MAI Mitigation in MC-CDMA Systems Using Social Impact Based Wireless Communication Algorithm

Wireless Personal Communications - In this paper a novel optimization technique i.e. Social Impact based Wireless Communication Algorithm (SIWCA) has been applied on multi-carrier code division...     

Wireless Robotics: Opportunities and Challenges

Wireless robotics is one of the emerging fields in the world of automation. In-spite of research and standardization efforts around the world, the definition of the term “Robot” is still evolving. Robots have found application in many domains including home automation, industrial automation, health-care, surveillance, reconnaissance, planetary exploration or rescue missions. This paper addresses some of the opportunities, research challenges and standardization issues in wireless robotics with the focus on wireless and networking aspects.     

Pore size distribution of hybrid nonwoven geotextiles

Pore size distribution has become a prerequisite in determining the performance of geotextiles for various functions including filtration, separation and reinforcement. The pore structure and morphology in a nonwoven geotextile are known to be complex and it becomes further complicated in hybrid nonwoven geotextiles consisting of two types of fibers. In this study, a modified model of pore size distribution of hybrid nonwoven geotextiles has been proposed based on sieving-percolation pore network theory. A comparison has been made between theoretical and experimental pore size distributions of hybrid needlepunched nonwoven geotextiles consisting of predefined weight proportions of viscose and polyester fibers. The weight proportions of the constituent fibers have been theoretically analysed for obtaining the desired pore size distributions of hybrid nonwoven geotextiles.     

Sorptive sequestration of 2‐chlorophenol by zeolitic materials derived from bagasse fly ash

BACKGROUND: Water pollution by toxic organic compounds is of great concern and increasingly there are demands for effective sorbents to remove them. Bagasse fly ash, a sugar industry solid waste with disposal problems, was utilized as a source for the synthesis of zeolitic material. The efficiency of virgin and synthesized material was examined for the sorption of 2‐chlorophenol. RESULTS: Zeolitic materials have been synthesized by alkaline hydrothermal and fusion methods. Zeolite P and Analcime were the major components of the zeolitic material. These materials were characterized by XRF, PXRD, FTIR and SEM and were found to have improved morphology with new crystalline phases. Batch sorption experiments for the removal of 2‐chlorophenol by virgin and zeolitic materials were carried out to evaluate isotherm capacities and kinetics of sorption processes. The Langmuir isotherm better fits the equilibrium data which concur with physical sorption. Kinetic studies showed better correlation coefficients for pseudo‐second‐order and intraparticle diffusion model, confirming that the sorption rate was controlled by film diffusion followed by pore diffusion. Desorption studies were performed to regenerate the activity of the spent sorbents. The practical utility of sorbents was tested by column study. CONCLUSION: Bagasse fly ash, readily available at very low cost was successfully converted into zeolitic material. The synthesized zeolitic material showed enhanced capacities for the sorption of 2‐chlorophenol and can be utilized as a low cost sorbent for treatment of phenolic waste‐water. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Numerical analysis of an evaporating thin film region: Enticing influence of nanofluid

A comprehensible theoretical formulation has been obtained after including the (a) nanofluid (water-Al₂O₃) as a working medium and (b) kinetic-theory based expressions for mass transport, to explore and explicate the characteristics of evaporating thin-film region in a microfluidic channel at uniform wall temperature with 2?°C of wall superheat. The model includes the expressions for heat transfer (as heat flux) and effective thermophysical properties of nanofluid. This study evaluates the effect of incorporation of nanofluid in details and results obtained shows an increment of 34% in total heat transfer for 2% volume fraction of nanoparticles.     

Etching of mesa structures in HgCdTe

Mesa structures were etched in HgCdTe using different Br₂/HBr/Ethylene glycol (EG) formulations. Etch rate and degree of anisotropy (A) were studied in detail for all of the combinations. Addition of EG to the conventional etchant gave A>0.5, with controllable etch rates. Optimum etchant composition was determined to be 2% Br₂ in a 3:1 mixture of EG:HBr. This composition resulted in a good anisotropy factor of ∼0.6 and a reasonably optimum etch rate of ∼2.5 μm/min, with rms surface roughness of ∼2 nm. Kinetics of the etching reaction have also been studied for the optimum etchant concentration and an etching mechanism has been proposed.     

Microwave assisted solvent free synthesis of α,ά-bis (arylidene) cycloalkanones by sulfated zirconia catalyzed cross aldol condensation of aromatic aldehydes and cycloalkanones

The catalytic application of sulfated zirconia as solid Brønsted acid catalyst was explored for cross aldol condensation reactions (Claisen Schmidt reaction). The synthesized catalyst was highly active for solvent free synthesis of α,?-bis(arylidene)cycloalkanones by cross aldol condensation of aromatic aldehydes with cycloalkanones. The microwave assisted synthesis resulted increased yields of the products (79–99%) at significantly lower reaction temperature (120–140 °C) and reaction time (20 min) as compared to the synthesis by thermal heating (63–96% yield at 170 °C after 4 h). The microwave irradiation afforded selectively cross aldol products. The catalyst could be easily regenerated and reused several times with similar efficiency.     

Harmonics elimination algorithm for operational modal analysis using random decrement technique

Operational modal analysis (OMA) extracts modal parameters of a structure using their output response, during operation in general. OMA, when applied to mechanical engineering structures is often faced with the problem of harmonics present in the output response, and can cause erroneous modal extraction. This paper demonstrates for the first time that the random decrement (RD) method can be efficiently employed to eliminate the harmonics from the randomdec signatures. Further, the research work shows effective elimination of large amplitude harmonics also by proposing inclusion of additional random excitation. This obviously need not be recorded for analysis, as is the case with any other OMA method. The free decays obtained from RD have been used for system modal identification using eigen-system realization algorithm (ERA). The proposed harmonic elimination method has an advantage over previous methods in that it does not require the harmonic frequencies to be known and can be used for multiple harmonics, including periodic signals. The theory behind harmonic elimination is first developed and validated. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated through a simulated study and then by experimental studies on a beam and a more complex F-shape structure, which resembles in shape to the skeleton of a drilling or milling machine tool. Cases with presence of single and multiple harmonics in the response are considered.     

Fabrication and characterization of gridded Pt/SiO2/Si MOS structure for hydrogen and hydrogen sulphide sensing

A gridded gate Pt/SiO₂/Si MOS capacitor has been fabricated for detection of Hydrogen (H₂) and Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) gases. The MOS device was fabricated on P-type Si <100> (1–6 Ω cm) wafer with thermal oxide layer of thickness about 100 Å, whereas, Platinum (Pt) gate of ∼350 Å was deposited by thermal evaporation technique. The C–V (capacitance vs voltage) and G–V (conductance vs voltage) measurements have been performed for the evaluation of gas sensing behavior of fabricated MOS capacitor structure in H₂ (250–4000 ppm) and H₂S (1000–6000 ppm) gases at both room and 120 °C temperatures, in a closed chamber in air atmosphere. It has been observed that the value of capacitance decreases with increase in gas concentration. The fabricated MOS capacitor sensor has shown better sensitivity towards H₂ (88.6%) at room temperature (∼25 °C) as compared to (∼45%) at 120 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies have revealed the porous nature of the deposited metal film. The side wall diffusion, spillover of Hydrogen into oxide layer, increase in fixed oxide charge density, increase in surface area caused by gridded structure, the formation of dipole layer and change in interface state density on gas exposure, may be the mechanisms of gas sensing for improved sensitivity of the fabricated MOS device.