Assessment and Characterization of Welded Mild Steel (E-6013) Using Ultrasonic Testing and Hilbert Huang Transform

Russian Journal of Nondestructive Testing - All welded parts undergo aging once operated at elevated temperatures. Exposures of structures on elevated temperatures adversely affect the material...     

Coverage Differentiation Based Adaptive Tx-Power for Congestion and Awareness Control in VANETs

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a copilot for the drivers has a potential to improve traffic safety and efficiency. A key challenge in integrating ICT in vehicular networks is to provide the mechanisms for the delivery of safety messages called beacons. In particular, finding the trade-off between providing sufficient coverage and controlling channel congestion remains the focus in the stipulated amendments for safety message transmissions. In this paper, we handle this trade-off by proposing a Multi-metric Power Control (MPC) approach, which uses application requirements and channel states to determine a transmit power for safety messages. The MPC gives a best-effort approach to satisfy the coverage range requirement of a message as specified by the application. Moreover, the concept distinguishes among message types to provide coverage differentiation. We show that the best-effort approach of providing coverage for different messages can control congestion and as a result improve awareness by minimizing beacon collisions. The performance analysis of MPC using discrete event simulation confirms its practicality.     

Deep cover bleeder entry performance and support loading: A case study

Several questions have emerged in relation to deep cover bleeder entry performance and support loading:how well do current modeling procedures calculate the rear abutment extent and loading? Does an improved understanding of the rear abutment extent warrant a change in standing support in bleeder entries? To help answer these questions and to determine the current utilization of standing support in bleeder entries, four bleeder entries at varying distances from the startup room were instrumented,observed, and numerically modeled.This paper details observations made by NIOSH researchers in the bleeder entries of a deep cover longwall panel—specifically data collected from instrumented pumpable cribs, observations of the conditions of the entries, and numerical modeling of the bleeder entries during longwall extraction.The primary focus was on the extent and magnitude of the abutment loading experienced by the standing support.As expected, the instrumentation of the standing supports showed very little loading relative to the capacity of the standing supports—less than 23 Mg load and 2.54 cm convergence.The Flac3D program was used to evaluate these four bleeder entries using previously defined modeling and input parameter estimation procedures.The results indicated only a minor increase in load during the extraction of the longwall panel.The model showed a much greater increase in stress due to the development of the gateroad and bleeder entries, with about 80% of the increase associated with development and 20% with longwall extraction.The Flac3D model showed very good correlation between expected gateroad loading during panel extraction and that expected based on previous studies.The results of this study showed that the rear abutment stress experienced by this bleeder entry design was minimal.The farther away from the startup room, the lower the applied load and smaller the convergence in the entry if all else is held constant.Finally, the numerical modeling method used in this study was capable of replicating the expected and measured results near seam.     

An Efficient Algorithm for the Single Machine Total Tardiness Problem

This paper presents an exact algorithm for the single machine total tardiness problem (1// Σ T_i). We present a new synthesis of various results from the literature which leads to a compact and concise representation of job precedences, a simple optimality check, new decomposition theory, a new lower bound, and a check for presolved subproblems. These are integrated through the use of an equivalence concept that permits a continuous reformation of the data to permit early detection of optimality at the nodes of an enumeration tree. The overall effect is a significant reduction in the size of the search tree, CPU times, and storage requirements. The algorithm is capable of handling much larger problems (e.g., 500 jobs) than its predecessors in the literature (≤ 150). In addition, a simple modification of the algorithm gives a new heuristic which significantly outperforms the best known heuristics in the literature.     

