News on China's scientific and technological development.

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
The first sub saharan LRT(Light Rapid transit aka Tram) Designed and built by Chinese on time and on budget
China also provide training and maintenance. But run and managed by Ethiopian

And it actually work and changes people live. China give Japan a run for the money

Ethiopia is the fastest growing economy in Africa because the premier is top notch train in Tsinghua University and friend of Li Kezhiang
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
There are those who stereotype Chinese as non creative blah, blah, It is nothing but stereotype propagate by western media to feel good about themselves. first posted by Swoosh

Revolutionary Chinese all-in-one casting and forging metal 3D printer used for stealth jet fighters

Jul 25, 2016 | By Alec

The Chengdu J-20.

Just last week, a team of Chinese researchers from the Huazhong University of Science unveiled a truly remarkable 3D printer that could change metal manufacturing altogether: the all-in-one casting and forging metal 3D printer. This revolutionary machine combines 3D printing, casting and forging in a single device, and produces high quality results while eliminating excess material and equipment costs. It thus certainly has the potential to be used in just about any industry, but Chinese aviation specialists are the first to adopt it and are using this 3D printer to produce critical parts for China's fifth generation fighter jets, including the stealthy Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31.

Of course this is by no means the first time the Chinese government applied 3D printing to military production; Chinese warships first started taking 3D printers to sea back in early 2015 with an eye on emergency repairs. But the fact this new 3D printer is already used for critical part production showcases its usefulness and reliability.

The 3D printer itself was developed under the leadership of Zhang Haiou, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Huazhong University of Science. Upon its unveiling, he claimed to have “broken the biggest obstacle facing the 3D printing industry.” This disruptive technological is especially remarkable for realizing an increased part strength and toughness (compared to other technologies), an improved product lifecycle, and higher reliability.

According to its developers, the technology can also be used to create thin-walled metal components while eliminating excess material and equipment costs. Relying on an affordable electric arc as a heat source and low-cost metal wire as a raw material, it features a utilization rate of up to 80% or more – whereas traditional techniques are lucky to reach 5%. Of course the need for large casting, forging and milling equipment is also removed – as all processes are directly controlled through the 3D printer – to further reduce the need for investments.

What’s more, the 3D printer is very large and open to a wide range of materials. The first iteration of this hardware can work with eight kinds of materials, including titanium alloy, for aircraft and marine use, and steel, for use in nuclear power stations. This machine has already successfully built a part that 2.2 m long and weighs 260 kg, as well as a forging part measuring 1800 × 1400 × 50 mm. An even larger version of the 3D printer is already under development

chinese-scientists-develop-smart-micro-forging-casting-3d-printing-technique-1.jpg
.

Professor Zhang Haiou and his wife professor Wang Guilan
revolutionary-chinese-all-in-one-casting-and-forging-metal-3d-printer-used-for-stealth-jet-fighters-5.jpg

But the all-in-one casting and forging metal 3D printer is also remarkable for one other reason: the 60-year-old professor Zhang Haiou developed it in collaboration with his wife professor Wang Guilan, 53, who teaches at the same university. Together, they have been working on metal manufacturing techniques for more than 18 years, and they frequently clashed about it. Back in 2008, they even had a fight about Zhang Haiou’s proposal to integrate casting, forging and milling in a single machine – which his wife called a fantasy. “I do not blame her, as casting, forging, milling have existed as separated technologies for thousands of years,” the professor recalled.

But the quarrel did open their minds an led to a series of experimentations with a team of students. “At that time I thought that if it does not work, at least he could just give up,” his wife recalled. “Although I often criticize his failed tests, I still unconsciously use his methods for testing. When it’s wrong, we start arguing, but try again soon.” The couple spend most of their time working on R&D.

The Shenyang J-31.

While the researchers themselves previously said that their innovations will be especially useful in the aerospace, manufacturing and automotive industries, the Chinese defense sector could not pass up on this technology either. Several parts for Chinese fighter jets (understood to be the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31) have already entered limited production, with all parts made in a single piece – which would’ve been impossible using subtractive manufacturing methods or other metal 3D printing solutions.

