Degradation kinetics of β-carotene in carrot slices during convective drying

The β-carotene degradation was investigated in carrot (Daucus carota L. cv Nantes) slices during convective drying at three temperatures (45, 55, and 65°C) at an airflow rate of 0.2 m s^–1. Degradation kinetics of β-carotene in carrot slices during convective drying followed a first-order reaction. Drying temperature showed a significant effect on the degradation of β-carotene in carrot slices. The range of the reaction rate constants for β-carotene loses were 0.23 ± 0.08 –0.48 ± 0.04 h^–1. The activation energy of β-carotene degradation is found 33.33 ± 0.05 kJ mol^–1. Half-life time was calculated as 3.02 ± 0.04 h at 45°C, which dropped to 1.43 ± 0.03 h at 65°C.     

A parametric study of coupled‐mode flutter for MW‐size wind turbine blades

With the increasing size of offshore wind turbine rotors, the design criteria used for the blades may also evolve. Current offshore technology utilizes three relatively stiff blades in an upwind configuration. With the goal of minimizing the mass, there is an interest in the lightweight rotors that instead utilize two flexible blades oriented downwind. These longer blades are more flexible and thus susceptible to experience flow‐induced instability. Coupled‐mode flutter is one of the destructive aeroelastic instabilities that can occur in flexible structures subjected to aerodynamic loading. Because of variation in one of the system parameters, e.g., flow velocity, structural modes coalesce at a critical flow velocity, and coupled‐flutter occurs. In the present work, a parametric study is conducted in order to study the influence of the natural frequencies in the torsional and flapwise directions on the critical flutter speed for wind turbine blades. Three MW‐size wind turbine blades are studied using a three‐dimensional blade model, which includes coupled flapwise and torsional displacements. The results show that the three blades have very similar behavior as the system parameters vary. It is shown that the first torsional natural frequency and the ratio of the first torsional natural frequency to the first flapwise natural frequency are the most critical parameters affecting the onset of instability. Critical flutter speeds even lower than the blade rated speed can be observed for blades with low torsional natural frequencies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of V2O5–TeO2 Glass Addition on Dielectric Properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 Ceramics Prepared by Solid State Method

CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) is well known to have colossal dielectric constant in the range of 10⁵. However, CCTO has considerably high dielectric loss values (tanδ > 0.1) at room temperature and 1 kHz. In this work, addition of glass to CCTO was suggested in order to improve its dielectric properties. The effect of V₂O₅–TeO₂ (VT) glass addition on microstructure and dielectric properties of CCTO ceramics were investigated. Dielectric measurements were carried out for (1 ? x) CCTO-(x) V₂O₅–TeO₂ (x = 0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.10) samples in the frequency range of 10²–10⁶ Hz using impedance spectrometer. Electron micrographs showed that low melting VT glass addition facilitated the grain growth of CCTO. As VT glass amount increased, dielectric constant decreased. The drop, though within reasonable values (~10⁵), may related to the presence of grain boundary glassy phase which itself has low dielectric constant. However, the dielectric loss of the composite has decreased after VT glass addition. The low melting V₂O₅–TeO₂ glass aided in liquid phase sintering and improved the grain boundary resistance which resulted in decreased leakage currents.     

Fly Ash-based Geopolymer Lightweight Concrete Using Foaming Agent

In this paper, we report the results of our investigation on the possibility of producing foam concrete by using a geopolymer system. Class C fly ash was mixed with an alkaline activator solution (a mixture of sodium silicate and NaOH), and foam was added to the geopolymeric mixture to produce lightweight concrete. The NaOH solution was prepared by dilute NaOH pellets with distilled water. The reactives were mixed to produce a homogeneous mixture, which was placed into a 50 mm mold and cured at two different curing temperatures (60 °C and room temperature), for 24 hours. After the curing process, the strengths of the samples were tested on days 1, 7, and 28. The water absorption, porosity, chemical composition, microstructure, XRD and FTIR analyses were studied. The results showed that the sample which was cured at 60 °C (LW2) produced the maximum compressive strength for all tests, (11.03 MPa, 17.59 MPa, and 18.19 MPa) for days 1, 7, and 28, respectively. Also, the water absorption and porosity of LW2 were reduced by 6.78% and 1.22% after 28 days, respectively. The SEM showed that the LW2 sample had a denser matrix than LW1. This was because LW2 was heat cured, which caused the geopolymerization rate to increase, producing a denser matrix. However for LW1, microcracks were present on the surface, which reduced the compressive strength and increased water absorption and porosity.     

