Evaluation of mechanical properties using spherical ball indentation and coupled finite element–element-free galerkin approach

In the present work, the mechanical properties of pressure tube material (Zr-Nb2.5) are evaluated using the coupled finite element–element-free Galerkin approach. Penalty approach is used to impose contact constraints and non-penetration condition at the interface. An efficient node-to-segment algorithm is employed to model the contact behavior. An updated Lagrangian approach is used to model the large deformation. Loading and unloading response of the indentation process is analyzed using von-Mises and Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) plasticity models. In multiple indentations, the indentation depth is progressively increased up to a maximum specified limit with partial unloading. Load-indentation depth curves are used to extract the flow properties of the material.     

Optimizing Concentration of Drag Reducing Polymer in Case of One- and Two-Phase Flow in 90° Copper Elbow

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - The rate of diffusion-controlled corrosion of 90° Copper Elbow by acidified dichromate has been investigated in relation to the following...     

Scheduling with an outsourcing option on both manufacturer and subcontractors

This paper addresses a single-stage scheduling problem with outsourcing allowed where each job can be either scheduled for in-house production or outsourced to one of the outside subcontractors available. The manufacturer has an unrelated parallel machine system, and each subcontractor has its own single machine. Subcontractors are capable to process all the jobs. Unlike most of past research, our study considers the joint scheduling of both in-house and outsourced jobs simultaneously. The objective is to minimize sum of the total weighted completion time and total outsourcing cost. An integer programming formulation is presented and then improved through an optimality property on job orders. A heuristic algorithm is also introduced to decompose the problem into smaller and easier subproblems and solve them to optimality.     

Optimal coverage of an infrastructure network using sensors with distance-decaying sensing quality

Motivated by recent applications of wireless sensor networks in monitoring infrastructure networks, we address the problem of optimal coverage of infrastructure networks using sensors whose sensing performance decays with distance. We show that this problem can be formulated as a continuous p-median problem on networks. The literature has addressed the discrete p-median problem   on networks and in continuum domains, and the continuous p$p$-median problem in continuum domains extensively. However, in-depth analysis of the continuous p$p$-median problem on networks has been lacking. With the sensing performance model that decays with distance, each sensor covers a region equivalent to its Voronoi partition on the network in terms of the shortest path distance metric. Using Voronoi partitions, we define a directional partial derivative of the coverage metric with respect to a sensor’s location. We then propose a gradient descent algorithm to obtain a locally optimal solution with guaranteed convergence. The quality of an optimal solution depends on the choice of the initial configuration of sensors. We obtain an initial configuration using two approaches: by solving the discrete p$p$-median problem on a lumped   network and by random sampling. We consider two methods of random sampling: uniform sampling and D²$D^2$-sampling. The first approach with the initial solution of the discrete p$p$-median problem leads to the best coverage performance for large networks, but at the cost of high running time. We also observe that the gradient descent on the initial solution with the D²$D^2$-sampling method yields a solution that is within at most 7% of the previous solution and with much shorter running time.     

Laminar flame speeds and extinction limits of conventional and alternative jet fuels

Experimental results of laminar flame speeds and extinction stretch rates for the conventional (Jet-A) and alternative (S-8) jet fuels are acquired and compared to the results from our earlier studies for neat hydrocarbon surrogate components, including n-decane and n-dodecane. Specifically, atmospheric pressure laminar flame speeds are measured using a counterflow twin-flame configuration for Jet-A/O₂/N₂ and S-8/O₂/N₂ mixtures at preheat temperatures of 400, 450, and 470 K and equivalence ratios ranging from 0.7 to 1.4. The flow field is recorded using digital particle image velocimetry. Linear extrapolation is then applied to determine the unstretched laminar flame speed. Experimental data for the extinction stretch rates of the nitrogen diluted jet fuel/oxidizer mixtures as a function of equivalence ratio are also obtained. In addition, the experimental data of Jet-A are compared to the computed values using a chemical kinetic mechanism for a kerosene surrogate reported in literature. A sensitivity analysis is further performed to identify the key reactions affecting the laminar flame speed and extinction stretch rate for this kerosene surrogate.     

A comparative study on the processing, dielectric and electrical properties of PMN based solid solutions

Lead magnesium niobate (PMN) based binary with lead titanate (PT), lead iron niobate (PFN) and lead zinc niobate (PZN) and ternary with PZN-PT and PFN-PT solid solutions have been synthesized. In depth characterization using X-ray diffraction and SEM techniques have revealed the major perovskite phase formation. Amongst all the solid solutions, PMN-PZN-PT has given the highest values of permittivity as 19,740 and 23,700 withT _c as 34°C when sintered at 1080°C and 1180°C respectively on the one hand and on the other, PFN containing solid solutions exhibited distinct deviation from the relaxor behaviour.     

