An Analytical Non-Newtonian and Nonisothermal Viscous Flow Simulation

Polymer process control is limited by a lack of observability of the distributed and transient polymer states. An analytical solution is presented for on-line simulation of non-Newtonian and nonisothermal viscous flow in real-time polymer processing. The modeling of the non-Newtonian viscous flow utilizes a modified Ellis model that expresses viscosity as a function of shear stress; the modeling of the heat transfer utilizes a Bessel series expansion to include effects of heat conduction, heat convection, and internal shear heating. The resulting simulation is suitable for inclusion in real-time process controllers requiring sub millisecond response. Numerical verification indicates that the flow rate predictions of the described analysis compare well with the results from a commercial molding simulation. However, empirical validation utilizing a design of experiments for an injection molding process indicates that the described analysis is qualitatively useful but does not possess sufficient accuracy for quantitative process and quality control.     

A real-time ferroalloy model for the optimum ladle furnace treatment during the secondary steelmaking

Various means are applied in the steel making process to attain the desired chemistry. The final chemistry adjustments are made predominantly during the secondary metallurgy route in which ferroalloys (FAs) are added. With the availability of various FAs, it becomes necessary to identify the comparatively cheaper and optimum amount of FAs. The traditional practice of manually determining the quantity of FAs could not optimise the complete process. It is, therefore, necessary to determine the optimum FA addition without any human intervention. This paper presents a ferroalloy model in which a two-step incremental approach is adopted in ladle furnace (LF) to resemble the current operational practice. The model is designed such that no external intervention is needed to determine the required FA amount to be added. This results in low cost and high quality. The model after rigorous validation has been implemented in all three LFs in Tata Steel LD shop. This resulted in less FA consumption and achievement of the specified steel chemistry.     

Robust design of multiple trailing edge flaps for helicopter vibration reduction: A multi-objective bat algorithm approach

The objective of this study is to determine an optimal trailing edge flap configuration and flap location to achieve minimum hub vibration levels and flap actuation power simultaneously. An aeroelastic analysis of a soft in-plane four-bladed rotor is performed in conjunction with optimal control. A second-order polynomial response surface based on an orthogonal array (OA) with 3-level design describes both the objectives adequately. Two new orthogonal arrays called MGB2P-OA and MGB4P-OA are proposed to generate nonlinear response surfaces with all interaction terms for two and four parameters, respectively. A multi-objective bat algorithm (MOBA) approach is used to obtain the optimal design point for the mutually conflicting objectives. MOBA is a recently developed nature-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithm that is based on the echolocation behaviour of bats. It is found that MOBA inspired Pareto optimal trailing edge flap design reduces vibration levels by 73% and flap actuation power by 27% in comparison with the baseline design.     

Comparative Experimental and Density Functional Theory (<Emphasis Type="Italic">DFT</Emphasis>) Study of the Physical Properties of MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript> and AlB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

In the present study, we report an intercomparison of various physical and electronic properties of MgB₂ and AlB₂. In particular, the results of phase formation, resistivity ρ(T), thermoelectric power S(T), magnetization M(T), heat capacity (C _P ), and electronic band structure are reported. The original stretched hexagonal lattice with a=3.083 Å, and c=3.524 Å of MgB₂ shrinks in c-direction for AlB₂ with a=3.006 Å, and c=3.254 Å. The resistivity ρ(T), thermoelectric power S(T) and magnetization M(T) measurements exhibited superconductivity at 39 K for MgB₂. Superconductivity is not observed for AlB₂. Interestingly, the sign of S(T) is +ve for MgB₂ the same is ?ve for AlB₂. This is consistent with our band structure plots. We fitted the experimental specific heat of MgB₂ to Debye–Einstein model and estimated the value of Debye temperature (Θ _D) and Sommerfeld constant (γ) for electronic specific heat. Further, from γ, the electronic density of states (DOS) at Fermi level N(E _F) is calculated. From the ratio of experimental N(E _F) and the one being calculated from DFT, we obtained value of λ to be 1.84, thus placing MgB₂ in the strong coupling BCS category. The electronic specific heat of MgB₂ is also fitted below T _c using α-model and found that it is a two gap superconductor. The calculated values of two gaps are in good agreement with earlier reports. Our results clearly demonstrate that the superconductivity of MgB₂ is due to very large phonon contribution from its stretched lattice. The same two effects are obviously missing in AlB₂, and hence it is not superconducting. DFT calculations demonstrated that for MgB₂, the majority of states come from σ and π 2p states of boron on the other hand σ band at Fermi level for AlB₂ is absent. This leads to a weak electron phonon coupling and also to hole deficiency as π bands are known to be of electron type, and hence obviously the AlB₂ is not superconducting. The DFT calculations are consistent with the measured physical properties of the studied borides, i.e., MgB₂ and AlB₂.     

Effect of mineral acids on the production of alumina nanopowder from raw bauxite

In this study a novel synthetic method for the large-scale production of spherical, high surface area and ultra-fine alumina (Al₂O₃) powder has been described. Synthetic Bayer liquor was extracted by alkali fusion of raw bauxite with sodium hydoxide. Alumina nanopowders were synthesised through a ball mill-aided precipitation method using the synthetic Bayer liquor and mineral acid precipitants. The powders produced were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size distribution (PSD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and pore size analysis, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In this article, the effects of precipitants such as H₂SO₄, HCl and HNO₃ on crystallite and particle size, surface area, pore volume, and pore size and shape are reported. The experimental results prove that precipitation leads to an aggregated particle that is disaggregated by the ball-milling method. The ball milling process strongly influences the formation of uniform-sized spherical particles with a high surface area. It was revealed that nitric acid is an effective precipitant for controlling particle size and textural properties of Al₂O₃ powder. A nanopowder of γ-Al₂O₃ with an average crystallite size of 3 nm and an average particle size of 58 nm with a specific surface area (SSA) of 190 m² g^− 1 is produced. This article elucidates a new method with a simple reaction scheme for the mass production of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles from raw bauxite for various commercial applications.     

