Improved Routh-Pade/spl acute/ approximants: a computer-aided approach

A geometric programming based computer-aided method to derive a reduced order (rth-order) approximant for a given (stable) SISO linear continuous-time system is presented. In this method, stability and the first r time moments/Markov parameters are preserved as well as the errors between a set of subsequent time moments/Markov parameters of the system and those of the model are minimized.     

Globally linearized control on diabatic continuous stirred tank reactor: a case study

This paper focuses on the promise of globally linearized control (GLC) structure in the realm of strongly nonlinear reactor system control. The proposed nonlinear control strategy is comprised of: (i) an input-output linearizing state feedback law (transformer), (ii) a state observer, and (iii) an external linear controller. The synthesis of discrete-time GLC controller for single-input single-output diabatic continuous stirred tank reactor (DCSTR) has been studied first, followed by the synthesis of feedforward/feedback controller for the same reactor having dead time in process as well as in disturbance. Subsequently, the multivariable GLC structure has been designed and then applied on multi-input multi-output DCSTR system. The simulation study shows high quality performance of the derived nonlinear controllers. The better-performed GLC in conjunction with reduced-order observer has been compared with the conventional proportional integral controller on the example reactor and superior performance has been achieved by the proposed GLC control scheme.     

Laser composite surfacing of AISI 304 stainless steel with titanium boride for improved wear resistance

The present study concerns development of a hard in situ boride-dispersed composite layer on the surface of AISI 304 stainless steel substrate to improve the wear resistance property. Laser processing was carried out by melting the surface of sand-blasted AISI 304 stainless steel substrate using a continuous wave CO₂ laser and simultaneous deposition of a mixture of K₂TiF₆ (potassium titanium hexafluoride) and KBF₆ (potassium hexafloroborate) (in the weight ratio of 2:1) using Ar as shrouding environment. Powder feed rate was maintained constant at 4 g/min. Irradiation results in dissociation of a pre-deposited mixture along with a part of the stainless steel substrate, intermixing and rapid solidification to form the composite layer on the surface. The micro-structure of composite layer consists of dispersion of titanium boride particles in AISI 304 stainless steel matrix. Volume fraction of particles is found to be uniform throughout the composite layer, though varied with laser parameters. The micro-hardness of the surface was improved 250–350 VHN as compared to 220 VHN of the AISI 304 stainless steel substrate with a significant improvement in wear resistance property. The mechanism of wear was found to be a combination of adhesive and abrasive in as-received stainless steel. However, it was predominantly abrasive for laser composite surfaced stainless steel.     

Optimization-based parts-machines matching in flexible manufacturing systems

A new dynamic scheduling strategy, Parts-Machines Matching (PMM), is developed and tested in simulated flexible manufacturing systems. This strategy is aimed to achieve globally optimal matching between parts and machines by a semi-qualitative optimization algorithm, originally developed for the Stable Marriage Problem. Global and Partial implementations of PMM are presented and compared with other conventional part-flow rules. They are found to achieve better shop performance than conventional rules, in terms of system throughput, robustness against travel time uncertainties, and recovery from machine breakdowns. The prospect of bringing about system-wide optimization-based performance improvements into bidding schemes makes the proposed framework very significant.     

Radiation crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl pyrrolidone/acrylic acid hydrogels: swelling,crosslinking and dye adsorption study

Iranian Polymer Journal - Hydrogels were produced from mixtures of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and acrylic acid (AAc) using γ-radiation at doses of 3, 7, and...     

The influence of heterogeneous meninges on the brain mechanics under primary blast loading

In the modeling of brain mechanics subjected to primary blast waves, there is currently no consensus on how many biological components to be used in the brain–meninges–skull complex, and what type of constitutive models to be adopted. The objective of this study is to determine the role of layered meninges in damping the dynamic response of the brain under primary blast loadings. A composite structures composed of eight solid relevant layers (including the pia, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), dura maters) with different mechanical properties are constructed to mimic the heterogeneous human head. A hyper-viscoelastic material model is developed to better represent the mechanical response of the brain tissue over a large strain/high frequency range applicable for blast scenarios. The effect of meninges on the brain response is examined. Results show that heterogeneous composite structures of the head have a major influence on the intracranial pressure, maximum shear stress, and maximum principal strain in the brain, which is associated with traumatic brain injuries. The meninges serving as protective layers are revealed by mitigating the dynamic response of the brain. In addition, appreciable changes of the pressure and maximum shear stress are observed on the material interfaces between layers of tissues. This may be attributed to the alternation of shock wave speed caused by the impedance mismatch.     

A Novel Experimental Method to Assess Particle Deposition in Idealized Porous Channels

ABSTRACT

A novel and economical experimental technique has been developed to assess industrial aerosol deposition in various idealized porous channel configurations. This judicious examination of aerosol penetration in porous channels will assist engineers to better optimize designs for various engineering applications. Deposition patterns differ with porosity due to geometric configurations of the channel and superficial inlet velocities. Interestingly, it is found that two configurations of similar porosity exhibit significantly higher deposition fractions. Inertial impaction is profound at the leading edge of all obstacles, whereas particle buildup is observed at the trailing edge of the obstructions. A qualitative analysis shows that the numerical results are in good agreement with experimental results.     

Fabrication of corrosion resistant, bioactive and antibacterial silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania composite coating on Cp Ti

The present work is aimed at developing a bioactive, corrosion resistant and anti bacterial nanostructured silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania (AgHA/TiO₂) composite coating in a single step on commercially pure titanium (Cp Ti) by plasma electrolytic processing (PEP) technique. For this purpose 2.5 wt% silver substituted hydroxyapatite (AgHA) nanoparticles were prepared by microwave processing technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The as-synthesized AgHA particles with particle length ranging from 60 to 70 nm and width ranging from 15 to 20 nm were used for the subsequent development of coating on Cp Ti. The PEP treated Cp Ti showed both titania and AgHA in its coating and exhibited an improved corrosion resistance in 7.4 pH simulated body fluid (SBF) and 4.5 pH osteoclast bioresorbable conditions compared to untreated Cp Ti. The in vitro bioactivity test conducted under Kokubo SBF conditions indicated an enhanced apatite forming ability of PEP treated Cp Ti surface compared to that of the untreated Cp Ti. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method or antibiotic sensitivity test conducted with the test organisms of Escherichia coli (E. coli) for 24 h showed a significant zone of inhibition for PEP treated Cp Ti compared to untreated Cp Ti.