Investigation of Co-Substituted Nanosized Mn2Y-Hexaferrites Synthesized by Sol-Gel Autocombustion Method

The structural and electrical properties of Co-substituted and nano-sized Y-type hexagonal ferrites have been investigated in the present work. The samples with chemical composition Ba₂Co _x Mn_2?x Fe₁₂O₂₂ (x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0) were prepared by sol-gel autocombustion method. The powdered samples and pellets were sintered simultaneously at 1000 °C for 5 h and characterized by means of DTA/TGA, FTIR spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The XRD analysis confirms that the investigated ferrites have single phased Y-type hexagonal structure without showing any impurity phase. Lattice constants (a and c), cell volume (V), crystallite size (D), and x-ray density (ρ _x ) have also been calculated from the XRD data. DC electrical resistivity is measured within the temperature range of 30-100 °C for each sample and is observed to increase with increasing Co-substitution. The dielectric constant (∈) has also been measured which is observed to decrease with Co-substitution. Thus, high electrical resistivity and low dielectric constant make these materials suitable for multi-layer chip inductors and also for RF components and circuits.     

Nanocomposite BaZr0.7Sm0.1Y0.2O3−δ–La0.8Sr0.2Co0.2Fe0.8O3−δ materials for single layer fuel cell

Single layer fuel cell (SLFC) is a novel breakthrough in energy conversion technology. This study is to realize the physical-electrochemical co-driving mechanism of a single component device composed of mixed ionic and semiconductor material. This paper is focused on investigating the mechanism and characterization of synthesized nanocomposite BaZr_0.7Sm_0.1Y_0.2O_3?δ (BZSY)–La_0.8Sr_0.2Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3?δ (LSCF) in proportion 1:1 and 3:7 for SLFC. The crystallographic structure and morphology is studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nano-particles lie in the range of 100–210 nm. Ultraviolet (UV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is used to analyze the semiconducting nature of nanocomposite (BZSY–LSCF). The performance of SLFC was carried out at different temperatures ranging between 400 and 650 °C. The mixed conductivity of the synthesized material was about 2.3 S cm^?1. The synergic effect of junction and energy band gap towards charge separation as well as the promotion of ion transport by junction built in field contributes to the working principle and high power output in the SLFC.     

Geochemical characterization of sediments samples of Sembar Formation from three different wells of Southern Indus Basin

Sediment samples from three boreholes namely Paniro-II, North Akri, and Bhadmi of Sembar Formation, Southern Indus Basin were geochemically analyzed. The Soxhlet extracted bitumen were fractionated by column chromatography. The saturate fractions were further analyzed to evaluate type and quality of organic matter (OM). Total organic carbon, determined by a wet combustion titration method, indicates fair-to-good source rock potential. The plot of isoprenoids/n-Alkanes shows a mixed source of OM. Pristane/Phytane values and distribution of hydrocarbons showed dysoxic depositional environment. Carbon preference indices suggested increase in maturity with depth.     

The effect of nitrogen flow rate on TiBN coatings deposited on cold work tool steel

TiBN coatings have high hardness and high adhesion. Due to these excellent properties there has been increasing interest in TiBN coatings. In this study, TiBN coatings were deposited on AISI D2 cold work tool steel and silicon wafers by closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering (CFUBMS). The structural, mechanical and adhesion properties of these coatings were analysed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, microhardness test, indentation test and scratch tests. TiBN coatings produced by magnetron sputtering exhibited a dense and columnar structure. These results indicate that TiB₂, TiN and h-BN exist in crystalline forms at all coatings. The highest hardness was obtained at the lowest nitrogen flow rate. Very few cracks were observed at the edge of the indentation marks at the highest nitrogen flow rate. The highest critical load obtained with scratch test was identified as 102?N.     

Progress in Applications of Polymer-Based Membranes in Gas Separation Technology

Separation of gases through polymeric membrane by selective transport has immense advantages such as light weight, economical, high process flexibility, and space requirements. Fabrication methods of polymeric membrane (polysulfone, polyimide, polyamide, polycarbonate) and their properties along with fundamental principles for gas separation mechanism are discussed in this review. Polysulfone membranes are fabricated by dry/wet phase inversion process to investigate membrane properties. Polyimide membranes show great potential for gas separation and reveal good selectivity for CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ gas pairs. Transport characteristics of polycarbonate membrane are improved by functionalization. Superior properties allow potential use of polymeric membranes in large-scale industrial applications.