Failures of Flexible Diaphragm Couplings of Power Take Off (PTO) Shafts of an Aircraft by Surface Discontinuity, Controlled by Stress Concentration or Stress Intensity Factor

Failures of two power take off (PTO) shafts of an aircraft have been analysed. Two shafts, one each developed by two different manufacturers failed separately during power run endurance test conducted at room temperature and ambient normal atmosphere. In both the cases, cracks were observed on the outer diaphragm disc. One shaft showed cracking in the engine side, while the other one exhibited cracks in the aircraft mounting accessory gearbox (AMAGB) side. Chemical analysis, microstructure and hardness evaluation indicate that the diaphragm material of the shafts is Ti-6Al-4V alloy used in solution treated and aged condition, as per the desired specification AMS 4928. Microstructural in-homogeneity, possibly a result of improper forging, was observed in diaphragm material of both the shafts. Additionally, surface discontinuities induced by forging and subsequent insufficient machining were noticed on the diaphragms. The diaphragms failed by fatigue with cracks possibly nucleating at surface discontinuities. Discontinuities with lower availability in one shaft led to somewhat increased life (466 million cycles) as compared to the life (104 million cycles) of the other shaft. Another possible factor contributing to lower life in the later shaft is the presence of higher quantity of nitrogen rich inclusions. Controlling factor triggering the failure of diaphragm of shaft with lower life seems to be the available high stress level along the rim periphery, while that for shaft with higher life is presence of few localized sharp surface discontinuities.

On the Use of the OptD Method for Building Diagnostics

Terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) measurements can be used to assess the technical condition of buildings and structures; in particular, high-resolution TLS measurements should be taken in order to detect defects in building walls. This consequently results in the creation of a huge amount of data in a very short time. Despite high-resolution measurements typically being needed in certain areas of interest, e.g., to detect cracks, reducing redundant information on regions of low interest is of fundamental importance in order to enable computationally efficient and effective analysis of the dataset. In this work, data reduction is made by using the Optimum Dataset (OptD) method, which allows to significantly reduce the amount of data while preserving the geometrical information of the region of interest. As a result, more points are retained on areas corresponding to cracks and cavities than on flat and homogeneous surfaces. This approach allows for a thorough analysis of the surface discontinuity in building walls. In this investigation, the TLS dataset was acquired by means of the time-of-flight scanners Riegl VZ-400i and Leica ScanStation C10. The results obtained by reducing the TLS dataset by means of OptD show that this method is a viable solution for data reduction in building and structure diagnostics, thus enabling the implementation of computationally more efficient diagnostic strategies.

Design of morphing wing with surface discontinuity

Aircraft wing morphing or radical shape change in flight has long been the subject of inquisitive research around the world. It happens because morphing ensures optimal adaptation to any flight conditions such as take-off, cruise, landing and other manoeuvres. The current state of material engineering is not yet in a position to provide adequate technologies to achieve such significant changes in the wing’s shape as morphing requires, though interesting progress can be observed. This article presents a new concept of the wing morphing, which potentially circumvents problems related to the elastic deformation of the wing structure. The first part of this article presents the principle of the operation and capabilities of the morphing wing, while the second part focuses on preparation for investigation of its numerical aerodynamic characteristics as groundwork to wind tunnel research.

A new fossil evaniid wasp from Eocene Baltic amber, with highly modified compound eyes unique within the Hymenoptera

Evaniid wasps develop as solitary egg predators within the oothecae of cockroaches. Fossil evaniids are relatively common compared with most other parasitoid Hymenoptera, undoubtedly due to their searching for host cockroaches on tree trunks and thus an increased chance of being trapped in tree resin. The genusParevaniaKieffer, 1907 is widely distributed through the Old World and is also known from a small number of rather unremarkable fossil taxa. Here we add to this extinct faunaParevania oculiseparataJennings, Krogmann, and Austin new species from Baltic Eocene amber, a species that has highly modified compound eyes that are unique among the Hymenoptera, and possibly among insects as a whole.Parevania oculiseparatan. sp. possesses a prominent acute ridge extending across the entire dorso-ventral elongation of the eye surface. Modifications to the regular curved surface of the eyes are extremely rare among Hymenoptera and previously were only known from two species ofInostemmaHaliday, 1833 (Platygastridae s. s.) and the three known species ofIsomeralaShipp, 1894 (Eucharitidae). In describing this unusual fossil evaniid species, we also analyze the optical consequences of the eye surface discontinuity, and discuss different types of compound eye modifications that occur in other Hymenoptera and other insects.