Concrete crack detection using context‐aware deep semantic segmentation network

Computer‐vision and deep‐learning techniques are being increasingly applied to inspect, monitor, and assess infrastructure conditions including detection of cracks. Traditional vision‐based methods to detect cracks lack accuracy and generalization to work on complicated infrastructural conditions. This paper presents a novel context‐aware deep convolutional semantic segmentation network to effectively detect cracks in structural infrastructure under various conditions. The proposed method applies a pixel‐wise deep semantic segmentation network to segment the cracks on images with arbitrary sizes without retraining the prediction network. Meanwhile, a context‐aware fusion algorithm that leverages local cross‐state and cross‐space constraints is proposed to fuse the predictions of image patches. This method is evaluated on three datasets: CrackForest Dataset (CFD) and Tomorrows Road Infrastructure Monitoring, Management Dataset (TRIMMD) and a Customized Field Test Dataset (CFTD) and achieves Boundary F1 (BF) score of 0.8234, 0.8252, and 0.7937 under 2‐pixel error tolerance margin in CFD, TRIMMD, and CFTD, respectively. The proposed method advances the state‐of‐the‐art performance of BF score by approximately 2.71% in CFD, 1.47% in TRIMMD, and 4.14% in CFTD. Moreover, the averaged processing time of the proposed system is 0.7 s on a typical desktop with Intel^® Quad‐Core? i7‐7700 CPU@3.6 GHz Processor, 16GB RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GPU for an image of size 256 × 256 pixels.     

Machining of NiTi-shape memory alloys-A review

The emerging trends in the development of advanced smart materials with better unique properties under different environments for a particular application fascinate the researchers and industrialists. Nickel-Titanium based shape memory alloys are exotic materials due to their unique properties such as SME, SE, high damping characteristics, high corrosion and wear resistance and biocompatibility. This article presents an overview of machining processes that can be used to machine the NiTi and its surface induced characteristics such as microhardness, surface roughness, topography, induced layer, residual stress, fatigue and phase transformation. The surface integrity characteristics are discussed for machining of NiTi-SMAs under the category of traditional, non-traditional and micro-machining with the effect of input parameters such as cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, type of lubricant and type of coating material on cutting tool. The conventional machining of NiTi alloys are quite complicated due to high toughness, severe strain hardening, fatigue hardening and distinctive property of NiTi-SMAs such as pseudoelastic and shape memory effect. From this study, non-traditional process is significantly used to machine the NiTi-SMAs due to its better results on surface integrity characteristics. Consequently, future trends are also identified for machining the NiTi-SMAs and to improve the surface integrity characteristics.     

Nanostructured Zn-Fe2O3 thin film modified by Fe-TiO2 for photoelectrochemical generation of hydrogen

Nanostructured semiconductor thin films of Zn-Fe₂O₃ modified with underlying layer of Fe-TiO₂ have been synthesized and studied as photoelectrode in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell for generation of hydrogen through water splitting. The Zn-Fe₂O₃ thin film photoelectrodes were designed for best performance by tailoring thickness of the Fe-TiO₂ film. A maximum photocurrent density of 748 μA/cm² at 0.95 V/SCE and solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency of 0.47% was observed for 0.89 μm thick modified photoelectrode in 1 M NaOH as electrolyte and under 1.5 AM solar simulator. To analyse the PEC results the films were characterized for various physical and semiconducting properties using XRD, SEM, EDX and UV–Visible spectrophotometer. Zn-Fe₂O₃ thin films modified with Fe-TiO₂ exhibited improved visible light absorption. A noticeable change in surface morphology of the modified Zn-Fe₂O₃ film was observed as compared to the pristine Zn-Fe₂O₃ film. Flatband potential values calculated from Mott–Schottky curves also supported the PEC response.     

R Curves and Crack-Stability Map: Application to Ce-TZP/Al2O3

The concept of a crack-stability map is developed by considering the interaction between the crack-driving force and the rising crack-growth resistance of a toughened ceramic. The map plots normalized transition crack length as function of the ratio of the crack-initiation fracture toughness and the plateau toughness to delineate regimes of stable and unstable crack growth. The plot is used to analyze R curves and fracture stresses of a transformation-toughened Ce-TZP/Al₂O₃. It is shown that the fracture stress and the small scatter measured for this ceramic are consistent with its R- curve behavior, which enables stable growth of surface cracks from flaws (pores and second-phase particles), leading to a flaw-insensitive ceramic.     

