Study on the rotary cup dressing of CBN grinding wheel and the grinding performance

A systematic research is conducted to investigate the effect of rotary cup dressing on vitrified cubic boron nitride grinding performance in grinding of nickel-based superalloys. Grinding performance is evaluated mainly in terms of specific grinding energy and radial wheel wear. The number of active grits per unit area and their slope is considered as the two grinding wheel topographical key parameters for studying grinding performance. Cup dressing conditions with various speed ratios and overlap factors were investigated. In each case, the specific grinding energy and the radial wheel wear were experimentally measured, and then the effect of changing dressing parameters on the grinding performance is analyzed. To provide a view on how various parameters influence specific energy and the importance of wheel topography and grit workpiece interaction, a new specific grinding energy model is developed. Inputs to this model are workpiece parameters, grinding process parameters, and, in particular, the grinding wheel topographical parameters. This model is validated by experimental results. The theoretical values considering the complexity of the grinding process reasonably compare with the experimental results. The effect of number of active grits per unit area and their slope on specific grinding energy and then metal removal mechanism is investigated. The results revealed that the number of active grits per unit area has less effect on specific grinding energy than grits slope.     

The isomerization kinetics of lactose to lactulose in the presence of sodium hydroxide at constant and variable pH

Lactulose (4-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-d-fructose) is a synthetic disaccharide. Unique characteristics of lactulose have resulted in its wide use in pharmaceutical and food industries. It is produced by isomerization of lactose in an alkaline medium. The purpose of this work is to investigate the kinetics of lactose to lactulose isomerization in the presence of sodium hydroxide in constant and variable pH condition. The experiments were carried out at three temperatures (50, 60 and 70 °C) and three pH values (10, 10.5 and 11). The effect of different parameters such as temperature, pH and time on the reaction rate, conversion, sugar concentration and maximum conversion of lactose to lactulose were investigated. The experimental results were then used to calculate the rate constants and activation energies. The effects of temperature and pH on rate constants were also investigated. Finally the experimental data were compared to kinetic model predictions.     

Designing a General Neurocontroller for Water Towers

This study deals with the capabilities of artificial neural networks in learning to control water towers of different structural properties that are subjected to earthquakes. To this end, water towers were considered as single-degree-of-freedom systems. First, a number of water towers of different structural properties were controlled by the predictive optimal control method, and then the data collected through this control were used in the training of a general neural network controller, called the general neurocontroller. Capabilities of the general neurocontroller were tested in the control of a number of water towers with structural parameters different from, but in the range of, those used in its training. One of the aims of this study was the introduction of general neurocontrollers as ready-to-use devices that may be used in the design of actively controlled structures, in this case, water towers. Results of this numerical study were promising.     

A low-power parametric integrator for wideband switched-capacitor ΣΔ modulators

This paper proposes a new low-power MOS parametric integrator (MPI) for the design of wideband discrete time sigma-delta (ΣΔ) modulators. The MPI is implemented with MOS capacitors, which provide the required gain by switching from inversion in the sampling phase into depletion in the amplification phase. Analysis along with simulation results illustrate that MPI consumes very low power dissipation compared to the conventional active integrators with some negligible performance changes. To verify this, the MPI is used in two wideband ΣΔ modulators, one with 8-bit resolution and the other with 13-bit resolution with input bandwidth and sampling frequency of 12.5 and 200 MHz, respectively. The first one is a second order single stage ΣΔ modulator and the second one is a MASH 2-2 modulator, both implemented in 0.18-μm CMOS technology. Simulation results indicate that these modulators save a significant amount of power consumption when their second integrator is replaced by MPI.     

Optimal Reservoir Operation Based on Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater Using Neuro-Fuzzy Systems

Reservoir operation cannot be carried out without due heed to surface water and groundwater resources, since neglecting either will have irreversible consequences. Optimal operation of the Zayandehrood Dam which supplies water into the Zayandehrood River basin in the central plateau of Iran is a case in point which warrants due consideration paid to both dam operation and the climate conditions in the region suffering from a history of successive droughts. The main objective of the present research is to develop operation rules for the Zayandehrood reservoir through a combined perspective of both surface and ground water resources using the fuzzy inference system, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. The objective is to determine the share of the Zayandehrood reservoir in meeting downstream water demands. For this purpose, the water shortage and the dramatic groundwater drawdown in the Zayandehrood River basin faced with in recent years have been studied in an attempt to develop operation models capable of controlling groundwater drawdown. The models indicate that not only can groundwater drawdown be controlled, but that it is also possible to establish a greater sustainability. Different operation models have been compared in terms of their operation criteria. Results show that the ANFIS model composed of optimal data enjoys a higher sustainability compared to others.     

