A generalized family of memristor‐based voltage controlled relaxation oscillator

Recently, memristive oscillators are a significant topic in the nonlinear circuit theory where there is a possibility to build relaxation oscillators without existence of reactive elements. In this paper, a family of voltage‐controlled memristor‐based relaxation oscillator including two memristors is presented. The operation of two memristors‐based voltage relaxation oscillator circuits is demonstrated theoretically with the mathematical analysis and with numerical simulations. The generalized expressions for the oscillation frequency and conditions are derived for different cases, where a closed form is introduced for each case. The effect of changing the circuit parameters on the oscillation frequency and conditions is investigated numerically. In addition, the derived equations are verified using several transient PSPICE simulations. The power consumption of each oscillator is obtained numerically and compared with its PSPICE counterpart. Furthermore, controlling the memristive oscillator with a voltage grants the design an extra degree of freedom which increases the design flexibility. The nonlinear exponential model of memristor is employed to prove the oscillation concept. As an application, two examples of voltage‐controlled memristor‐based relaxation oscillator are provided to elaborate the effect of the reference voltage on the output voltage. This voltage‐controlled memristor‐based relaxation oscillator has nano size with storage property that makes it more efficient compared with the conventional one. It would be helpful in many communication applications.     

Prediction of high-strength concrete: high-order response surface methodology modeling approach

In the concrete industry, compressive strength is the most essential mechanical property. Therefore, insufficient compressive strength may lead to dangerous failure and, thus, becomes very difficult to repair. Consequently, early, and precise prediction of concrete strength is a major issue facing researchers and concrete designers. In this study, high-order response surface methodology (HORSM) is used to develop a prediction model to accurately predict the compressive strength of high-strength concrete (HSC). Different polynomial degrees order ranging from 2 to 5 is used in this model. The HORSM, with five-order polynomial degree, model outperforms several artificial intelligence (AI) modeling approaches which are carried out widely in the prediction of HSC compression strength. Besides, support vector machine (SVM) model was developed in this study and compared with the HORSM. The HORSM models outperformed the SVM models according to different statistical measures. Additionally, HORSM models managed to perfectly predict the HSC compressive strength in less than one second to accomplish the learning processes. While, other AI models including SVM much longer time. Lastly, the use of HORSM for the first time in the concrete technology field provided much accurate prediction results and it has great potential in the field of concrete technology.

     

A gradient projection algorithm for relaxation methods

We consider a particular problem which arises when apply-ing the method of gradient projection for solving constrained optimiza-tion and finite dimensional variational inequalities on the convex set formed by the convex hull of the standard basis unit vectors. The method is especially important for relaxation labeling techniques applied to problems in artificial intelligence. Zoutendijk's method for finding feasible directions, which is relatively complicated in general situations, yields a very simple finite algorithm for this problem. We present an extremely simple algorithm for performing the gradient projection and an independent verification of its correctness.     

Kinetics of methyl tertiary butyl ether synthesis catalyzed by ion exchange resin

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the kinetics of liquid phase reaction between methanol and isobutene, catalyzed by an acidic ion-exchange resin, to form methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). A one litre Parr batch reactor was used. Experiments were carried out at 70, 80, 90 and 100°C and at pressures sufficient to maintain liquid phase at those temperatures. Initial methanol/isobutene mole ratios of 1.0 and 2.0 were used. The catalyst amount was also varied. These kinetic data were used to model the reaction kinetics, by non-linear least squares regression technique. The reaction was found to follow Rideal-Eley kinetics. The values of the rate constants are reported.     

Medium strength self-compacting concrete containing fly ash: Modelling using factorial experimental plans

Fresh self-compacting concrete (SCC) flows into place and around obstructions under its own weight to fill the formwork completely and self-compact, without any segregation and blocking. The elimination of the need for compaction leads to better quality concrete and substantial improvement of working conditions. SCC mixes generally have a much higher content of fine fillers, including cement, and produce excessively high compressive strength concrete, which narrows its field of application to special concrete only. To obtain maximum benefit from SCC, it has to be adopted in general concrete construction practice. Such practice requires inexpensive and medium strength concrete.This investigation aims to develop medium strength SCC (MS-SCC). The cost of materials will be decreased by reducing the cement content and by using pulverised fuel ash (PFA) with a minimum amount of superplasticizer (SP). A factorial design was carried out to mathematically model the influence of five key parameters on filling and passing abilities, segregation and compressive strength, which are important for the successful development of medium strength self-compacting concrete incorporating PFA. The parameters considered in the study were the contents of cement and PFA, water-to-powder (cement+PFA) ratio (W/P) and dosage of SP. The responses of the derived statistical models are slump flow, fluidity loss, Orimet time, V-funnel time, L-box, JRing combined to the Orimet, JRing combined to cone, rheological parameters, segregation and compressive strength at 7, 28 and 90 days. Twenty-one mixes were prepared to derive the statistical models, and five were used for the verification and the accuracy of the developed models. The models are valid for mixes made with 0.38 to 0.72 W/P, 60 to 216 kg/m³ of cement content, 183 to 317 kg/m³ of PFA and 0% to 1% of SP, by mass of powder. The influences of W/P, cement and PFA contents, and the dosage of SP were characterised and analysed using polynomial regression, which can identify the primary factors and their interactions on the measured properties. The results show tha MS-SCC can be achieved with a 28-day compressive strength of 30 to 35 MPa by using up to 210 kg/m³ of PFA.     

