(t,n): Sensor Stipulation with THAM Index for Smart Agriculture Decision-Making IoT System

Wireless Personal Communications - The rapid growth of industrial infrastructure creates ecological issues such as climate change. Field indecisiveness affects agricultural yields due to improper...     

An algorithm for the kinetics of tire pyrolysis under different heating rates

Tires exhibit different kinetic behaviors when pyrolyzed under different heating rates. A new algorithm has been developed to investigate pyrolysis behavior of scrap tires. The algorithm includes heat and mass transfer equations to account for the different extents of thermal lag as the tire is heated at different heating rates. The algorithm uses an iterative approach to fit model equations to experimental data to obtain quantitative values of kinetic parameters. These parameters describe the pyrolysis process well, with good agreement (r² > 0.96) between the model and experimental data when the model is applied to three different brands of automobile tires heated under five different heating rates in a pure nitrogen atmosphere. The model agrees with other researchers’ results that frequencies factors increased and time constants decreased with increasing heating rates. The model also shows the change in the behavior of individual tire components when the heating rates are increased above 30 K min⁻¹. This result indicates that heating rates, rather than temperature, can significantly affect pyrolysis reactions. This algorithm is simple in structure and yet accurate in describing tire pyrolysis under a wide range of heating rates (10–50 K min⁻¹). It improves our understanding of the tire pyrolysis process by showing the relationship between the heating rate and the many components in a tire that depolymerize as parallel reactions.     

Asymmetric free vibrations of laminated annular cross-ply circular plates including the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia: spline method

Asymmetric free vibrations of annular cross-ply circular plates are studied using spline function approximation. The governing equations are formulated including the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia. Assumptions are made to study the cross-ply layered plates. A system of coupled differential equations are obtained in terms of displacement functions and rotational functions. These functions are approximated using Bickley- type spline functions of suitable order. Then the system is converted into the eigenvalue problem by applying the point collocation technique and suitable boundary conditions. Parametric studies have been made to investigate the effect of transverse shear deformation and rotary inertia on frequency parameter with respect to the circumferential node number, radii ratio and thickness to radius ratio for both symmetric and anti-symmetric cross-ply plates using various types of material properties.     

Technique for bonding gold and silver metals on sapphire

A technique is described for bonding gold and silver metals onto sapphire. This technique has been successfully used in ac calorimetry for heat capacity of films.     

Current-controlled oscillator

A relaxation oscillator whose frequency is linearly related to an input control current is described. The circuit configuration is based on the emitter-coupled astable multivibrator. The linear frequency variation is obtained by incorporating a discriminator circuit and high-transconductance elements into the oscillator circuit. Experimental results obtained from a circuit constructed from monolithic transistor arrays indicate that frequency variation over two decades, with a linearity better than 0.1%, can be obtained.     

Prediction and Optimization of Pulsed Current Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Process Parameters to Obtain Sound Weld Pool Geometry in Titanium Alloy Using Lexicographic Method

In this article the weld pool geometry of pulsed current gas tungsten arc (GTA)-welded titanium alloy was analyzed. Increase in use of pulsed current process creates dependancy on the use of mathematical equations to predict the weld pool geometry. Hence, the development of mathematical models using four factors, five levels, central composite design was attempted. The developed models were checked for their adequacy. Lexicographic method was used for optimizing the process parameters of pulsed current GTA welding technique. Optimizing the process parameters has resulted in bringing out strong weld pool geometry, which was later confirmed by conducting confirmation tests.     

Synthesis and characterization of Si/SiC ceramics prepared using cotton fabric

A Si/SiC ceramic was prepared from cotton fabric by the reactive infiltration of liquid silicon into the carbon template. A large density difference between the samples has been observed. This may be due to the variation in the pore size and its distribution within the sample. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy shows the presence of three distinct phases, i.e., SiC, free Si and free carbon. X-ray diffraction pattern also confirms the presence of SiC and Si phases. However, there is no peak corresponding to carbon. So, it is inferred that the carbon exists in amorphous form. Micro-hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength of the ceramics were also studied. The values are lower than commercially available SiC ceramics. This may be due to the highly porous nature of cotton fabric-based SiC, as compared to commercially available SiC.     

Processing and properties of copper-coated carbon fibre reinforced aluminium alloy composites

Aluminium alloy matrix composites with carbon fibre reinforcement were prepared by stir casting method. In order to avoid any interfacial reactions in the carbon fibre reinforced composites, the carbon fibres were coated with copper. The fibres were coated by electroless coating method and then characterized. Composites containing different amounts of carbon fibres were prepared by stir casting and then subjected to age-hardening treatment. Fibre distribution was fairly uniform in the composites containing up to 4 wt% carbon fibres. Tensile strength of the composites was found to be increasing up to 4 wt% carbon fibre.     

Friction stir channeling: Characterization of the channels

Commercially available compact heat exchangers are currently fabricated in several steps by joining multiple tubes, or by independently fabricating and joining fluid channels. Friction stir channeling (FSC) is a simple and innovative technique of manufacturing heat exchangers in a single step by creating continuous, integral channels in a monolithic plate in a single pass. FSC relies on the frictional heat generated between the tool material and the metal workpiece to soften and deform the material to facilitate the creation of a continuous channel. The channel shape, size, and integrity depend on the processing parameters and the tool design. In this paper the structural characteristics and the relationship between the channel features and the processing parameters are discussed. FSC is being developed as a technique for manufacturing heat exchangers. The channel is characterized by roughness features on the inside, which can be analyzed using optical microscopy techniques.     

Developing diffusion bonding windows for joining AZ31B magnesium and copper alloys

In this investigation, Mg–Cu dissimilar materials are joined by diffusion bonding process. The principal difficulty when joining Mg–Cu lies in the existence of hard-to-remove oxide films on the magnesium surfaces and the formation of brittle metallic interlayers and oxide inclusions in the bond region. In this investigation, an attempt was made to develop diffusion bonding windows for effective joining of AZ31B Magnesium and commercial grade copper alloys. Joints were fabricated using different combination of process parameters such as bonding temperature, bonding pressure and holding time. The bonding quality was checked by microstructure analysis and lap shear tensile test. Based on the results, diffusion bonding windows were constructed, and they are presented in this paper. These windows will act as reference maps for selecting appropriate diffusion bonding process parameters to get good quality bonds for Mg–Cu alloys.