Partial state and unknown input estimation for time-delay systems

This article considers the problem of estimating a partial set of the state vector and/or unknown input vector of linear systems driven by unknown inputs and time-varying delay in the state variables. Three types of reduced-order observers, namely, observers with delays, observers without internal delays and delay-free observers are proposed in this article. Existence conditions and design procedures are presented for the determination of parameters for each case of observers. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the design procedures.     

Reliability analysis of laterally loaded piles using response surface methods

Response surface methods have been applied to the reliability analysis of laterally loaded piles. Beam elements and a series of discrete springs are used to model the pile–soil system. The pile head displacement and the maximum bending moment in the piles are used as the performance criteria in this study. It is shown in the illustrative example that the CDF and PDF curves of the pile head displacement and the maximum bending moment in the pile obtained from the proposed methods are in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulation. The failure probabilities of the pile under specified performance criteria, the probabilistic responses of the pile-soil system, and the effect of pile-soil parameters to the failure probability of the pile are also studied.     

Solution-induced changes in the properties of polyethylenes

The chain entanglement states in high density, linear low density, and low density polyethylenes (HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE) have been modified by recovering the polymers from solutions in trichlorobenzene (TCB) and p-xylene. In the thermodynamically good solvent, TCB, the entanglement density is assumed to be sharply reduced, a condition which is carried over to the corresponding solids. These display transient, but large increments in tensile moduli, slight changes in stress at rupture, and decreases in dynamic mechanical parameters and in elongation at rupture. Scanning calorimetry also shows these solids to have reduced crystallinity. Much smaller property modifications are noted in corresponding samples recovered from p-xylene. This liquid is a poorer solvent, particularly for HDPE and LLDPE. The results indicate that property modifications due to deliberate changes in the entanglement states of the polymers are a general phenomenon in the polyethylenes, and the magnitude of property changes depends on parameters of the molecular weight distribution. Chain branching does not seem to be a leading factor in the sensitivity of properties to modifications in the entanglement states. The property modifications produced by the present solution treatments are viewed as guides to the magnitude and duration of shear refining effects to be expected in HDPE, LLDPE, and LDPE polymers.     

Differences in the rheology and surface chemistry of kaolin clay slurries: The source of the variations

Kaolinite clays from two sources were found to display different rheological and electrokinetic behaviour despite having similar mineral composition. This difference is mainly due to the surface chemistry at the edges of the clay particles. Making the edge surface chemistry similar with an adsorbed small anionic additive such as citrate, produced a similar yield stress-pH behaviour for the different kaolin clay slurries. Heterogeneous attraction between positively charged edges and negatively charged faces of the clay particles is responsible for the yield stress behaviour of the clay slurry. However, the different points of zero charge of the edge caused the clay slurries to display different yield stress-pH behaviour. Adsorption of anionic citrate on negatively charged kaolin clay particles is reflected in a significant increase in the magnitude of the negative zeta potential. The adsorption is likely to be on the edge of the clay particles. Adsorbed citrate generally reduces or eliminates heterogeneous charge attraction leading to a much denser sediment being formed in the kaolin slurries with a coarser particle size distribution.     

Simple synthesis of ZnS nanoparticles in alkaline medium

ZnS nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by reflux under an alkaline medium. The nanoparticles were characterized by using X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The optical properties of ZnS nanoparticles were examined by photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. The result shows that the as-synthesized ZnS nanoparticles had a cubic phase. SEM image shows that ZnS nanoparticles are basically in spherical shape and are homogeneous. The particle size was found to be in the range of 18 nm.     

Lipase‐catalyzed production of medium‐chain triacylglycerols from palm kernel oil distillate: Optimization using response surface methodology

Optimization of lipase‐catalyzed esterification for the production of medium‐chain triacylglycerols (MCT) from palm kernel oil distillate and glycerol was carried out in order to determine the factors that have significant effects on the reaction system and MCT yield. Novozyme 435 from Candida antarctica lipase was found to have the highest activity at 52.87 ± 0.03 U/g. This lipase also produced the highest MCT yield, which is 56.67%. The effect of different variables on MCT synthesis was studied with a two‐level five‐factor fractional factorial design. The various variables include (1) reaction temperature, (2) enzyme load, (3) molecular sieves concentration, (4) reaction time and (5) molar substrate ratio. Reaction temperature, reaction time and molar substrate ratio strongly affect MCT synthesis (p <0.05). However, enzyme load and molecular sieve concentration did not have a significant (p >0.05) influence on MCT yield. Therefore, the significant variables such as reaction temperature, reaction time and molar substrate ratio were further optimized through central composite rotatable design (CCRD). Comparisons between predicted and experimental values from the CCRD optimization procedures revealed good correlation, implying that the quadric response model satisfactorily expressed the percentage yield of MCT in the lipase‐catalyzed esterification. The optimum MCT yield is 73.3% by using 2 wt‐% enzyme dosage, a molecular sieves concentration of 1 wt‐%, a reaction temperature of 90 °C, a reaction time of 10 h and a molar substrate ratio of 4 : 1 (medium‐chain fatty acid/glycerol). Experiments to confirm the predicted results using the optimal parameters were conducted and an MCT yield of 70.21 ± 0.18% (n = 3) was obtained.     

A Variational Solution for Downdrag Force Analysis of Pile Groups

This article presents a variational approach for the analysis of downdrag forces of pile groups undergoing soil downward movement. The theoretical load‐transfer curves are employed to describe the soil load‐displacement relationship. A soil with stiffness varying with depth and with stiffer end‐bearing stratum at the pile toe can be easily treated using the present method. The validity of the present method is demonstrated through comparison with existing theoretical solutions and field measurements.     

Growth characteristics of agrowaste‐immobilised lactobacilli in soymilk during refrigerated storage

We aimed at evaluating agricultural wastes as solid supports for the immobilisation of lactobacilli in a liquid media, namely soymilk. Lactobacillus acidophilus FTDC 1331, L. acidophilus FTDC 2631, L. acidophilus FTDC 2333, L. acidophilus FTDC 1733 and L. bulgaricus FTCC 0411 were immobilised on solid supports produced from durian (Durio zibethinus), cempedak (Artocarpus champeden) and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). The immobilised cells were inoculated into soymilk and stored at 4 °C over 168 h. Soymilk inoculated with non‐immobilised cells was used as the control. Immobilised cells showed higher survivability over 168 h compared to the control, accompanied by higher reduction of simple sugars and oligosaccharides in soymilk. Higher growth and higher utilisation of substrates also led to the higher production of lactic and acetic acids, which lowered the pH in soymilk compared to the control. Our results illustrated that agrowastes could be used as immobilisers to enhance the growth of lactobacilli in a liquid medium.     

POLAROGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION OF AROMATIC STRUCTURES IN COAL LIQUID PRODUCTS

Reducible aromatic species in coal liquid products from five major processes (Synthoil, FMC COED, HRI H-Coal, PAMCO SRC, and Catalytic Inc. SRC) together with solvent elution chromatography fractions of a selected asphaltene has been evaluated. The half-wave potentials measurments are found to be consistant with other methods. The total polarographic reduction of measurement per average molecule for Synthoil solvent fractions, as measured by diffusion constant (i_d/C), increases in the following manner: gas oil → resin → asphaltene → carbene → carboid. The same trend was observed when color indices (I) and refractive indices (n₂₅) were individually studied.