Brackets are the load-bearing components in a satellite. The current age of satellites comprises specific brackets that set out as a link between the bodies of the satellite, reflector parts, and feeder facilities mounted at its upper end. Brackets are used to carry loads of the satellite body frame, supporting elements, batteries, and electronic goods. The article explicates the various brackets used in satellites and aircrafts. The strength of the bracket is of utmost importance since it is an important load supporting member in several assemblies of aircraft and satellites. In addition to the mechanical strength, the weight of the bracket is a major concern as it adds to the total weight of the aircraft and satellite. Thus, weight savings of brackets can be of paramount importance and Additive Manufacturing (AM) is found as an overall solution to achieve the same. Hence, in addition to various brackets used in satellites, the article presents an exhaustive review of the processing of various advanced functional materials using various AM techniques to make high strength-to-weight ratio satellite brackets. The use of DFAM by various satellite manufacturers globally for optimizing the structure of the brackets resulting in a significant weight saving of the brackets is also presented in the article.
Additive manufacturing (AM) has proven to be the preferred process over traditional processes in a wide range of industries. This review article focused on the progressive development of aero-turbine blades from conventional manufacturing processes to the additive manufacturing process. AM is known as a 3D printing process involving rapid prototyping and a layer-by-layer construction process that can develop a turbine blade with a wide variety of options to modify the turbine blade design and reduce the cost and weight compared to the conventional production mode. This article describes various AM techniques suitable for manufacturing high-temperature turbine blades such as selective laser melting, selective laser sintering, electron beam melting, laser engineering net shaping, and electron beam free form fabrication. The associated parameters of AM such as particle size and shape, powder bed density, residual stresses, porosity, and roughness are discussed here.
11 December 2023 in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering
A superalloy is a high-performance alloy used for achieving stability and strength at elevated temperatures. Generally, a temperature of about 800°C is developed at the first stage of the aero turbine blade. So it is a challenge to choose a material that can withstand such high temperatures. Nowadays advanced generation single crystal Ni-based superalloys are being used for the fulfillment of high-temperature requirements in aero turbine components. But the continuous effort is being carried out to manufacture new materials that can withstand more and more temperatures generated at aero turbine because the high-temperature operation of the turbine is directly proportional to the efficiency of a turbine engine. The requirement of high-temperature application upgraded the Ni-based superalloy and different generations of alloys were prepared from time to time those were discussed in the paper. Recent developments of superalloys in the paper mainly include fifth and sixth generations of superalloys those incorporate Hf, Re, and Ru-like elements in significant amounts. A brief extension discussion has been placed on the types, processing, and hot deformation characteristics of Ni-based superalloys. VIM melting, single crystal growth, directional solidification, and powder metallurgy techniques for manufacturing Ni-based superalloys are discussed in detail. The strengthening mechanism and machinability behavior depict the characteristics of superalloys in a mechanical direction. Heat treatment and hot deformation behavior of Ni-based superalloy was precisely discussed in the context so as to correlate the strength of the material with the temperature change. Overall, the paper describes the origin, processing and characteristics of Nickel based superalloy in detail.