Reflection and transmission coefficient of yttrium iron garnet filled polyvinylidene fluoride composite using rectangular waveguide at microwave frequencies

The sol-gel method was carried out to synthesize nanosized Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG). The nanomaterials with ferrite structure were heat-treated at different temperatures from 500 to 1000 °C. The phase identification, morphology and functional groups of the prepared samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), respectively. The YIG ferrite nanopowder was composited with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) by a solution casting method. The magnitudes of reflection and transmission coefficients of PVDF/YIG containing 6, 10 and 13% YIG, respectively, were measured using rectangular waveguide in conjunction with a microwave vector network analyzer (VNA) in X-band frequencies. The results indicate that the presence of YIG in polymer composites causes an increase in reflection coefficient and decrease in transmission coefficient of the polymer.     

Optimisation of digestion method for determination of arsenic in shrimp paste sample using atomic absorption spectrometry

The microwave digestion method was developed and verified for the determination of arsenic in shrimp paste samples. Experimental design for five factors (HNO₃ and H₂O₂ volumes, sample weight, microwave power and digestion time) were used for the optimisation of sample digestion. For this purpose, two level half factorial design, which involves 16 experiments, was adopted. The concentration of arsenic was analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Design Expert® 7.0 software was used to interpret all data obtained. The combination of 2 mL HNO₃ and 1 mL H₂O₂ volumes, 0.1 g sample weight, 1400 W power and 5 min digestion time was found to be the optimum parameters required to digest the shrimp paste samples. Tests with spiked samples presented good recoveries with relative standard deviations between 0.32% and 5.35%.     

Design,Fabrication and Experimentation of a Deep Drawing Machine

This paper presents the work implemented in designing, fabricating and operating a model of a cheap hydraulic DDM （deep drawing machine）, which is currently utilized in the manufacturing processes lab in the IED （Industrial Engineering Department） at An-Najah National University. The machine is used to conduct different experiments related to the deep drawing process. This work was implemented in three stages： the first was the design stage, in which all design calculations of the DDM elements were completed based on the specifications of the product （cup） to be drawn; the second was the construction stage, in which the DDM elements were fabricated and assembled at the engineering workshops of the university; the last was the operating and experimentation stage, in which the DDM was tested by conducting different experiments. The experience gained from designing and constructing such a mechanical lab equipment was found to be successful in terms of obtaining practical results that agree with those available in literature, cost-effective relative to the cost of a similar purchased equipment, as well as enhancing students＇ abilities in understanding the deep drawing process in particular and machine elements design concepts in general.     

The Effects of Different Gums and Their Interactions on the Rheological Properties of a Dairy Dessert: A Mixture Design Approach

In this study, the steady and dynamic rheological properties of the dairy dessert samples (puddings) containing carrageenan, alginate, guar and xanthan gums and their combinations were investigated in a model system, and mixture design was utilized to observe the effects of the gums and their interactions. The flow behaviour of the pudding samples fitted to the Ostwald de Waele model (R ²?>?0.98). All the samples exhibited a gel structure with their higher G′ (storage modulus) values than the G″ (loss modulus) values. Carrageenan was the most effective hydrocolloid on both the steady and dynamic rheological parameters of the dairy dessert samples. On the other hand, alginate had relatively smaller effect. Furthermore, 30 pudding samples containing different gum or gum combinations were classified into two groups (A and B) by using principal component analysis (PCA). Samples containing more than 33% carrageenan in their formulations made up the group A which positively correlated to K (consistency index), η ₅₀ (apparent viscosity at shear rate 50 s^?1), G′, G″, G* (complex modulus) and η* (complex viscosity) values.     

Effect on Mechanical Performance of UHMWPE/HDPE-Blend Reinforced with Kenaf,Basalt and Hybrid Kenaf/Basalt Fiber

The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of UHMWPE/HDPE-reinforced kenaf, basalt and hybrid kenaf/basalt composites. Mechanical testing of these samples was carried out such as tensile, flexural (three-point bending) and an impact test (Charpy). Pure resin (UHMWPE/HDPE) samples were tested and compare with reinforced 10% weight fraction of kenaf, basalt and hybrid kenaf/basalt samples to identifying their contribution and potential in this new composite material. UHMWPE/ HDPE sample was produced in constant ratio 60:40 respectively via extrusion process. Basalt reinforced UHMWPE/HDPE generates the highest elastic modulus result compared to kenaf and hybrid kenaf/basalt as a reinforcement material. The tensile results of kenaf reinforcement UHMWPE/HDPE samples are significantly higher (20%) than pure blend resin, which is an indication for good performance of kenaf, basalt and hybrid kenaf/basalt to be used in UHMWPE/HDPE-blend polymers. The flexural and Charpy strengths show the drawback results, where performance of polymer is reduced 5% with the absence of kenaf. It can be concluded that kenaf, basalt and hybrid kenaf/basalt fiber successfully increase the UHMWPE/HDPE blends performance especially under tensile loading.