EFFECT OF COMBINATION DRYING ON THE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CARROT AND PUMPKIN

The quality of dehydrated carrot and pumpkin pieces produced by combination drying employing partial freeze-drying and hot air-drying were investigated. The drying rate, the total energy requirement and the physico-chemical properties of the combination dried (CD) products were compared with those of hot air-dried (HAD) and freeze-dried (FD) products. The total carotenoid content of the two vegetables (1050 ppm and 160 ppm) was significantly affected by drying processes. Destruction of carotenoids during storage at different temperatures was less in the CD samples. The HAD vegetables exhibited shrinkage, case hardening and poor rehydration (25 and 28 min in cold water, rehydration ratio 1:2.6 and 1:2.9, respectively). The FD vegetables appeared wholesome, porous, well formed with excellent rehydration features at room temperature (rehydration time 2 and 3 min in cold water, rehydration ratio 1:7 and 1:6.9, respectively). The CD vegetables were comparatively superior to HAD products and were nearer in quality to FD products with respect to appearance, rehydration (9 and 10 min in cold water, rehydration ratio 1:5 and 1:4, respectively). The drying time and total energy for CD processing was 50% less than for FD but similar to HAD. The combination dehydration process is effective in obtaining high quality dehydrated vegetables.     

ADIABATIC SORPTION OF BULK SINGLE ADSORBATE FROM AN INERT GAS-EFFECT OF GAS-SOLID MASS AND HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS

The effects of the gas-solid mass and heat transfer coefficients on the dynamics of adiabatic adsorption of a single adsorbate exhibiting Type I behavior were analyzed by numerically solving the conservation equations for a column. It was assumed that the adsorbate obeyed Langmuir equilibra and the local mass transfer rate could be described by the linear driving force model. The properties of the front zones were found to be controlled by mass transfer, while those of the rear zones were primarily determined by heat transfer. The separation between the two zones might vanish under certain conditions resulting in overlap of the two zones. The front zones were found to be constant pattern. The rear zones can be constant or proportionate pattern depending on the equilibrium properties and the feed condition of the adsorbate.     

ENHANCEMENT OF THE SEDIMENTATION RATES OF FIBROUS SUSPENSIONS

The settling of suspensions of slender rod-like particles with large aspect ratios was studied. The novel technique of enhancement of sedimentation rates by the addition of buoyant particle promoters was applied to such suspensions. The settling rates could be increased by many times by this simple technique. Sedimentation velocity increases of between 5 to 7 times have been observed for fibrous suspensions of concentrations of about 0.5%. A statistical analysis of the experimental data was performed to establish a correlation for the enhancement in settling velocities. The sediment volume was unaffected by the presence of buoyant particles. The buoyant parjticles were found to adsorb some surfactants onto their surfaces.     

Mechanical properties of friction stir welded armor grade Al–Zn–Mg alloy joints

The influence of different welding speeds and rotary speeds on the formation and mechanical properties of friction stir weld joints of armor grade aluminum alloy was presented. The developed weld joints were characterized by bend tests, micro-hardness tests, tensile tests, optical and scanning electron microscopies. Mechanical properties (i.e., micro-hardness, ultimate tensile strength and elongation to fracture) increased with the increase in rotary speed or decrease in welding speed. The effect of welding speed on micro-hardness of heat affected zones was more profound than the rotary speeds. The welding speeds and rotary speeds influenced the mechanical properties and their effects on various mechanical properties of the friction stir welded joints can be predicted with the help of regression models.     

Machining characteristics of fine grained AZ91 Mg alloy processed by friction stir processing

AZ91 Mg alloy was considered and friction stir processing (FSP) was adopted to achieve grain refinement to investigate the effect of grain size and secondary phase on machining characteristics during drilling at various speeds and feeds. Super saturated AZ91 Mg alloy was obtained after FSP and the grain refinement was achieved from (166.5±8.7) µm to (21.7±13.5) µm. Surprisingly, hardness reduced for FSP AZ91 Mg alloy (88.95±6.1) compared with AZ91 alloy (108.2±15.6), which was attributed to the reduced secondary phase. However, the mean cutting force for FSP-treated (FSPed) AZ91 Mg alloy was marginally increased. The edge damage of the drilled holes was lower for FSPed AZ91 Mg alloy compared with unprocessed AZ91 Mg alloy. Hence, it can be understood that the grain refinement may slightly increase the cutting forces during drilling but better edge finishing can be achieved in machining of AZ91 Mg alloy.     

