GPU Accelerated Direct Volume Rendering on an Interactive Light Field Display

We present a GPU accelerated volume ray casting system interactively driving a multi‐user light field display. The display, driven by a single programmable GPU, is based on a specially arranged array of projectors and a holographic screen and provides full horizontal parallax. The characteristics of the display are exploited to develop a specialized volume rendering technique able to provide multiple freely moving naked‐eye viewers the illusion of seeing and manipulating virtual volumetric objects floating in the display workspace. In our approach, a GPU ray‐caster follows rays generated by a multiple‐center‐of‐projection technique while sampling pre‐filtered versions of the dataset at resolutions that match the varying spatial accuracy of the display. The method achieves interactive performance and provides rapid visual understanding of complex volumetric data sets even when using depth oblivious compositing techniques.     

Engineering characteristics of the compressed-stabilized earth brick

Utilization of lime and rice husk ash for soil stabilization produced considerable strength gain and other geotechnical properties of the stabilized soils. Its application could be also superior for construction materials as compressed-stabilized earth (CSE) or unfired-brick. This paper presents the investigation result of the application of lime and rice husk for unfired brick or compressed stabilized earth. The compressive and three-point flexural strength tests including compressive strength after water submersion were carried out in this present study. The investigation results show that compressive and flexural strength of clay brick are improved by adding of lime and RHA. The best quantity of lime and RHA in this study, is obtained by ratio 1:1 of lime and RHA. The addition of sand in stabilized clay resulted in more improvement in the water retention ability.     

Investigation of the Mechanical Behavior of a Thin Composite Stiffened Skin with a Combined Joint

Many joint models available to predict secondary bending moments in the structure have a stiffness mismatch, while this type of structure widely used in aircraft. To determine how to represent a structure with a stiffness mismatch in a combined joint （bonded/riveted）, a non-linear finite element analysis was performed. The detailed validation of this analysis identified the composite stiffened skin as the most suitable model in three dimensions. The use of this model for validating the secondary bending moment to calculate the behavior of the stiffener edge is straightforward and reliable. Experiments were performed to determine the distribution of the load in a combined joint under a tensile load that creates a secondary bending moment in a structure with a stiffness mismatch. The influence of related joint design considerations on the load transferred by the joint were examined through a finite element parameter analysis. The results are compared to determine best approach to predict the mechanical behavior at the edge of the stiffener. A close agreement between the finite element analysis and experimental results was obtained. Test observations using a C-scan compared well with the predictions of the onset of crack growth.     

Green synthesis of CuFe2O4 nanoparticles mediated by Morus alba L. leaf extract: Crystal structure,grain morphology,particle size,magnetic and catalytic properties in Mannich reaction

Copper ferrite (CuFe₂O₄) is one of the most popular ferrite spinel semiconductors due to its superparamagnetic properties. In this study, CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were successfully prepared through green synthesis mediated by Morus alba L. leaf extract. Secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids and saponins, in Morus alba L. leaf extract acted as a weak base provider and as a capping agent in the formation of CuFe₂O₄. The crystal structure, grain morphology, particle size, and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data confirms the formation of the CuFe₂O₄ phase with a cubic Fd-3ms space group. The nanoparticles mediated by Morus alba L. have a spherical shape with distributed particle sizes at 20–70 nm. In the evaluation of stability, the nanoparticles agglomerate with a zeta potential value of ?21.7 mV and have a soft ferromagnetic nature with H_c, M_r, and M_s values of 175.44 Oe, 1.75 emu/g, and 14.16 emu/g, respectively. The catalytic ability of CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in the Mannich reaction showed good catalyst performance with a yield of 83.83% at optimum conditions. Green synthesis using Morus alba L. leaf extract offers a more environmentally friendly and effective method for obtaining CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles with good characteristics.     

Production of hydrogen by steam reforming of glycerin over alumina-supported metal catalysts

Use of biodiesel and its production are expected to grow steadily in the future. With the increase in production of biodiesel, there would be a glut of glycerin in the world market. Glycerin is a potential feedstock for hydrogen production because one mol of glycerin can produce up to four mols of hydrogen. However, less attention has been given for the production of hydrogen from glycerin. The objective of this study is to develop, test and characterize promising catalysts for hydrogen generation from steam reforming of glycerin. Fourteen catalysts were prepared on ceramic foam monoliths (92% Al₂O₃, and 8% SiO₂) by the incipient wetness technique. This paper discusses the effect of these catalysts on hydrogen selectivity and glycerin conversion in temperatures ranging from 600 to 900 °C. The effect of glycerin to water ratio, metal loading, and the feed flow rate (space velocity) was analyzed for the two best performing catalysts. Under the reaction conditions investigated in this study, Ni/Al₂O₃ and Rh/CeO₂/Al₂O₃ were found as the best performing catalysts in terms of hydrogen selectivity and glycerin conversion. It was found that with the increase in water to glycerin molar ratio, hydrogen selectivity and glycerin conversion increased. About 80% of hydrogen selectivity was obtained with Ni/Al₂O₃, whereas the selectivity was 71% with Rh/CeO₂/Al₂O₃ at 9:1 water to glycerin molar ratio, 900 °C temperature, and 0.15 ml/min feed flow rate (15300 GHSV). Although increase in metal loading increased glycerin conversion for both catalysts, hydrogen selectivity remained relatively unaffected. At 3.5 wt% of metal loading, the glycerin conversion was about 94% in both the catalysts.