Steady state behaviour and maintenance planning of a desulphurization system in a urea fertilizer plant

This paper presents the steady state behaviour and maintenance planning of the desulphurization process in the fertilizer industry. The process consists of four subsystems, A, B, C and D in series with three states; good, reduced and failed. One standby unit is provided for each pump. Taking constant failure and repair rates for each subsystem, mathematical modelling is done using the Chapman-Kolmogorov birth-death process. An expression for steady state availability is given. Based on the data available from a medium sized ammonia production process, the behaviour of each working unit in the process has been analysed. The computed results are discussed with the concerned plant personnel which is helpful to the management for implementing any future plan regarding design modification of the system/processes.     

Cooperative energy management in distributed wireless real-time systems

This work is based on the observation that existing energy management techniques for mobile devices, such as Dynamic Voltage Scaling (DVS), are non-cooperative in the sense that they reduce the energy consumption of a single device, disregarding potential consequences for other constraints (e.g., end-to-end deadlines) and/or other devices (e.g., energy consumption on neighboring devices). This paper argues that energy management in distributed wireless real-time systems has to be end-to-end in nature, requiring a coordinated approach among communicating devices. A cooperative distributed energy management technique (Co-DVS) is proposed that (1) adapts and maintains end-to-end latencies within specified timeliness requirements (deadlines) and (2) enhances energy savings at the devices with the highest pay-off factors that represent the relative benefits or significance of conserving energy at a device. The proposed technique employs a feedback-based approach to dynamically distribute end-to-end slack among the devices based on their pay-off factors.     

Applications of Polymer Matrix Syntactic Foams

A collection of applications of polymer matrix syntactic foams is presented in this article. Syntactic foams are lightweight porous composites that found their early applications in marine structures due to their naturally buoyant behavior and low moisture absorption. Their light weight has been beneficial in weight sensitive aerospace structures. Syntactic foams have pushed the performance boundaries for composites and have enabled the development of vehicles for traveling to the deepest parts of the ocean and to other planets. The high volume fraction of porosity in syntactic foams also enabled their applications in thermal insulation of pipelines in oil and gas industry. The possibility of tailoring the mechanical and thermal properties of syntactic foams through a combination of material selection, hollow particle volume fraction, and hollow particle wall thickness has helped in rapidly growing these applications. The low coefficient of thermal expansion and dimensional stability at high temperatures are now leading their use in electronic packaging, composite tooling, and thermoforming plug assists. Methods have been developed to tailor the mechanical and thermal properties of syntactic foams independent of each other over a wide range, which is a significant advantage over other traditional particulate and fibrous composites.     

Investigation and optimization of lubrication parameters in high speed turning of superalloy Inconel 718

Dry machining is sometimes less effective when higher machining efficiency, better surface finish quality, and severe cutting conditions are required. For these situations, semi-dry operations utilizing very small amount of cutting fluids called minimum quantity lubrication is expected to become a powerful tool and played a significant role in a number of practical applications. It has been observed from the literature survey that a systematic research work has to be carried out to determine the optimum quantity of lubricant with appropriate cutting conditions for achieving better machinability characteristics of a material. Hence, an attempt has been made in this paper to enhance the machinability characteristics in high speed turning of superalloy Inconel 718 using quantity of lubricant, delivery pressure at the nozzle, frequency of pulses, direction of application of cutting fluid, cutting speed, and feed rate as the process parameters. Results indicated that the use of optimized minimum quantity lubrication parameters under pulsed jet mode leads to lower cutting force, cutting temperature, and flank wear.     

Microwave processing of electroceramic materials and devices

Microwave synthesis of nano-sized BaTiO₃ and decrystallized titania, and microwave sintering of electroceramics including BaTiO₃, Ba(Zn_1/3Ta_2/3)O₃ (BZT), lead zirconate–titanate (i.e. Pb(Zr _x Ti_1?x )O₃, or PZT), etc., as well as multilayer ceramic capacitors based on X7R, C0G, and ferrite multilayer chip inductors are presented. The results indicate that microwave processing significantly accelerated synthesis and sintering kinetics. As a result, processing time can be saved up to 90%, with the product properties comparable to or better than that of the conventional products.     

Multi-function biquad using single current differencing transconductance amplifier

An universal multi input single output type multifunction biquad is proposed. The proposed configuration employs only one current differencing transconductance amplifier as the active element, two capacitors and three resistors. The circuit realizes all five filter functions (i.e. Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass, Notch and All Pass) without changing the circuit topology. The natural frequency ω₀ is independently and electronically tunable. The workability of the proposed multifunction biquad has been verified using SPICE simulation.