-on time, pulse-off time, spark gap set voltage (SV), wire feed and wire tension on the material removal rate, surface roughness (SR), kerf width (KW) and dimensional deviation (DD), in the WDEM of Ti_49.5Ni_50.6 SMA.

The effect of machining parameters on Ti_49.4Ni_50.6 has been fully explored using WEDM with zinc coated brass wire as an electrode. In this work, L18 orthogonal array based on Taguchi method has been used to conduct a series of experiments and statically evaluate the experimental data by the use of the method of analysis of variance. Scanning electron microscope images of the machined surface, at the highest and lowest pulse-on time, have been taken to evaluate the quality of surface in terms of their SR values.

For the highest pulse-on time, it is observed that blow holes, cracks, melted droplets and craters have been formed on the machined surface with an SR of 2.744 µm, while for the lowest pulse-on time, these are not formed with an SR of 0.862 µm. It is seen that the pulse-on time is the most significant process parameter for MRR, SR and KW, while the DD is significantly affected by spark gap SV. The optimal values of the process parameters have been obtained by the method of analysis of mean and the confirmatory experiments have been carried out to validate results of optimization. Energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis of the machined surface of Ti_49.4Ni_50.6 has shown a certain amount of deposition of material on the machined surface.

This is an original paper.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the significance of disparate design variables on the mechanical properties of the composite laminate. Four design variables such as stacking sequence, stacking angle, types of resins and thickness of laminate have been chosen to analyze the impact on mechanical properties of the composite laminate. The detailed investigation is carried out to analyze the effect of a carbon layer in stacking sequence and investigate the impact of various resins on the fastening strength of fibers, stacking angles of the fibers and the thickness of the laminate.

The Taguchi approach has been adopted to detect the most significant design variable for optimum mechanical properties of the hybrid composite laminate. For this intend, L16 orthogonal array has been composed in statistical software Minitab 17. To investigate an effect of design variables on mechanical properties, signal to noise ratio plots were developed in Minitab. The numerical analysis was done by using the analysis of variance.

The single parameter optimization gives the optimal combination A₁B₁C₄D₂ (i.e. stacking sequence C/G/G/G, stacking angle is 00, the type of resin is newly developed resin [NDR] and laminate thickness is 0.3 cm) for tensile strength; A₄B₂C₄D₂ (i.e. stacking sequence G/G/G/C, stacking angle is 450, the type of resin is NDR and laminate thickness is 0.3 cm) for shear strength; and A₂B₃C₄D₂ (i.e. stacking sequence G/C/G/G, stacking angle is 900, the type of resin is NDR and thickness is 0.3 cm) for flexural strength. The types of resins and stacking angles are the most significant design variables on the mechanical properties of the composite laminate.

The novelty in this study is the development of new resin called NDR from polyethylene and polyurea group. The comparative study was carried out between NDR and three conventional resins (i.e. polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy). The NDR gives higher fastening strength to the fibers. Field emission scanning electron microscope images illustrate the better fastening ability of NDR compared with epoxy. The NDR provides an excellent strengthening effect on the RCC beam structure along with carbon fiber (Figure 2).