That is a very important breakthrough, as multi-part geometries are believed to negatively affect performance and life cycles. The parts themselves are 3D printed in TC4 titanium alloy, resulting in excellent tensile strength, yield strength, ductility and toughness properties. Experts already verified that the parts are more stable than those made by traditional casting. And with a squadron of twelve J-20 heavy stealth fighters featuring these parts expected to be completed in 2017, it looks like metal 3D printing is also becoming an integral part of China’s defense industry.


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Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
Some stat on HSR. An eye popping growth of 30% yr on yr, wow. five billion trip made on HSR sofar.
HSR which is (18000/130000)X100%=15% of the total rail line, yet it carry 45% of the passenger train load

Five bln trips made on China's bullet trains
( Xinhua )

There have been more than 5 billion passenger trips on China's world-renowned bullet trains in eight years, according to new data from the national rail operator.

Since its debut in 2008, China's high-speed railway (HSR) has seen an average annual growth of over 30 percent in passenger trips, the China Railway Corporation (CRC) said on Thursday, the day after China announced plans to double its length of HSR by 2025.

In 2015 alone, over 1.1 billion trips were made on bullet trains in China, more than 45 percent of the country's total railway passenger delivery.

For a nation as large and populous as China, the HSR is charged with overcoming the "bottleneck" in the development of the railway, which is vital for mass transportation, said transportation expert Gu Zhongyuan.

Some 4,200 bullet trains operate on the HSR every day, facilitating over 4 million passenger trips, according to an employee with the official train ticketing website 12306.com.

One of the countless people to benefit is Wang Liya, a mother of two who lives in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou province, which used to be a 21-hour train trip away from her husband and the children's father's workplace of Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province.

"It's now much more convenient to visit their dad," said Wang of a high-speed train service launched in late 2014 that cut the journey down to only four hours, enabling far more frequent family reunions.

There are many other reasons behind the stellar growth in passenger trips besides the speed, including accessibility, safety and punctuality, all of which has enabled the CRC to find more and more customers worldwide.

China's 19,000 km of high-speed track represent 60 percent of the world's total. It is part of a domestic network of 40,000 km of track, which now connect almost all the provincial capital cities and cities with over 500,000 residents.

"China is the world's largest HSR builder and operator, the best all-rounder in technical know-how and the most experienced manager," said Sun Zhang, a professor at Shanghai's Tongji University.

On Wednesday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said that China would aim to have 38,000 km of HSR by 2025.

By 2020, one fifth of the country's 150,000-km railway network will be HSR, connecting over 80 percent of major cities nationwide, said the NDRC.

The race to build is being done with no compromise in turns of safety. China's rail network, on which the world's largest fleet of bullet trains operates, has the world's best safety record, according to data compiled by the International Union of Railways and the European Railway Agency.

Besides, Chinese high-speed trains score high in punctuality -- 98.8 percent for departure and 95.4 percent for arrival at the final destination in 2015.

"Bullet trains are enabling the Chinese people to significantly expand their circle of life and travel, which is changing their lifestyle," said Shi Peihua, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University.

The construction and operation of high-speed railways is also driving industries including metallurgy, machinery and electricity.

"The high-speed railway is a powerful engine propelling China's economic and social development," Sun said.


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Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
Time for flashback and look at this high horse professor pontificating on China HSR Peter Chovanec. He was all over the media back in 2009-2011. Never heard of him lately. He is completely wrong on migrant worker use of HSR
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The theory is that building a national high-speed rail network will put all that passenger traffic on “the fast track,” as it were, and open up capacity on the existing rail network to move not only more coal but also other types of goods, thus relieving the road backups and boosting both productivity and regional development.

The problem is that high-speed rail is expensive both to build and to operate, requiring high ticket prices to break even. The bulk of the long-distance passenger traffic, especially during the peak holiday periods, is migrant workers for whom the opportunity cost of time is relatively low. Even if they could afford a high-speed train ticket — which is doubtful given their limited incomes — they would probably prefer to conserve their cash and take a slower, cheaper train. If that proves true, the new high-speed lines will only incur losses while providing little or no relief to the existing transportation network.