Effects Of Ozone On Kraft Process Pulp Mill Effluent

Effluent from a kraft process pulp mill was studied in a batch reactor for ozone doses between 50 and 200 mg O₃/L to identify the relative suitability of ozone application locations in the treatment process and see the improvements in biotreatability of wastewaters from a kraft process pulp mill. Laboratory acclimatized seed were used for BOD tests for ozonated and unozonated samples. The inhibitory effects were minimized by using optimum dilutions. The studies were divided into three major sections: characterization of mill effluent; ozone system calibration, and reactor design; and ozonation of mill effluent. Seed for Biochemical Oxygen Demand tests were acclimatized in batch units for primary, bleach and secondary effluents separately. The inhibitory effects which were noted with unacclimatized seed, were reduced by using laboratory acclimatized seed and optimum dilution which were determined during the characterization phase.

The batch reactor designed for the studies consisted of a cylindrical section for holding effluent, and a top spherical section for ozone/oxygen mixture. The reactor proved to be effective for controlling ozone dose. The variation in the applied ozone dose was less than 5 mg/L.

Bleach and primary effluents were treated with 50 and 100 mg/L ozone doses. Duplicate experiments were conducted for these effluents. Secondary effluent was studied for 50,100,150 and 200 mg/L ozone doses. Six replicate experiments were conducted for 50 and 100 mg/L ozone doses, whereas two experiments were carried out for 150 mg/L and one experiment for 200 mg/L ozone dose.

The results were analyzed using 't' test for paired experiments and ANOVA table for statistical confirmation. Residuals were plotted to check the assumptions of constant variance and normal distribution. The results indicated that 50 and 100 mg O₃/L effectively removed color from bleach effluent and primary effluent, but did not significantly change the BOD. Ozone was found to be effective for secondary effluent, as BOD₅ was increased by 65% for 50 and 100% for 100 mg O₃/L doses. The corresponding reduction in color was 62% and 82%, respectively. K_e and L_o values for the BOD equation were calculated by using the non-linear least square method for the BOD equation, giving joint confidence regions for the calculated parameters. It was concluded that ozone is most effective for the removal of color and the increase of BOD in secondary effluent.     

Electroplating of antimony and antimony-tin alloys

The electroplating of antimony from KSb(OH)₆ and antimony-tin alloys from mixtures of KSb(OH)₆ and Na₂Sn(OH)₆ onto steel substrates has been investigated under variable plating conditions. The influence of added tartaric acid, current density and temperature on cathodic potentials, cathodic current efficiencies, appearance of the deposits and chemical composition of the alloys has been studied. X-ray diffraction analysis has showed that amorphous or hexagonal antimony deposits are produced from solutions free from or containing tartaric acid. The alloy deposit (56% antimony) was produced in rhombohedral crystal structure. Fine-grained, highly adherent and dark-greyish deposits of antimony and antimony-tin alloys were plated in most cases.     

Effect of sodium lauryl sulfate on the polymerization of acrylonitrile

Micellar catalyzed polymerization of acrylonitrile using ceric(IV)–glycerol redox system in aqueous sulfuric acid solution in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate (NaLS) has been studied. The polymerization experiments were conducted between 15°C and 25°C, under conditions where no oxidation of sodium lauryl sulfate by ceric ion would we expected. The rate of polymerization (R_p) increases with increasing concentration of NaLS. The rate of monomer (AN) disappearance was proportional to [AN]^1.5 and [glycerol]^0.5, but, however, R_p changes in a nonlinear manner with increase in Ce(IV) concentration in the presence of the surfactant. The rate of Ce(IV) disappearance was not proportional to its original concentration. The chain length of the polymer could not be determined viscometrically, as the polymer obtained in presence of NaLS was insoluble in organic solvents. The activation energy of this polymerization process was calculated by conducting the experiment at different temperatures. The infrared spectra of the polymers in the presence and absence of surfactant have also been examined.