Cryogenic forming behaviour of AW-6016-T4 sheet

The objective of this work is to study the cryogenic sheet metal forming behaviour of precipitation hardening AW-6016-T4. In this regard, the flow curves and forming limit curves were obtained by tension and Nakazima experimental testing methods in the temperature ranges from ?196 to 25 °C. It was found that strength and elongation increase with decreasing temperature. Small but perceived differences between microstructure of the material deformed at the room and cryogenic temperatures respectively were identified by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. However, no significant difference in the precipitation kinetics during continuous heating in the DSC has been observed. This study has demonstrated the potential of cryogenic forming by manufacturing a B-pillar part with 8 mm depth of side design element as compared to 6 mm at room temperature.     

THEORETICAL EARTH TEMPERATURE PROFILES FOR DIFFERENT SOILS AND SOIL CONDITIONS

The annual temperature variations in earth with depth from the surface offers, by its natural characteristics, a phase lag and reduced variation in the maximum and minimum temperatures. The temperature profiles vary for different soils and soil conditions. Soil temperatures are found to be an explicit function of soil thermal properties, particularly the thermal diffusivity. The earth temperatures stabilize at certain depth, where the annual swings in temperature are negligible and this stabilizing depth varies for different soils. A simple first harmonic approximation method has been used to predict the temperature variations as a function of depth and time for different soils (ordinary light soil, heavy soil, organic soil and sand) and soil conditions (dry, damp and wet). The results are a helpful indicator for deciding external design temperatures for the design of earth sheltered or ground coupled spaces.     

Modelling of flexible spacecraft and their stabilization†

The paper deals with the problem of rigorous modelling of flexible spacecraft and their stabilization. The attitude dynamics of the satellite bus and the equations for vibration of a flexible beam attached to it are derived. The complete system dynamics are given by a coupled set of ordinary and partial differential equations. The effects of controls applied on the. bus and/or on the flexible beam are investigated. It is shown that stabilization of the flexible spacecraft can be achieved by use of simple feedback controls.     

Urban growth trend analysis using GIS techniques—a case study of the Bombay metropolitan region

Abstract

Towns and cities in India are facing complex problems regarding the provision and maintenance of services and infrastructure in the face of the rapid growth of pupulation, caused both by natural increase and migration. In order to meet such challenges a planner needs to have fairly accurate and up-to-date information, especially about physical structures and related land parameters. A study of their trends generally helps in the understanding of the emerging growth pattern and in formulating policies to guide or redirect it. Recent advances in the field of remote sensing technology and computer based Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provide very useful tools in undertaking such analysis. The results from a study about growth trends of the urban areas in the Bombay Metropolitan Region using multi-date remote sensing data and ARC/INFO GIS package are described here. The period under consideration is from 1968 to 1989. It should be noted that the major growth in the region is confined to Greater Bombay between 1968 to 1975. After the year 1975, a distinct outward growth along the rail corridors is visible. Growth after 1975 is mainly in the Kalyan, Bhiwandi, New Bombay and Panvel areas and in the area around Manori creek (Charkop area). The growth rate is found to be higher after the year 1975 compared to the prior growth rate. The spatial growth trends are examined in relation to the population and the population density has been computed for different periods. Based upon these densities, the extent of land required for urban development for the year 2001 has been calculated. Suitability of land for urbanisation has been carried out based upon physical characteristics of the land and environmental parameters. The priority areas of urban development to meet the additional requirement in 2001 have been identified on the basis of this suitability analysis. A map on a 1:250000 scale has been prepared to show the areas for urbanisation which will meet the demands for the year 2001. This study demonstrates the potential offered by the integration of the tools of remote sensing and GIS for urban and regional planning.