Computer Aided Tolerance assignment

Tolerances are basic to the production of every part. This is because perfect parts cannot be produced with existing processes and machines. The determination of tolerances for the individual parts of a functional assembly is critical, but not trivial. Numerous approaches are suggested in past literature for (analytical) tolerance allocation. With the advent of total automation, more attempts are being made to computerize manual design tasks. Tolerance design, assignment and allocation can also be fully automated if the assembly function can be estimated by the computer.

In the present paper, an attempt is made to computerize tolerance assignment. A simple example of a two piece assembly, viz., a fit, is used to demonstrate the developed methodology. A feature extraction is first performed from both detail and assembly drawings. Then, probable assembly interfaces are determined using a rule based procedure. Consequently, tolerances are assigned to the basic dimensions of each feature and to the assembly interfaces using a tolerance database and user interaction. More complex analysis for tolerance allocation is also under study.     

Fragment-Based Drug Discovery for RNA Targets

Rapid development within the fields of both fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) and medicinal targeting of RNA provides possibilities for combining technologies and methods in novel ways. This review provides an overview of fragment-based screening (FBS) against RNA targets, including a discussion of the most recently used screening and hit validation methods such as NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and virtual screening methods. A discussion of fragment library design based on research from small-molecule RNA binders provides an overview on both the currently limited guidelines within RNA-targeting fragment library design, and future possibilities. Finally, future perspectives are provided on screening and hit validation methods not yet used in combination with both fragment screening and RNA targets.     

Variability in rheology of cemented paste backfill with hydration age,binder and superplasticizer dosages

The use of (CPB) material to ameliorate geotechnical stability of underground mine is in nascent stage in India. Rheological properties of CPB change with travelling time as it is transported to underground mine stope through pipeline reticulation. In this paper, rheological properties of CPB based on mill tailings of a carbonate rich mineral processing waste are evaluated for different dosages of polycarboxylate (PC) based (SP). Each CPB sample having 78?wt% solids is mixed separately with 4%, 6% or 8% of binder dosages (ratio of the weight of dry binder to the weight of dry tailings) and, 0%, 0.5%, or 1.0% of SP dosages as weight of dry binder. The paper presents a methodology for determining yield stress, plastic viscosity and thixotropic behaviour of CPB mixture as a function of hydration age, binder and SP dosages. Results from the experimental campaigns indicate that SP content has significant influence on rheological behaviour of CPB and can be suitably exploited to enhance the flow characteristics of the carbonate rich process tailings. The study also develops multivariate linear regression models of yield stress, plastic viscosity and thixotropy of CPB depending on the hydration age, binder and SP dosages.     

The Significance of multicomponent diffusional interactions in the process of condensation in the presence of a non condensable gas

Recent developments in the understanding of multicomponent heat and mass transfer have indicated that the so called “diffusional interaction effects” might be important in Engineering Design under certain conditions. It is shown that the significance of these multicomponent effects may be readily diagnosed in a given situation. By considering mixtures of various alkanes with nitrogen and hydrogen, it is shown that large “diffusional interaction ettects” are unlikely in condensation of two vapours in the presence of a non condcnsable gas.     

Unknown input observer design and analysis for networked control systems

The insertion of communication networks in the feedback loops of control systems is a defining feature of modern control systems. These systems are often subject to unknown inputs in a form of disturbances, perturbations, or attacks. The objective of this paper is to design and analyse an observer for networked dynamical systems with unknown inputs. The network effect can be viewed as either a perturbation or time-delay to the exchanged signals. In this paper, we (1) review an unknown input observer (UIO) design for a non-networked system, (2) derive the networked unknown input observer (N_etUIO) dynamics, (3) design a N_etUIO such that the effect of higher delay order terms are nullified and (4) establish stability-guaranteeing bounds on the networked-induced time-delay and perturbation. The formulation and results derived in this paper can be generalised to scenarios and applications where the signals are perturbed due to a different source of perturbation or delay.     

Variable friction pendulum system for seismic isolation of liquid storage tanks

Earthquake response of liquid storage steel tanks isolated with variable friction pendulum system (VFPS) is investigated under normal component of six recorded near-fault ground motions. The continuous liquid mass of the tank is modeled as lumped masses known as sloshing mass, impulsive mass and rigid mass. The corresponding stiffness constants associated with these lumped masses are worked out depending upon the properties of the tank wall and liquid mass. The governing equations of motion of the tanks isolated with variable friction pendulum system are derived and solved by Newmark's step-by-step method assuming linear variation of acceleration over small time interval. In order to verify the effectiveness of the VFPS in tanks, the seismic response of tanks isolated with VFPS is compared with that of the same tanks isolated using the conventional friction pendulum system (FPS). Furthermore, a parametric study is also carried out to critically examine the behaviour of tanks isolated with VFPS. The various important parameters considered are the tank aspect ratio, the isolation period and initial time period of the VFPS. In addition, the seismic response of tanks isolated with VFPS under trigonometric cycloidal pulses is also investigated. From these investigations, it is concluded that with the installation of VFPS in tanks, the seismic response of tanks during near-fault ground motions can be controlled within a desirable range. Finally, it is also observed that the response of tanks isolated with VFPS under the near-fault ground motions and trigonometric cycloidal pulses matches well only when the isolation period reaches high values.     

Water Affinity to Epitaxial Graphene: The Impact of Layer Thickness

The sensitivity to water vapour of one‐, two‐, and three‐layer epitaxial graphene (1, 2, and 3LG) is examined in this study. It is unambiguously shown that graphene's response to water, as measured by changes in work function and carrier density, is dependent on its thickness, with 1LG being the most sensitive to water adsorption and environmental concentration changes. This is furthermore substantiated by surface adhesion measurements, which bring evidence that 1LG is less hydrophobic than 2LG. Yet, surprisingly, it is found that other contaminants commonly present in ambient air have a greater impact on graphene response than water vapor alone. This study indicates that graphene sensor design and calibration to minimize or discriminate the effect of the ambient, in which it is intended to operate, are necessary to insure the desired sensitivity and reliability of sensors. The present work will aid in developing models for realistic graphene sensors and establishing protocols for molecular sensor design and development.     

Ag and O ion irradiation induced improvement in dielectric properties of the Ba(Co1/3Nb2/3)O3 thin films

We present the preliminary results of temperature and frequency dependent dielectric measurements on Ba(Co_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (BCN) thin films. These films were prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates by the pulse laser deposition (PLD) technique. It exhibits single-phase hexagonal symmetry. These films were irradiated with Ag¹⁵⁺ (200 MeV) and O⁷⁺ (100 MeV) beams at the fluence 1 × 10¹¹, 1 × 10¹², and 1 × 10¹³ ions/cm². On irradiating these films, its dielectric constant (?′) and dielectric loss (tan δ) parameters improve compared to un-irradiated film. Compared to O⁷⁺ irradiation induced point/cluster defects Ag¹⁵⁺ induced columnar defects are more effective in reducing/pinning trapped charges within grains. The present paper highlights the role of swift heavy ion irradiation in engineering the dielectric properties of conductive samples to enable them to be useful for microwave device applications.