The restoration of large support rollers poses an industrial challenge due to the high energy consumption of traditional repair methods. Consequently, a novel approach for repairing support rollers has been introduced and tested on thick-walled components. Finite element simulations aided the study of welding repairs for large thick-walled components, examining element distribution, microstructure, mechanical properties, and residual stress distribution across various processes. The results indicate that employing ABAQUS2023 finite element software to analyze stress variations under different working conditions, the Dynamically Controlled Low-Stress No-Distortion method effectively mitigates residual stresses both during and post welding, reducing average transverse residual stresses by 14.5% and average longitudinal residual stresses in the weld zone by 29.1%. The Dynamically Controlled Low-Stress No-Distortion method narrows the high-temperature range of the heat source, consequently decreasing the size of the heat-affected zone by 33.3% compared to conventional welding. The microstructure featured dendrites and equiaxed columnar crystals, with the Dynamically Controlled Low-Stress No-Distortion method capable of grain refinement, transforming some equiaxed columnar crystals into cellular structures. As grains were refined, microhardness improved, with the covering layer’s microhardness rising by 14.68%. A comparison between simulated and measured values of lateral and longitudinal residual stresses at corresponding points revealed discrepancies of 14.6% and 20.5% in accuracy, respectively.

CoCrFeMnNi-XZrO2 (X is a mass percentage, X = 1, 3, 5, and 10) high-entropy alloy composite coatings were successfully prepared on 0Cr13Ni5Mo martensitic stainless steel substrates using laser cladding technology. The phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, and cavitation erosion behavior of the composite coatings under different contents of ZrO2 were studied. The mechanism of ZrO2 particle-reinforced cavitation corrosion resistance was studied using ABAQUS2023 finite element software. The results show that the phase structure of the composite coating organization is composed of FCC phase reinforced by ZrO2 phase. The addition of ZrO2 causes lattice distortion. The coatings have typical branch crystals and an equiaxed crystal microstructure. With the increase in ZrO2 content, the microhardness of the composite coatings gradually increases. When X = 10%, the coating’s microhardness reached 348 HV, which was 95.53% higher than the high-entropy alloys without ZrO2 added. Adding ZrO2 can prolong the incubation period of high-entropy alloys; the high-entropy alloy composite coating with 5 wt.% ZrO2 exhibited the best cavitation resistance, with a cumulative volume loss rate of only 15.74% of the substrate after 10 h of ultrasonic cavitation erosion. The simulation results indicate that ZrO2 can withstand higher stress and deformation in cavitation erosion, reduce the degree of substrate damage, and generate higher compressive stress on the coating surface to cope with cavitation erosion.

This paper aims to develop a miniature mobile robot suitable to assist archeologists in their first exploration of unknown underground tombs. Due to the rather complex and irregular terrains in the tombs and inspired by the classic RHex design, we have developed a two‐segment articulated robot (A‐RHex) with two RHex design units. The robot is compact and lightweight, with dimensions of 25 cm long, 6.5 cm wide, 7 cm high, and weighs 283 g. To assist the robot in entering the tomb, we have also designed a deployment platform that can take the robots underground through a 10‐cm exploration hole. We introduce the overall design, control, and communication methods of A‐RHex, and theoretically analyze how the articulated design can improve the stability of the robot on slopes. Laboratory experiments and field testings at two real archeological excavation sites in China have validated A‐RHex's mechanical design, control strategies, communications, and capabilities for pre‐exploration of open and closed tombs. We believe that this kind of robot with high terrain adaptability and a small profile may become an important tool for field archeology in the future.

The Johnson–Cook model is widely used because of its ability to meet the simulation material requirements in various situations. However, under different working conditions, the accuracy of the model may have errors. In this work, based on Abaqus (Abaqus R2022 Education Edition, Dassault Systèmes, Paris, France) simulation software, Johnson–Cook (JC) constitutive model parameters and compression parameters were selected to simulate the improvement of surface roughness during the ball milling of a 7075-T651 aluminum alloy. In the numerical simulation of ball polishing, the changes in the residual stress field when the Johnson–Cook parameters change are analyzed. By comparing the numerically simulated residual stress fields under the JC parameters calculated at different strain rates, a set of parameters that agrees with the experimental values is selected. The results show that the residual stresses are in line with the experimental values when the strain rate is 10−4s −1. The changes in roughness corresponding to the selected parameters are analyzed. The results indicate that the simulated trend of roughness variation is consistent with the experimental values, and the optimal surface roughness value under a static pressure of 300 N is obtained.

Robotic archaeology has attracted more and more interest from archaeologists because robots can replace humans and work in unknown and dangerous environments. This paper proposes a multifunctional exploration platform for robotic archaeology with good structural compactness, multifunctional capacity and stable control system. The platform can carry out operations in the underground tomb environment through the cave of less than 10 cm, while the worker uses a computer to conveniently manipulate on the ground for guaranteeing the personal safety. In addition, the platform integrates cameras, laser ranging and numerous sensors (including temperature, humidity, CO 2 , O 2 , CH 4 , etc.) to collect and store images / videos, spatial layout, and environmental parameters of the archaeological environment. The platform also possesses a robot release and recovery cabin, which can carry a single robot to further expand the detection distance. From the field tests of simulated tombs and real tomb, it’s proved that the platform can provide support for subsequent archaeological excavations and on-site protection of cultural relics. Our study is of great significance for promoting the application of robots in the field of archaeology.