A new image binarization method using iterative partitioning

This paper proposes a new method for image binarization that uses an iterative partitioning approach. The proposed method has been tested towards binarization of both document and graphic images. The quantitative comparisons with other standard methods reveal that the proposed approach outperforms existing widely used binarization techniques in terms of accuracy of binarization. The experimental results further establish the superiority of the proposed method, especially for degraded documents and graphic images. The proposed algorithm is suitable for a multi-core processing environment as it can be split into multiple parallel units of executions after the initial partitioning.     

Influence of process parameters on the formation of Silicalite-1 zeolite particles

Silicalite-1 particles with minimum twinning have been synthesized inside the polar core of non-ionic surfactant/co-surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil (w/o) type emulsions at 150° ± 1 °C within a short reaction time of 5 h. The non-ionic surfactants of varying hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) values, i.e. sorbitan monooleate (Span 80, HLB: 4.3), sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20, HLB: 8.6), polyoxyethylene (4) lauryl ether (Brij 30, HLB: 9.7) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80, HLB: 15), the cationic surfactant, i.e. cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), surfactant concentration, co-surfactant, synthesis temperature and time have been found to play significant role in controlling size and characteristics of Silicalite-1. It has been observed that the crystallinity and size of Silicalite-1 can be tailored by adjusting the interactions between the polar surfactant head groups at the w/o interface and the growing crystallographic surfaces (or silicate/TPA ions) in the aqueous medium of the emulsion.     

Thermal stresses in an infinite non-isotropic plate having a penny-shaped crack

Of concern in the paper is the distribution of thermal stresses in the vicinity of a penny-shaped crack in a thick elastic plate made of a non-isotropic material. The problem pertains to the situation where the crack is opened by a prescribed normal pressure and a prescribed heat-flux or a prescribed temperature.     

Anomalous quantum transport through a thin film of varying impurity density with the distance from the film surface

We explore a novel transport phenomenon by studying the effect of disorder on electron transport through a thin film of varying disorder strength with the distance from its surface. A simple tight-binding model is used to describe the film which is attached to two metallic electrodes, where the coupling of this film to the electrodes is treated through the use of Newns-Anderson chemisorption theory. It is found that, in the strong disorder regime the current amplitude through the film increases with the increase of the disorder strength, while it decreases in the weak disorder regime. This strange behavior is completely opposite to that of a conventional disordered system. Our results also predict that the electron transport is significantly influenced by the finite size of the thin film.     

A scheme for finite element analysis of mode I and mixed mode stable crack growth and a case study with AISI 4340 steel

A new scheme for elastic–plastic finite element analysis has been proposed for the study of stable crack growth (SCG) from initiation to instability in both mode I and mixed modes (I and II). The scheme is based on node-release technique and helps to determine the variation of fracture load with crack extension without requiring much computer storage and time. The scheme permits predictions of load variation with load line displacement (LLD), maximum fracture load, crack tip current plastic zone and crack edge profile. In the analysis the condition for crack extension at every stage of the SCG is considered to be governed by CTOA/COD reaching a critical value. The scheme of analysis is different from the ones proposed by earlier investigators. The whole SCG is analysed in a few stages using the ANSYS software and a single discretization. Element arrangement in the discretization is decided from the very beginning; it has a capability of accommodating changes in boundary conditions arising out of crack extension in the later stages. Each stage is analysed afresh ignoring state of stress–strain reached at a material point at the end of the previous stage. Case studies on both mode I and mixed mode presented considering AISI 4340 steel, which is widely used in nuclear power industry, indicate that the SCG through it can be characterized in terms of a single COD or CTOA. Predictions for the initiation and maximum fracture loads in both the cases compare very closely with the experimental data reported. The results presented also include the value of critical COD/CTOA (0.035 mm/0.0875 rad) characterizing the SCG through the steel and show that the initiation load is not significantly affected by crack tip radius up to 0.05 mm.