Flexible calibration of structured-light systems projecting point patterns

Structured-light systems (SLSs) are widely used in active stereo vision to perform 3D modelling of a surface of interest. We propose a flexible method to calibrate SLSs projecting point patterns. The method is flexible in two respects. First, the calibration is independent of the number of points and their spatial distribution inside the pattern. Second, no positioning device is required since the projector geometry is determined in the camera coordinate system based on unknown positions of the calibration board. The projector optical center is estimated together with the 3D rays originating from the projector using a numerical optimization procedure. We study the 3D point reconstruction accuracy for two SLSs involving a laser based projector and a pico-projector, respectively, and for three point patterns. We finally illustrate the potential of our active vision system for a medical endoscopy application where a 3D cartography of the inspected organ (a large field of view surface also including image textures) can be reconstructed from a video acquisition using the laser based SLS.     

A New Approach in Optimizing the Induction Heating Process Using Flux Concentrators: Application to 4340 Steel Spur Gear

The beneficial effects of using flux concentrators during induction heat treatment process of spur gears made of 4340 high strength steel is demonstrated using 3D finite element model. The model is developed by coupling electromagnetic field and heat transfer equations and simulated by using Comsol software. Based on an adequate formulation and taking into account material properties and process parameters, the model allows calculating temperature distribution in the gear tooth. A new approach is proposed to reduce the electromagnetic edge effect in the gear teeth which allows achieving optimum hardness profile after induction heat treatment. In the proposed method, the principal gear is positioned in sandwich between two other gears having the same geometry that act as flux concentrators. The gap between the gear and the flux concentrators was optimized by studying temperature variation between the tip and root regions of gear teeth. Using the proposed model, it was possible identifying processing conditions that allow for quasi-uniform final temperature profile in the medium and high frequency conditions during induction hardening of spur gears.     

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes as unexpected accelerators of chemical reactions

The influence of carbon nanotubes on various chemical reactions has been examined. These reactions include epoxy crosslinking, in situ polymerization of copolymers in the presence of carbon nanotubes and thermal degradation of a thermoplastic matrix. The various characterizations were based on different types of analyses, including differential scanning calorimetry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography and thermogravimetric analysis. In each case, we show that the presence of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes accelerates the process. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of textile dyes from aqueous solutions by natural phosphate as a new adsorbent

The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of natural phosphate (NP) to remove textile dyes from aqueous solutions. The adsorption of methylene blue (MB) as a reference molecule for the adsorption studies of organic molecules, basic yellow 28 (BY 28) and reactive yellow 125 (RY 125) representatives of two families of textile dyes was studied in a batch mode. The experimental results show that NP can totally remove MB and BY 28, whereas a low adsorption affinity was found in the case of RY 125. The adsorption rate data were analysed using the pseudo-first order kinetics of Lagergren and the pseudo second order model to determine adsorption rate constants. The isotherms of adsorption data were analyzed by various adsorption isotherm models. The adsorption was temperature- and pH-dependent with a high adsorption capacity of MB and BY 28 in the basic range and a high adsorption of RY125 in an acidic range.     

Heat transfer coefficient and thermal losses of solar collector and Nusselt number correlation for rectangular solar air heater duct with longitudinal fins hold under the absorber plate

An experimental investigation has been carried out for a series of system and operating parameters in order to analyze the effect of mass flow rate on heat transfer and Nusselt number characteristics in solar air heater. Experiments are performed at different air mass flow rates; varying from 0.012 to 0.016 kg/s, about hot summer days of Mai 2012. Hourly values of global solar radiation and some meteorological data (temperature, wind speed, relative humidities, etc.) for measuring days are obtained from the Biskra city of Algeria. The experiments encompassed the flow Reynolds number in the range 965.48–1301.4. Longitudinal fins were used inferior the absorber plate for an increase the heat exchange and render the flow fluid in the channel uniform. The effects of mass flow rate of air on the outlet temperature, Nusselt Number, Reynolds Number, Prandtl Number, the heat transfer in the thickness and length of the solar air collector were studied. For this effect was have created a new correlation correspondent of solar air collector with using fins it was written Nu = κ₀Re^1.36Pr^?0.68exp(0.342m)h ^[?0.018Pr].     

On cavitation and macroscopic behaviour of amorphous polymer-rubber blends

The macroscopic behaviour of rubber-modified polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was investigated by taking into account the microdeformation mechanisms of rubber cavitation. The dependence of the macroscopic stress–strain behaviour of matrix deformation on the cavitation of rubber particles was discussed. A phenomenological elastic-viscoplastic model was used to model the behaviour of the matrix material, while the rubber particles were modelled with the hyperelasticity theory. A two-phase composite material with a periodic arrangement of reinforcing particles of a circular unit cell section was considered. Finite-element analysis was used to determine the local stresses and strains in the two-phase composite. In order to describe the cavitation of the rubber particles, a criterion of void nucleation is implemented in the finite-element (FE) code. A comparison of the numerically predicted response with experimental result indicates that the numerical homogenisation analysis gives satisfactory prediction results.     

Low-temperature processing and characterization of single-phase PZT powders by sol-gel method

A new sol-gel system using acetoin was developed and employed for the fabrication of PZT powders and films with compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃. Acetoin was used as chelating agent to replace the highly toxic methoxyethanol used in previous formulations. This route simplified the chemical processing of PZT-based solutions. Powders were completely crystallized by about 450 °C and contained the ferroelectric perovskite single phase. The firing temperature and time were to be the most important variables. Metallic lead formed only when excess Pb was incorporated. The precursor and the heat-treated powders have been characterized by using thermal analysis and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) studies. The average particle size, as measured from X-ray line broadening, was ∼35 nm.