An H∞non‐fragile observer‐based adaptive sliding mode controller design for uncertain fractional‐order nonlinear systems with time delay and input nonlinearity

In this paper the problem of non‐fragile adaptive sliding mode observer design is addressed for a class of nonlinear fractional‐order time‐delay systems with uncertainties, external disturbance, exogenous noise, and input nonlinearity. An H_∞ observer‐based adaptive sliding mode control considering the non‐fragility of the observer is proposed for this system. The sufficient asymptotic stability conditions are derived in the form of linear matrix inequalities. It is proven that the sliding surface is reachable in finite time. An illustrative example is provided which corroborates the effectiveness of the theoretical results.     

CFD Modeling of Micromixing and Velocity Distribution in a 1.7‐MHz Tubular Sonoreactor

The effect of high‐frequency (1.7 MHz) ultrasound waves on the mixing rate in a new continuous tubular sonoreactor was investigated by CFD modeling. Modeling of piezoelectric transducer (PZT) vibrations was done based on the dynamic mesh model. Results indicate that the acoustic streams were in the direction of wave propagation and their maximum velocity near the PZT surface agreed well with experimental measurements. The micromixing efficiency of the sonoreactor was studied by adopting the Villermaux/Dushman reaction in the modeling. Comparison of the calculated relative segregation index from modeling results with experimental data revealed reasonable accordance.     

A new method for determining dynamic grain structure evolution during hot aluminum extrusion

In this paper, a new method for analyzing the microstructure evolution of aluminum during deformation at elevated temperatures by extrusion is presented, which is entirely separated from secondary restoration effects viz. static recrystallization and grain growth. In order to observe the development of grains and their orientation under severe plastic deformation, a small-scale forward extrusion setup was designed which allows quenching the extrusion butt together with the die and the container immediately after extrusion to preserve the grain structure evolved during the deformation. The forming path and the forming history of a selected material point were calculated by numerical simulation. The evolution of the microstructure along the forming path was analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction. A database for the development of physically based phenomenological models for predicting and simulating the evolution of microstructure during the hot deformation of EN AW-6082 alloy is provided.     

A wideband beam shaping reflector antenna using model predictive control

A novel method based on model predictive control (MPC) is presented for synthesis and optimization of a wide band reflector antenna with cosecant squared and flat‐topped radiation patterns. The proposed system is a doubly curved reflector antenna with nonlinear dynamic equation. This article investigates design and optimization of a double ridged horn reflector antenna operating within the frequency range of 8 to 18 GHz. In order to synthesize the proposed reflector antenna, MPC is used to achieve the desired radiation cosecant pattern. This method utilizes system model and tries to find the best control effort for minimizing the cost function by predicting the future behavior. The system differential equation is comprised of first and second order derivatives, so MPC can be a good solution for synthesis of a doubly reflector antenna. MPC optimizer operates based on state space model, so the proposed system is linearized in the operating range. Maximum error, the average error and side lobe level of this method for the radiation pattern of the proposed wideband antenna respectively are 1.4, 0.9, and ?20 dB. Simulation results of the radiation pattern in CST and HFSS software show that the proposed reflector antenna can be used in broadband surveillance radar systems.     

Synthesis ZnO nanoparticles from a new Zinc(II) coordination polymer precursor

A new zinc(II) nitrite coordination polymer, [Zn(3-bpdh)(NO₂)₂]_n (1), 3-bpdh = 2,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene} was prepared and characterized by elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. Compound 1 was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and is one-dimensional polymer with coordination environment of distorted octahedral, ZnN₂O₄. Thermal decomposition of this precursor in oleic acid at 240 °C under air atmosphere results in the formation of nanoparticles of ZnO. The nano-materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and IR spectroscopy. The thermal stability of nano-structure ZnO was studied by thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analyses and showed that there is no reportable loss of weight in the TGA curves that proves the existence of zinc(II) oxide. This study demonstrates the coordination polymers may be suitable precursors for the preparation of nanoscale materials.     

Modeling of dynamic microstructure evolution of EN AW-6082 alloy during hot forward extrusion

The aim of this work is to present briefly a model for predicting and simulating the evolution of microstructure, in particular the evolution of grains, during hot forming processes of aluminum alloy EN AW-6082 and give a comparison with the experimental results. The model is a physically motivated phenomenological model based on internal state dependent variables. The microstructure evolution is a temperature dependent process and is simulated in a fully coupled thermo-mechanical process by help of Finite Element software Abaqus. The results are compared and verified with experimental results obtained by EBSD measurement of a small-scale extrusion process established for scientific purposes. The simulation results are in reasonable agreement with experiment.     

Estimation of vapour–liquid equilibrium data for binary refrigerant systems containing 1,1,1,2,3,3,3‐heptafluoropropane (R227ea) by using artificial neural networks

In this research, the ability of multilayer perceptron neural networks to estimate vapour–liquid equilibrium data have been studied. Four typical binary refrigerant systems containing R227ea have been investigated in a large range of temperatures and pressures. The systems are categorised into four groups, based on their different deviations from the Raoult's law. The networks with one hidden layer consisted of five neurons are developed as the optimal structure. For these binary systems, uncertainties in the artificial neural networks (ANNs) estimations were not more than 1.03%. In addition, the abilities of ANNs are shown by comparisons with Margules, van Laar, and some other correlations.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid at a 2,2′-(1,8-octanediylbisnitriloethylidine)-bis-hydroquinone modified carbon paste electrode

Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of ascorbic acid at a carbon paste electrode modified with 2,2′-(1,8-octanediylbisnitriloethylidine)-bis-hydroquinone (1,8-OBNEBHQ). The modified carbon paste electrode showed high electrocatalytic activity toward ascorbic acid; the current was enhanced significantly relative to the situation prevailing when an unmodified carbon paste electrode was used. The electrocatalytic process was highly dependent on the pH of the supporting electrolyte. The apparent charge transfer rate constant, k_s, and transfer coefficient, α, for electron transfer between 1,8-OBNEBHQ and carbon paste electrode were calculated as 20.2 ± 0.5 s⁻¹ and 0.47, respectively. Using differential pulse voltammetry, the calibration curves for AA were obtained over the range of 5–30 and 40–1,500 μM, respectively. The detection limit (kσ, k = 2) was 0.6 μM. With good selectivity and sensitivity, the present method provides a simple method for selective detection of ascorbic acid in biological samples.