Unfortunately, that seems to be precisely the situation that’s shaping up this Chinese New Year (the year’s peak travel season),
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in this Wednesday’s China Daily. The article reports that


Some 5,149km of high-speed track were put into service last year, making the network stretch to 8,358km, the world’s longest … But the opening of more fast train services has led to fewer regular trains being available for budget-conscious passengers.

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China Daily notes that a new luxury sleeper service between Shanghai and Chengdu costs an astonishing US$352 (easily comparable — and possibly more expensive than — an air ticket).

But many travelers cannot afford the tickets, causing a waste of transport capacity.

Instead of buying expensive high-speed rail tickets, migrants are instead opting to take the bus:

[An official spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation] said this year the situation had pushed many passengers, who used to ride home by slow trains because of the cheap tickets, onto long-distance buses. This extra traffic will add pressure to the road transport system during the travel peak season, [he] said.
 

KIENCHIN

Junior Member
Registered Member
Time for flashback and look at this high horse professor pontificating on China HSR Peter Chovanec. He was all over the media back in 2009-2011. Never heard of him lately. He is completely wrong on migrant worker use of HSR
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The theory is that building a national high-speed rail network will put all that passenger traffic on “the fast track,” as it were, and open up capacity on the existing rail network to move not only more coal but also other types of goods, thus relieving the road backups and boosting both productivity and regional development.

The problem is that high-speed rail is expensive both to build and to operate, requiring high ticket prices to break even. The bulk of the long-distance passenger traffic, especially during the peak holiday periods, is migrant workers for whom the opportunity cost of time is relatively low. Even if they could afford a high-speed train ticket — which is doubtful given their limited incomes — they would probably prefer to conserve their cash and take a slower, cheaper train. If that proves true, the new high-speed lines will only incur losses while providing little or no relief to the existing transportation network.

Unfortunately, that seems to be precisely the situation that’s shaping up this Chinese New Year (the year’s peak travel season),
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
in this Wednesday’s China Daily. The article reports that


Some 5,149km of high-speed track were put into service last year, making the network stretch to 8,358km, the world’s longest … But the opening of more fast train services has led to fewer regular trains being available for budget-conscious passengers.

ADVERTISING
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

China Daily notes that a new luxury sleeper service between Shanghai and Chengdu costs an astonishing US$352 (easily comparable — and possibly more expensive than — an air ticket).

But many travelers cannot afford the tickets, causing a waste of transport capacity.

Instead of buying expensive high-speed rail tickets, migrants are instead opting to take the bus:

[An official spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation] said this year the situation had pushed many passengers, who used to ride home by slow trains because of the cheap tickets, onto long-distance buses. This extra traffic will add pressure to the road transport system during the travel peak season, [he] said.
Typical of these so call experts and naysayers who suddenly go AWOL when they are proven wrong.
 

solarz

Brigadier
Typical of these so call experts and naysayers who suddenly go AWOL when they are proven wrong.

He also confused HSR with a sleeper ticket which are only available on conventional speed trains. In this, he demonstrated that he failed to grasp even the fundamental concepts of the subject that he is supposed to be writing about. The fact that Business Insider published him speaks volumes about the quality (or intent) of such publications.
 

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
There are those who stereotype Chinese as non creative blah, blah, It is nothing but stereotype propagate by western media to feel good about themselves. first posted by Swoosh

Revolutionary Chinese all-in-one casting and forging metal 3D printer used for stealth jet fighters

Jul 25, 2016 | By Alec

The Chengdu J-20.

Just last week, a team of Chinese researchers from the Huazhong University of Science unveiled a truly remarkable 3D printer that could change metal manufacturing altogether: the all-in-one casting and forging metal 3D printer. This revolutionary machine combines 3D printing, casting and forging in a single device, and produces high quality results while eliminating excess material and equipment costs. It thus certainly has the potential to be used in just about any industry, but Chinese aviation specialists are the first to adopt it and are using this 3D printer to produce critical parts for China's fifth generation fighter jets, including the stealthy Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31.

