Propagation and termination of an internal crack in continuously cast austenitic stainless steel analyzed by ∑ values and the Schmid factor

The formation mechanism of an internal crack was clarified from the viewpoint of the crystallography and thermal expansion. An inverse pole figure map obtained by EBSD pattern showed that the crack propagated along the grain boundaries having high ∑ values within the columnar zone. After the crack initiation, these positions were considered to undergo cracking followed by propagation toward the equiaxed side. Near the termination position, the grains ahead of crack propagation had a Schmid factor higher than 0.45 consuming elastic strain energy. Thermal expansion measurements showed that the grain with (0 0 1) orientation had the largest expansion while that with (0 1 1) the smallest. The grain boundaries neighboring the combination of (0 0 1) and (0 1 1) grains had the largest thermal stress. Therefore, thermal stress contributed to the initiation of cracking. It was thus proposed to enlarge the equiaxed zone to prevent cracking by discontinuing the crack propagation.     

A novel graph-based clustering method using noise cutting

Recently, many methods have appeared in the field of cluster analysis. Most existing clustering algorithms have considerable limitations in dealing with local and nonlinear data patterns. Algorithms based on graphs provide good results for this problem. However, some widely used graph-based clustering methods, such as spectral clustering algorithms, are sensitive to noise and outliers. In this paper, a cut-point clustering algorithm (CutPC) based on a natural neighbor graph is proposed. The CutPC method performs noise cutting when a cut-point value is above the critical value. Normally, the method can automatically identify clusters with arbitrary shapes and detect outliers without any prior knowledge or preparatory parameter settings. The user can also adjust a coefficient to adapt clustering solutions for particular problems better. Experimental results on various synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the obvious superiority of CutPC compared with k-means, DBSCAN, DPC, SC, and DCore.     

结合MNF变换和Canny算子的遥感影像变化检测

针对大面积区域的多时相遥感影像变化检测的需求，提出了一种基于最小噪声分离（MNF）的Canny边缘检测提取影像变化信息的检测方法。对多时相影像采用多种变换组合成具有多维波段信息的影像，采用最小噪声分离法分离噪声并得到单波段差异图，通过Canny边缘检测法计算梯度幅值，采用高低双阈值法细化边缘，从而提取差异图变化边缘，有效突出了变化信息。以1995年和2003年加扎勒河的两期遥感影像为例，利用两时相影像进行土地覆被变化检测。实验结果表明，该方法适用于监测大面积区域内地物的突变情况。在数据基础上进行最小噪声分离可以有效解决传统Canny边缘检测提取边缘时造成的伪边缘现象，同时采用高低双阈值法有效去除伪边缘点，从而获得更加精确、直观的变化检测效果，在自然地理变化监测、地理国情灾害监测等有很好的应用价值。     

2.3–21 GHz broadband and high linearity distributed low noise amplifier

This paper focuses on the design of a 2.3–21 GHz Distributed Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) with low noise figure (NF), high gain (S₂₁), and high linearity (IIP3) for broadband applications. This distributed amplifier (DA) includes S/C/X/Ku/K-band, which makes it very suitable for heterodyne receivers. The proposed DA uses a 0.18 μm GaAs pHEMT process (OMMIC ED02AH) in cascade architecture with lines adaptation and equalization of phase velocity techniques, to absorb their parasitic capacitances into the gate and drain transmission lines in order to achieve wide bandwidth and to enhance gain and linearity. The proposed broadband DA achieved an excellent gain in the flatness of 13.5 ± 0.2 dB, a low noise figure of 3.44 ± 1.12 dB, and a small group delay variation of ±19.721 ps over the range of 2.3–21 GHz. The input and output reflection coefficients S₁₁ and S₂₂ are less than −10 dB. The input compression point (P_1dB) and input third-order intercept point (IIP3) are −1.5 dBm and 11.5 dBm, respectively at 13 GHz. The dissipated power is 282 mW and the core layout size is 2.2 × 0.8 mm².     

Random-valued impulse noise removal using adaptive dual threshold median filter

Noise detection and its removal is very important in the image processing. Detection of noise is very crucial and significant in random valued impulse noise because it does not hamper the image pixels uniformly. This paper presents a novel and unique concept of adaptive dual threshold for the detection of random valued impulse noise along with simple median filter at noise removal stage. Simulation results shows that an efficient noise detection leads to a superior quality of de-noised image as compared to existing adaptive threshold based image de-noising techniques. Proposed threshold computation is based on averaging of pixel values of window which enhances the PSNR of our system as compared to existing median filter based image de-noising methods.     

