![[University of Waterloo]](/goldbar.gif)
| Friday |
Monday July 28, 2003
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Editor: Chris Redmond credmond@uwaterloo.ca |
![[Worswick]](/images/2003/0701worswick.gif)
An alternative to traditional stamp-and-weld processes, hydroformed
parts are created by using high-pressure fluid to expand the tube
into the required structural shape.
Most current components are constructed from drawing quality steel, but in the quest to create lighter vehicles to save on fuel economy, researchers are looking for ways to integrate new, higher performance materials into the hydroforming process.
Michael Worswick (right) of mechanical engineering, a project leader for the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence, is coordinating the team of researchers investigating the issue. On June 18, he presented some of the team's findings at the AUTO21 Scientific Conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
"Hydroforming can help reduce the vehicle weight, increase its fuel efficiency and create stronger, stiffer components that require less welding," Worswick said.
"High-strength dual-phase steel is lighter than what is currently being used, and can replace conventional steel to produce lighter, thinner-walled components. While it has excellent strength characteristics, the properties of high-strength steels create some challenges in its formability, especially in creating the sharpness of bends often required."
As part of the AUTO21 Network, Worswick coordinates the work of researchers from McMaster University, Queen's University, Université de Sherbrooke and the CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory, part of Natural Resources Canada. The team works with representatives and receives assistance from Dofasco, Stelco, Nova Tube and Eagle Precision Technologies Inc.
The Government of Canada awarded the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence an initial four-year grant of $23 million in 2001 to help it enhance Canada's position as a world leader in automotive research and development.
Researchers at 32 universities are working on innovative, auto-related projects in the areas of health, safety and injury prevention; societal issues; materials and manufacturing; design processes; powertrains, fuels and emissions; and intelligent systems and sensors. In addition to the federal grant, AUTO21 is supported by industry, government and institutional contributions of $11 million.
"Scholars accepting the prestigious CGS award at the doctoral level will see their scholarship funding increased to $35,000 a year for up to three years; those accepting at the master's level will receive $17,500 for one year. The new Canada Graduate Scholarships are the flagship scholarships of NSERC's postgraduate awards program. This fall, the Canada Graduate Scholarships will be integrated into the 2004 NSERC scholarship competition . . . ."
The Canada Graduate Scholarships program was announced in the last federal budget as a way to make graduate studies more attractive to prospective students and to develop new faculty members and researchers. Scholarship winners will be announced later in the summer.
Also from LT3, information and interface designer Alan Kirker will conduct an informal presentation tomorrow on developing website interfaces as well as the pros and cons of different prototyping and user-testing techniques. The session is called iWeb:Web Site Prototyping for Usability and it will take place from 11 a.m. - noon tomorrow in the FLEX lab in the Dana Porter Library (room 329). For more information, contact Alan Kirker at ext. 6749 or email alan@lt3.uwaterloo.ca.
Also tomorrow, Jaina Religion: a form of non-theistic humanism will be the subject of a colloquium by Dr. Tushar Sarkar of Jadavpur University at 2:30 p.m. in Hagey Hall room 334.
The SEW course "Web Management Using Dreamweaver MX" often has a waiting list. It will be offered on Tuesday August 12th and Wednesday August 13th, from 9 a.m. to noon in MC 1078. If you would like to register for the course, or would like more information, please call ext. 2078.
C&PA