Nonlinear free and forced vibration behavior of functionally graded plate with piezoelectric layers in thermal environment

In the present study, finite element formulation based on higher order shear deformation plate theory is developed to analyze nonlinear natural frequencies, time and frequency responses of functionally graded plate with surface-bonded piezoelectric layers under thermal, electrical and mechanical loads. The von Karman nonlinear strain–displacement relationship is used to account for the large deflection of the plate. The material properties of functionally graded material (FGM) are assumed temperature-dependent. The temperature field has uniform distribution over the plate surface and varies in the thickness direction. The considered electric field only has non-zero-valued component E_z. Numerical results are presented to study effects of FGM volume fraction exponent, applied voltage in piezoelectric layers, thermal load and vibration amplitude on nonlinear natural frequencies and time response of FGM plate with integrated piezoelectric layers. In addition, nonlinear frequency response diagrams of the plate are presented and effects of different parameters such as FGM volume fraction exponent, temperature gradient, and piezoelectric voltage are investigated.     

Modeling and optimization of a new impact-toughened epoxy nanocomposite using response surface methodology

This paper reports the development of a high-impact epoxy nanocomposite toughened by the combination of poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene) (ABS) as thermoplastic, clay as layered nanofiller, and nano-TiO₂ as particulate nanofiller. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied for optimization and modeling of the impact strength of epoxy/ABS/clay/TiO₂ quaternary nanocomposite. A second-order mathematical model between the response (impact strength) and variables (ABS, clay and nano-TiO₂ contents) was derived. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a high coefficient of determination value (R ² = 98%). Under optimum conditions, maximum impact strength of 29.2 KJ/m² with 197% increase compared to neat epoxy was experimentally obtained. Also correlation between morphology and impact strength of the nanocomposite was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A dispersion of exfoliated clay platelets, TiO₂ nanoparticles with low agglomeration and ABS nanoparticles was obtained as morphology of the nanocomposite. A new and more effective method for impact toughening of epoxy was introduced. This study clearly showed that the addition of the combination of layered and particulate nanofillers along with ABS as thermoplastic has a considerable enhancement effect on impact strength of epoxy.     

Silica nanoparticles modified with a Schiff base ligand: An efficient adsorbent for Th(IV), U(VI) and Eu(III) ions

Modification of SiO₂ nanoparticles by salicylaldiminepropyl results in efficient adsorbents for removal of Th⁴⁺, UO ₂ ²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of parameters influencing the adsorption efficiency such as aqueous phase pH, contact time, initial metal ions concentration, adsorbent dosage and temperature dependency of the process was verified and discussed. Under optimal conditions (pH 5.5, adsorbent dosage 0.05 g, contact time 30 min. and 25 °C), thorium and uranyl ions (initial concentration 20 mg/l) were quantitatively removed from 20 ml of sample solution. Under such conditions 85% of europium ions was removed. Comparison of the adsorption efficiency of the studied modified nano-particles with those unmodified ones shows a shift for uptake of the metal ions vs. pH curves towards lower pH values by applying the modified adsorbents. In addition, a significant improvement of europium ions adsorption was observed by using the modified nanoparticles. Kinetics of the process was studied by considering a pseudo second-order model. This model predicts chemisorption for the adsorption mechanism. Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin models were suitable for describing the equilibrium data of Th⁴⁺, UO₂ ²⁺ and Eu³⁺ adsorption process, respectively. Thermodynamic investigation reveals the adsorption process of the studied ions is entropy driven.     

Multi-criteria sequencing problem in mixed-model synchronous assembly lines

Mixed-model synchronous assembly line (MMSAL) is a type of assembly line that can be found in the production of large household appliances (e.g., washing machines, dryers, etc.). In this assembly line, products that are simultaneously processed on the line are transferred to the next station at the same time. In this paper, the sequencing problem of MMSAL with three objectives: (1) total idle cost, (2) total production rate variation cost, and (3) total setup cost is simultaneously studied. These three objectives are first weighted by their relative importance weights and a mathematical model is proposed for the problem. Since this problem is well known as non-deterministic polynomial-time hard class, a meta-heuristic algorithm based on simulated annealing is proposed to solve it. Performance of the proposed algorithm is compared against the Lingo 9 software. The computational results validate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Optimal control of nonlinear frames by Newmark and distributed genetic algorithms

Active control of multi‐storey frame structures with nonlinear hysteretic response has been studied in this paper. A new nonlinear optimal control algorithm based on nonlinear Newmark integration method and distributed genetic algorithm (DGA) has been developed. The objective has been to reduce the response to below any desired level. In this study, DGA has been used to determine the weights in the control law corresponding to displacement, velocity and acceleration. The capabilities of the method has been assessed through simulation where an eight‐storey frame with bilinear hysteretic behaviour has been subjected to a white noise ground acceleration and controlled by the controllers designed by the new algorithm. An active tendon control system comprised of prestressed tendons and either a single actuator, which could apply a force to one of the floors, or eight actuators, which could fully control the frame, has been used. Also, the optimum actuator placement in the single actuator case has been studied. The designed controllers have been tested under both near and far‐field earthquakes and have performed successfully. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.