Of course this is by no means the first time the Chinese government applied 3D printing to military production; Chinese warships first started taking 3D printers to sea back in early 2015 with an eye on emergency repairs. But the fact this new 3D printer is already used for critical part production showcases its usefulness and reliability.

The 3D printer itself was developed under the leadership of Zhang Haiou, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Huazhong University of Science. Upon its unveiling, he claimed to have “broken the biggest obstacle facing the 3D printing industry.” This disruptive technological is especially remarkable for realizing an increased part strength and toughness (compared to other technologies), an improved product lifecycle, and higher reliability.

According to its developers, the technology can also be used to create thin-walled metal components while eliminating excess material and equipment costs. Relying on an affordable electric arc as a heat source and low-cost metal wire as a raw material, it features a utilization rate of up to 80% or more – whereas traditional techniques are lucky to reach 5%. Of course the need for large casting, forging and milling equipment is also removed – as all processes are directly controlled through the 3D printer – to further reduce the need for investments.

What’s more, the 3D printer is very large and open to a wide range of materials. The first iteration of this hardware can work with eight kinds of materials, including titanium alloy, for aircraft and marine use, and steel, for use in nuclear power stations. This machine has already successfully built a part that 2.2 m long and weighs 260 kg, as well as a forging part measuring 1800 × 1400 × 50 mm. An even larger version of the 3D printer is already under development

chinese-scientists-develop-smart-micro-forging-casting-3d-printing-technique-1.jpg
.

Professor Zhang Haiou and his wife professor Wang Guilan
revolutionary-chinese-all-in-one-casting-and-forging-metal-3d-printer-used-for-stealth-jet-fighters-5.jpg

But the all-in-one casting and forging metal 3D printer is also remarkable for one other reason: the 60-year-old professor Zhang Haiou developed it in collaboration with his wife professor Wang Guilan, 53, who teaches at the same university. Together, they have been working on metal manufacturing techniques for more than 18 years, and they frequently clashed about it. Back in 2008, they even had a fight about Zhang Haiou’s proposal to integrate casting, forging and milling in a single machine – which his wife called a fantasy. “I do not blame her, as casting, forging, milling have existed as separated technologies for thousands of years,” the professor recalled.

But the quarrel did open their minds an led to a series of experimentations with a team of students. “At that time I thought that if it does not work, at least he could just give up,” his wife recalled. “Although I often criticize his failed tests, I still unconsciously use his methods for testing. When it’s wrong, we start arguing, but try again soon.” The couple spend most of their time working on R&D.

The Shenyang J-31.

While the researchers themselves previously said that their innovations will be especially useful in the aerospace, manufacturing and automotive industries, the Chinese defense sector could not pass up on this technology either. Several parts for Chinese fighter jets (understood to be the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31) have already entered limited production, with all parts made in a single piece – which would’ve been impossible using subtractive manufacturing methods or other metal 3D printing solutions.

That is a very important breakthrough, as multi-part geometries are believed to negatively affect performance and life cycles. The parts themselves are 3D printed in TC4 titanium alloy, resulting in excellent tensile strength, yield strength, ductility and toughness properties. Experts already verified that the parts are more stable than those made by traditional casting. And with a squadron of twelve J-20 heavy stealth fighters featuring these parts expected to be completed in 2017, it looks like metal 3D printing is also becoming an integral part of China’s defense industry.


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

This article actually titled "Chinese scientists develop first ever 3D printing, casting and forging all-in-one technique"

I wonder if someone will say again that Chinese does not innovate, Chinese society kills innovation, only democracy and freedom of speech can cultivate innovation. :D It makes me wonder, where were European countries before 1700s when both Europe and China are ruled by monarchies.

I don't enjoy "bragging" of Chinese achievement, but I am really annoyed by people constantly dragging in politics and ideologies into scientific arena to brag about their cultural, religious and political "superiority". So a counter "bragging" is necessary.

The bottom line is that, science is science, there is no communist science, democratic science or Christian science, 1+1=2 is universal regardless who is doing the math.
 
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