Application of homotopy perturbation method and inverse prediction of thermal parameters for an annular fin subjected to thermal load

In this work, application of the homotopy perturbation method (HPM) and an inverse solution for estimating unknown thermal parameters such as the variable thermal conductivity parameter (β), the thermogeometric parameter (K), and the nondimensional coefficient of thermal expansion (χ) in an annular fin subjected to thermal stresses is presented. Initially, to obtain the nondimensional temperature distribution from the heat equation, the forward method is employed using an approximate analytical solution based on HPM. Thereafter, a closed form solution for the temperature-dependent thermal stresses is obtained using the classical theory of thermoelasticity coupled with HPM solution containing the temperature distribution. Next, for satisfying a particular stress criterion which makes relevance in selecting appropriate configurations for selecting the finned system, unknown thermal parameters are obtained using an inverse approach based on the Nelder–Mead simplex search minimization technique. The objective function is taken as the sum of square of the residuals between the measured stress field and an initially guessed value which is updated iteratively. It is found that more than one type of temperature distribution may yield a given stress distribution, thereby giving rise to different fin efficiencies. The agreement between the actual and the predicted results was found to be satisfactory.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanoclay–polymer composites from soil clay with respect to their water‐holding capacities and nutrient‐release behavior

Water and nutrients are two important inputs to agriculture that need to be used judiciously with higher efficiency to save these limited resources. For these purposes, a series of nanoclay–polymer composite (NCPC) superabsorbent nutrient carriers were prepared. These NCPCs were based on the reactions of different types of nanoclays (10 wt %) with partially neutralized acrylic acid and acryl amide by a free‐radical aqueous solution copolymerization reaction with N,N′‐methylene bisacrylamide as a crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The nanoclays isolated from three different types of soils were dominant in kaolinite (clay I ), mica (clay II ), and montmorillonite (clay III ), and a portion of each was freed from amorphous aluminosilicate. Thus, there were six different types of nanoclays used, namely, those dominated by kaolinite, mica, and smectite with and without amorphous aluminosilicate. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) investigations showed evidence of interaction between the clays and polymer. XRD investigation also showed that the reaction between the polymer and clays I and II occurred on the surface of various clay particles without intercalating into the stacked silicate galleries, whereas in the case of clay III (the smectite‐dominated clay), evidence indicated the intercalation of polymer into the stacked silicate galleries of the clay and the exfoliation of the clay. The water absorbency decreased in the NCPCs compared to that of the pure polymeric hydrogel. In case of the pure polymer, the entire amount of nutrient loading released within 15 h of incubation; this was higher than that of the NCPCs. In the initial stage (up to 15 h), no significant differences in nutrient release were observed among the different polymer/clay composites, but there were differences in later stages. Among the different NCPCs, the percentage release of nutrients at 48 h ranged from around 70% in the polymer/clay III composite to 90% in the polymer/clay I composite. The presence of amorphous aluminosilicates in clay did not make any difference in the nutrient‐release rate. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 39951.     

单向碳纤维增强环氧基复合物中纤维破坏的荷载传递微观机制：第三部分复合性能的多尺度再现

第三部分介绍了多尺度再现方法。该方法考虑了与复合物退化相关的非常重要的微观现象,包括纤维的断裂、界面剥离、纤维之间的超负荷以及模具的黏弹性性能。分析结果用以精确预测单向碳纤维增强环氧基复合物中纤维的宏观破坏以及量化相同材料压力容器中的损伤累积。该方法还介绍了由于纤维的破坏形成的声发散行为,以及如何预测压力容器的残余寿命。     

Design optimization of composites using genetic algorithms and failure mechanism based failure criterion

In this paper, minimum weight design of composite laminates is presented using the failure mechanism based (FMB), maximum stress and Tsai–Wu failure criteria. The objective is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the newly proposed FMB failure criterion (FMBFC) in composite design. The FMBFC considers different failure mechanisms such as fiber breaks, matrix cracks, fiber compressive failure, and matrix crushing which are relevant for different loading conditions. A genetic algorithm is used for the optimization study. The Tsai–Wu failure criterion over predicts the weight of the laminate by up to 86% in the third quadrant of the failure envelope compared to FMB and maximum stress failure criteria, when the laminate is subjected to compressive–compressive loading. It is found that the FMB and maximum stress failure criteria give comparable weight estimates. The FMBFC can be considered for use in the strength design of composite structures.     

Ferroelectric relaxor behavior in Ba0.925Dy0.075TiO3 ceramic

Temperature and frequency dependence dielectric permittivity of Ba_0.925Dy_0.075TiO₃ ceramic has been studied in the temperature range of 100 K to 350 K at the frequencies, 1 Khz, 10 KHz, 100 KHz and 1 MHz for the first time. Diffuse phase transition and frequency dispersion is observed in the permittivity-vs-temperature plots. This has been attributed to the occurrence of relaxor ferroelectric behavior. The observed relaxor behavior has been quantitatively characterized based on phenomenological parameters. A comparison with the Zr doped BaTiO₃ has also been presented. The microstructure of as sintered samples shows a dense and almost uniform micrograph with some impurity phases, and the grains are almost spherical.