Biosynthesis of reusable and recyclable CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone NCs and its antioxidant and antibacterial activities: a highly stable magnetically nanocatalyst for excellent reduction of organic dyes and adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

For the first time, through a fast, eco‐friendly and economic method, the aqueous extract of the leaf of Euphorbia corollate was used to the green synthesis of the highly stable CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone nanocomposites (NCs) as a potent antioxidant and antibacterial agent against Pseudomonas aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenic bacteria. The biosynthesised NCs were identified using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, elemental mapping, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy and UV–vis analytical techniques. Also, the radical scavenging activity using (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) method was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the NCs. The stability of nanocatalyst was monitored using the XRD and SEM analyses after 30 days from its synthesis. Furthermore, its excellent catalytic activity, recycling stability, and high substrate applicability were demonstrated to the adsorption of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of the light crude oil from Shiwashok oil fields and destruction of methylene blue and methyl orange as harmful organic dyes at ambient temperature using UV–vis spectroscopy. Moreover, the green CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone NCs were recovered and reused several times without considerable loss of its catalytic activity.Inspec keywords: nanobiotechnology, X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectra, catalysis, crude oil, Fourier transform spectra, ultraviolet spectra, scanning electron microscopy, dyes, catalysts, photochemistry, iron compounds, X‐ray chemical analysis, antibacterial activity, adsorption, visible spectra, microorganisms, organic compounds, reduction (chemical), nanomedicine, toxicology, recycling, chemical industryOther keywords: antioxidant activity, XRD, SEM analyses, recycling stability, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, harmful organic dyes, UV–vis spectroscopy, green CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone NCs, reusable CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone NCs, recyclable CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone NCs, antioxidant activities, antibacterial activities, highly stable magnetically nanocatalyst, eco‐friendly method, economic method, euphorbia corollate, green synthesis, CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone nanocomposites, antibacterial agent, pseudomonas aureus, staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli, klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenic bacteria, biosynthesised NCs, X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, radical scavenging activity, antioxidant agent, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, catalytic activity, organic dye reduction, light crude oil, CuO     

Spectral analysis methods for vehicle interior vibro-acoustics identification

Noise has various effects on comfort, performance and health of human. Sound are analysed by human brain based on the frequencies and amplitudes. In a dynamic system, transmission of sound and vibrations depend on frequency and direction of the input motion and characteristics of the output. It is imperative that automotive manufacturers invest a lot of effort and money to improve and enhance the vibro-acoustics performance of their products. The enhancement effort may be very difficult and time-consuming if one relies only on ‘trial and error’ method without prior knowledge about the sources itself. Complex noise inside a vehicle cabin originated from various sources and travel through many pathways. First stage of sound quality refinement is to find the source. It is vital for automotive engineers to identify the dominant noise sources such as engine noise, exhaust noise and noise due to vibration transmission inside of vehicle. The purpose of this paper is to find the vibro-acoustical sources of noise in a passenger vehicle compartment. The implementation of spectral analysis method is much faster than the ‘trial and error’ methods in which, parts should be separated to measure the transfer functions. Also by using spectral analysis method, signals can be recorded in real operational conditions which conduce to more consistent results. A multi-channel analyser is utilised to measure and record the vibro-acoustical signals. Computational algorithms are also employed to identify contribution of various sources towards the measured interior signal. These achievements can be utilised to detect, control and optimise interior noise performance of road transport vehicles.     

Measurement systems for determining formwork pressure of highly-flowable concrete

This paper offers recommendations regarding test set-ups and measurement systems that can be used for laboratory evaluation and field testing of lateral pressure exerted by flowable concrete and self-consolidating concrete (SCC). Test results indicate that pressure sensors placed flush with the inner surface of the formwork can be used to assess the lateral pressure exerted by plastic concrete. The pore-water pressure resulting from the fluid phase of concrete can be evaluated using pore-water pressure sensors similar to the ones employed in soil mechanics. The sensors can be attached at different heights onto rigid formwork system to monitor changes in pressure with time.Sono-tubes made of cardboard are found not to be suitable for monitoring concrete pressure variations because of their flexibility which leads to erroneous values. A pressure column was developed to evaluate lateral pressure and its variations with time exerted by fresh SCC for heights of up to 10 m. Another system consisting of strain gages welded onto steel anchored bars inserted in the formwork was tested and compared to the pressure transducers system.     

New polymer synthesis. XXX. Synthesis and thermal behavior of new organometallic polyketones and copolyketones based on diferrocenylidenecycloheptanone

A new interesting category of organometallic polyketones and copolyketones was synthesized via Friedel–Crafts reactions through the polymerization of 2,7‐bis[(2‐ferrocenyl)methylene] cycloheptanone ( II ) with different diacid chlorides. The model compound was synthesized by reacting monomer II with benzoyl chloride and characterized by ¹H‐NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. The polyketones and copolyketones were insoluble in most organic solvents but easily soluble in concentrated H₂SO₄. The thermal properties of these polyketones and copolyketones were evaluated and correlated to their structural units by TGA and DTG measurements and had inherent viscosity of 0.32–0.65 dI g^?1. Moreover, the electrical conductivity of polyketone Va and copolyketone VI was investigated above the temperature range (300–500 K) and followed an Arrhenius equation with activation energy 2.09 eV. Also, the morphological properties of selected example of polyketones were detected by scanning electron microscopy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 2394–2401, 2005