Effect of noise emitted by forestry equipment on workers' hearing capacity

Forest logging involves the use of various noise-producing equipment, which may be harmful to the hearing capabilities of operators in the immediate area. Yet, little research has been performed to determine the long term effect of noise on forest loggers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how noise from forestry work affects operators' hearing capabilities at different frequencies, in relation to their age, years of experience as forest loggers, and whether or not they regularly wore hearing protection equipment (HPE). Twenty-six male forest loggers who were directly involved with logging equipment operations participated in this study. They were divided into different groups depending on age (20–29, 30–39, 40–49, and 50–59), years of experience (1–10, 11–20, 21–30, and 31–40), and whether they used HPEs. A Beltone audiometer was used to measure hearing thresholds at different frequencies (125, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz). To determine whether the loggers experienced threshold shifts, their hearing thresholds were compared with average persons’ hearing thresholds. The hearing threshold and threshold shift were found at 4000 Hz, and the lowest hearing thresholds were found at 500, 750, and 1000 Hz. According to results, as age increased, hearing threshold either increased or remained the same. This study also concluded that the years of experience or exposure to forestry equipment can adversely affect hearing. Participants that used HPE had lower hearing thresholds than participants that did not use HPE. By wearing HPE, forest workers may prevent hearing loss at 4000 Hz.Relevance to industryForest logging has adverse effect on the hearing of workers. Specifically the loggers who do not use hearing protection equipment are more susceptible to hearing loss. Therefore, the hearing of workers needs to be monitored on a regular basis and the use of HPE should be made mandatory.     

Underwater image quality enhancement through integrated color model with Rayleigh distribution

The physical properties of water cause light-induced degradation of underwater images. Light rapidly loses intensity as it travels in water, depending on the color spectrum wavelength. Visible light is absorbed at the longest wavelength first. Red and blue are the most and least absorbed, respectively. Underwater images with low contrast are captured due to the degradation effects of light spectrum. Therefore, the valuable information from these images cannot be fully extracted for further processing. The current study proposes a new method to improve the contrast and reduce the noise of underwater images. The proposed method integrates the modification of image histogram into two main color models, Red–Green–Blue (RGB) and Hue-Saturation-Value (HSV). In the RGB color model, the histogram of the dominant color channel (i.e., blue channel) is stretched toward the lower level, with a maximum limit of 95%, whereas the inferior color channel (i.e., red channel) is stretched toward the upper level, with a minimum limit of 5%. The color channel between the dominant and inferior color channels (i.e., green channel) is stretched to both directions within the whole dynamic range. All stretching processes in the RGB color model are shaped to follow the Rayleigh distribution. The image is converted into the HSV color model, wherein the S and V components are modified within the limit of 1% from the minimum and maximum values. Qualitative analysis reveals that the proposed method significantly enhances the image contrast, reduces the blue-green effect, and minimizes under- and over-enhanced areas in the output image. For quantitative analysis, the test with 300 underwater images shows that the proposed method produces average mean square error (MSE) and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) of 76.76 and 31.13, respectively, which outperform six state-of-the-art methods.     

铁-镍双掺杂方钴矿的合成与热电性能

采用微波加热合成结合放电等离子体烧结制备了铁-镍双掺杂方钴矿Co_(3.8-x)Fe_xNi_(0.2)Sb_(12) (x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20)块体材料,并对其物相组成、晶粒尺寸、元素分布、热电性能等进行了系统研究。X射线衍射分析表明,样品X射线衍射峰与单相CoSb_3相符;场发射扫描电镜分析表明,样品晶粒尺寸为1～3μm、平均尺寸为1～2μm,各元素均匀分布;电性能分析表明,Ni/Fe双掺杂对电输运性能有进一步改善,最高功率因子为2.667×10~3μW·(m·K~2)~(-1);热性能分析表明,Fe掺杂对晶格热导率影响较小,晶格热导率与晶粒尺寸有关,主要热输运机制为晶界散射,Co_(3.65)Fe_(0.15)Ni_(0.2)Sb_(12)的最小晶格热导率为2.8 W·(m·K)~(-1)。Co_(3.7)Fe_(0.1)Ni_(0.2)Sb_(12)在773 K获得最大热电优值0.50,显著高于传统方法制备的Ni/Fe单掺杂或者双掺杂样品。     

Role of cube texture on toughness variation of electric resistance welded steel

Properties changes of an X52 microalloyed steel processed by a full-scale industrial electric resistant welding (ERW) equipment was studied. Lack of proper toughness level in the weld zone was investigated. Results show that the low toughness value could only be satisfactorily addressed after a two-stage annealing process. {100} pole figures for each processing step revealed a completely random texture for the initial plate. However, after the ERW process, a textured structure with the main components of brass, S and copper was obtained. Texture components were substantially weakened after the second stage of annealing and instead a cube texture was developed which could explain satisfactory level of toughness for the ERW pipe after conducting the two-step annealing process.     

Optimization of exhaust emissions,vibration, and noise of a hydrogen enriched fuelled diesel engine

In this study, the effects of various input parameters are examined on exhaust emissions, vibration, and noise of an unmodified diesel engine. The primary aim of this study is to optimize the vibration, noise, and exhaust emissions of the engine to get optimal configuration parameters. Experiments were carried out on a four-stroke, four-cylinder, diesel engine fuelled with diesel-biodiesel-hydrogen blends. To minimize the number of experiments Box-Behnken design (BBD) has been adopted. Optimum desirability is found as 0.862 with hydrogen addition of 4.63 L/min, fuel blend of 26.8% and 1500 rpm engine speed for the diesel engine. When the diesel engine is operated at 1500 rpm engine speed and fuelled with 4.63 L/min hydrogen addition and 26.8% biodiesel blend ratio; the optimum responses of CO, CO₂, NO_x, vibration, and noise are established as 214 ppm, 1.35%, 90.4 ppm, 38.6 m/s², and 91.3 dB[A], respectively. The predicted values were confirmed experimentally and the errors in predicted values are found in a limit range.